Sequels that Reign Supreme!
Ah, sequels. The love and hate relationship of all movie goers. There is nothing worse than having your favourite movie getting a sequel, you being hyped up for it, waiting months and months, only to finally get to see it and for it to be utter, utter garbage. But, on those rare occasions, you get blessed with another good movie. A great movie. An OMG this second movie is better than the first one! And that's what we're talking about today. Movies that are better in a sequel. Now, for most of these movies I am going to talk about, it will be their immediate second, but I will also include one or two movies that were down the line from the original. Let's get to it!
American Pie 2 - The American Pie Franchise
This movie is my favourite movie in the American Pie franchise, and even gets close to the top with my favourite movies of all time. What makes the second movie so much better than the first is the way it flows. In American Pie, they tried to make the classic american teenage high school movie, and don't get me wrong they succeeded, but it was almost to awkward. There were definitely moments that could resonate with any kind of teenager finishing highschool, but also things that were just plain awkward. Apple pie? Really? But with the second movie, that kind of stuff was taken out or at least very polished up. Sure, there were still some questionable parts, like the outcome of being caught by two girls after sneaking into their house (watch the movie and you'll understand) but overall, I felt like it came together better. Fresh out of highschool, there's always some part of you that wants to hold on to the carefree fun that you had and what better time to do it after your first year of college? The movie does extremely well with having one last hurrah with your friends, while at the same time figuring out who you want to be, which is something that every 20 something year old goes through. On the opposite side but, the laughs are still there, funnier than before reminding you all that this is just a movie but also not to take life too seriously. At the end of the day, American Pie 2 is a great follow up movie that lets you relive your own days of summer holidays and relate just a little bit more with the characters.
D2 The Mighty Ducks - The Mighty Ducks Franchise
Quack. Quack. Quack. Ah the memories. D2 The Mighty Ducks is the epitome of the sequel being the better movie. At this point in the movie timeline, all of the players have grown into teenagers and with that, have come to be known as one of the better teams for their sport, eventually being acknowledged in becoming the USA team at the Junior Goodwill Games. What this movie does better than the first is the narrative. Sure, on a base level it's the same kind of story, the low team comes together despite everyone's differences and beats the team that is on top. Classic 90's sport movie. But D2 is different. The Ducks come into this movie being the team on top only to be shown that's not always going to be the case (I won't say much more in case you've been living under a rock and haven't seen the movie). This movie's narrative flows a lot better, having distinct points of turns and surprises which invest you into the movie, over the entire course of it and not just certain parts. It shows the differences that everyone has to go through and the difficulties of life that one may have to face in their careers, resulting in tough choices. It's fun, exciting and suspenseful, something that I can't say the first movie did all that well with.
Rocky IV - The Rocky Franchise
Aaaaadriaannnnnn! When you think all time movies, Rocky usually makes an appearance somewhere in there. And nothing else has changed with this list, having chosen Rocky IV as the sequel that's better than first. Now, I know I have probably angered some people in saying that the best Rocky movie isn't the first one but hear me out. Rocky IV was set in a time where country pride was a massive thing in the world, especially between the USA and the former USSR. A lot of movies had made the classic battle between the two in many different ways but this one hit differently (pun intended). In this movie, Rocky isn't fighting just for himself to prove that he's no longer the underdog or a washed up pro but for his fallen friend, something that we can all agree on brought a tear to our eye. It was this movie that I felt really solidified the Rocky franchise, and to me, it felt like this movie is what really gave the character Rocky Balboa his shining moment. Sure, he had overcome all odds before that let him have the life he wanted and overcame people who were stronger than he was, but this was the first time I felt, he was portrayed as someone who was doing it for the good of someone else. The movie itself sucks you from the very first 30 mins and from then on, its just a rollercoaster of emotions as you watch what happens. In the first three films, you could kind of tell that he was going to get back on top when he needed or prove himself in someway, but there was the notion, a feeling, that maybe just this time, he wouldn't be able to do it. And its because of those feelings that I think this is the better movie.
Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back - The Star Wars Saga
I am your Father. The line that sent gasps around the world. One of the biggest cinematic reveals in movie history and it's come to us from the second movie. The Empire Strikes Back is the pinnacle of a second movie being better in many different ways. At the end of the first movie, A New Hope, you were left with the feeling of it's over. The good guys had won in the biggest explosion possible and there was nothing left of the evil except for one person who had been thrown off course into space, presumably to never be seen again. But come the second movie and everything has been overturned. Here, we really learn of a bigger, badder baddie in the form of Emperor Palpatine, after only hearing the name in the first movie very, very briefly. Suddenly, what we thought was a dying empire, was shown to be much bigger than we all initially thought. We learn that Darth Vader isn't the top dog and we quickly learn that the Empire is much bigger and stronger than we could have believed. The movie does such a fantastic job in growing all of it's characters, while introducing new characters that will eventually play some kind of vital role in the end. On top of everything else it gives us that grand reveal, leaving us in utter shock, only to follow it up with the bad guys winning, giving us that feeling of despair and want for more. That is what this movie does so much better than its predecessor, giving us the feeling of wanting more. Of drawing us in to every scene and conversation that happens. It leaves you walking out going "OMFG what the hell just happened?" And it's rare that a second movie can do that.
Honourable Mentions
Bad Boys 2 - A great follow up to a good first movie. The second movie does a great job in re-establishing the relationship between the two main characters, while also growing and introducing characters. The story line behind it, to me, seems to flow a bit better and I always find myself quoting lines from the second movie, a clear sign that it's more memorable.
Toy Story 2 - It's rare that you get a second movie that is an instant classic like it's first, but this is what Toy Story does. It gives us that great feel of nostalgia despite it's release being very close to the first (and still manages to give it to us now). It introduces fantastic new characters, without having to force them in, while also making sure they hit us in the feels with Jessie's story. A fantastic follow up movie to go with a fantastic franchise.
Well there we have it! What I think are the better sequel movies. I am sure there are plenty of others and I have no doubt that there will be more! What do you think? Do you agree with my list? What movies would you have/not have in there? Let me know! And I'll see you on Friday!!
American Pie 2 - The American Pie Franchise
This movie is my favourite movie in the American Pie franchise, and even gets close to the top with my favourite movies of all time. What makes the second movie so much better than the first is the way it flows. In American Pie, they tried to make the classic american teenage high school movie, and don't get me wrong they succeeded, but it was almost to awkward. There were definitely moments that could resonate with any kind of teenager finishing highschool, but also things that were just plain awkward. Apple pie? Really? But with the second movie, that kind of stuff was taken out or at least very polished up. Sure, there were still some questionable parts, like the outcome of being caught by two girls after sneaking into their house (watch the movie and you'll understand) but overall, I felt like it came together better. Fresh out of highschool, there's always some part of you that wants to hold on to the carefree fun that you had and what better time to do it after your first year of college? The movie does extremely well with having one last hurrah with your friends, while at the same time figuring out who you want to be, which is something that every 20 something year old goes through. On the opposite side but, the laughs are still there, funnier than before reminding you all that this is just a movie but also not to take life too seriously. At the end of the day, American Pie 2 is a great follow up movie that lets you relive your own days of summer holidays and relate just a little bit more with the characters.
D2 The Mighty Ducks - The Mighty Ducks Franchise
Quack. Quack. Quack. Ah the memories. D2 The Mighty Ducks is the epitome of the sequel being the better movie. At this point in the movie timeline, all of the players have grown into teenagers and with that, have come to be known as one of the better teams for their sport, eventually being acknowledged in becoming the USA team at the Junior Goodwill Games. What this movie does better than the first is the narrative. Sure, on a base level it's the same kind of story, the low team comes together despite everyone's differences and beats the team that is on top. Classic 90's sport movie. But D2 is different. The Ducks come into this movie being the team on top only to be shown that's not always going to be the case (I won't say much more in case you've been living under a rock and haven't seen the movie). This movie's narrative flows a lot better, having distinct points of turns and surprises which invest you into the movie, over the entire course of it and not just certain parts. It shows the differences that everyone has to go through and the difficulties of life that one may have to face in their careers, resulting in tough choices. It's fun, exciting and suspenseful, something that I can't say the first movie did all that well with.
Rocky IV - The Rocky Franchise
Aaaaadriaannnnnn! When you think all time movies, Rocky usually makes an appearance somewhere in there. And nothing else has changed with this list, having chosen Rocky IV as the sequel that's better than first. Now, I know I have probably angered some people in saying that the best Rocky movie isn't the first one but hear me out. Rocky IV was set in a time where country pride was a massive thing in the world, especially between the USA and the former USSR. A lot of movies had made the classic battle between the two in many different ways but this one hit differently (pun intended). In this movie, Rocky isn't fighting just for himself to prove that he's no longer the underdog or a washed up pro but for his fallen friend, something that we can all agree on brought a tear to our eye. It was this movie that I felt really solidified the Rocky franchise, and to me, it felt like this movie is what really gave the character Rocky Balboa his shining moment. Sure, he had overcome all odds before that let him have the life he wanted and overcame people who were stronger than he was, but this was the first time I felt, he was portrayed as someone who was doing it for the good of someone else. The movie itself sucks you from the very first 30 mins and from then on, its just a rollercoaster of emotions as you watch what happens. In the first three films, you could kind of tell that he was going to get back on top when he needed or prove himself in someway, but there was the notion, a feeling, that maybe just this time, he wouldn't be able to do it. And its because of those feelings that I think this is the better movie.
Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back - The Star Wars Saga
I am your Father. The line that sent gasps around the world. One of the biggest cinematic reveals in movie history and it's come to us from the second movie. The Empire Strikes Back is the pinnacle of a second movie being better in many different ways. At the end of the first movie, A New Hope, you were left with the feeling of it's over. The good guys had won in the biggest explosion possible and there was nothing left of the evil except for one person who had been thrown off course into space, presumably to never be seen again. But come the second movie and everything has been overturned. Here, we really learn of a bigger, badder baddie in the form of Emperor Palpatine, after only hearing the name in the first movie very, very briefly. Suddenly, what we thought was a dying empire, was shown to be much bigger than we all initially thought. We learn that Darth Vader isn't the top dog and we quickly learn that the Empire is much bigger and stronger than we could have believed. The movie does such a fantastic job in growing all of it's characters, while introducing new characters that will eventually play some kind of vital role in the end. On top of everything else it gives us that grand reveal, leaving us in utter shock, only to follow it up with the bad guys winning, giving us that feeling of despair and want for more. That is what this movie does so much better than its predecessor, giving us the feeling of wanting more. Of drawing us in to every scene and conversation that happens. It leaves you walking out going "OMFG what the hell just happened?" And it's rare that a second movie can do that.
Honourable Mentions
Bad Boys 2 - A great follow up to a good first movie. The second movie does a great job in re-establishing the relationship between the two main characters, while also growing and introducing characters. The story line behind it, to me, seems to flow a bit better and I always find myself quoting lines from the second movie, a clear sign that it's more memorable.
Toy Story 2 - It's rare that you get a second movie that is an instant classic like it's first, but this is what Toy Story does. It gives us that great feel of nostalgia despite it's release being very close to the first (and still manages to give it to us now). It introduces fantastic new characters, without having to force them in, while also making sure they hit us in the feels with Jessie's story. A fantastic follow up movie to go with a fantastic franchise.
Well there we have it! What I think are the better sequel movies. I am sure there are plenty of others and I have no doubt that there will be more! What do you think? Do you agree with my list? What movies would you have/not have in there? Let me know! And I'll see you on Friday!!
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