While original filmmaking has thankfully not yet become obsolete, the biggest movies every year in recent times have been entries in major IPs, with sequels, prequels, reboots, remakes, and spinoffs ruling the box office. Many of them seem like lifeless cash grabs by risk-averse studios, and franchises have a reputation for getting worse in quality with each succeeding sequel.

However, for every movie sequel that should never have been made, there is a movie remake that is actually awesome, and even a sequel better than the original movie. While sequels have a reputation for being the product of capitalistic, creatively bankrupt studios trying to cash in on the popularity of their original movies, that’s often not the case.

Not only do franchises based on serial source material require multiple sequels to tell the complete story, but some original stories also need to be told in parts for narrative purposes. It’s usually when the continuation isn’t forced that a movie’s sequel has a chance of being better than its predecessor, and this occurs more frequently than we think.

Minions: The Rise of Gru (2022)

2015’s Minions is perhaps the biggest example of a soulless spinoff made by a studio to capitalize on the popularity of its product. Minions were everywhere in the mid-2010s, and the movie tries to tell an independent story based on these characters. However, the plot is paper-thin, the characters are poorly developed, and the movie lacks creativity in every department.

So, topping that isn’t a difficult task, and 2022’s Minions: The Rise of Gru does just that. Not only is it a fun movie with many references to the Despicable Me movies and lots of kung fu, but it also revitalized many moviegoers’ interest in minions. Gru’s backstory, while flawed, is significantly more compelling than the story in the previous film.

Sing 2 (2021)

If Sing wasn’t as predictable and featured some more innovative storytelling, by using less common tropes, it might have been more memorable. Despite a stacked cast with amazing singing talent, it’s an okay one-time watch, but it doesn’t leave a long-lasting impression, and you’d be forgiven for forgetting you’ve watched it. The characters are run-of-the-mill, and their conflicts aren’t unique.

However, Sing 2 is a marked improvement. Since it’s a more plot-driven story, it has more twists, and it still creates meaningful narratives with a few of the characters, although some of them remain clichéd. What sets it apart from its predecessor is the more refreshing soundtrack, rendered magical, groovy, and memorable by Sing 2‘s amazing cast of voice actors.

Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence (2004)

One of the best action movies that turns 30 in 2025 is Ghost in the Shell, which permanently changed the sci-fi genre with its themes, characters, and visuals. From The Matrix to Ex Machina, the influence of this film can be seen in almost every cyberpunk movie released since 1995, and it remains one of the greatest sci-fi movies ever.

So, topping that is a tall order, and while it’s debatable whether the sequel is definitely better than its predecessor, Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence is proof that legacy sequels can be great if made with care. The philosophical commentary is even more compelling, and the soundtrack is just as good, if not better, than Ghost in the Shell‘s.

Frozen II (2019)

A dozen years ago, the world heard Idina Menzel’s Let It Go for the first time in Disney’s Frozen​​​​​​, and it’s still one of the most popular Disney musical songs of all time. Irrespective of how annoyed you are with the song being sung everywhere all the time, none can deny that Frozen is one of Disney’s best animated movies.

It’s been a point of contention even since the sequel’s release six years ago, but Frozen II might be the better movie of the two. The fandom remains divided, but Frozen II is stronger in comparison to the original because it builds on the world, gives Anna a more compelling arc, looks even more gorgeous, and has a better soundtrack.

The Bad Guys 2 (2025)

Based on the children’s book series of the same name, The Bad Guys is one of the freshest animated movies in recent years. An original story that leans into the whimsy afforded by the medium of animation and references popular heist movies like The Ocean’s Eleven, while keeping viewers on the edge of their seats, its sequel was highly anticipated.

2025’s The Bad Guys 2 doesn’t disappoint, and improves on the original. With a new dynamic between the characters that develops throughout the film, the same energetic animation that is used for even cooler action sequences, and an interesting new set of characters voiced by a stacked cast, The Bad Guys 2 proves this could be DreamWorks’ new big IP.

Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011)

Kung Fu Panda is an animated movie that was way better than expected when initially announced because it has a beautiful message, the voice-acting performances are brilliant, and the movements of the protagonist provide the perfect demonstration of what body comedy can look like in animation in the 21st Century. Moreover, it has fascinating lore, and an inviting world design.

However, Kung Fu Panda seemed like the movie that would get more sequels, but none of which would live up to the original movie’s charm. Kung Fu Panda 2 proves skeptics wrong with its more emotionally rich storyline that delves further into the protagonist’s backstory, a slower pace, more deliberate action sequences, and a better balance between comedy and drama.

Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (2022)

Voiced by Antonio Banderas and facing off against dangers as courageously as the actor’s famous live-action roles, Puss in Boots is a true legend. He is a fearless fighter who has been on the most daring adventures, and 2011’s Puss in Boots paints a pᴀssionate image of him, with a detailed backstory, but the main plot is weak and forgettable.

Over a decade later, Puss in Boots: The Last Wish upped the ante for the character and the franchise by telling a mature story about death and anxiety using a bright animated world design that leans into the medium’s strengths. The voice acting is phenomenal, but what stands out is the villain, who may very well be the best in DreamWorks’ history.

Toy Story 3 (2010)

In November 1995, Pixar made history with Toy Story, which was the first ever CGI-animated feature film to be theatrically released. It’s celebrated as one of the best animated movies ever, and continues to enthrall audiences of all generations with its gorgeous animation, quirky character design, unique concept, and heartwarming story. It also happens to be Pixar’s first feature film.

However, the franchise somehow gets better with sequels until Toy Story 4, which, although a great film, isn’t better than its predecessor. Toy Story 3, featuring some of the funniest scenes in the history of Disney animated movies, is the best in the franchise, with the highest stakes, most compelling villain, and what was supposed to be the perfect conclusion.

Shrek 2 (2004)

The use of Smash Mouth’s All Star over a nasty and cynical sequence that contradicts the fairy tale-like introduction, gives Shrek one of the best opening scenes in fantasy movie history. It doesn’t let up, and the satirical reverence for the genre eventually leads to a heartwarming ending that makes it one of the best animated films in history.

Yet, despite the brilliance of Shrek, its sequel manages to be an even better movie, and might be DreamWorks’ best movie of all time. A romcom that covers more emotionally complex ground while still being hilarious and continuing its parody of classic fairy tales, animated storytelling rarely gets better than in Shrek 2. Its exploration of self-acceptance is timeless.

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023)

It won’t be an exaggeration to claim Sony’s Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse changed animation cinema forever. The balance between hand-drawn animation and computer rendering creates a world that’s constantly shifting and looks like graffiti, which provides the perfect backdrop for an emotionally rich, funny, energetic, and exhilarating story about alternate Spider-Man versions that foregrounds the philosophy behind the character.

It’s a Herculean task to be better than the most influential animated movie of the century, and yet, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is exactly that. It’s more expansive, but still keeps sight of the character-driven storytelling that made its predecessor great, has even more narratively relevant animated world designs, and features performances that prove voice-acting Oscars should be a thing.