Some great movie sequels have the potential to make the original movie look even better in retrospect, honoring their legacy while adding more layers of intrigue. Thebest movie sequelscan surpass the movies that preceded them, but they can also elevate the entire franchise at once.
Sequels can show the events of a story through a different lens, perhaps by focusing more on the perspectives of supporting characters or by showing the knock-on effects of major plot points. This is often the job of prequels, but sequels can also add more depth to the characters and enhance a story in retrospect.
The Godfather Part IIis often hailed as one of thebest movies ever made, let alone one of the best sequels.Robert De Niro’s role as a young Vito Corleone helps put Michael’s rise to power into context, highlighting the differences between the two Dons of the Corleone family and the worlds they live in.
The Godfather Part IIIisn’t as popular, but it still enhances the original movie in retrospect.
The Godfather Part IIIisn’t as popular, but it still enhances the original movie in retrospect. Seeing Michael dying alone in a sunlit garden is a shocking contrast to Vito’s death decades earlier, who died at home while playing with his grandson.Part IIIshows the ultimate tragedy of Michael’s story, which starts with the first movie.
The first half ofBack to the Future Part IIsends Marty McFly to the future, which provides a fun contrast to the original movie’s historical setting, but the sequel finds another gear when Marty and Doc travel back to 1955 once again, where their paths get tangled with their first adventure.
Back to the Future Part IIlooks at the events of the first movie from another angle, showing how future versions of Marty and Doc were secretly influencing everything from just out of frame. It’s a joy to go back and watchBack to the Futurewith this knowledge, and seeing Robert Zemeckis' intelligent narrative trickery with fresh eyes.
It can be hard to separate the originalStar Warsmovie from the behemoth multimedia franchise that it spawned, but looking back at the first movie highlights just how much the sequels have done to deepen the impact of Luke Skywalker’s first adventure. Of course, the Darth Vader twist inThe Empire Strikes Backis an obvious example, but this is just one of many.
SeveralStar Warsmovies and TV shows directly reinforce the original movie.Rogue OneandAndorgive more weight to the sacrifices of the rebellion, the original trilogy provides more backstory to Ben Kenobi’s character, and the later sequels show that Luke’s journey was never so straightforward. The slate ofupcomingStar Warsmovieswill continue this trend.
Without directly answering the lingering mystery of Deckard’s origins,Blade Runner 2049enhances his story from the first movie. Denis Villeneuve’s sequel managed to expand the scope ofBlade Runnerwhile staying true to the original, mixing K’s story with the mystery of Deckard’s fate perfectly.
As well as fleshing out the world and adding more nuance to the story,Blade Runner 2049puts an intelligent twist on the themes of the original. The sequel looks at the question of what it means to be human from new angles, and it’s worth revisiting Deckard and Roy Batty’s struggle for power with this additional context.
WhileScreamis a great slasher and a satisfying murder mystery,it’s best to approach it while understanding the ways that it’s trying to subvert the genre.Scream 2andScream 3spell things out more clearly, which can give audiences a clearer appreciation of what the original movie is trying to do.
Screamshook up the horror genre, with many subsequent movies trying to follow the same blueprint.TheScreamfranchisehas always been at the forefront of its own movement, however, adding new layers to its self-referential meta humor and constantly keeping audiences in suspense.
Top Gun: Maverickisn’t often held up as the shining example of a sequel that surpasses the original, and the ideal way to execute a legacy sequel. However,it’s also a great demonstration of how to enhance an original movie, sinceTop Gunwas never exactly a critical darling in 1986.
Maverickprovides a more grounded emotional arc for its hero, revealing that Tom Cruise’s character has failed to truly change in the intervening decades, for better or worse. This makesTop Gun’s knuckle-headed fun and youthful bravado look a little more complex in retrospect, because it shows the lasting effects of this era.
Before Sunriseis admirable in its simplicity, relying on the strength of its dialogue and its performances to tell an authentic, captivating love story. However, Richard Linklater’s trilogy aspires to more than this, and the three movies collectively paint a more complex portrait of a relationship.
Within the context of theBeforetrilogy, the first movie is the emblem of reckless, youthful love, as the characters are swept away by their feelings without having to consider obligations and sacrifices in too much detail. Seeing the characters like this, while knowing what’s in store for them in the years to come, is a powerful reminder of what true love entails.
The firstToy Storymovie revolves around the struggle between Woody and new arrival Buzz, who poses a threat to his status as Andy’s favorite toy and the de facto leader of the gang. With the added context ofToy Story 2and3,this conflict seems much more relatable and mature.
It’s easy to empathize with Andy’s arc inToy Story 3,as he has to grow up and leave his carefree childhood behind. From Woody’s perspective, he has to part ways with the child he has cared about for so long. In a way, Woody’s pain is like that of a parent, realizing that his child no longer needs him in the same way. WatchingToy Storythrough this lens reveals the early signs of this transition.
ThePlanet of the Apesfranchiseseemed to be dead for years, but the prequel series has provided a fresh take on the premise, with each sequel building the story of how apes eventually rise to become the dominant species on Earth.Dawn of the Planet of the Apesfocuses on a key turning point within the apes' society, as a power struggle represents an ideological conflict.
Caesar and Koba’s fight to lead the apes stems from their dispute over how apes should interact with humans. The events ofWar for the Planet of the Apesshow humans abusing apes on an industrial scale, perhaps proving that Koba was right. Still, Caesar’s ability to change is part of what makes him the superior leader.
The Shiningis one of the best Stephen King movies, even though the author’s distaste for Stanley Kubrick’s adaptation is common knowledge. It seemed like the perfect horror movie for decades, without the need for a sequel of any kind, but Mike Flanagan’s adaptation of King’s follow-up novel more than justified its own existence.
Looking back on the original adds even more urgency and tragedy to the story from Danny’s perspective.
Doctor Sleepshows the darkness awaiting Danny’s future, and the way that the events at the Overlook Hotel haunted his entire existence. Looking back on the original adds even more urgency and tragedy to the story from Danny’s perspective, even though the focus is always on Jack.
