Modern day sequels usually revolve around how much money can be milked from a franchise, and as such often fall flat when compared to the original. That isn't always the case, and over the years there have been some brilliant films dedicated to furthering the foundations of potentially great franchises, some even bettering their original compatriots. Just a quick note: These are all the direct sequels to the original film in the franchise, and so any further sequels are banned. Without further ado, Here is a list of the ten best sequels that stood on their own two feet:
#10: The Bourne Supremacy (2004) (7/10)
The recipe for this one is simple: Bring in a British director who knows what he's doing, allow him to add in some realism and political themes, and you have some added spice to an already action heavy franchise. The Bourne Supremacy is somewhat faithful to the original style, yet doesn't hesitate to bombard the audience with some gritty realism, and not just the slightly formulaic action we got from the original. Director Paul Greengrass hails from the world of documentary making; and it shows. This film is more a focus on Jason Bourne as a character rather than the explosive action you would expect. It's a very profound style, and you feel like you're right there with Bourne during every chase sequence and gunfight. You almost get the sense you're unraveling the plot in the style of an investigative journalist. What Greengrass manages to do well is expand on the original film, adding in new approaches instead of relying on the same formula.
I would argue this is the best of Matt Damon we see from the 'Bourne Trilogy', and the one that cements his place in the franchise. The idea is simple; he's a former operative with amnesia trying to reclaim his past. However, Damon turns the character into somewhat of an enigma, whilst still giving off the impression he's just some ordinary guy. You may think he sounds like a shit James Bond, but trust me, the performance is so much more than that. It's a very understated performance, yet incredibly effective. Arguably The Bourne Supremacy is even more action packed than the first, which is an impressive feat, although not as impressive as its switch in direction to a more realistic approach.
#9: Mad Max 2 (1981) (8/10)
When you think of action blockbusters Mad Max 2 is possibly the most macho filled testosterone ride you can possibly imagine. It's exhilarating, and one hell of a ride from start to finish; something the original could have done with. The original was full of forgettable sequences, whereas the sequel has several astonishing scenes that have to be seen to be believed. It's fucking mental in short, whether that be the characters or the wild car chases. Special mention has to be given to those car chases, which are just epic to watch unfold.
This is not the apocalyptic world we were presented with in the first film, which appears rather dreamy and idyllic in comparison. This is a world devoid of any prosperity. A literal wasteland that would go on to form the basis of almost every other post apocalyptic universe in cinema. This theme rubs out on our central protagonist as well. He now looks like a man about to go through hell, and this look is possibly the most memorable feature in the whole franchise. We don't find out a whole lot about anything, in fact there really isn't any sort of plot, just a guy blowing things up because he feels like it. All we do get to witness as a viewer is a world full of deranged bandits in the asshole of nowhere, but that's not to say this dirty story of a man with a lot of firepower and a surprising amount of heroism is in any way poorly thought out. Mad Max 2 presents a brilliantly brutal world where violence tears through everything in shocking fashion. It's a world as wild as the speed of the action.
#8: Back to the Future Part II (1989) (8/10)
Whilst the second Back to the Future is not quite as good as the original, it's certainly not a disappointment by any means. If anything this was the film that made this franchise iconic in the eyes of many. It's like a juiced up version of the first, and whilst there may be not be the diverse cast of lovable characters or that same charm, there's a hell of a lot more stuff going on in this second film. The use of time travel as a plot device is so revolutionary that even modern films still struggle to stay in it's shadow. Somehow three drastically different time zones, each packed to the brim with detail, are effortlessly warped together to form one coherent and intriguing storyline. It makes perfect sense as well, which for its humorous tone is certainly an impressive and surprising accolade.
The scenes from the future in particular have become so iconic that modern life seems ridiculously mundane in comparison. Okay, it may not be the most accurate depiction of a future world, but who fucking cares? It's a damn awesome world where such ridiculous concepts as hoverboards and flat screen TVs would have blown away anyone watching in the 1980's. It's not just time travel though, there's some serious themes lurking around, something that the innocent first never bothered with. Not that anyone will remember these darker scenes, but then why would you? This film presents such a colourful and charming world that's so easy to get thoroughly sucked into. In my opinion this is a sequel that really went for it. You could tell they wanted to push the boat out for this one, and it almost pays off.
#7: Toy Story 2 (1999) (8/10)
A common theme in this list is that the second film manages to stand by itself when compared to the original, even if they don't quite hit the heights of that said original. This is also true of Toy Story 2, which I found never really managed to rekindle all the magic found in the original Toy Story. That may have something to do with the fact that the plot was completely rewritten in a single week and development took just nine months, which is ridiculously short for an animation film of this caliber. The animation, script, and story are still great however, with Pixar once again pushing the boundaries of what's possible with animation. The characters feel completely lifelike, creating a more believable tale than most realistic dramas. It's yet another Pixar film that forces you to take animated films seriously.
Toy Story 2 is just as emotionally charged as the first film, and although the plot is intended to be relatable to kids, it's also one that will resonate with adults everywhere. I couldn't give a shit about my age when watching a Toy Story film, and this film to this day is damn entertaining to sit through. The big highlight of this sequel is the character additions, which are just great. There was so much room for error when adding to the stellar cast from the first film, but new characters such as Jessie have their own intricate stories written into this loving tale, arguably hitting more heartstrings than any other characters in the franchise. Toy Story 2 may well not quite hold up to the first film in my controversial opinion, but it's still a welcome addition to a beloved trilogy.
#6: The Dark Knight (2008) (8/10)
Batman Begins was an interesting and revolutionary direction for a comic book film to make, but this vision of a modern comic book film really came into play with The Dark Knight. This film was not camp men in capes, but a realistic crime drama that took more dark turns than any comic book had dared to in history. It's a film that really makes you ponder the thin line between a hero and a villain, and the plot is a gripping explanation of this common trope. This new direction works fantastically, thanks in no small part to the brilliant performances from the talented cast. I'm sure even amateur actors would have a field day with the excellent script, turning boring bureaucrats into central players of a thrilling crime drama.
The most notable performance is Heath Ledger's legendary portrayal of The Joker. Ledger took the role of comic book villain into a realm of its own, with a performance so unique it's never likely to be replicated. I doubt anyone will ever give The Joker that now iconic unhinged and deranged performance that Ledger manages here. Only a performance of that magnitude could make Batman look like a fucking twat in comparison. That's the desired effect however, and The Joker is a perfect catalyst to set the foundations for a darker comic book flick. Batman looks relatively human in comparison, which I suppose was the purpose; and this is fucking Batman we're talking about. In days of yore superhero films contained stupidly over the top action scenes with scarcely believable stunts, and they still do in fact. Not here though. The stunts here almost feel lifelike, with a narrative that's actually conceivable. It likes to travel at 100 miles an hour without pausing for a split second, but I never felt overwhelmed. It was just exhilarating to watch. A trick that many sequels fail to accomplish.
#5: The Silence of the Lambs (1991) (9/10)
Hmm, this is a tenuous pick, as it's not technically a direct sequel. It is however the second film to feature creepy psychopath Hannibal Lecter after the mediocre Manhunter, and because it's so bloody good I had to give it a mention. The main reason I love this film so much is the narrative, which is so engrossing. There's never a dull moment, and couple that with some skillful directing you have one of the most intense and psychological thrillers of all time. Special mention has to be given to the iconic Anthony Hopkins performance. Dr Hannibal Lecter is frankly chilling to watch in every single sequence he features in. That's some feat when the supporting cast also pull their weight and deliver some great performances themselves. Lecter even manages to outshine the main villain, Buffalo Bill, and he likes to skin women alive.
That's all I'm going to say before you start accusing me of ruining the list by breaking my own rules, but I will just say Silence of the Lambs is brilliant. Do yourselves a favour and just watch it.
#4: Aliens (1986) (10/10)
I loved the original Alien film. Ridley Scott's claustrophobic nightmare left audiences in a perpetual state of fear, but the James Cameron directed sequel was a whole different beast. There's still a tonne of sci-fi gimmicks and nightmarish sequences, but the real emphasis is now on a band of action heavy soldiers rather than some random crewmates. Cameron then sticks in a load more of those badass xenomorphs, including one huge fuck off queen, to set up some intense battle sequences. A simple move, yet so ingenious. There's still Sigourney Weaver hanging around, but she is anything but dead meat, and actually ends up in a fight more badass than any of the marines could manage. She is in effect the original tough female heroine, and even managed to pick up an Oscar nomination for her iconic role here.
Aliens tells the story of the unstoppable force meeting the immovable object, built up with immense tension throughout. You know shit's about to go down, and boy when it does it's like a volcanic eruption on a biblical scale, leading to some epic clashes that tantalise the alpha male in all of us. Aliens is such a fascinating spectacle to watch from start to finish. The real trick Cameron managed to accomplish was still giving the aliens that sense of horror that they had in the original, only now there's a whole hive of them instead of a single stowaway. When you place this hive in a dark and claustrophobic setting you have the recipe for one hell of a thrilling viewing experience.
#3: Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991) (9/10)
Possibly the ultimate action flick in existence. If you want cool sequences, quotable dialogue, and a bucketload of thrills then this film is just perfect. Surprisingly for an action blockbuster even the storyline is brilliant. I usually detest the contrived nonsense that action blockbusters call a deep storyline, but Terminator 2 gives us exhilarating over the top action from larger than life icons. The original was essentially a showcase for Arnold Schwarzenegger, and that's all fine, but here he was complemented by a great cast and a great script. When this all comes together the results are one of the coolest antiheroes out there. Somehow this artificial cyborg ended up being cooler than any character based on humans. Arnie doesn't have the best acting range, but a role where emotion is purposely absent is the perfect role for him to flourish in.
Surprisingly the rest of the cast aren't overshadowed by Arnie, and there is a powerful villain that can stand the starpower of Arnie, and even represent a formidable foe, culminating in one hell of an epic finale. It's a combination of everything that makes this film great; larger than life characters, fighting an epic battle, that goes over the top as much as possible. Just fantastic to watch. And as for those special effects. They still to this day look absolutely orgasmic. The film in total did cost 102 million dollars to make, a record at that point, and every penny of that budget has been put to good use. The special effects never feel like they're shouting at the viewer for attention, but instead complement every breathtaking action sequence. In terms of on screen spectacles this action blockbuster is one of a kind. It really is an experience you have to witness in person.
#2: The Empire Strikes Back (1980) (10/10)
What hasn't been said about this masterpiece? The first Star Wars film will always be my personal favorite. That's A New Hope by the way, not the god awful Phantom Menace. That's an example of a fucking shit sequel. Episode five on the other hand took the original galaxy that first blew our minds in the original and turned it on its head. This film had had enough of that dreamy sandbox where the good guys always prospered against adversity. Instead viewers were shockingly faced with a world were the bad guys, who are fucking epic, can dominate and prosper too.
The real beauty of this sequel is that it gave viewers this darker twist whilst building on the original setting. There is still this sense of childlike awe you got with the original iconic space saga, like you just knew an epic tale was to be told. The Battle of Hoth for example is gripping to watch, as is the lightsaber battle between Vader and Luke. Maybe not the best choreographed lightsaber battle in the franchise, but certainly the one with events that drop like a tonne of bricks. There are a whole collection of memorable and epic scenes in this one film, but none quite like the finale. You know, the one that gave every single nerd a collective heart attack in the 80's. It is perhaps the greatest plot twist of all time, and one huge element of a gripping finale that would go down in cinema history for good reason. The first Star Wars film was a cult hit, but this sequel MADE the Star Wars franchise the powerhouse it is today. This was the episode that gave the franchise a universal appeal, and the one that promoted Star Wars into a serious work of art.
#1: The Godfather Part II (1974) (10/10)
It's pretty tough to rank the sequel to what I consider to be the greatest film of all time. Having said that the second Godfather film is yet another ambitious masterpiece that doesn't quite top the original in my humble opinion. That's not a criticism, as this film is still an all time great that expands on the original premise in epic proportions. In effect, the perfect sequel. Here the mob takes a backstory, along with fifteen million other symbolic themes the film has hidden away. Instead we get an exploration of Al Pacino's legendary protagonist in all its gritty depth. Some of the most intense scenes in cinema history can be found tucked away in this three hour epic, but it's the ones with Pacino at the heart of them that carry the most impact. He commands every scene from start to finish. It is perhaps the greatest character exploration in the history of cinema, but one that still explores the larger picture, with foes and antiheroes popping up in the most unlikely of places.
It's easy to get a sense of just why this film was so influential. The narrative is so nonconforming that by the end you want know what to believe about the characters, with the plot pulling twist after twist during this marathon. It has possibly the greatest screenplay of any film in history, engaging the viewer in such a lavish and sophisticated narrative. Seriously, this film manages to pull off two epic storylines, which is something even the first masterpiece can't gloat about. Two contrasting storylines that intertwine for one hell of an experience, eventually conjoining in a symbolic final scene that perfectly encapsulates the themes of the storyline. The cinematography in this sequence and each of these narratives is absolutely sublime. It perfectly accompanies the often dark and cinematic tone of the franchise. Seriously, The second Godfather is a must see. Cinema history is made in a film they thought couldn't possibly top the first. But here is yet another landmark in film from undoubtedly the greatest sequel of all time.
