In the modern day, the sequel is an immovable fixture of the movie industry, with many iconic films proving why the cinematic continuation of a story is worth exploring. Though sequels have a reputation as typically being worse than their progenitors, some sequels are actually better than the films they’re based on, resulting in critical adoration and cultural importance.

20

The Empire Strikes Back

Established A Dynasty Of Science Fiction

There’s no denying that the original Star Wars is one of the most important films ever made, creating a veritable empire of pop culture fandom. But there’s a good reason why The Empire Strikes Back is still considered to be the greatest film in the franchise, even so many films later today.

Not only does The Empire Strikes Back offer a thrilling continuation of Luke Skywalker’s story and a wider glimpse into the world of Star Wars, but it was the series’ first firm foothold as an enduring тιтan of media and merchandising that proved movies could sustain an entire alternate reality. Few sequels have had more impact in the entertainment business.

19

The Godfather Part II

Took On The Impossible Task Of Surpᴀssing Its Progenitor

It seems almost incomprehensible that both The Godfather and The Godfather Part II are two of the most influential and most critically-beloved films of all time, but Francis Ford Coppola was somehow able to capture lightning in a bottle twice. Not only does Part II satisfy the lofty expectations of the first film, but it actually exceeds them.

The winding and melodramatic tale of the Corleone crime family truly does benefit from taking place across two parts, with the fallout of their actions in the first film having a lasting impact on the second. The Godfather Part II showed for the first time just how effective splitting a story into two distinct halves could be.

18

The Dark Knight

Nolan’s Undisputed Masterpiece

Despite starting with Batman Begins, there’s a good reason that Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy is named after the second film. It would be remiss to discuss legendary sequels without an early mention of The Dark Knight, which elevated not only the franchise it took part in, but superhero movies as a whole.

Thanks to Nolan’s thoughtful worldbuilding, gripping crime narrative, and a phenomenal cast of performances topped by Heath Ledger’s mythical performance as The Joker, The Dark Knight didn’t just improve on Nolan’s formula for Batman. The film proved that comic book movies could have critical worth, evolving them beyond simple action blockbusters.

17

Terminator 2: Judgment Day

One Of The Greatest Action Movies Of All Time

Another franchise indisputably dominated by its second film is the Terminator series, whose myriad timelines and reboots have never been able to touch the masterpiece that was James Cameron’s first follow-up. In the second film, Arnold’s cold, calculated killing machine becomes a good guy dedicated to protecting John Connor from an even more advanced killer.

Terminator 2: Judgment Day is one of, if not the single greatest action movie of all time. тιԍнт pacing, curt moments of humanity, and unbelievable spectacle with both practical and digital effects will forever ensure the film’s legacy, which far eclipses anything else the other Terminator movies have done.

16

Aliens

Turned A One-Off Horror Film Into A Universe Of Terror

Bafflingly, yet another James Cameron science fiction sequel, Aliens, proves itself as one of the most important second movies of all time. Here, Ripley is brought back to face off against a whole hive of Xenomorphs who have overrun a colony, picking off a squadron of fierce space marines one by one.

The simple efficacy of making Alien a plural noun by unleashing a whole army of the ᴅᴇᴀᴅly Xenomorphs on the hapless colonists is a trick that can never be repeated again in cinema history. Blurring the lines between action, horror, and science fiction, Aliens is a convention-defying masterpiece that kickstarted another legacy movie franchise.

15

Toy Story 2

Proved Pixar Could Iterate On Itself

It isn’t just R-rated horror films and bloody action movies that create legendary sequels. Something as family-friendly as the first Toy Story represents a crowning achievement in animation, but Toy Story 2 arguably presents a stronger narrative that proved Pixar could recapture the same powerful emotions that made the simple story of sentient toys work.

Here, it’s revealed that Woody is a highly sought-after collector’s item who is stolen by a toy salesman hoping to get rich by selling him. Toy Story 2 doesn’t just improve the animation and comedy of the first film, but delivers the first of the powerful and poignant emotional blows that the series would become known for, proving that kid-friendly animation can still harbor stories worth telling.

14

Mad Max: Fury Road

A Landmark Of Cinema Years In The Making

Few films have had a production cycle as tumultuous as Mad Max: Fury Road, which languished in production hell for decades before finally releasing in 2014 to continue the long-overdue Mad Max franchise. Director George Miller proved he hadn’t lost a step in all that time by releasing one of the most ambitious and brilliant action movies ever conceived.

Essentially one big car chase, Mad Max: Fury Road portrays emotions through carnage, with sparse dialogue peppering the masterful exploration of a dizzying and absurd post-apocalypse. The film proved that even after a long time away, a sequel can come back to outdo anything its predecessor films could have conceived of.

13

Before Sunset

Conceptualized A Whole New Mode Of Storytelling

Compared to higher-profile blockbuster sequels, Before Sunset is far less known. That doesn’t mean its critical impact is to be ignored, however, as the film essentially pioneered a brand-new way of storytelling in cinema. Before Sunset is a sequel to Before Sunrise, both romantic dramas telling the love story of Jesse and Céline.

Before Sunset is noteworthy for its unique real-time story, which sees audiences experience the same events over the same course of time the characters do with no cuts. This revolutionary technique garnered worthy critical praise that has yet to be replicated by another sequel.

12

The Lord Of The Rings: The Two Towers

The Pinnacle Of Peter Jackson’s Fantasy Epic

Yet another movie franchise where many fans consider the second film to be the strongest is Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings movies, with The Two Towers reigning supreme in the eyes of many. Fittingly enough, the film represents the apex of the story’s excitement, even though the actual quest for the Ring’s destruction is still a ways off.

After all the introductory bookkeeping and busywork was taken care of in the first film, Jackson allows The Lord Of The Rings: The Two Towers to truly revel in Tolkien’s breathtaking world, exploring characters, locations, and fictional history with more depth than ever before. With a strong atmosphere and memorable battles like the famous Helm’s Deep, the second film has a deserved reputation.

11

Spider-Man 2

Essentially Invented The Superhero Sequel

In today’s cinematic landscape, superhero movies are the dominant blockbuster force that consistently get audiences in seats. Arguably, none of them would have been possible without the success of the Sam Raimi Spider-Man trilogy, particularly Spider-Man 2.

Spider-Man 2 was the earliest superhero movie sequel to truly prove the worth of continued entries in a comic book franchise in film, winning over audiences with its airтιԍнт narrative and unapologetically corny earnestness. Without the second Raimi Spider-Man movie, it’s safe to say that blockbuster releases would look very different today.