10 recent movie sequels that exceeded expectations and were great

There are some movie sequels that elicit groans when they're announced, but not all of these sequels turn out as badly as expected. As Hollywood has accelerated the trend of producing sequels to beloved films, many people have grown tired of seeing a lack of originality. When some recent sequels were announced, they were immediately dismissed as an unjustified money grab, although there were some surprises.

Legacy sequels tend to be subjected to more intense scrutiny than most other sequels, as fans of the original films sometimes feel like their favorites are being tampered with. Other surprising sequels in recent years were those that greatly exceeded the public's expectations, providing a huge step forward in the quality of the previous films. Sequels are often derided, but they can be as valuable as any film if they are executed with care and passion.

10

Top Gun: Maverick (2022)

Sequel to Top Gun (1986)

Superior weapon It's a good time, but its simple charms don't go much further than that. The paper-thin substance behind the film's flamboyant, head-banging style doesn't exactly lend itself to a sequel, and so Superior weapon it remained an independent action film for decades. Top Gun: Maverick it does a lot of work to differentiate itself from the original, and as a result, it's a much more interesting and dramatic film.

One of Superior weaponThe main strengths of are its exciting aerial scenes, but Top Gun: Maverick improves these tenfold. It also focuses much more on how the characters interact with each other while on the ground, building a more compelling human story that lends additional weight to the action. Superior weapon has developed nostalgic appeal since the 1980s, so Top Gun: Maverick I had to update things.

9

Blade Runner 2049 (2017)

Sequel to Blade Runner (1982)

Blade runner tells a perfectly contained story, so there was never an immediate need for a sequel. The original's mediocre box office return meant that there was no financial incentive either, so Blade runner it remained a brilliant slice of independent science fiction for decades. News from Blade runner the sequel was met with a lot of skepticism, especially when it was announced that Ridley Scott wouldn't be the only one in the director's chair.

Denis Villeneuve has steadily established himself as one of the science fiction genre's most interesting directors over the past decade and has proven himself to be the perfect choice for Blade Runner 2049. He brings his own unique touches to the legacy sequel, but respects Ridley Scott's intricate worldbuilding and his film noir inspirations. Other directors may try to do Blade runner into a spectacle, but Villeneuve recognizes its appeal as a detective story. The next TV series Blade Runner 2099 serves as proof that Blade Runner 2049 paved the way for a viable future for the franchise.

8

Halloween (2018)

Halloween sequel (1978)

THE Halloween The franchise's continuity can be a little confusing for newcomers. 2018 Halloween is the eleventh film overall and the third to be titled Halloween, but it acts as a direct sequel to the 1978 original, ignoring the events of every film released over the next 40 years. This could have been another reboot and another retcon in a franchise that has struggled to find its feet, but 2018 Halloween ended up being a huge success.

Instead of adding another layer of confusion to things, Halloween simplifies the entire franchise, bringing it back to the basics. Once again, Jamie Lee Curtis' Laurie Strode is on the run from Michael Myers, and that's all fans need to know to enjoy the sequel. This simplified approach allowed Halloween to bring in a new audience, and put together an entire trilogy, revitalizing the franchise when it seemed stuck in a loop.

7

Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (2022)

Sequel to Puss in Boots (2011)

Puss in Boots: The Last Wish spent years in development hell, which can often bode poorly for any film, let alone a sequel. When it finally launched in 2022, the Shrek the franchise had been dead for a long time and there wasn't a Puss in Boots film 11 years ago. The ideal time for another Puss in Boots the sequence seemed to have come and gone years ago, but The last wish revived the franchise in a big way.

Ultimately, the long gap between sequels ended up benefiting The Last Wish. It has a new animation style that would have been unthinkable a decade earlier, and it's also much funnier and more exciting than its predecessor. The last wish is the best film in Shrek franchise since 2004 Shrek2, which introduced the bold feline. Its success is a reason to be hopeful about the prospects of the next Shrek 5.

6

Creed (2015)

Sequel to Rocky Balboa (2006)

THE Rocky the franchise never regained the luster of the first film. Throughout its many ups and downs, the franchise gradually seemed to run out of energy and new ideas. 2006 Rocky Balboa would have been a good point to end things once for all. It serves as a fitting farewell to the title character and also shows one last glimpse of what the franchise should be remembered for, even if it isn't the best entry.

2015 Belief acts as both a reboot and a sequel, allowing the franchise to focus on a younger character while also benefiting from the presence of Sylvester Stallone as Rocky Balboa. While it could have easily been a weak legacy sequel, Belief ended up being the best Rocky film since the 1976 original. In part, this is because Stallone has the humility to take a backseat to Michael B. Jordan, who is up to the challenge.

5

Paddington 2 (2017)

Paddington Sequel (2014)

The first Paddington The film is a delightful family comedy that brings to life a beloved character from the book, but the sequel surpasses it in every way imaginable. Paddington2 It was hailed as one of the best films of all time. While some of these compliments are a little tongue-in-cheek, Paddington2 definitely deserves a place in the conversation as one of the best children's films of recent years.

The team behind Paddington2 stepped things up for the sequel. Paddington2 It maintains the same funny dialogue and laughable physical humor that gave the first film its identity, but everything feels more refined. The final train chase scene ties all the subplots together wonderfully, as the Brown family comes together to rescue Paddington and stop Hugh Grant's entertaining villain, Phoenix Buchanan.

4

Mary Poppins Returns (2018)

Sequel to Mary Poppins (1964)

Mary Poppins is a classic family musical, brimming with the magic and warmth that characterized Disney films of the time. Although there were sequels to PL Travers' novel, the film remained untouched for decades. It seemed like it was probably for the best, since it would be nearly impossible to pull off a sequel. When Mary Poppins Returns was announced, many people saw it as yet another way to make money, not unlike Disney's uninspired remakes of animated classics.

With Emily Blunt replacing Julie Andrews Mary Poppins Returns defied expectations to become an unexpected success. With a batch of new songs to suit the sequel's new identity, Mary Poppins Returns recovers the same sense of playful mischief. There's also an animated sequence like the original and a role for Dick Van Dyke, who looks extremely agile. Despite these similarities, Mary Poppins Returns does not live in the shadow of its predecessor.

3

Doctor Sleep (2019)

Sequel to The Shining (1980)

Stanley Kubrick The Shining It's the perfect kind of movie that shouldn't be messed with. Any reboot or remake would invariably fall short when compared to the original, so a sequel seemed doomed to suffer the same fate. Ultimately, Mike Flanagan's clever approach meant that Doctor Sleep managed to avoid many direct comparisons, as it pays homage to The Shining while telling your own story.

Flanagan stated that he wanted to reconcile the differences between Kubrick's film and Stephen King's book. King also wrote Doctor Sleep, the book on which Flanagan's film is based, and he sticks to King's ideas more faithfully than Kubrick ever did. Doctor Sleep remains an underrated gem, and fans of The Shining should give it a chance, even though the idea of ​​a sequel may have seemed ridiculous not long ago.

2

Thor: Ragnarok (2017)

Sequel to Thor: The Dark World (2013)

After the Thor the franchise got off to a solid start, faltered a bit with Thor: The Dark World. Something special was needed to stop the downward trajectory, and that's exactly what Taika Waititi brought to Thor: Ragnarok. The trio is much funnier, more colorful and more exciting than either of the previous two films. Before Thor: Ragnarok, Waititi was best known for his work on independent comedies in New Zealand and didn't compromise his style to suit the MCU.

Waititi's style does Thor: Ragnarok unlike anything in the MCU at the time, and provides a breath of fresh air that the Thor the franchise needed to reinvent itself. Although Ragnarok It's funnier and lighter than the others Thor films, does not neglect its duty to the audience and offers many exciting action scenes. Cate Blanchett's villain Hela is a bonus in this regard, as is the unconventional portrayal of the Hulk. The next Thor 5 will inevitably be compared to the success of Ragnarok.

1

Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)

Sequel to Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (1985)

Mad Max: Fury Road faced the daunting prospect of reviving the franchise after 30 years, and would have to do it without Mel Gibson in the lead role. How George Miller spent the next few years directing films like Dear and Happy feetsome wondered if he would be able to deliver the goods. Happily, Mad Max: Fury Road It surpassed all expectations, becoming the franchise's most exciting entry yet.

Tom Hardy manages to be intense and captivating as Max Rockatansky without having much dialogue. He spends long periods of the film trapped in an iron mask, which illustrates Fury RoadThe company's primary commitment to stimulating actions. Fury Road It's one of the best action films of the 21st centurypartly because it combines state-of-the-art CGI with old-fashioned practical stunts so expertly. Fury Road should have signaled a new dawn for the franchise, but it seems unlikely that Mad Max: The Desert It will never happen now.