16 Movie Sequels That Are Better Than the Originals

By nature , franchise kickoffs dedicate wanted screen time to place up whatever the hell we ’re about to watch . In theory , their sequel should be ripe because they can plunge powerful in , building off or complicate everything we get a line in the pilot .

Sequelsshouldbe good … but even the great unity ( for example ,Aliens , The Godfather : Part II , Empire Strikes Back , Terminator 2 ) only sweep the measure set by their predecessors ' brilliance . outlook , obligation , and the line of Hollywood handicap part twos from the get - go . Here are the few sequels that beat those odds .

The Bourne Supremacy(2004)

First installment : The Bourne Identity(2002)Why the sequel is superior : We get a bass understanding of the " Treadstone " project that make Bourne and standardised supersoldiers . There ’s the – spoilers ! – other death of Bourne ’s girlfriend Marie , and director Paul Greengrass ' " wonky Cam River " view throughout , especially for the music - less apartment throwdown ( and its macabre conclusion ) and all the vehicular mayhem . Bourne ’s excuse to a dupe ’s girl that we know wo n’t heal him makes for a herculean anti - conclusion .

Spider-Man 2(2004)

First installing : Spider - Man(2001)Why the subsequence is higher-ranking : It ’s not an rootage account . Peter Parker ’s relationships with Mary Jane , Harry Osborn , and Aunt May are messy and naturalistic . DIrector Sam Raimi address Doctor Octopus like a definitive colossus in the vein of King Kong , not a sociopath in a suit . Alfred Molina and Hal Sparks provide excellent cameo , specially Molina ; James Franco riding in the backseat is large .

Minimal natural process signify every punch , every deliverance , every web - swing in the nick of clock time counts . That string scene is still the most human moment in any superhero movie . And of track , the comic - bookiness of it all , especially Doc Ock ’s fusion - power equipment , station in the thick of Manhattan for some terrible reason .

Kill Bill: Vol. 2(2004)

First episode : Kill Bill : Vol . 1(2003)Why the sequel is superior : Less - is - more action . There ’s the worked up tug of the Bride ’s ill - destine wedding ceremony and her subsequent casket escape cock . Pai Mei ’s crotchety wiseness attain for a step up in the supporting - grapheme section . And finally , the talky showdown between Bill and Beatrix – a Five distributor point Palm Exploding Heart Technique for the profits .

From Russia with Love(1963)

First installment : Dr. No(1962)Why the continuation is superscript : Sean Connery balances James Bond ’s debonair spycraft , lethal heroism , and gender - panther appeal like he ’s a Ringling Brother , and we ’re down with the general addition in explosions and espionage . The guns a - blazin ' gypsy clique shoot - out ( over with flail Equus caballus ) and Bond ’s claustrophobic geartrain - cabin fight with Grant are iconic . Plus , there ’s Rosa Klebb , who can actually kick 007 ’s bottom . " I intend my mouth is too big . " " No , it ’s the correct size . "

Before Sunset(2004)

First installment : Before Sunrise(1995)Why the sequel is superior : Jesse and Céline are older , wiser unremarkable masses , feel the weight of nine eld and a dream family relationship that never happened . We love Richard Linklater ’s sailplaning approach to the street of Vienna , the shock of peter out - out love story , and Julie Delpy singing a valse .

Paranormal Activity 3(2011)

First installment : Paranormal Activity(2007)Why the subsequence is higher-ranking : This one was shoot on more than an $ 11,000 budget , for starter motor . The ' 80s setting gave the enfranchisement a creepy lo - fi makeover , and the cut mythology connect the ghosts to a enchantress ’s coven . And there ’s that oscillating fan gag .

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince(2009)

First installment : Harry Potter and the Sorcerer ’s Stone(2001)Why the continuation is superior : The actor are no longer 12 , and magic is an afterthought – Hogwarts students just perform their tricks and move on ! There ’s more endure around , talking about hormone - fueled high schooltime kinship , which you actually give a hoot about after clocking eight age with Harry , Hermione , and Ron .

Princeintroduces us to Horcruxes , the Potterverse ’s macabre MacGuffin , and a brooding teenage Voldemort . Oh , and Snape kill Dumbledore , Harry kisses Ginny , and all hell on earth breaks loose .

Jackass Number Two(2006)

First instalment : jack : The Movie(2002)Why the continuation is ranking : We get live - Fe branding , roquette bikes , pubic whisker beards , lobster pinching , Wee Man bungee - stand out off a bridge ( with Preston as his free weight ) , Steve - atomic number 8 fish - rob his mouth and fox himself to sharks , Johnny Knoxville bear - trap his arm , and a dance number directly out of Hollywood ’s golden eld .

Iron Man 3(2013)

First installment : Iron Man(2008)Why the sequel is superior : We jazz author Shane Black ’s rat - a - tackiness dialog , villain with actual charisma , and the temerity to fudge out comic - book buff with Sir Ben Kingsley ’s imitation Mandarin . There ’s an early disaster that consider Robert Downey Jr. ’s Tony Stark out of his comfort geographical zone ( and into a Blackian Christmas scenario ) , and the aeroplane rescue stunt is the estimable sequence in the entire enfranchisement . sinister and Downey Jr. treat the Iron Man cause ( and the USA of them ) like a ' ninety action - motion-picture show machine gun .

Addams Family Values(1993)

First installment : Addams Family(1991)Why the continuation is superscript : tight call , but that"Eat me ! " turkey songreally clinches it .

Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan(1982)

First installment : Star Trek : The Motion Picture(1979)Why the sequel is superior : There ’s a utter deflation of the original’s2001 - similar pretension , thanks to Khan ’s Latinian language - novel intellectual , Ricardo Montalbán ’s Romance language - novel Av , FaceTime cheek - offs , McCoy ’s ear worm , the Genesis equipment and itsearly computer graphics demonstration , blank fight as submarine war , William Shatner ’s bravado ( KHAAAAN ! ) , and the cojones to kill off Spock ( even if it did n’t puzzle ) .

Evil Dead II(1987)

First installation : The Evil Dead(1981)Why the sequel is higher-ranking : Director Sam Raimi purees his original terrifying tone with slapstick comedy and even sick fiend designs . Bruce Campbell struggle Bruce Campbell , and there ’s a chainsaw hand and a slobbering , possess Henrietta . The metre warp that consumes Ash and his Oldsmobile is the megahit ending this insanity deserved .

Blade II(2002)

First installment : Blade(1998)Why the sequel is ranking : Fewer emo vampires , for newbie . Wesley Snipes pushes Blade into blaxploitation territory , and a " conducting wire fu " approach to shootouts and Guillermo del Toro ’s animate being effects are sick . Ron Perlman bring the Ron Perlman - patented gruff .

A Shot in the Dark(1964)

First installment : The Pink Panther(1963)Why the sequel is superior : This movie was spell for Peter Sellers ' Jacques Clouseau ( unlike the first film , which was designed as a fomite for David Nivens ' lord thief , Sir Charles ) . The nudist settlement minute , and broad - stroke clowning , like Clouseau fire up his pelage on flak , or any moment where he hurt himself : funny ! Every joke is trench in the sixties .

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers(2002)

First installment : The Lord of the Rings : society of the Ring(2001)Why the continuation is superscript : Splitting up the fellowship magnify the dramatic play tenfold . Aragorn , Legolas , and Gimli face actual menace , and quetch ass accordingly . There ’s the procreation of Uruk - hai , and Éowyn added a require dose of femininity to the journey . Director Peter Jackson pulls out every stopover on just the right scurf for the Battle of Helm ’s Deep . Andy Serkis ' Gollum steal every scene he ’s in . Plus : Treebeard !

The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1(2011)

First instalment : Twilight(2008)Why the continuation is superior : DEFCON 5 - level cantonment . And who sleep with ? Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson really have chemistry . We also get Taylor Lautner ’s Jacob heaving through pelting like a loup-garou Magic Mike , Edward and Bella ’s " red wedding , " a scene where our budgie break a bed in half with tops vampire sexuality durability , a vampire gestation that would make David Cronenberg cower , Bella ’s transmutation into the animation dead , and Jacob imprint on the duo ’s baby like a creep . With this installing , Twilightwas cognizant that it could and should be batshit nuts ( seePart 2 , too ) .

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Matt Patchesis Thrillist ’s Entertainment editor . He previously publish for Grantland , Esquire.com , Vulture , The Hollywood Reporter , andThe Guardian . He ’s waiting patiently forJupiter rise 2 . get hold him on Twitter:@misterpatches .