Is no word more thrilling to the human soul than sequel?
Credit: muyral | ©morguefile
Most of the time, sequels get a bum rap. And most of the time they deserve it - for example, any sequel with the word Jaws in it. While most sequels are merely a blatant attempt to cash in on the success of the original, here are ten movie sequels that exceeded the movies that spawned them.
10. Evil Dead II: Dead by Dawn (1987) Directed by Sam Raimi
This one falls in the nebulous world between a remake and a sequel, but either way, this second installment in the Evil Dead series is better across the board than the original Evil Dead - better acting, script, special effects, you name it. Evil Dead II is simply more fun than the original.
9. Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior (1981) Directed by George Miller
This sequel to 1979's Mad Max ramps up the action, ramps up the excitement and really distills the Mad Max premise into a first-rate action movie with enough of a story to make it seem almost meaningful. For its release in the United States, the film was simply entitled The Road Warrior. Mad Max had a very limited North American release, so people in the United States would not have realized they were watching a sequel. This was America's first real taste of Mel Gibson, and it was a powerful one.
8. Superman II (1981) Directed by Richard Lester
Superman was a movie that was shot with a sequel in mind. The plan for Superman II was to shoot much of its footage while making the original Superman. Richard Donner, director of the first Superman, had already shot about 75% of Superman II, while filming the first movie. However, a dispute arose between Donner and the Salkinds (producers of Superman). Donner, who was supposed to direct Superman II, was fired and replaced by Richard Lester, who promptly got rid of much of Donner's footage (about 25% remains in the finished film). Still, with the focus more on action, while blending in the budding romance between Clark and Lois, Superman II is a faster-paced, fun sequel that is less serious than the original.
7. Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982) Directed by Nicholas Meyer
10. Evil Dead II: Dead by Dawn (1987) Directed by Sam Raimi
This one falls in the nebulous world between a remake and a sequel, but either way, this second installment in the Evil Dead series is better across the board than the original Evil Dead - better acting, script, special effects, you name it. Evil Dead II is simply more fun than the original.
9. Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior (1981) Directed by George Miller
This sequel to 1979's Mad Max ramps up the action, ramps up the excitement and really distills the Mad Max premise into a first-rate action movie with enough of a story to make it seem almost meaningful. For its release in the United States, the film was simply entitled The Road Warrior. Mad Max had a very limited North American release, so people in the United States would not have realized they were watching a sequel. This was America's first real taste of Mel Gibson, and it was a powerful one.
8. Superman II (1981) Directed by Richard Lester
Superman was a movie that was shot with a sequel in mind. The plan for Superman II was to shoot much of its footage while making the original Superman. Richard Donner, director of the first Superman, had already shot about 75% of Superman II, while filming the first movie. However, a dispute arose between Donner and the Salkinds (producers of Superman). Donner, who was supposed to direct Superman II, was fired and replaced by Richard Lester, who promptly got rid of much of Donner's footage (about 25% remains in the finished film). Still, with the focus more on action, while blending in the budding romance between Clark and Lois, Superman II is a faster-paced, fun sequel that is less serious than the original.
7. Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982) Directed by Nicholas Meyer
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Comments
GT
(Guest)
(Guest)
07/18/2008
Blade 2 - Guillermo del Toro's breakthrough into the American mainstream - absolutely kicks the arse of Blade (or Blade 3 for that matter.)
Dantes, I thought long and hard about including T2 on the top ten sequels list -- but for me, I liked the original Terminator movie better than the sequel. The sequel was louder, more exciting, more action-packed -- but the original movie had this gritty feeling of genuine suspense and tension that the sequel didn't touch.
Dantes Inferno
(Guest)
(Guest)
09/09/2007
So Terminator 2: Judgement Day is where? It IS better than the original but just ever so slightly. I say this because there is far more of an emotional connection with the characters in T2 than T1. I mean, when was the last (or the first) time you cried when Kyle Reese died in T1? But The Terminators inevitable demise in T2 gets me every time.
This is why the Terminator is ever so slightly inferior to Terminator 2. As for Terminator 3... that piece of **** is about as pointless as seat-belts in a plane crash.
I'm a whimp with scary movies, but I love Silence of the Lambs. Anthony Hopkins and Jody Foster were just great. I never hear the phrase "fava beans" or "Chianti" without thinking of that movie!
I am one of those people that didn't like Silence of the Lambs...overrated. thanks for sharing
I dont know that Godfather II is better than the original...i love them both.
Interesting choices. I couldn't help but notice you left Bill and Ted's Bogus Journey off the list. Hmmm.
Good article. Although I love Superman II, Superman: The Movie was a better film for me and a better experience and had less flaws then II (which is mostly due to the screwed up production.) I thought the lester cut was better then the donner cut, which felt more like a collection of deleted scenes then an actual movie. Evil Dead II and Army of Darkness rock though and even if their missing that raw bloody carnage from the first movie, they're fun times, for sure!
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