When it comes to generating strong numbers at the box office, sequels are the name of the game. However, a franchise cannot simply be constructed from a singular idea. Rather, additional installments work best when they take their original stories into refreshing new directions while adhering to the established premise. These changes could occur with any number of elements, whether they relate to the tone, plot, or narrative.

However, Hollywood has demonstrated that darkness is one of the most popular routes to take. The Harry Potter franchise, now getting a Harry Potter TV show, is one of the best examples of this idea. Throughout the series, the films get progressively darker in their tone, story, and visuals. Although it might not be for everyone, incorporating an edgy direction can be beneficial, and sometimes crucial for sequels. There are many movie sequels with mᴀssive budgets coming in 2025 which will likely follow the same trend.

10

Avatar: The Way Of Water (2022)

First Movie: Avatar (2009)

When James Cameron released Avatar in 2009, it represented a monumental step in cinematic innovation. The unique special effects and stereoscopic 3D motion capture were groundbreaking, and unsurprisingly, it’s the most successful movie ever made. In 2022, the highly anticipated sequel Avatar: The Way of Water finally hit screens but took things in a new direction.

The premise of the original is undoubtedly dark, as the humans are willing to destroy the entire Na’vi civilization in pursuit of resources. However, the sequel sheds more light on the evil human practices and demonstrates further maltreatment of the Na’vi population. The film reveals the Tulkun hunting operation, where humans kill sacred whales to extract their Amrita. Worse yet, Colonel Miles Quaritch and his soldiers show zero remorse, burning down villages and killing locals just to find Jake Sully. The franchise will continue in 2025 with Avatar: Fire and Ash.

9

Batman Returns (1992)

First Movie: Batman (1989)

Regardless of any personal preferences concerning which of the Batman movies is superior, Tim Burton’s take on the caped crusader is undoubtedly iconic. The first film, Batman, was a smash hit upon its 1989 release, both commercially and critically. Three years later, Burton followed up with Batman Returns. Even within the first few minutes of the runtime, it’s clear that the sequel has a different tone.

When it comes to Burton’s directorial style, bleak and spooky undertones are virtually guaranteed. But with Batman Returns, Burton ramped up the potency of his tropes, incorporating more violence and distortion. The villains are completely out of their minds, and it compliments the nightmarish atmosphere. Even though these changes added to the level of absurdity, they effectively created a strange noir vibe that only served to benefit the overall quality.

8

Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)

First Movie: Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)

The MCU is no stranger to the practice of going down a dark route with sequels. Their movies have demonstrated this pattern time and again across different franchises. After all, in Avengers: Infinity War​​​​​, the heroes lose the final battle and literally half of all life is eradicated. However, Captain America: The Winter Soldier represents a great early example of the MCU taking a dark direction, the overall palette even being darker than its predecessor.

While the original film is a hopeful tale about a small-statured man turned superhero, the sequel explores the tragic journey of Bucky Barnes, otherwise known as The Winter Soldier. With the events of Bucky’s past, it gives the movie a much gloomier vibe compared to its predecessor. Captain America is also now in an unfamiliar environment, and amidst the chaos of S.H.I.E.L.D.’s collapse, it isn’t clear which side he should be fighting for.

7

Logan (2017)

First Movie: X-Men (2000)

In 2017, director James Mangold pulled off a seemingly impossible feat. He created a standalone film in a franchise that’s nearly 20 years old, and it arguably turned out to be the best installment. Better yet, he used a completely different formula to do it. Logan was special for numerous reasons, but perhaps most importantly, it demonstrates a perfect utilization of dark tones.

With the тιтle character, one might initially expect a traditional superhero movie, but Logan couldn’t be farther from it. It shows the once powerful X-men as battered, emotionally weary versions of their old selves. Set in a bleak future where mutants are nearly extinct, there doesn’t seem to be anything worth fighting for. Nobody else could play Wolverine but Hugh Jackman, and instead of erroneously attempting to de-age him, his seasoned look goes hand in hand with his dire circumstances.

6

The Dark Knight (2008)

First Movie: Batman Begins (2005)

Christopher Nolan’s legendary Dark Knight trilogy needs no introduction. The franchise started strong in 2005 with Batman Begins, which offered a thoughtful origin story and the enthralling action that’s typically found in superhero films. However, Nolan still altered the atmosphere in the sequel and effectively created a cinematic masterpiece out of The Dark Knight.

The Dark Knight is widely considered to be the greatest superhero movie ever made, and for good reason. The film takes what is allegedly an idyllic crime-fighting hero’s journey and creates a gritty, sinister, and captivating thriller that never wavers in quality. The unsettling tone is largely a product of Heath Ledger’s masterful performance as The Joker, who embodied the role to its longest length. These gloomy elements don’t feel out of place for an instant, and they elevate the plot from great to exceptional.

5

Aliens (1986)

First Movie: Alien (1979)

In 1979, Ridley Scott created an explosion within the cinematic sci-fi genre via his critically acclaimed space horror Alien. It was one of the first works of its kind, blending horror and sci-fi in a manner that had never been seen before. The film is unquestionably dark, but interestingly enough, the sequel is even darker. Although some might prefer the original to Aliens, its quality is undeniable.

The difference in relative tone between the two movies revolves around the Xenomorphs. In Alien, the creature is an elusive, looming presence that takes down victims sequentially. In Aliens, the Xenomorph threat is much more realized and violent, which contributes to the hopeless atmosphere. Even though the sequel exchanges horror for action to a large degree, it surprisingly bolsters the dreadful nature. The dread-filled story of the Xenomorphs was also recently continued with Fede Álvarez’s 2024 Alien: Romulus.

4

Indiana Jones And The Temple Of Doom (1984)

First Movie: Raiders Of The Lost Ark (1981)

Steven Spielberg’s Indiana Jones franchise has dazzled audiences for decades. Since the 1981 release of Raiders of the Lost Ark​​​​​, the series has grown into a worldwide sensation, inspiring legacy sequels, theme park rides, and video games. Although the films go through a rollercoaster of events, there is a stark difference in mood between the first and second installments.

While the original has an adventurous, lighthearted tone, The Temple of Doom is daunting, and at times, bone-chilling. From the get-go, the circumstances are utterly bleak. The village whose sacred artifact was stolen is physically affected by its absence, which gives off the effect that the entire land is cursed. From there, Harrison Ford’s Indiana Jones and his companions enter an unfamiliar place and are met with pure terror. Whether it be beating hearts pulled from chests or possession, the sequel clearly took on a new vibe.

3

The Godfather Part II (1974)

First Movie: The Godfather (1972)

Often referenced as the greatest film ever created, Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather has stood the test of time as a marvel in cinematic history. It currently holds the number two spot on IMDb’s Top 250 movies list, and understandably so. It’s a formidable task to create a sequel that maintains the original’s quality, but The Godfather Part II didn’t disappoint (at number four on IMDb).

The descent toward darker content in the sequel runs parallel to the nature of the story. While the first movie focuses on Al Pacion’s Michael Corleone’s rise and the glossier exterior of organized crime, part two delves into the underbelly of the lifestyle. It explores the moral decay that certain choices can cause, and Corleone’s transformation exemplifies these changes. His actions are ruthless, and he ultimately becomes the worst version of himself. In the case of The Godfather Part II, the dark direction worked perfectly.

2

Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban (2004)

First Movie: Harry Potter And The Sorcerer’s Stone (2001)

The Harry Potter movies perfectly exemplify the practice of sequels gradually moving towards a darker landscape. However, unlike other franchises, the Wizarding World seems to grow exponentially darker until its final moments. Although the films feature plenty of cheerfulness, there isn’t a single installment where Hogwarts is devoid of any threats. With that being said, the largest change in tone occurs in the third film, Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban.

Everything about this sequel is macabre, from the ghastly dementors to Lupin’s werewolf form. For the first time, Harry enters Hogwarts when danger is already established, and it presents a threat to every student. Sirius Black’s apparent escape creates an unsettling hysteria, especially without knowing his true intentions. The thought of him lurking around the castle at night is completely terrifying. The film’s nature is a product of its source material’s plot, but the cinematic execution is flawless.

1

Star Wars; The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

First Movie: A New Hope (1977)

In 1977, George Lucas created what would be one of the largest cinematic universes in existence when he released Star Wars (later given the тιтle A New Hope). The film was obviously a mᴀssive success at the box office, yet the follow-up smashed expectations and is arguably the crown jewel of the Star Wars movies. However, the second installment is noticeably different from its predecessor. To its core, The Empire Strikes Back feels much darker than A New Hope​​​​​​, and it makes sense in consideration of the plot.

Beyond qualities of atmosphere or setting, the things that are happening to the characters are simply worse than in the previous movie. There isn’t much success for the heroes of the story, and their obstacles only grow larger. Han Solo is betrayed by Lando, Luke gets his hand cut off, and to make matters worse, he learns that the galactic dictator responsible is his father. Yet no one will say making this sequel (and some others) darker was a bad idea when it remains among the greatest movies of all time.