Top Ten Movie Sequels
What are the top ten follow-up films of all-time?
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With The Dark Knight now firmly set as the second largest grossing film of all-time withI felt there was no time better than right now to take a look at the all-time greatest sequels in film history. Not an easy task and many factors must be considering when devising such a list.
First off, I didn't consider any of the James Bond films or the Man with No Name films (The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, For a Few Dollars More, A Fistful of Dollars) as sequels. To me pulling out one James Bond film is pretty much impossible. I have my personal favorite (The Living Daylights) and perhaps I will do a list of James Bond films when Quantum of Solace releases, but for now this list is without a Bond film. I also didn't add any of the films from The Lord of the Rings trilogy. For a while I had Two Towers on this top ten, but decided to nix it as those films were basically all made as one giant film and released broken up into three parts. You may disagree with the decision, but if you think it is disrespectful of the films check out my list of Top Ten Film Trilogies and you should have renewed faith.
Other than those two exceptions the only qualification was that you had to be a direct and intended sequel to a theatrically released film. I say "theatrically released" because that restricts film such as The Queen, which was, for all intents and purposes, a sequel to the 2003 HBO/Channel 4 TV film The Deal. As much as I love The Queen it just doesn't fit the criteria. So, with that said, let's get underway with the
This list includes at least eight films I consider to be better than their original film and two others that serve as a complete toss-up for most. I am not sure how much you will agree or disagree with my decisions, but I am sure you will have an opinion…
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I will be in minority here, big time, because I never felt Godfather 2 was all that great of a sequel. The acting was good and the whole flashback story was interesting, but Michael's rise really didn't add anything that was better than the original.
Moreover, the whole Bourne franchise seemed like watching the same thing over and over again…I know, minority again!
I am very happy to see Before Sunset. It is a fantastic film. Romantic films aren't usually my favorite films, mainly because they are so predictable and boring, but this film and Before Sunrise made me sit there with a stupid grin on my face and a fuzzy feeling. I love these films and Linklater, Hawke and Delpy are fantastic. I think I'll add my top 10 also here. I am imposing on me the rule that only one film pr. series can be in the list or both Bournes would have a entry on its own and it doesn't have to be direct sequel as long as it is just a sequel.
1. The Dark Knight
2. The Bourne Supremacy
3. Before Sunset
4. Terminator 2: Judgement Day
5. Infernal Affairs 2
6. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
7. Spider-Man 2
8. X2: X-Men United
9. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
10. Back to the Future 2
Very cool. I was just wondering when you'd add another one to the site.
I find it hard to disagree with really anything on the list. In fact, I agree with many of your choices regarding sequels that supposedly are better than the originals (i.e. Aliens, Godfather II). While I love both – I would have had an extremely difficult time picking one to be considered better than the other. Which would lead me to just go with the fact that they're great sequels – in their own right [not necessarily better than the original, just great sequels].
I can't see my own top ten being much different – maybe, just slightly; however, my ranking is definitely different:
10. Godfather II
9. Magnum Force
8. Superman II
7. X2: X-men United
6. Rock IV
5. The Dark Knight
4.Terminator 2: Judgment Day
3. Wrath of Khan (I was tempted to replace it with First Contact; however, I'm sticking to the premise of the Star Trek series as a complete entity, rather than Original Series cast and Next Generation cast.)
2. Empire Strikes Back
1. Aliens
As always, thanks for another great list!
Could you technically call Kill Bill Volume 2 a sequel? It's kind of the same thing when people say Two Towers or Return of the King are sequels. I just can't go along with that line of thought? Is that why LOTRs were left off or is it just b/c you didn't dig them enough to place them.
I think you meant why Two Towers and ROTK are not sequels? Yeah, I don't really consider Kill Bill Volume 2 a sequel and I also don't think it would be in the top ten if I did. If you are wondering why I have it in the Honorable Mention, it is simply because I didn't explain it in the opening. I felt if I sat and explained why so many movies weren't on the list I may have never actually got to the list.
I really like Before Sunset, but I have never seen Before Sunrise. I am going to move it up on my Netflix queue.
good choices, but i think 'before sunset' would be placed on the bottom 5. i like the film, i really do. but to exceed expectations from the viewing public, it didnt much pushed through. though the first one was great as well
The only argument I would use against that is the fact that it is a romance featuring just two people talking. The mere fact that it can be anywhere near as good as it is (in my mind of course) makes it that much more special to me.
Batman – Batman Returns – Batman Begins – The Darknight
The Mummy – The Mummy Returns – I hate the third sequel
The Bourne Identity – The Bourne Supremacy – The Bourne Ultimatum
Spiderman – Spiderman 2 – Spiderman 3
Starwars – The Phantom Menace – Attack of the Clones – Revenge of the Sith – A New Hope – Return of the Jedi
Before Sunrise – Before Sunset
Rocky – Rocky II – Rocky III – Rocky IV – Rocky V – Rocky Balboa
Night of the Living Dead – Dawn of the Dead
Toy Story – Toy Story 2
Xmen – Xmen United – Xmen: The Last Stand
Damn, I didn't even think of Dawn of the Dead, that original flick is one of the classic horror films. Good call!
Transformers 2 is coming out too. I loved the first one.
noone said anyhting about mad max films.the vacation movies. i like 3 out of the 4 crow movies.waiting as great.. part 2 is coming out feb 17,09/ butterfly effect one and 2. and the part 3 is coming out this year. and the porky's films and the part 4 is coming out this year too.
Superman II and NOT Terminator 2?? I think that's a BAD DECISION.