15 Sequels That Score Higher On Rotten Tomatoes Than The Original Film

Unfortunately, it’s all too common for sequels to not live up to the quality of their predecessors, but some have achieved critical success by building on the original film. Only a few sequels have managed to top the previous films on Rotten Tomatoes. In most cases, franchises tend to suffer a drop in quality after the first film. This happened with Men in black, Ghostbusters, The Avengers and countless others. Even great sequences like The Godfather Part II doesn’t necessarily outperform previous films on Rotten Tomatoes.

Many highly anticipated sequels fail because the high expectations of the first films make it difficult for them to succeed. Making a sequel is always a risk because fans want to see something new and inventive, but the film also needs to stick to what made the original so popular. Films that manage to strike this balance can often be more popular than early films, such as The Dark Knight, Top Gun: Maverick and Shrek 2.

15

Paddington 2 (2017) – 99%

Paddington (2014) – 94%

For a long time, Paddington2 had a perfect score of 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, making it one of the site’s highest-rated films. This is partly why some fans claim that Paddington2 is among the best films ever made and deserves recognition alongside names like Citizen Kane and The Godfather. Although some of these statements are ironic, Paddington2 it certainly deserves its reputation as a soulful crowd-pleaser. The sequel features the introduction of Hugh Grant’s charming villain, some hilarious scenes as Paddington is sent to prison, and a final chase sequence that delivers a wonderfully satisfying payoff for the entire Brown family.

14

The Dark Knight (2008) – 94%

Batman Begins (2005) – 85%

Christopher Nolan Dark Knight The trilogy changed the future of the superhero genre by introducing more elements of the crime genre. Of the three films, The Dark Knight stands out for its electrifying action scenes, in addition to Heath Ledger’s iconic performance as the Joker. Ledger is fully absorbentand his character was written perfectly to challenge Batman and push him to his limits. Joker’s philosophy of chaos creates a series of thrilling action scenes, all showcasing Nolan’s love of practical effects and large-scale action choreography.

13

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002) – 95%

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) – 92%

All three Peter Jackson films Lord of the Rings The trilogy was filmed back-to-back in New Zealand, so they maintain a consistently high quality. Choosing a favorite among the three is often a matter of taste.but The Two Towers it makes a strong case for itself and has the highest score on Rotten Tomatoes. The Two Towers sees the Brotherhood spread across Middle Earth, but Jackson deftly balances these different narrative threads. This allows for some moments of intense personal drama, as well as some of the most exciting battles in the trilogy.

12

From Russia with Love (1963) – 97%

Dr. No (1962) – 95%

THE James Bond The films can be watched in virtually any order, so it’s not at all unusual to see the second film improve on the first. Dr. No creates many of the franchise’s most iconic quirks that can still be seen 60 years later, and this is helped by Sean Connery’s stylish performance. However, the action is a bit light and the plot is quite uneven. From Russia with love cannot be accused of these issues and remains one of the best James Bond films. The one-two punch of Rosa Klebb and Red Grant are a great villain duotesting Bond both physically and mentally as he attempts to extract an encryption device from Istanbul.

11

A Shot in the Dark (1964) – 94%

The Pink Panther (1963) – 89%

The Pink Panther introduces Inspector Clouseau, Peter Sellers’ bumbling French detective, as he is engaged in a battle of wits with David Niven’s elegant jewel thief. The sequel makes the wise choice to put Clouseau in the spotlight, and Sellers builds on the character’s trademark buffoonery. A shot in the dark It’s a hilarious murder mysterywith Clouseau fumbling with an Agatha Christie-style cop at a luxurious country estate. It’s a brilliant deconstruction of the tropes of the mystery genre and remains arguably the best film of the long run. Pink Panther franchise.

10

Shrek 2 (2004) – 89%

Shrek (2001) – 88%

There’s not much that separates the first two Shrek films in terms of quality, but Shrek 2 surpasses it in terms of Rotten Tomatoes score. While it doesn’t have the hilarious Lord Farquaad, it replaces him with the equally compelling villain combination of Fairy Godmother and Prince Charming. The other big addition Shrek 2 it’s Puss in Boots, who manages to shake up the dynamic between Shrek and Donkey without ever feeling unwanted. The franchise struggled to keep the quality high over the next two films, but the next Shrek 5 it could be a return to form after so many years away.

9

Top Gun: Maverick (2022) – 96%

Top Gun (1986) – 58%

Top Gun: MaverickThe immense critical success of is something atypical in the film industry. It’s rare for a sequel to improve so dramatically on the original, and it’s especially rare for a legacy sequel to do so. Most legacy sequels are content to pay fan service and replicate fan hits, but Independent reinvents the entire basis of Superior weapon. The aerial scenes, just like in the first film, are breathtakingbut Independent sets itself apart by developing a basic story that is equally interesting. The younger additions to the cast mean that Superior weapon could have a viable future as a franchise.

8

John Wick: Chapter 2 (2017) – 89%

John Wick (2014) – 86%

The first John Wick it shook up the action genre with its hard-hitting fight scenes and engaging world-building, but it was only designed to be a standalone film. John Wick: Chapter 2 is the film that gave rise to the extensive franchise that has since come to fruition. It adds more exciting action scenes, but its bigger budget also means Chad Stahelski can let his ambitions fly.. What is also important is that John Wick: Chapter 2 sets up the future of the franchise with a heartbreaking and emotional ending. THE John Wick The franchise’s future looks bright, but it all goes back to the moment John is declared excommunicated and New York City’s killers turn their attention to him..

7

Scream 2 (1997) – 81%

Scream (1996) – 77%

Scream 2The highest Rotten Tomatoes score may surprise fans of the franchise, as the original is often considered the best. It’s possible that critics at the time didn’t quite know what to make of Scream, as its horror satire may not have connected with those unfamiliar with horror film tropes. Scream 2 It’s still a great sequel, as it’s based Screammeta-commentary while also providing another gripping murder mystery. It also continues the franchise’s tradition of starting the film with a shocking death to set the tone.

6

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002) – 83%

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001) – 81%

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone is a great origin story for Harry, as he takes his first steps into the world of witchcraft and wizardry, and has his first encounter with the darkness that lurks there. The Chamber of Secrets is so funny, intriguing and moving, as the Rotten Tomatoes soundtrack reflects. In Harry’s second year at Hogwarts, he tries to uncover another dangerous mysterybut there’s still time for Quidditch and some cheesy classroom scenes. The ability to balance the main plot with some fun worldbuilding is what makes Inception Harry Potter such enjoyable films.

5

Foreigners (1986) – 94%

Foreigner (1979) – 93%

There will always be a debate among fans of Foreigner franchise in the first two films. Those who like horror will probably prefer Ridley Scott’s Foreigner, while James Cameron’s sequel appeals more to action fans. Aliens it still has some scary moments, especially since the introduction of Newt gives Ripley someone to fight for who isn’t herself. Ripley is the only character to appear in the original cast of Foreignersince she is the only survivor of the Nostromo, and Aliens develops its role. She’s a fierce hero inside Foreignerthe relentless sci-fi shooter of, as well as the emotional core of the story.

4

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014) – 91%

Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011) – 82%

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 finds Caesar and his tribe of apes creating a new life in the forests of California, while human society struggles to rebuild itself after the virus decimates the population. Gary Oldman leads the cast of human characters, none of which carry over from the first film. Dawn also benefits from the introduction of Koba, the only ape who challenges Caesar’s rule. Koba is the best villain the franchise has ever producedand his philosophy starts the conflict in War for the Planet of the Apes.

3

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013) – 90%

The Hunger Games (2012) – 84%

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 to the arena holds some surprises for the characters and forces Katniss, in particular, to mature and become the symbol of rebellion that she was always destined to be. Fan-favorite characters like Caesar Flickerman, Effie Trinkett, and Haymitch Abernathy have some standout moments, but the new characters are just as compelling. What’s most impressive Catching fire it’s the organic approach to worldbuilding.

2

Mom Mia! Here We Go Again (2018) – 80%

Mom Mia! (2008) – 55%

2008 Mom Mia has many fans, as any jukebox musical using ABBA songs would have, but the sequel is much more popular with critics. The cast adds a few more stars, most notably Cher, and they create a vibrant atmosphere for many of ABBA’s other hits. “Mamma Mia” gets a reprise, of course, and there are other classics like “Knowing Me, Knowing You” and “Fernando”. The sequel is just as campy and fun as the first filmas it strives to give fans an excessively good time. It’s a more self-aware comedy, however, and managed to win even more hearts.

1

Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (1980) – 95%

Star Wars: A New Hope (1977) – 93%

After A New Hope became an immediate sensation, the Star Wars the franchise faced sky-high expectations. The Empire Strikes Back It surpassed these expectations and is still considered by many fans to be the best film in the franchise 40 years later. The Empire Strikes Back ups the stakes by 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, like Lando Calrissian and Yoda. The action becomes more exciting, the characters gain more depth and this sets up Return of the Jedi beautifully.