It’s sadly all too common for sequels to fail to live up to the quality of their predecessors, but some have achieved critical success by building on the original movie. Only a few sequels have managed to surpass the movies that came before them on Rotten Tomatoes. In most cases, franchises tend to see a drop-off in quality after the first movie. This has happened with Men in Black, Ghostbusters, The Avengers and countless others. Even great sequels like The Godfather Part II don’t necessarily top the movies that came before them on Rotten Tomatoes.
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Many highly anticipated sequels flop hard, because the high expectations from the first movies make it difficult to succeed. Making a sequel is always a risk, because fans want to see something new and inventive, but the movie also has to stick to what makes the original so popular. Movies which can achieve this balancing act can often be more popular than the first movies, like The Dark Knight, Top Gun: Maverick and Shrek 2.
Related 10 Movie Sequels That Made Viewers Quit Their Franchises
Some franchises meet their doom thanks to a growing disinterest from the public, but other cases have a bad sequel that kills the series.
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15 Paddington 2 (2017) – 99%
Paddington (2014) – 94%
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9/10 9.4/10 Paddington 2
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*Availability in US Director Paul King Release Date January 12, 2018 Cast Hugh Grant , Ben Whishaw , Hugh Bonneville , Jim Broadbent , Imelda Staunton , Julie Walters , Brendan Gleeson , Peter Capaldi , Sally Hawkins
For a long time, Paddington 2 had a perfect 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes, making it one of the website’s highest-rated movies. This is partly why some fans have claimed that Paddington 2 is among the best movies ever made, and deserves recognition alongside the likes of Citizen Kane and The Godfather. While some of these claims are tongue-in-cheek, Paddington 2 certainly deserves its reputation as a heartwarming crowdpleaser. The sequel sees the introduction of Hugh Grant’s charming villain, some hilarious scenes as Paddington is sent to prison, and a final chase sequence which provides some wonderfully satisfying payoff for the entire Brown family.
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14 The Dark Knight (2008) – 94%
Batman Begins (2005) – 85%
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10/10 20 9.7/10 The Dark Knight
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*Availability in US Director Christopher Nolan Release Date July 18, 2008 Cast Christian Bale , Heath Ledger , Michael Caine , Morgan Freeman , Nestor Carbonell , Ritchie Coster , Cillian Murphy , Chin Han , Gary Oldman , Eric Roberts , William Fichtner , Aaron Eckhart , Maggie Gyllenhaal , David Dastmalchian , Anthony Michael Hall Expand
Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy changed the future of the superhero genre by introducing more elements of the crime genre. Of the three movies, The Dark Knight stands out for its electrifying action scenes, as well as Heath Ledger’s iconic performance as the Joker. Ledger is utterly absorbing, and his character is written perfectly to challenge Batman and push him to his limits. The Joker’s philosophy of chaos sets up a number of exhilarating action scenes, all of which show off Nolan’s love for practical effects and large-scale action choreography.
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13 The Lord Of The Rings: The Two Towers (2002) – 95%
The Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring (2001) – 92%
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9/10 The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
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*Availability in US Director Peter Jackson Release Date January 15, 2002 Cast Elijah Wood , Ian McKellen , Viggo Mortensen , Orlando Bloom , Bruce Allpress , Sean Astin , John Bach , Sala Baker , Cate Blanchett , Andy Serkis
All three movies in Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy were shot back-to-back in New Zealand, so they keep up a consistently high quality. Choosing a favorite from the three usually comes down to a matter of taste, but The Two Towers makes a strong case for itself, and it has the highest score on Rotten Tomatoes. The Two Towers sees the Fellowship scattered across Middle Earth, but Jackson balances these different narrative threads expertly. This allows time for some moments of intense personal drama, as well as some of the most breathtaking battles of the trilogy.
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12 From Russia With Love (1963) – 97%
Dr. No (1962) – 95%
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From Russia With Love
Director Terence Young Release Date October 10, 1963 Cast Sean Connery , Daniela Bianchi , Pedro Armendáriz , Lotte Lenya , Robert Shaw , Bernard Lee
The James Bond movies can be enjoyed in pretty much any order, so it’s nothing unusual to see the second movie improve on the first. Dr. No creates many of the franchise’s most iconic quirks which can still be seen over 60 years later, and this is helped by Sean Connery’s stylish performance. However, it’s a little light on action, and the plot is rather uneven. From Russia With Love can’t be accused of these issues, and it remains one of the very best James Bond movies. The one-two punch of Rosa Klebb and Red Grant are a great pair of villains, testing Bond both physically and mentally as he tries to extract a cryptography device from Istanbul.
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11 A Shot In The Dark (1964) – 94%
The Pink Panther (1963) – 89%
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The Pink Panther introduces Inspector Clouseau, Peter Sellers’ bumbling French detective, as he’s engaged in a battle of wits with David Niven’s dapper jewel thief. The sequel makes the wise choice of thrusting Clouseau into the spotlight, and Sellers builds on the character’s trademark buffoonery. A Shot in the Dark is a hilarious murder mystery, with Clouseau fumbling his way through an Agatha Christie-style whodunnit at a luxurious country estate. It’s a brilliant deconstruction of the tropes of the mystery genre, and it remains arguably the best movie in the long-running Pink Panther franchise.
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10 Shrek 2 (2004) – 89%
Shrek (2001) – 88%
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8/10 8.6/10 Shrek 2
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*Availability in US Director Kelly Asbury , Andrew Adamson , Conrad Vernon Release Date May 19, 2004 Cast Eddie Murphy , Mike Myers , Rupert Everett , Antonio Banderas , Jennifer Saunders , Cameron Diaz , Julie Andrews , John Cleese
There isn’t much to separate the first two Shrek movies in terms of quality, but Shrek 2 edges it in terms of the Rotten Tomatoes score. While it lacks the hilarious Lord Farquaad, it replaces him with the equally compelling villain combo of the Fairy Godmother and Prince Charming. The other major addition to Shrek 2 is Puss in Boots, who manages to shake up the dynamic between Shrek and Donkey without ever feeling unwelcome. The franchise struggled to keep the quality high in the next two movies, but the upcoming Shrek 5 could be a return to form after so many years away.
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9 Top Gun: Maverick (2022) – 96%
Top Gun (1986) – 58%
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8/10 9.4/10 Top Gun: Maverick
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*Availability in US Director Joseph Kosinski Release Date May 27, 2022 Cast Tom Cruise , Miles Teller , Jennifer Connelly , Val Kilmer , Jay Ellis , Jon Hamm , Bashir Salahuddin , Charles Parnell , Lewis Pullman , Glen Powell , Monica Barbaro , Ed Harris
Top Gun: Maverick‘s immense critical success is something of an outlier in the movie industry. It’s rare for a sequel to improve on the original so dramatically, and it’s especially rare for a legacy sequel to do so. Most legacy sequels are content to pay fan service and play the fan hits, but Maverick reinvents the entire foundation of Top Gun. The aerial scenes, just like in the first movie, are utterly breathtaking, but Maverick sets itself apart by developing a story at ground-level that’s just as interesting. The younger additions to the cast mean that Top Gun could have a viable future as a franchise.
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8 John Wick: Chapter 2 (2017) – 89%
John Wick (2014) – 86%
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8/10 8.5/10 John Wick: Chapter 2
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*Availability in US Director Chad Stahelski Release Date February 10, 2017 Cast John Leguizamo , Ian McShane , Thomas Sadoski , Common , Keanu Reeves , David Patrick Kelly , Lance Reddick , Laurence Fishburne , Ruby Rose , Peter Stormare , Bridget Moynahan
The first John Wick shook up the action genre with its punchy fight scenes and its immersive worldbuilding, but it was only ever meant to be a standalone movie. John Wick: Chapter 2 is the movie that gave rise to the expansive franchise that has since come to fruition. It adds more of the same exciting action scenes, but its bigger budget also means that Chad Stahelski can let his ambitions fly. What’s also important is that John Wick: Chapter 2 sets up the future of the franchise with an excruciating cliffhanger ending. The John Wick franchise’s future looks bright, but it all goes back to the moment when John is declared excommunicado, and the assassins of New York City turn their attention toward him.
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7 Scream 2 (1997) – 81%
Scream (1996) – 77%
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8/10 8/10 Scream 2
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*Availability in US Director Wes Craven Release Date December 12, 1997 Cast Neve Campbell , Courteney Cox , Timothy Olyphant
Scream 2‘s higher Rotten Tomatoes score could be surprising to fans of the franchise, since the original is often regarded as the best. It’s possible that critics at the time didn’t quite know what to make of Scream, since its horror satire might not have connected with those unfamiliar with the tropes of slasher movies. Scream 2 is still a great sequel, as it builds on Scream‘s meta commentary while providing another thrilling murder mystery. It also continues the franchise tradition of starting the movie off with a shocking kill to set the tone.
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6 Harry Potter & The Chamber Of Secrets (2002) – 83%
Harry Potter & The Sorcerer’s Stone (2001) – 81%
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7/10 6.5/10 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
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*Availability in US Director Chris Columbus Release Date November 15, 2002 Cast Emma Watson , Rupert Grint , Kenneth Branagh , John Cleese , Robbie Coltrane , Warwick Davis , Richard Griffiths , Richard Harris , Jason Isaacs , Daniel Radcliffe , Alan Rickman , Maggie Smith
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone is a great origin story for Harry, as he takes his first steps into the world of witchcraft and wizardry, and he has his first encounter with the darkness that lurks there. The Chamber of Secrets is just as funny, intriguing and exciting, as its Rotten Tomatoes score reflects. Harry’s second year at Hogwarts sees him trying to uncover another dangerous mystery, but there is still time for quidditch and some whimsical classroom scenes. The ability to balance the main plot with some fun worldbuilding is what makes the early Harry Potter movies so enjoyable.
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5 Aliens (1986) – 94%
Alien (1979) – 93%
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10/10 9.5/10 Aliens
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*Availability in US Director James Cameron Release Date July 18, 1986 Cast Sigourney Weaver , Michael Biehn , Carrie Henn , Paul Reiser , Lance Henriksen , Bill Paxton , William Hope , Jenette Goldstein
There will always be a debate among fans of the Alien franchise over the first two movies. Those who like horror will likely prefer Ridley Scott’s Alien, while James Cameron’s sequel appeals more to action fans. Aliens still has some frightening moments, especially as the introduction of Newt gives Ripley someone to fight for who isn’t herself. Ripley is the only character who appears from the original cast of Alien, since she’s the only survivor from the Nostromo, and Aliens develops her role. She’s a ferocious hero within Alien‘s relentless sci-fi shoot ’em up, as well the emotional core of the story.
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4 Dawn Of The Planet Of The Apes (2014) – 91%
Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes (2011) – 82%
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10/10 Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
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*Availability in US Director Matt Reeves Release Date July 11, 2014 Cast Gary Oldman , Keri Russell , Andy Serkis , Jason Clarke
Rise of the Planet of the Apes kicks off the franchise’s prequel series in style, but Dawn takes things to another level. The sequel shows Caesar and his tribe of apes forging a new life for themselves in the forests of California, while human society struggles to rebuild after the virus decimates the population. Gary Oldman leads the cast of human characters, none of whom are carried over from the first movie. Dawn also benefits from the introduction of Koba, the only ape who challenges Caesar’s rule. Koba is the best villain the franchise has produced so far, and his philosophy tees up the conflict in War for the Planet of the Apes.
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3 The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013) – 90%
The Hunger Games (2012) – 84%
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8/10 8.8/10 The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
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*Availability in US Director Francis Lawrence Release Date November 1, 2013 Cast Jennifer Lawrence , Josh Hutcherson , Sam Claflin
Catching Fire builds a bridge between the small-scale story of Katniss and Peeta’s first competition in the Hunger Games and the all-out civil war that eventually consumes Panem. The second trip into the arena has a few surprises in store for the characters, and it forces Katniss in particular to mature into the symbol of the rebellion that she was always destined to be. Fan-favorite characters like Caesar Flickerman, Effie Trinkett and Haymitch Abernathy all get some standout moments, but the new characters are just as compelling. What’s most impressive about Catching Fire is the organic approach to worldbuilding.
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2 Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again (2018) – 80%
Mamma Mia! (2008) – 55%
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7/10 8.5/10 Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again
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*Availability in US Director Ol Parker Release Date July 20, 2018 Cast Meryl Streep , Andy Garcia , Pierce Brosnan , Christine Baranski , Dominic Cooper , Amanda Seyfried , Julie Walters , Colin Firth , Stellan Skarsgård , Lily James , Cher
2008’s Mamma Mia has plenty of fans, as any jukebox musical using the songs of ABBA would, but the sequel is much more popular with critics. The ensemble cast adds a few more stars, most notably Cher, and they create a vibrant atmosphere for many more ABBA hits. “Mamma Mia” gets a reprise, naturally, and there are other classics such as “Knowing Me, Knowing You” and “Fernando.” The sequel is just as campy and fun as the first movie, as it doubles down on giving fans an excessively good time. It’s a more self-aware comedy, however, and it has managed to win over even more hearts.
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1 Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (1980) – 95%
Star Wars: A New Hope (1977) – 93%
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9/10 19 9/10 Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back
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*Availability in US Director Irvin Kershner Release Date June 18, 1980 Cast Mark Hamill , Harrison Ford , Carrie Fisher , Frank Oz , Billy Dee Williams , Anthony Daniels , Kenny Baker , David Prowse , Peter Mayhew , James Earl Jones
After A New Hope became an immediate sensation, the Star Wars franchise was faced with sky-high expectations. The Empire Strikes Back surpassed these expectations, and it’s still considered by many fans to be the franchise’s best movie over 40 years later. The Empire Strikes Back raises the stakes, showing that the destruction of the Death Star was a hollow victory, and adding a more personal side to Luke’s conflict with Darth Vader. It also finds time to introduce some of the franchise’s most beloved characters, such as Lando Calrissian and Yoda. The action is more exciting, the characters gain more depth, and it sets up Return of the Jedi beautifully.
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