Filming a sequel is daunting territory for filmmakers. First, you must get the audience’s sentiment right while offering something new. For Hollywood production, franchises are a way of riding the success wave of the original, especially in the superhero genre.
While you might think riding on the original wave is a weak and unoriginal move, some of the best movies out there were sequels. So, let’s dive into the best franchise continuation films that surpassed the first movie.
Dark Knight
Batman is the perfect hero, a mysterious masked man with a dark side that saves Gotham from crazy villains. Second, Nolan’s Batman movie encaptured the dark atmosphere of the city, got an incredible performance from Heath Ledger as a Joker, and some critics argue it is the best superhero movie ever.
The movie let Christopher Nolan create another sequel. It also sparked gaming titles like the Batman Arkham franchise, where you played the role of Batman in a fighting action style. You can also find the Dark Knight slot game on igaming websites and win some jackpot games by spinning familiar DC Comics characters.
Terminator 2
Arguably the best movie from the action franchise that launched Arnold Schwarzenegger to the highest action hero levels. James Cameron’s dark vision, high-end special effects and great story set the second movie apart. Terminator is now a good guy, and he is protecting Sarah Connor from the more advanced version of the Terminator. Oh, yeah, and the soundtrack is fantastic with songs like Guns’ n’ Roses You could be mine.
The Godfather 2
In the mix for best movie ever, The Godfather 2 is Francis Ford Coppola’s pure masterpiece. To be better than original was hard to accomplish in the critically acclaimed Saga on Corleone mafia family. Developed characters, incredible stories and dialogues, psychology, everything was pure class. Legendary performances from Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, and other stars studded cast helped elevate the second Godfather as king of the genre.
Star Wars: Empire Strikes Back
The Star Wars saga got a dark twist in episode V or the second movie in the franchise. Empire set its dark reign over the known universe and attacks the Rebels. Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker’s scene is intense and will culminate in the Jedi Returns movie. We get the first glimpse of Yoda’s character and a romance between Princess Lea and Han Solo.
Lord of the Rings: Return of the King
The perfect end of the epic trilogy has more of everything—the conclusion, melancholic yet triumphant ending, massive battles that are awesome and spectacular. The three-and-a-half-hour spectacle got numerous Academy awards and an incredible 8.9 IMDB rating.
Toy Story 2
Fans and critics find the second part of Pixar’s Toy Story the best among excellent, engaging movies. It has upgraded animation, a star lineup of voice-over actors with Tom Hanks, Tim Allen and Joan Cusack. Great story, heartwarming relationships and action that leaves you on edge are why the Toy Story sequel is above others in Pixar’s franchise.
Many movies had better sequels. At least one Fast and Furious is better than the opening movie, James Bond also has several candidates, and Mission Impossible is also on that list.
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