For the better and, more often, for the worse American moviemakers love sequels. They’re (relatively) easier to green-light since the producers have already persuaded studios to take a chance on the original; they’re easier to produce since the story and characters are already established; and they’re easier to market since audiences who went to see the original will probably return to see the next installment.
The second half of this list names five of the best film sequels ever produced by American moviemakers – films that, if possible, improved on the original. But first: what qualifies a sequel to make this list?
Making the Great Even Better
The movies that made this countdown were genre-expanding films that, arguably, improved on their original’s themes, characters, effects, or scope. Rather than hap dash attempts to cash in on a successful franchise, these are movies that deepen and respect characters and take stories and themes in directions both new and worthy. These are the five best film sequels in the history of American cinema.
The Best
5. Toy Story 3 (PG, 2010)
It may be premature to name Toy Story 3 as one of the best sequels of all time, but it is not a stretch to say that it was the most technically impressive Pixar has produced and the most emotionally potent to both children and adults. A gentle and tender exploration on the human nature of love and loss, Toy Story 3 touched at something that has been all but lost to modern, more mature films, and wrapped this in a beautifully rendered, instantly likable, and genuinely exciting animated feature.
The story picks up several years after the toys’ adventure in Toy Story 2 and revolves around how Woody and Buzz (voiced by Tom Hanks and Tim Allen respectively) help the rest of Andy’s toys cope with their owner’s imminent departure for college and their struggle to balance their devotion to him with their knowledge that they were made to be played with. The third entry is the most mature, tender, and satisfying of the trilogy, while still displaying the franchise’s youthful appeal and humor.
4. Terminator 2: Judgement Day (R, 1991)
A staple in the development of both the science fiction and action genres, Terminator 2 featured both Arnold Schwarzenegger and James Cameron at the top of their games. A large improvement on many aspects of The Terminator, its sequel was a taut, genre-expanding thriller.
The story hewed closely to the first: a seemingly unstoppable cyborg (part machine, part living flesh) is sent from a war-torn future in which humans are fighting sentient machines to kill the leader of the human resistance as a youth. Its revolutionary special effects, well developed, witty storytelling and top-notch action sequences set a new standard for action movie sequels for the last two decades.
3. The Dark Knight (PG-13, 2008) (Second Review)
Until 2008 there would have been a prominent gap in this list which would have been slotted with Superman 2: the best Super-hero film sequel. That film, despite its high quality and notability, wouldn’t have reached beyond the fourth position. But with 2008 and the release of Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight, the Super-hero genre was changed forever. To say that The Dark Knight simply improved upon the original Batman Begins is to belittle both films. The Dark Knight featured a top-notch cast including the final complete role of Heath Ledger, whose intense performance would have been lauded even if it had not been his last. It is one of the most complexly written, tightly edited, and best directed films of our time.
Filmmaking on a darkly epic scale, The Dark Knight pit Batman against his two most notable villains, the Joker and Two-Face. The story was deep, philosophically weighty, and at times, downright frightening. From the top to the bottom, every aspect of the film was impressive. Its set-pieces, musical direction, and even sound editing raised the bar for every film – not just sequels – to come.
2. The Empire Strikes Back (PG, 1980)
The sequel to arguably the most influential science-fiction film ever made, The Empire Strikes Back redefined the term ‘blockbuster.’ Darker, more technically impressive, and more mature than its predecessor, the film did exactly what a successful sequel should, deepening the mythology of the characters established by the first film and expanding on its beloved story.
The film continues the story of Luke Skywalker, Leia, Han Solo, and the Rebellion’s plight against the malicious Empire and explores in greater depth the mythology of the Force, a mystical power that binds together all life. Utilizing more dazzling effects than its predecessor, The Empire Strikes Back had a significantly larger scope and introduced numerous new characters that have since become as iconic as those from the first. Add to that perhaps the most notorious, unexpected, unresolved twist ending and it is no wonder why The Empire Strikes Back ranks as the second best film sequel in American cinema.
1. The Godfather, Part II (R, 1974)
Francis Ford Coppola’s revered film adaptation of Mario Puzo’s The Godfather is widely regarded as the greatest film in cinematic history. Taking the top spot on this list, The Godfather, Part II was the first sequel to win an Academy Award for Best Picture (1974) and is to date one of the finest films ever made.
Sharing most of the original’s cast sans Marlon Brando, The Godfather, Part II deepened the story and characters of the original by unfolding in two separate times: 1920’s New York when young Vitto Corleone (Robert De Niro) begins his career in organized crime and 1950’s Nevada when his son, Michael, carries on his empire. While it did not improve on the original’s scope, Part II was dark, complex, and nearly as iconic as the original. Its individual elements –cinematography, performances, scripting, soundtrack, pacing – taken separately are worthy of note, but together crafted the finest follow-up on one of the finest crime stories ever told. The Godfather, Part II is the best sequel in American cinema.
Honorable Mentions: Superman 2 (1980), Return of the Jedi (1983), Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003), The Road Warrior (1981), Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)
That does it for the Five Best Sequels in American Cinema. Check out: The Five Worst Sequels Produced in American Cinema.
To read about some other exceptional films, check out: The Ten Best Comedies Of All Time, The Ten Best Get-Even Films, The Ten Best Films of the Decade, or The Ten Best Animated Films Ever Made.
Had enough of the exceptionally good? How about: The First Worst Films of the Decade, 9 Trailers that Were Way Better than their Films, or 10 Films that Didn't Quite Live Up to Their Potential.
Andrew McKinley - Andrew McKinley graduated from Principia College in 2007 with a degree in Business Administration. He has written articles for multiple ...
Join the Conversation