Nowadays, every movie receives the sequel treatment. And oftentimes, they shouldn’t, because sequels just never live up to the originals and tend to diminish their predecessors’ power. Even when a movie is supposed to have sequels, they can be downright bad and take away from the overall glory of the series.
Every once in a while, a sequel will come out that can hold its own next to the first installment. Sequels are often looked down upon, or sometimes not even watched, because fans don’t think it will be as good as the first. And while history tends to support that theory, every once in a while a sequel comes along that is just as good as the original. Sometimes (although rarely) sequels are better than the original films.
(Percentages based on Rotten Tomatoes)
10 The Conjuring – 86% VS. The Conjuring 2 – 80%
The Conjuring series follows the various otherworldly encounters of paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren, and the first two films center around demonic possession. Both were directed by James Wan, who undeniably knows what he’s doing in regards to horror, so it’s no surprise that both movies hold their own.
The Conjuring 2 was incredibly successful for many reasons, one simply being that it follows the same beats as the first and uses the same formula. It doesn’t rush any character backstories, but it also doesn’t visually show much, which audiences might be tired of. This could also be the reason that the first film is held in higher regard than its sequel. The third film in the series holds a 56% on the Tomatometer.
9 Alien – 98% VS. Aliens – 97%
Alien was released in 1979 and directed by Ridley Scott. Aliens was released in 1986 and directed by James Cameron. Both films are very scary, extremely well made, and star Sigourney Weaver as the badass Ellen Ripley. The first two films in the ongoing franchise are rated similarly because they are fantastic movies. As to which is better, is a matter of taste, or mood.
Alien was one of the first movies of its kind, and it is truly iconic. Compared to its sequel, it’s more of a slow burn; the chest-burster scene doesn’t even occur until about an hour in the film. Aliens is more visceral and punchy, and it gets right to the action-packed point. It also focuses less on the claustrophobia of stranded with the “perfect killing machine,” and opens up its scale to be more chaotic and warlike.
8 Kung Fu Panda – 87% VS. Kung Fu Panda 2 – 80%
Kung Fu Panda is one of DreamWorks’ most popular films because of its family-friendly nature, humor, and colorful animation. It features huge names such as Jack Black, Angelina Jolie, Dustin Hoffman, and Ian McShane, and the sequel adds Gary Oldman to the cast.
The second film has a very similar story arc to the first, but it feels darker while still retaining all the fun of the first film, which is an impressive feat. Many fans prefer Kung Fu Panda 2 over the previous installment, which could be for many reasons, but the highlights are Gary Oldman, the visual sparks, and the fantastic score by Hans Zimmer.
7 The Terminator – 100% VS. Terminator 2: Judgement Day – 93%
Everyone knows The Terminator, and most people love it. Rotten Tomatoes gave it a perfect score, and the sequel isn’t far behind. The first film is a revolutionary entry in the sci-fi genre, important for its influence on many other films and television series. The hero isn’t Arnold Schwarzenegger, it’s Linda Hamilton’s Sarah Connor.
And it’s a story that’s grounded in her experience with matters that concern not just herself, but the fate of the world. Terminator 2: Judgement Day is the perfect follow-up to the original, and it has an almost perfect Tomatoes score. It came out seven years after the first and redefined the genre almost as much as the original film, retaining the heady time-travel mechanics, while adding stunning, show-stopping action set-pieces.
6 The Dark Knight – 94% VS. The Dark Knight Rises – 87%
Christopher Nolan’s Batman series is one of the more popular versions of the caped crusaders’ exploits and the films singlehandedly jumpstarted a new age of gritty and grounded superhero movies. Christian Bale is a lot of fans’ favorite Batman according to GameSpot, LADBible, and other sites. The preference between the two latter films in the series typically depends on which villain you prefer: Joker or Bane.
The Dark Knight is the better film, and most audiences would agree with that statement since Heath Ledger’s Oscar-winning performance is unmatched. Not to mention it was a whole new perspective of Batman movies and set the tone for many future iterations and DC movies. The Dark Knight Rises is an excellent climax to the trilogy, yet due to its massive scale, lacks a little in the iconic villain department.
5 Annabelle – 32% VS Annabelle: Creation – 71%
The first Annabelle film isn’t rated all that high, and for good reason. It’s pretty mundane and certainly nothing new or inventive. The second film, which is a prequel, Annabelle: Creation, is truly horrifying. In a general sense, maybe it’s not the greatest film based on standard criteria, but in its ability to deliver horror to its audience, it works.
Annabelle: Creation is so much more successful and popular than the first because it provides a new perspective, creepy visuals, and effective scares. It is much more fleshed out than the first, and it keeps you on the edge of your seat the whole time. The first film only has one scary moment, and the characters aren’t likable or interesting enough to root for.
4 Spider-Man – 90% VS. Spider-Man 2 – 93%
Sam Raimi knocked both of these movies out of the park, but the second rendition outdoes the first in a few different aspects. Both have entertaining villains that give huge bonus points to already fun movies, but the second film pays attention to emotional moments as well, making it the more popular of the two. Spider-Man 2 takes its time in introducing Doctor Octopus, allowing audiences to fall in love with the villain, only to see him turn and ultimately perish.
Raimi’s directing style really improves in between these two movies, and it shows in Spider-Man 2 for sure. It’s less camp, and the characters come across as more human, especially in the beautifully fleshed-out, tortured Dr. Otto Octavius.
3 John Wick – 86% VS. John Wick: Chapter 2 – 89%
The first John Wick is an incredible action-packed movie with well-choreographed fight scenes, plenty of violence, and a main character that the audience can’t help but root for. And the sequel does exactly what a sequel should do: it doubles down on all the parts that made the original so much fun. Keanu Reeves gets better and better as the movies go on, and Chapter 2 made more than double the earnings of the original film at the box office.
2 Scream – 79% VS. Scream 2 – 81%
There are five Scream movies with more along the way. However, for many fans, the first remains the favorite. According to critics, the second installment just slightly edges out the first. The Scream franchise is all about mocking horror movie tropes, and Wes Craven is successful in that throughout all the films that he was a part of (he passed away in 2015).
In Scream 2, the characters talk about how sequels usually suck, but miraculously this movie doesn’t fall into that trap. The gimmick of self-awareness pays off, working well within the movie’s rules. Scream 2 is appropriately repetitive, has fun kills, and has enough sly humor to create a top-notch narrative. Not to mention the twist ending is even twistier than the first.
1 Toy Story – 100% VS. Toy Story 2 – 100%
The Toy Story franchise is so iconic, everyone loves them. It’s the most popular Pixar movie, and it was their first. This is a special case for many reasons. One is that both the original and the sequel have the same perfect score of 100% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Many reviews refer to Toy Story 2 as superior or at least a worthy follow-up to the first one. The sequel is successful in many aspects and for many different reasons. It introduces new characters, improved animation, and a creative, narratively complex plot. Audiences tend to like the first movie slightly better, but from a critical standpoint, both movies are essentially flawless.