The 10 Greatest Movie Sequels Ever Made

Hollywood has never been shy about churning out a sequel. In the ever-present midst of Part 2s, 3s, shared universes, and spin-offs, it is time to look at the 10 best sequels of all time.

Sequels are a strange proposition; in a lot of ways, they are the lowest hanging fruit there is. If a movie makes money, executives are quick to demand more. However, by that same token, they are also some of the hardest movies to pull off.

They naturally have big shoes to fill based on the simple fact that they only exist because the first installment was popular. As a result, a properly good sequel is actually a little difficult to come by.

The first and most obvious style of sequel-ing is the continuation of a story. These are movies that pick up right where their predecessors left off. If audiences liked the characters from the first movie enough, it is a fair bet they will want to see what happens to them next.

These are sequels that, in theory, you could stitch together to make one big movie. This is how The Raid 2 works, taking place the next day with Rama’s cheeks still bloody. It is Quantum of Solace opening on a car chase with Mr. White still in the trunk from the end of Casino Royale.

Another prime example is The Incredibles 2, which starts with the battle against The Underminer teased in the closing moments of the first film. This approach relies heavily on immediate audience engagement, picking up the narrative thread without hesitation.

An early example of a "picking up where we left off" sequel is the 1935 follow-up to 1931's Frankenstein, The Bride of Frankenstein. It opens in a delightfully meta way, with Mary Shelley, her husband Percy, and the poet Lord Byron enjoying a roaring fire on a stormy night.

They discuss what an impressive story Frankenstein is, allowing Byron to recap the events of the first film. This allows Shelley to drop a 1930s version of "if you like that, wait’ll you get a load of this sequel!"

One dolly out and cross-dissolve later, the film picks up from the smoldering ruins of the old mill, even backing up a few moments to show a little more of Henry Frankenstein’s recovery. It is a fascinating window into how they thought about sequels in the '30s, a format that has held up well over the years.

What is great about Back to the Future Part II is that it did not just pick up where the first movie left off narratively; it also picked up where it left off thematically. If the first film asked "What if your parents didn’t meet," the next logical question is: "What does the future hold for my kids?"

Director Robert Zemeckis reshot the opening scene to handle the recasting of Jennifer, with Elisabeth Shue replacing Claudia Wells. The edit and shot compositions line up almost impeccably, clearing technical hurdles such as Thomas F. Wilson’s Biffs handing things to each other.

Opening the sequel by repeating the last scene of the first movie to set up even more time travel shenanigans is thematically perfect. By recreating this opening scene shot for shot, it preps the audience to look for subtle changes in the rest of the film, getting jokes to land that much better.

The other side of the sequel coin from the continuation of a story is a second, entirely different story. This is a harder act to pull off. It requires the sequel to stand on its own two feet while still utilizing the established characters and world.

While the source text does not list specific examples for this category, the concept suggests a narrative that explores a new conflict or setting rather than simply extending the previous plotline. This approach often allows for greater creative freedom.

It avoids the trap of feeling like a mere extension and instead offers a fresh perspective on the franchise. This style of sequel is often where franchises find their most enduring longevity.

Ultimately, the best sequels manage to balance the weight of expectation with the desire for innovation. Whether through a direct continuation like The Raid 2 or a thematic expansion like Back to the Future Part II, the goal remains the same.

They must honor the source material while justifying their own existence. As Hollywood continues to produce Part 2s and shared universes, the lessons from these classics remain relevant.

From the meta-commentary of The Bride of Frankenstein to the technical wizardry of modern blockbusters, the art of the sequel is alive and well. These films prove that sometimes, wanting more is exactly the right move.