Sequels are the name of the game in Hollywood. Now, it's rare for a sequel to outdo the original film, but it does happen. Once the first film has gotten the trouble of laying a foundation out of the way, a sequel can explore the characters and setting in the depth they deserve.
Sequels can also challenge their characters more effectively - usually a hero's journey is complete by the end of the first film, so the way to go is a deconstruction. There are plenty of film franchises where the sequel beats the original.
10 Universal's Frankenstein Is Outshined By Bride Of Frankenstein
One of the first film franchises was the Universal Monsters. After releasing a handful of silent films, Universal's horror series began in earnest in 1931 with James Whale's Frankenstein. Frankenstein captured the power of Mary Shelley's classic novel and turned Universal Studios into a power player in Hollywood.
However, in 1935, James Whale followed up with the even better Bride Of Frankenstein. Though it deviates from the source material's narrative, Bride Of Frankenstein is even truer to Shelley's themes.
9 No Star Wars Film Has Surpassed The Empire Strikes Back
The ultimate example of the "even better sequel" is The Empire Strikes Back. In a daring move, Empire set out to be as different from Star Wars as possible. Things get darker, the good guys don't triumph, and revelations in the first Star Wars are turned on their head.
Taking this approach to follow one of the most popular films was bold, but it paid off dividends. Every blockbuster sequel and Star Wars film has tried to recapture the magic of Empire, with mixed results.
8 The Wrath Of Khan Saved Star Trek
Star Trek: The Motion Picture isn't held in high esteem. Director Robert Wise's attempt at 2001: A Space Odyssey resulted in a slow and dull film. A sequel was barely greenlit, but Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry was stripped of creative control and the budget was slashed from $44 million to $12 million. Director Nicholas Meyer pulled off a miracle with Star Trek II: The Wrath Of Khan.
Wrath Of Khan interrogated Captain Kirk's ethos. Neither Shatner or Ricardo Montalbán were ever better than they were in Khan. Like Empire did for Star Wars, Khan casts a long shadow over Star Trek which later films have never escaped.
7 Evil Dead II Is The Film The Original Set Out To Be
Evil Dead II walks the line between sequel and remake. Evil Dead, made on a shoestring budget on $375,000, essentially serves as a beta test for director Sam Raimi's career. With Evil Dead II, Raimi gets a chance to better realize his ambitions. Evil Dead II opens with an abbreviated run through of the first film's story before moving into new territory. Evil Dead II is also much goofier than Evil Dead, if no less scary, and this horror/comedy tone came to define Raimi's aesthetic.
6 The Before Trilogy Is At Its Best In Before Sunset
One of the best film trilogies is Before. Made over an 18 year period, the Before trilogy follow the stages in the relationship between Jesse (Ethan Hawke) and Celine (Julie Delpy). Each film is phenomenal, capturing all the stages of love.
The best chapter is the second, Before Sunset, when Jesse and Celine reunite 9 years after their first meeting. Mystique hasn't totally given way to reality, but the actors and characters alike have clearly matured. It perfectly sets the stage for the near dissolution in Before Midnight.
5 X-Men Followed The Empire Strikes Back Template With X2
X-Men struggled with capturing the scale worthy of a superhero story. X2 was better. The action is much better; even neutered by the PG-13 rating. The opening attack on the White House is a stunner, combining choreography and special effects.
As the villainous William Stryker, Brian Cox is excellent as always. Alan Cumming's Nightcrawler is a fine addition to the team. X2 has its flaws - sidelining Cyclops and ditching the religious themes of source material God Loves, Man Kills robs the story of some power.
4 Spider-Man Movies Haven't Surpassed Sam Raimi's Spider-Man 2
Of the three cinematic iterations of Spider-Man, Sam Raimi and Tobey Maguire's Peter Parker is still the best. Of the trilogy of Spider-Mans they made together, the best is Spider-Man 2. One of the superhero genres best offerings, Spider-Man 2 isn't just a great action movie, it's a very human (melo)drama. If more superhero movies followed Spider-Man 2's lead and came back down to Earth, the genre would be richer for it.
3 Christopher Nolan's Batman Films Are Called "The Dark Knight Trilogy" For A Reason
In 2005, Christopher Nolan resuscitated Batman with a stunning reboot, Batman Begins. For all its merits, Batman Begins is Nolan's most conventional film and doesn't reach the same depth as its sequel, The Dark Knight. The Dark Knight is a landmark film, bringing superheroes prestige they'd never enjoyed before and boasting the best blockbuster villain of the 21st century in Heath Ledger's Joker.
The Dark Knight feels like Nolan's definitive statement on its titular hero. But to wrap up Batman's story, he returned for The Dark Knight Rises, a messy film with brilliant moments but not the consistency of its predecessor.
2 Captain America Peaked With The Winter Soldier
Captain America may just be a subset of the larger Marvel Cinematic Universe, but the best film featuring Cap is the sequel to his debut film - Captain America: The Winter Soldier. It's also the best Marvel film the Russo brothers have made. Winter Soldier is one of the only MCU films with a modicum of political ambition, and the brothers' drab aesthetic isn't nearly as much a detriment for a grounded story.
The Russos also do a better job with practical action than they do with the effects-fueled mayhem of Infinity War and Endgame. The highway set-piece near the end of the second act is a particular highlight.
1 The Planet Of The Apes Reboot Is Strong All The Way Through, But Dawn Is The Best
The Planet Of The Apes is one of the few trilogies where every chapter is strong. Chapter 2, Dawn Of The Planet Of The Apes (which also saw a director switch over from Rupert Wyatt to Matt Reeves), saw a notable uptick in quality. The trilogy's closing chapter War For The Planet Of The Apes, was also directed by Reeves and comes close to the quality of Dawn. Unfortunately, War couldn't quite match Dawn's freshness and ambition.