Nowadays, when a film is successful, it's almost inevitable that said film will get multiple sequels. And while revisiting familiar characters is always a good time, sequels rarely exceed the lightning-in-a-bottle appeal of the original. Here are three movies that do.
Disclaimer
This list consists only of films with no plans for another movie upon release. For instance, it's easy to end Empire Strikes Back ending when you know Return of the Jedi is in the works. And now, on with the list.
The Godfather: Part II (1974)
As Francis Ford Coppola's follow-up to his seminal 1972 classic, The Godfather: Part II is often touted as the greatest sequel of all time, and for good reason. In the movie, we follow Michael Corleone (Al Pacino), the current Godfather of the Corleone crime family, and his late father, Vito (Robert De Niro), as he builds the criminal empire his son would one day inherit. With parallel themes of loyalty, family, and ruthlessness, the film improves on everything you loved about the original.
Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
After leading the wave of epic ’80s sci-fi movies with 1984’s The Terminator, director James Cameron struck gold again with T2: Judgement Day. With cutting-edge special effects, heart-pumping action, and action hero icon Arnold Schwarzenegger playing a good machine this time around, T2 is a film that not only tops the original but still holds up over 30 years later.
Logan (2017)
Talk about finishing strong. After playing Logan, aka Wolverine, in the X-Men franchise and two solo films, Hugh Jackman's last dance as the cranky Canadian with the adamantium skeleton is by far his best. Joined by the phenomenal Sir Patrick Stewart reprising his role as the aging mutant Charles Xavier and newcomer Dafne Keen as the borderline feral Laura, aka X-23, Logan manages to balance brutal rated R action scenes with Oscar-level acting and storytelling. If you're a fan of Wolverine – heck, if you're a fan of good cinema – Logan is a must-see.
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