When studios have a hugely successful movie on their hands, making a sequel usually seems like the obvious next step. However, as we’ve learned time and time again, sequels rarely match up to the quality of their originals. That said, every once in a while, we get a sequel film that doesn’t just equal its predecessor, it exceeds it, proving that lightning can, in fact, strike twice.
The best sequels build on the themes and style of their predecessors, pushing the narrative to new heights. That’s not an easy task, especially when the original film is a beloved classic, but when done right, the experience can be something truly exhilarating. Read on to discover our handpicked selection of the greatest movie sequels that are way better than the original, including both legendary classics and more modern hits.
1
‘The Godfather Part II’ (1974)
Directed by Francis Ford Coppola
Loosely adapted from the landmark 1969 novel The Godfather by Mario Puzo, The Godfather Part II is the 1974 sequel to Francis Ford Coppola’s gangster epic The Godfather. Co-written by Puzo and Coppola, the film serves as both a sequel and a prequel, with parallel stories that follow Al Pacino’s Michael Corleone as the new Don of the Corleone family and his father, Vito Corleone (played by Robert De Niro), through his childhood and rise to power. Besides Pacino and De Niro, the film’s ensemble cast also includes Robert Duvall, Diane Keaton, Talia Shire, and more.
The Godfather is widely regarded as one of the greatest movies ever made, but The Godfather Part II is an epic crime drama that rivals the original. In terms of narrative and acting, the film is even better than the first one, with Al Pacino delivering a career-best performance in his iconic role. The movie was both critically and commercially successful, earning nearly $93 million worldwide and winning six Academy Awards out of 11 nominations, becoming the first sequel to win the Oscar for Best Picture.
2
‘Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade’ (1989)
Directed by Steven Spielberg
A 1989 action-adventure movie, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade is the third film in the Indiana Jones franchise and a sequel to 1981’s Raiders of the Lost Ark. Set in 1938, the film follows Harrison Ford’s Indiana Jones as he seeks to rescue his estranged father (Sean Connery), who has been kidnapped by Nazi forces hunting for the fabled Holy Grail. Besides Ford and Connery, the movie also features Alison Doody, Denholm Elliott, Julian Glover, River Phoenix, and John Rhys-Davies.
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade premiered to favorable reviews and an impressive box office haul, becoming the highest-grossing movie of the year and revitalizing interest in the series. The film is easily the best installment in the series, thanks to its great humor, thrilling action, and the snappy chemistry between Ford and Connery. The movie received three Academy Award nominations, winning the award for Best Sound Effects Editing, and is widely regarded as one of the greatest adventure films of all time.
3
‘The Dark Knight’ (2008)
Directed by Christopher Nolan
A sequel to Christopher Nolan’s 2005 movie Batman Begins, The Dark Knight was co-written by Nolan and his brother, Jonathan Nolan. Christian Bale reprises his role as Bruce Wayne/Batman, leading an ensemble cast that includes Michael Caine, Heath Ledger, Gary Oldman, Aaron Eckhart, Maggie Gyllenhaal, and Morgan Freeman. In the film, Batman allies with police lieutenant James Gordon (Oldman) and district attorney Harvey Dent (Eckhart) to end organized crime in Gotham City once and for all, but their plans go horribly wrong when the mob turns to a chaotic mastermind called the Joker (Ledger) for help.
Widely regarded as the greatest Batman movie of all time and one of the best films ever made, The Dark Knight was universally acclaimed at the time of its premiere and broke several box office records. While Batman Begins revolutionized superhero movies by introducing a grounded, realistic narrative style, The Dark Knight perfects this approach, delivering a mature, layered story that elevates the film beyond the limits of its genre. Particularly notable for Heath Ledger’s performance as the Joker (his final film role), The Dark Knight has won several awards and inspired numerous subsequent films and shows that have tried to capture its gritty realism.
4
‘Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back’ (1980)
Directed by Irvin Kershner
The second movie in George Lucas’s Star Wars franchise, Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back is the 1980 sequel to 1977’s Star Wars (retroactively retitled Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope). Set three years after the original movie, the film explores the continued conflict between the Empire and the Rebel Alliance, following Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) as he trains under Jedi Master Yoda to master the Force so he can finally face the evil Darth Vader. Besides Hamill, the film also features Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Billy Dee Williams, Anthony Daniels, James Earl Jones, Frank Oz, and more in key roles.
Unlike its blockbuster predecessor, The Empire Strikes Back had a very mixed critical reception at the time of its premiere, but it still became the highest-grossing film of the year and was subsequently re-evaluated by critics. Now considered the best film in the franchise, it’s a truly timeless sci-fi film with a darker, more mature story and one of the most shocking plot twists in cinematic history. The film received numerous accolades, including two Academy Awards, and in 2010, it was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry by the United States Library of Congress.
5
‘Captain America: The Winter Soldier’ (2014)
Directed by Anthony and Joe Russo
The ninth movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and a sequel to the 2011 film Captain America: The First Avenger, Captain America: The Winter Soldier stars Chris Evans as Steve Rogers / Captain America, an enhanced super-soldier from World War II revived in the present day by the international spy agency S.H.I.E.L.D. The film follows Steve’s mission to uncover a conspiracy within the agency with the help of Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson) and Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) while being hunted by a mysterious assassin known as the Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan). Written by Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely, the movie also features Cobie Smulders, Frank Grillo, Emily VanCamp, Robert Redford, Samuel L. Jackson, and more as part of its ensemble cast.
Arguably one of the MCU’s best films, Captain America: The Winter Soldier is a gritty spy thriller that feels more like a classic conspiracy movie than a superhero flick. The film premiered in 2014 to highly positive reviews and commercial success, grossing $714 million worldwide and earning an Oscar nomination for Best Visual Effects. With gripping performances, tons of great practical effects, and a genuinely well-crafted story, The Winter Soldier is hands down the best movie in the original Captain America trilogy, better by far than both the original and the 2016 threequel, Captain America: Civil War.
6
‘Logan’ (2017)
Directed by James Mangold
The third and final movie in the Wolverine trilogy and the tenth film in the X-Men film series, Logan is a genre-defying superhero film that stars Hugh Jackman as the titular mutant hero. Set in the near future, the movie follows an aging Logan and a terminally ill Charles Xavier (Patrick Stewart) as they try to protect a young mutant named Laura (Dafne Keen) and get her to a rumored mutant haven on the US-Canada border. The film also features Richard E. Grant, Boyd Holbrook, Stephen Merchant, and more in key roles.
A heartbreakingly beautiful film about mortality, legacy, and redemption, Logan premiered at the 2017 Berlin International Film Festival to critical acclaim, receiving praise for its story, performances, action, and emotional depth. The movie was also highly successful at the box office, becoming the third-highest-grossing R-rated film at the time of its release. Action-packed yet thoughtful, bleak yet ultimately hopeful, Logan is easily one of the best superhero movies ever made and a true cinematic masterpiece. The film earned several accolades, including an Academy Award nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay, and was named one of the top 10 movies of 2017 by the National Board of Review.
7
‘Puss in Boots: The Last Wish’ (2022)
Directed by Joel Crawford
A sequel to 2011’s Puss in Boots, Puss in Boots: The Last Wish is an animated adventure comedy that’s the sixth film in the Shrek franchise. Antonio Banderas and Salma Hayek lead the stacked voice cast, reprising their roles as Puss in Boots and Kitty Softpaws, with Harvey Guillén, Florence Pugh, Olivia Colman, Ray Winstone, John Mulaney, Wagner Moura, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, and more voicing supporting characters. After using up eight of his nine lives, the film follows Puss as he teams up with Kitty and a naive dog called Perrito (Guillén) on a desperate quest to find a mystical Wishing Star that can restore his lost lives.
Puss in Boots: The Last Wish premiered in November 2022 to highly favorable reviews and became an unexpected box office hit, grossing over $484 million globally. Featuring spectacular animation, a surprisingly mature story, and plenty of laugh-out-loud humor, Puss in Boots: The Last Wish is arguably one of the best animated movies of 2022 and the best movie of the franchise. The film earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Animated Feature, as well as nominations for a Golden Globe, a British Academy Film Award, and multiple Annie Awards.
8
‘Top Gun: Maverick’ (2022)
Directed by Joseph Kosinski
A sequel to the iconic 1986 film Top Gun, Top Gun: Maverick is a 2022 action drama starring Tom Cruise as the titular naval aviator Pete “Maverick” Mitchell. Set more than 30 years after the original movie, the film follows Maverick as he confronts his past choices while training a new generation of Top Gun graduates, including the son of his late best friend, for a dangerous and potentially deadly mission. Besides Cruise, the film’s ensemble cast also includes Miles Teller, Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hamm, Glen Powell, Monica Barbaro, Lewis Pullman, and Ed Harris, as well as the late Val Kilmer in his final film role.
The original Top Gun was one of the most popular movies of the 1980s and arguably Cruise’s most iconic film. So when we say that Top Gun: Maverick is even better than the original, that really means something. With mindblowing stuntwork, an engaging story, genuine emotional depth, and technical brilliance, the film is easily one of the greatest sequels ever made, and arguably the best movie of Cruise’s career. The movie received highly positive reviews at the time of its premiere and grossed $1.496 billion worldwide. Top Gun: Maverick also earned several accolades, including six Academy Award nominations, and was named one of the top 10 movies of 2022 by the American Film Institute.
