Some great movie sequels have the potential to make the original movie look even better in retrospect, honoring their legacy while adding more layers of intrigue. The best movie sequels can surpass the movies that preceded them, but they can also elevate the entire franchise at once.
Sequels can show the events of a story through a different lens, perhaps by focusing more on the perspectives of supporting characters or by showing the knock-on effects of major plot points. This is often the job of prequels, but sequels can also add more depth to the characters and enhance a story in retrospect.
10
The Godfather (1972)
Part II Puts Michael’s Story Into Context
The Godfather Part II is often hailed as one of the best movies ever made, let alone one of the best sequels. Robert De Niro’s role as a young Vito Corleone helps put Michael’s rise to power into context, highlighting the differences between the two Dons of the Corleone family and the worlds they live in.
The Godfather Part III isn’t as popular, but it still enhances the original movie in retrospect.
The Godfather Part III isn’t as popular, but it still enhances the original movie in retrospect. Seeing Michael dying alone in a sunlit garden is a shocking contrast to Vito’s death decades earlier, who died at home while playing with his grandson. Part III shows the ultimate tragedy of Michael’s story, which starts with the first movie.
9
Back To The Future (1985)
The First Sequel Shows Another Side To Marty’s Adventure
Back to the Future
10/10
- Release Date
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July 3, 1985
- Runtime
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116 minutes
- Director
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Robert Zemeckis
- Writers
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Robert Zemeckis, Bob Gale
- Producers
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Bob Gale, Frank Marshall, Kathleen Kennedy, Neil Canton
The first half of Back to the Future Part II sends Marty McFly to the future, which provides a fun contrast to the original movie’s historical setting, but the sequel finds another gear when Marty and Doc travel back to 1955 once again, where their paths get tangled with their first adventure.
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Back to the Future Part II looks at the events of the first movie from another angle, showing how future versions of Marty and Doc were secretly influencing everything from just out of frame. It’s a joy to go back and watch Back to the Future with this knowledge, and seeing Robert Zemeckis’ intelligent narrative trickery with fresh eyes.
8
Star Wars (1977)
The Star Wars Franchise Has Always Owed A Great Debt To The First Movie
It can be hard to separate the original Star Wars movie from the behemoth multimedia franchise that it spawned, but looking back at the first movie highlights just how much the sequels have done to deepen the impact of Luke Skywalker’s first adventure. Of course, the Darth Vader twist in The Empire Strikes Back is an obvious example, but this is just one of many.
Several Star Wars movies and TV shows directly reinforce the original movie. Rogue One and Andor give more weight to the sacrifices of the rebellion, the original trilogy provides more backstory to Ben Kenobi’s character, and the later sequels show that Luke’s journey was never so straightforward. The slate of upcoming Star Wars movies will continue this trend.
7
Blade Runner (1982)
Blade Runner
9/10
- Release Date
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June 25, 1982
- Runtime
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117 minutes
- Writers
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Hampton Fancher, David Webb Peoples, Philip K. Dick, Roland Kibbee
Without directly answering the lingering mystery of Deckard’s origins, Blade Runner 2049 enhances his story from the first movie. Denis Villeneuve’s sequel managed to expand the scope of Blade Runner while staying true to the original, mixing K’s story with the mystery of Deckard’s fate perfectly.
As well as fleshing out the world and adding more nuance to the story, Blade Runner 2049 puts an intelligent twist on the themes of the original. The sequel looks at the question of what it means to be human from new angles, and it’s worth revisiting Deckard and Roy Batty’s struggle for power with this additional context.
6
Scream (1996)
Scream’s Meta Comedy Becomes Clearer As The Franchise Progresses
Scream
- Release Date
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December 20, 1996
- Runtime
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112 minutes
- Writers
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Kevin Williamson
- Producers
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Bob Weinstein, Cary Woods, Cathy Konrad, Harvey Weinstein
While Scream is a great slasher and a satisfying murder mystery, it’s best to approach it while understanding the ways that it’s trying to subvert the genre. Scream 2 and Scream 3 spell things out more clearly, which can give audiences a clearer appreciation of what the original movie is trying to do.
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Scream shook up the horror genre, with many subsequent movies trying to follow the same blueprint. The Scream franchise has always been at the forefront of its own movement, however, adding new layers to its self-referential meta humor and constantly keeping audiences in suspense.
5
Top Gun (1986)
Top Gun: Maverick Adds More Pathos To Its Hero
Top Gun
- Release Date
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May 16, 1986
- Runtime
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110 minutes
- Director
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Tony Scott
- Writers
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Jack Epps Jr., Jim Cash
Top Gun: Maverick isn’t often held up as the shining example of a sequel that surpasses the original, and the ideal way to execute a legacy sequel. However, it’s also a great demonstration of how to enhance an original movie, since Top Gun was never exactly a critical darling in 1986.
Maverick provides a more grounded emotional arc for its hero, revealing that Tom Cruise’s character has failed to truly change in the intervening decades, for better or worse. This makes Top Gun‘s knuckle-headed fun and youthful bravado look a little more complex in retrospect, because it shows the lasting effects of this era.
4
Before Sunrise (1995)
Richard Linklater’s Trilogy Is Best Enjoyed In Its Entirety
Before Sunrise is admirable in its simplicity, relying on the strength of its dialogue and its performances to tell an authentic, captivating love story. However, Richard Linklater’s trilogy aspires to more than this, and the three movies collectively paint a more complex portrait of a relationship.
Within the context of the Before trilogy, the first movie is the emblem of reckless, youthful love, as the characters are swept away by their feelings without having to consider obligations and sacrifices in too much detail. Seeing the characters like this, while knowing what’s in store for them in the years to come, is a powerful reminder of what true love entails.
3
Toy Story (1995)
Andy’s Story Lends Another Meaning To Woody And The Toys
Toy Story
10/10
- Release Date
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October 30, 1995
- Runtime
-
81 minutes
- Director
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John Lasseter
- Producers
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Bonnie Arnold, Edwin Catmull, Ralph Guggenheim
-
-
Tim Allen
Buzz Lightyear (voice)
The first Toy Story movie revolves around the struggle between Woody and new arrival Buzz, who poses a threat to his status as Andy’s favorite toy and the de facto leader of the gang. With the added context of Toy Story 2 and 3, this conflict seems much more relatable and mature.
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It’s easy to empathize with Andy’s arc in Toy Story 3, as he has to grow up and leave his carefree childhood behind. From Woody’s perspective, he has to part ways with the child he has cared about for so long. In a way, Woody’s pain is like that of a parent, realizing that his child no longer needs him in the same way. Watching Toy Story through this lens reveals the early signs of this transition.
2
Dawn Of The Planet Of The Apes (2014)
Caesar And Koba’s Conflict Sets Up The Next Sequel Perfectly
The Planet of the Apes franchise seemed to be dead for years, but the prequel series has provided a fresh take on the premise, with each sequel building the story of how apes eventually rise to become the dominant species on Earth. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes focuses on a key turning point within the apes’ society, as a power struggle represents an ideological conflict.
Caesar and Koba’s fight to lead the apes stems from their dispute over how apes should interact with humans. The events of War for the Planet of the Apes show humans abusing apes on an industrial scale, perhaps proving that Koba was right. Still, Caesar’s ability to change is part of what makes him the superior leader.
1
The Shining (1980)
Doctor Sleep Shows The Generational Wounds That Stem From The Events Of The Original Movie
The Shining is one of the best Stephen King movies, even though the author’s distaste for Stanley Kubrick’s adaptation is common knowledge. It seemed like the perfect horror movie for decades, without the need for a sequel of any kind, but Mike Flanagan’s adaptation of King’s follow-up novel more than justified its own existence.
Looking back on the original adds even more urgency and tragedy to the story from Danny’s perspective.
Doctor Sleep shows the darkness awaiting Danny’s future, and the way that the events at the Overlook Hotel haunted his entire existence. Looking back on the original adds even more urgency and tragedy to the story from Danny’s perspective, even though the focus is always on Jack.
