More often than not, people seem to feel that the first entry in a franchise is the best and that has typically been the case within the fantasy genre. Pirates of the Caribbean, Back to the Future, Raiders of the Lost Ark, and The Mummy are all movie series where the first installment is considered the best.

Of course, there are some notable exceptions where sequels surpᴀss what came before them. It could be the second entry, the third, or even a later installment altogether, yet they manage to top the original. Some superior sequels were expected, given the fantasy story they adapted, while others were complete surprises in the best possible way.

The Twilight Saga: Eclipse (2010)

Based on Stephenie Meyer’s popular book series, The Twilight Saga became one of the highest-grossing film franchises of all time. The first installment arrived in 2008 and while it was a commercial success, critics were less pleased with it. The follow-up, New Moon, was met with an even worse critical reception.

Although the third film still wasn’t anything resembling a critical darling, it is considered by many to be the best entry. Eclipse sets up a huge battle against Victoria, the antagonist from the first two movies, and Bryce Dallas Howard delivers a solid performance as the villain.

The action sequences are at an all-time high for the series, including fights, decapitations, and tandem offense from popular characters. Those who come to The Twilight Saga for the romance also get some of the best drama in the love triangle between Bella, Jacob, and Edward.

There’s one particular scene where the three main characters have to share a tent and it leads to an honest conversation between Edward and Jacob that goes a long way towards building their uneasy relationship. Throw in solid supporting parts from the likes of Anna Kendrick and Dakota Fanning and this is Twilight at its best.

Hellboy II: The Golden Army (2008)

The first Hellboy movie from Guillermo del Toro is very good. It’s based on the Dark Horse Comics character and is basically del Toro’s take on the superhero genre. It was a perfect blend because everything about Hellboy works with del Toro’s signature style.

From impressive looking creatures to the goth aesthetic, Hellboy was a good movie that felt like it came from its filmmaker. Hellboy II: The Golden Army took what worked about it and doubled down, leading to a slightly better film.

Hellboy II: The Golden Army has a higher Rotten Tomatoes score (86% to 81%) and grossed more at the box office than its predecessor. Ron Perlman feels more comfortable in the lead role, while the supporting cast around him delivers strong work.

The sequel has a lighter feel to it, with increased humor, yet it never goes too far away from the fantasy elements. The action is also done on a larger scale, while the character dynamics work better. It would’ve been great to see what a third Hellboy movie from del Toro would’ve looked like.

How To Train Your Dragon 2 (2014)

How to Train Your Dragon isn’t mentioned nearly enough when discussing the greatest fantasy film franchises of all time. The first two movies are genuine classics, the third is very good, adn even the live-action adaptation from 2025 is one of the better remakes you’ll find.

The first How to Train Your Dragon is a classic, holding a rare 99% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. That’s next to impossible to improve upon and while it’s not a unanimous opinion, How to Train Your Dragon 2 manages to just eke it out as the franchise’s best film.

The second film features two things that really set it apart. First, it focuses on the protagonist Hiccup finding his long-lost mother, giving this an added boost of emotion in every scene involving her. Second, it has the best antagonist of the franchise in Drago Bludvist.

How to Train Your Dragon 2 boasts incredible visuals, the heavy scene involving Toothless being controlled by the Bewilderbeast, and features an even better voice cast by adding Djimon Hounsou and Kit Harington. It all comes together to make for a truly special film.

Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban (2004)

The Harry Potter franchise pulled off a rare feat as all eight installments were well-received by critics and all were box office hits despite being run by several different directors. That makes picking out the best installment difficult.

While longtime Harry Potter fans could argue for hours about the best, it’s widely believed that Prisoner of Akzaban is in the conversation. One thing most fans do agree on is that it’s at least an improvement over the first film, even if the first movie is iconic.

Prisoner of Azkaban marks the franchise’s foray into darker, more mature themes. The child actors were now teens and their performances reflected their growth, while this movie added the likes of Gary Oldman, Emma Thompson, and David Thewlis to the mix.

The biggest key factor in this film’s improvement came behind the camera as future Oscar winner Alfonso Cuarón took over as director. It’s his only work in the franchise but his signature filmmaking techniques are all over the place and it helps make this the best looking Harry Potter movie.

Shrek 2 (2004)

Shrek was something of a revelation when it arrived in 2001. Disney had dominated the animation landscape for so long, often focusing on fairy tales, yet here was a DreamWorks project that took those fairy tales and turned them on their heads.

As great as that first film was, Shrek 2 managed to somehow be better. Audiences were craving more antics from Shrek and Donkey, which they got, but they also were given more of Fiona and characters like Puss in Boots were introduced here.

Shrek 2 also features a great villain in the Fairy Godmother, another fun twist on a character we’ve known for years. Her musical number set to “Holding Out For a Hero” remains iconic two decades later. Alas, Shrek 2 didn’t win Best Animated Feature like its predecessor did, but it’s still a better movie.

The level of success that Shrek 2 reached was unfathomable at the time. It topped the box office in 2004 and was the highest-grossing animated film in history at the time of its release, a тιтle it held for six years.

Avatar: The Way Of Water (2022)

Avatar was a phenomenon in 2009, making incredible use of 3D technology. It became the highest-grossing film of all time and was something people just had to experience in the theater. However, a common criticism it faced was that it didn’t have lasting power. People saw it, appreciated it, and moved on.

The fact that it took more than a decade before we got a sequel led some people to believe that it would flop because nobody cared anymore. They were wrong as Avatar: The Way of Water grossed more than $2 billion and was an even more impressive film than the first.

The Way of Water saw the main characters with an entire family, meaning we had more characters to care about. That made the emotional highs and lows of the movie hit harder and led to one of the best performances of Zoe Saldaña’s career.

Like the first film, one of the criticisms The Way of Water faced was that the plot was fairly straightforward. While that’s accurate, it allows the movie to be relatable for everyone to enjoy and it helps that it’s another visual marvel.

Puss In Boots: The Last Wish (2022)

In a lot of these cases, the superior sequels are just a bit better than the original. However, that’s not the case for Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, which is legitimately one of the best animated movies ever made after the first installment was seen by many as simply a solid film.

The 2011 spin-off of the Shrek franchise is a fine adventure for the тιтular character, so it’s shocking that a sequel so good followed it 11 years later. Puss in Boots: The Last Wish hits on every level that you want from an animated adventure.

The animation style is breathtaking and a huge step up from the first film. The characters are lovable (or detestable in the case of Jack Horner), the voice cast is brilliant (Antonio Banderas is joined by Salma Hayek, Harvey Guillen, and Florence Pugh, to name a few), and there are genuine moments of emotion throughout.

The story is also masterful as it sees Puss deal with his own mortality. He’s been a reckless hero thanks to his nine lives, but with only one remaining, he comes face to face with a wolf who is the embodiment of death. Its 95% Rotten Tomatoes rating is more than earned.

The Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The King (2003)

Considering how fantastic both The Fellowship of the Ring and The Two Towers are, it’s incredible that The Return of the King managed to improve on both and end The Lord of the Rings trilogy on the highest possible note.

The first film sits at 92% on Rotten Tomatoes and was nominated for 13 Oscars, while the second entry is at 95% and landed six more nominations. The Return of the King may be a bit lower on RT (94%) than the second film but it’s still above the first and it made history at the Oscars.

The Return of the King won all 11 Academy Awards it was nominated for, completing the biggest sweep in cinematic history. Among those wins were Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Visual Effects.

The film is a whopping 201 minutes long but it makes use of every second. From the opening that showed Sméagol’s obsession with the One Ring to the action-packed sequences to the climactic moment where Frodo makes it to Mount Doom to the emotional endings, The Return of the King is a perfect sequel and franchise ender.