12 incredible sequels that were better than the originals, from The Dark Knight to Terminator 2
We all know Hollywood loves a sequel. In an era of franchises, reboots and endlessly mined intellectual properties, there's no shortage of them to choose from, yet sadly they often seem to be governed by the law of diminishing returns.
Yet that isn't always the case. Sometimes a sequel arrives that far outstrips the film it's based on: smarter, funnier, deeper or just more thrilling. Here are 12 sequels that were better than their predecessors.
Terminator 2: Judgement Day
James Cameron's 1984 sci-fi action hit The Terminator, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger as a terrifying time-traveling cyborg assassin was a near-perfect chase movie, but Terminator 2: Judgement Day (1991) took those same ideas and turned everything up a notch. Helped by advances in CGI, Cameron also came up with the genius idea of bringing back Schwarzenegger as a good guy, this time facing off against a much more advanced and sinister foe in the shape-shifting T-1000, played by Robert Patrick. Meanwhile, Linda Hamilton's Sarah Connor also develops from a damsel in distress to a ferocious protector of her young son John (Edward Furlong).
The Godfather Part II
Perhaps a controversial choice given that Francis Ford Coppola's 1972 The Godfather is widely considered one of the greatest films ever made, but the director's follow-up two years later is arguably even better. Certainly, the Academy thought so, making it the first ever sequel to win Best Picture at the Oscars (a feat only matched by Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King). The Godfather Part II serves as both a sequel and prequel to the original gangster epic, with Robert De Niro brought in to play the young Vito Corleone character originated by Marlon Brando and Al Pacino returning as his son Michael.
Evil Dead II
Sam Raimi's debut independent horror Evil Dead became his calling card in 1981. While the film still holds up, it's also clear that the director didn't quite yet have the means to bring all his bold and original ideas to life. Evil Dead II, released in 1987, is both a sequel and a partial remake, and ends up being funnier with more fully-developed effects.
When the original Paddington arrived in cinemas in 2014, it was widely praised as an entertaining and enjoyable children's movie, with fun for all the family. That solid base gave director Paul King (who made his name on the cult BBC sitcom The Mighty Boosh) the license to fully expand and explore a more creative vision for the sequel, aided by an all-singing all-dancing Hugh Grant introduced as villainous actor Phoenix Buchanan. The Independent's Geoffrey McNab called it a 'superior sequel so full of charm and good humour that it should delight audiences everywhere.'
Puss In Boots: The Last Wish
There was hardly a clamor for a sequel to the serviceable Shrek spin-off Puss In Boots (2011), so little wonder that the follow-up film languished in development hell for over a decade. What was truly surprising was that when it finally arrived in 2022, it was moving and beautifully animated, blending action set pieces with a child-friendly grappling with mortality. The film sees our feline hero come to accept the inevitability of death, a bit like if Dreamworks had made The Seventh Seal, but with more jokes about cats burning through nine lives.
Reversing the trend of most film franchises, Mad Max has been on an upward trajectory pretty much since maverick writer-director George Miller kicked things off over four decades ago. The original Mad Max (1979) was bettered by Mad Max 2 (1981) and the bonkers Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (1985), but Miller outdid all of them when he returned to the sun-bleached Australian outback for 2015's Mad Max: Fury Road. Tom Hardy took over from Mel Gibson in the title role, Charlize Theron stole the show as Furiosa and Miller somehow pulled off some of the most astounding road (and off-road) sequences ever filmed. As Steven Soderbergh once famously said of Fury Road: 'I don't understand how [Miller] does that, I really don't, and it's my job to understand it. I don't understand two things: I don't understand how they're not still shooting that film and I don't understand how hundreds of people aren't dead.'
Sam Raimi clearly has a knack for sequels. The Evil Dead II director's original 2002 Spider-Man with Tobey Maguire was well received, but the follow-up which introduced Alfred Molina's Doctor Octopus dazzled fans and critics alike. The Chicago Tribune delivered one of many reviews that said the sequel 'improves upon its predecessor in almost every way.' The Independent 's Al Horner went a step further, calling it 'the definitive superhero movie.'
The Dark Knight
The difference between a superhero movie soaring or taking a dive often hinges on the strength of the villain, and The Dark Knight had one for the ages. Christopher Nolan's 2008 sequel to his 2005 origin story Batman Begins cast Heath Ledger as the Joker and reaped the benefits by giving the superhero an unforgettable antagonist who lifted the film series to a whole new level.
The Empire Strikes Back
Sure, Star Wars was a phenomenon from the moment the original film debuted in 1977, but the 1980 follow-up The Empire Strikes Back elevated the franchise to a whole new level. With all the world-building (or rather, galaxy-building) legwork out of the way after the first film, the sequel had the space to stretch itself into a darker narrative delivered with snappier dialogue. Series creator George Lucas brought in screenwriters Leigh Brackett and Lawrence Kasdan, who delivered a more polished story, and the whole thing wrapped up with one of the great twists in movie history.
Toy Story 3
As the first entirely computer-animated feature film, Toy Story was truly groundbreaking when it was released in 1995. It also introduced the world to Tom Hanks's Woody, Tim Allen's Buzz Lightyear and a whole toy chest full of co-stars. Toy Story 2, released in 1999, examined the idea that these toys would eventually become obsolete as their child grew up, but it was arguably 2010's Toy Story 3 that delivered the most heart-wrenching story of the lot as the toy's child god Andy heads to college and they find themselves dispatched to live out their days at the Sunnyside Daycare center.
Dune: Part Two
If Denis Villeneuve's first Dune movie in 2021 created an immersive and gorgeously vivid world, then the 2024 sequel was where the director really lit it rip. After assembling all the pieces in the original film, the second installment sees the action come to a head while the diverging paths that Timothée Chalamet's Paul Atreides and Zendaya's Chani must take slowly becomes clear. The big question now is whether Villeneuve will be able to repeat the trick for the upcoming Dune: Messiah.
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
After 1979's Star Trek: The Motion Picture was met with middling reviews, it seemed like long-running science fiction show Star Trek might not be long for this world. A complete overhaul for the 1982 sequel saw series creator Gene Roddenberry forced out in favor of a new team made up of executive producer Harve Bennett, screenwriter Jack B. Sowards and director Nicholas Meyer. The trio produced a swashbuckling adventure that features a memorable death scene for Spock, the only way actor Leonard Nimoy would agree to take part. The film was recently added to the National Film Registry at the Library of Congress for preservation (Star Trek: The Motion Picture was not).
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Glasgow Times
19 minutes ago
- Glasgow Times
BBC under pressure amid criticism of ‘death to the IDF' chants at Glastonbury
Rapper Bobby Vylan, of rap punk duo Bob Vylan, on Saturday led crowds on the festival's West Holts Stage in chants of 'Free, free Palestine' and 'Death, death to the IDF (Israel Defence Forces)'. A member of Belfast rap trio Kneecap suggested fans 'start a riot' at his bandmate's forthcoming court appearance related to a terrorism charge. Responding to the chants from Bob Vylan, the Prime Minister said: 'There is no excuse for this kind of appalling hate speech. 'I said that Kneecap should not be given a platform and that goes for any other performers making threats or inciting violence. 'The BBC needs to explain how these scenes came to be broadcast.' A member of Kneecap said 'f*** Keir Starmer' during their performance after the Prime Minister called for the band not to play at the festival. Avon and Somerset Police said video evidence from the performances would be assessed by officers to determine whether any offences may have been committed that would require a criminal investigation. Glastonbury organiser Emily Eavis said Bob Vylan's chants 'very much crossed a line'. 'We are urgently reminding everyone involved in the production of the festival that there is no place at Glastonbury for antisemitism, hate speech or incitement to violence,' she said in a statement. Shadow home secretary Chris Philp said Bob Vylan was 'inciting violence and hatred' and should be arrested and prosecuted. 'By broadcasting his vile hatred, the BBC appear to have also broken the law,' he said. 'I call on the Police to urgently investigate and prosecute the BBC as well for broadcasting this. Our national broadcaster should not be transmitting hateful material designed to incite violence and conflict,' he posted on X. Health Secretary Wes Streeting called it a 'pretty shameless publicity stunt' and said the BBC and Glastonbury have 'questions to answer about how we saw such a spectacle on our screens', speaking to Sky News. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch called the scenes 'grotesque'. 'Glorifying violence against Jews isn't edgy. The West is playing with fire if we allow this sort of behaviour to go unchecked,' she wrote on X. Shadow work and pensions secretary Helen Whately said she was 'horrified' and that the BBC should have cut the feed. 'Given the nature of the attacks on Israel, the BBC should not have kept broadcasting that. They should have cut the coverage immediately,' she told Times Radio. Liberal Democrat culture, media and sport spokesman Max Wilkinson said: 'Bob Vylan's chants at Glastonbury yesterday were appalling. Cultural events are always a place for debate, but hate speech, antisemitism and incitements to violence have no place at Glastonbury or anywhere in our society.' Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has spoken to the BBC director general about Bob Vylan's performance, a Government spokesperson said. The BBC said it showed a warning during the performance and that viewers would not be able to access it on demand. Bob Vylan performing on the West Holts Stage (Ben Birchall/PA) A spokesperson for the broadcaster said: 'Some of the comments made during Bob Vylan's set were deeply offensive. 'During this live stream on iPlayer, which reflected what was happening on stage, a warning was issued on screen about the very strong and discriminatory language. 'We have no plans to make the performance available on demand.' The Israeli embassy said it was 'deeply disturbed by the inflammatory and hateful rhetoric expressed on stage at the Glastonbury Festival'. The Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAA) said it would be formally complaining to the BBC over its 'outrageous decision' to broadcast Bob Vylan. 'Our national broadcaster must apologise for its dissemination of this extremist vitriol, and those responsible must be removed from their positions,' a spokesperson said. Bob Vylan, who formed in Ipswich in 2017, have released four albums addressing issues to do with racism, masculinity and class. Bobby Vylan's real name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, 34, according to reports. He is listed on Companies House as the director of Ghost Theatre Records, which is operated by Bob Vylan. Kneecap performing on the West Holts Stage (Yui Mok/PA) Kneecap have been in the headlines after member Liam Og O hAnnaidh, who performs under the name Mo Chara, was charged with a terror offence. The group performed after Vylan's set on the West Holts Stage with O hAnnaidh exclaiming 'Glastonbury, I'm a free man' as they took to the stage. In reference to his bandmate's forthcoming court date, Naoise O Caireallain, who performs under the name Moglai Bap, said they would 'start a riot outside the courts', before clarifying: 'No riots, just love and support, and support for Palestine.' In the run-up to the festival at Worthy Farm in Somerset, several politicians called for the group to be removed from the line-up and Sir Keir said their performance would not be 'appropriate'. During Kneecap's set, O hAnnaidh said: 'The prime minister of your country, not mine, said he didn't want us to play, so f*** Keir Starmer.' Kneecap also gave a 'big thank you to the Eavis family' and said 'they stood strong' amid calls for the organisers to drop them from the line-up. A BBC spokesperson said an on-demand version of Kneecap's performance was available on iPlayer. 'We have edited it to ensure the content falls within the limits of artistic expression in line with our editorial guidelines and reflects the performance from Glastonbury's West Holts Stage. As with all content which includes strong language, this is signposted with appropriate warnings.'
Rhyl Journal
39 minutes ago
- Rhyl Journal
BBC under pressure amid criticism of ‘death to the IDF' chants at Glastonbury
Rapper Bobby Vylan, of rap punk duo Bob Vylan, on Saturday led crowds on the festival's West Holts Stage in chants of 'Free, free Palestine' and 'Death, death to the IDF (Israel Defence Forces)'. A member of Belfast rap trio Kneecap suggested fans 'start a riot' at his bandmate's forthcoming court appearance related to a terrorism charge. Responding to the chants from Bob Vylan, the Prime Minister said: 'There is no excuse for this kind of appalling hate speech. 'I said that Kneecap should not be given a platform and that goes for any other performers making threats or inciting violence. 'The BBC needs to explain how these scenes came to be broadcast.' A member of Kneecap said 'f*** Keir Starmer' during their performance after the Prime Minister called for the band not to play at the festival. Avon and Somerset Police said video evidence from the performances would be assessed by officers to determine whether any offences may have been committed that would require a criminal investigation. Glastonbury organiser Emily Eavis said Bob Vylan's chants 'very much crossed a line'. 'We are urgently reminding everyone involved in the production of the festival that there is no place at Glastonbury for antisemitism, hate speech or incitement to violence,' she said in a statement. Shadow home secretary Chris Philp said Bob Vylan was 'inciting violence and hatred' and should be arrested and prosecuted. 'By broadcasting his vile hatred, the BBC appear to have also broken the law,' he said. 'I call on the Police to urgently investigate and prosecute the BBC as well for broadcasting this. Our national broadcaster should not be transmitting hateful material designed to incite violence and conflict,' he posted on X. Health Secretary Wes Streeting called it a 'pretty shameless publicity stunt' and said the BBC and Glastonbury have 'questions to answer about how we saw such a spectacle on our screens', speaking to Sky News. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch called the scenes 'grotesque'. 'Glorifying violence against Jews isn't edgy. The West is playing with fire if we allow this sort of behaviour to go unchecked,' she wrote on X. Shadow work and pensions secretary Helen Whately said she was 'horrified' and that the BBC should have cut the feed. 'Given the nature of the attacks on Israel, the BBC should not have kept broadcasting that. They should have cut the coverage immediately,' she told Times Radio. Liberal Democrat culture, media and sport spokesman Max Wilkinson said: 'Bob Vylan's chants at Glastonbury yesterday were appalling. Cultural events are always a place for debate, but hate speech, antisemitism and incitements to violence have no place at Glastonbury or anywhere in our society.' Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has spoken to the BBC director general about Bob Vylan's performance, a Government spokesperson said. The BBC said it showed a warning during the performance and that viewers would not be able to access it on demand. A spokesperson for the broadcaster said: 'Some of the comments made during Bob Vylan's set were deeply offensive. 'During this live stream on iPlayer, which reflected what was happening on stage, a warning was issued on screen about the very strong and discriminatory language. 'We have no plans to make the performance available on demand.' The Israeli embassy said it was 'deeply disturbed by the inflammatory and hateful rhetoric expressed on stage at the Glastonbury Festival'. The Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAA) said it would be formally complaining to the BBC over its 'outrageous decision' to broadcast Bob Vylan. 'Our national broadcaster must apologise for its dissemination of this extremist vitriol, and those responsible must be removed from their positions,' a spokesperson said. Bob Vylan, who formed in Ipswich in 2017, have released four albums addressing issues to do with racism, masculinity and class. Bobby Vylan's real name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, 34, according to reports. He is listed on Companies House as the director of Ghost Theatre Records, which is operated by Bob Vylan. Kneecap have been in the headlines after member Liam Og O hAnnaidh, who performs under the name Mo Chara, was charged with a terror offence. The group performed after Vylan's set on the West Holts Stage with O hAnnaidh exclaiming 'Glastonbury, I'm a free man' as they took to the stage. In reference to his bandmate's forthcoming court date, Naoise O Caireallain, who performs under the name Moglai Bap, said they would 'start a riot outside the courts', before clarifying: 'No riots, just love and support, and support for Palestine.' In the run-up to the festival at Worthy Farm in Somerset, several politicians called for the group to be removed from the line-up and Sir Keir said their performance would not be 'appropriate'. During Kneecap's set, O hAnnaidh said: 'The prime minister of your country, not mine, said he didn't want us to play, so f*** Keir Starmer.' Kneecap also gave a 'big thank you to the Eavis family' and said 'they stood strong' amid calls for the organisers to drop them from the line-up. A BBC spokesperson said an on-demand version of Kneecap's performance was available on iPlayer. 'We have edited it to ensure the content falls within the limits of artistic expression in line with our editorial guidelines and reflects the performance from Glastonbury's West Holts Stage. As with all content which includes strong language, this is signposted with appropriate warnings.'
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Veteran newsreader Jan Leeming, 83, takes swipe at current generation of TV anchors for their 'bad pronunciation, mumbled speech and heavy accents'
She joined the BBC in 1990, a year after Margaret Thatcher got the keys to 10 Downing Street, and was one of a new wave of female news anchors. But Jan Leeming, 83, has taken a swipe at the current generation of newsreaders, criticising their pronunciation, mumbled speech and heavy accents. She wrote on X earlier this month: 'Am I just showing my age being so picky, but surely a national newsreader should be aware of correct pronunciation. 'Just heard "grievious" twice from an ITV newsreader. The word is grievous. The other is mischievious - it's mischievous - three syllables not four. 'We had spelling tests every week. I suppose today one doesn't have to bother. AI and predictive texting will do it all for you. 'You still have to speak with correct pronunciation and clarity. Have given up on mumbled speech and heavy accents and hope I'll get the gist eventually. '"Ss" for the presenters and newsreaders who cannot pronounce fifth and sixth - even some of my favourites. Oh, don't forget February and jewellery. 'If you aren't taught and corrected, then you perpetuate the incorrect pronunciation. And the ubiquitous "like" used every few words by a large proportion of the young. It is lazy.' Alongside her presenting, Ms Leeming has become equally well known for her financial troubles – she only appeared on I'm A Celebrity because she was 'flat broke' – and her cheating husbands. Her post comes after crossbench peer Lord Jones, of Birmingham criticised BBC Olympics presenter Alex Scott for spoiling coverage of the 2020 Games with her accent. 'Enough! I can't stand it anymore!' he wrote on X. 'Alex Scott spoils a good presentational job on the BBC Olympics Team with her very noticeable inability to pronounce her "g"s at the end of a word. 'Can't someone give these people elocution lessons? I fear that it may be aped by youngsters along the lines of the use of the moronic interrogative originally caused by "Neighbours"; on behalf of the English Language ... Help!' And two years ago, BBC newsreader Nick Owen pronounced Jay Z's name wrongly on an episode of Midlands Today, saying Jay Zed rather than Jay Zee. Leeming's post attracted more than 236,000 hits, prompting her to write: 'Goodness Gracious Me (think Peter Sellars....) 'Can't believe it - 236K hits on my comments about incorrect pronunciation! Really did stir up a hornets' nest. At least I'm not alone. NIGHT NIGHT ALL.' She even hinted at her dislike for deputy PM Angela Rayner, nicknamed Two Homes Rayner, who has a strong Mancunian accent. Responding to a tweet which said: 'If it's good enough for the Dep PM - nucleer - then it must be okay,' she replied: 'Please don't go down that road. I could be locked up for my opinion of that person.' Leeming, voted TV personality of the year after she presented the 1982 Eurovision Song Contest, sparked outrage last year after she complained she no longer got work because she was too 'old', spoke RP and didn't tick 'modern boxes'. She later clarified on GB News that she didn't mean that she was too posh for TV. 'I'm not posh,' she said. 'I grew up in Southeast London - Woolwich. My father had had a wonderful education in India and he spoke beautifully. 'He sounded a little bit like Richard Burton. And when I started sort of, you know, "talking like that", he sent me to speech and drama lessons. Thank you very much, father, because I've earned my living. 'What this follower was saying was basically that he could understand me; I enunciate. I'm not against accents, not at all. In fact, some of them are very endearing. 'I mean, I love Eamonn Holmes, and you know Gloria Hunniford, when she started 40 odd years ago, had a very strong Northern Ireland accent and she moderated it.'
