Top 20 Movie Sequels That Don’t Suck

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Ignacio Weil

Entertainment - April 26th 2025, 13:00 GMT+2

Cropped Hellboy II The Golden Army — Hellboy II: The Golden Army (2008)

When Guillermo del Toro is at the helm, expect creatures you wouldn’t want to meet in a dark alley… or even a well-lit Whole Foods. *Hellboy II: The Golden Army* takes the demonic do-gooder (played with lovable gruffness by Ron Perlman) and hurls him into a fantasy-laced clash against a mythical army of clockwork warriors. Doubling down on the weird but somehow still making it gorgeous, the film ditches subtlety and instead throws trolls, tooth fairies, and an ancient elven prince into the mix. Selma Blair returns as Hellboy’s pyrokinetic flame, and Doug Jones’s turn as the ever-elegant Abe Sapien deserves a slow clap. It's not just a sequel – it’s a fever dream wrapped in steampunk armor. And yes, there’s a surprisingly emotional Barry Manilow singalong. Trust the process. | © Universal Pictures

Cropped Paddington 2 — Paddington 2 (2017)

Some sequels aim for bigger explosions. *Paddington 2* aims for your heart – and then conquers it with marmalade and sheer charm. This little Peruvian bear in a duffle coat proves that kindness, politeness, and a healthy appetite for jam can solve just about anything (except maybe prison time, but he handles that too). Ben Whishaw’s soothing voice work turns Paddington into an icon of wholesomeness, while Hugh Grant embraces his inner diva as the delightfully ridiculous villain, Phoenix Buchanan. Grant in a series of disguises? Oscar-worthy. Paddington giving etiquette lessons in prison? Instant classic. It’s a film so sincere, even cynical critics gave up and cried. | © StudioCanal

Cropped An Extremely Goofy Movie — An Extremely Goofy Movie (2000)

You’ve heard of legacy sequels. Now meet *An Extremely Goofy Movie –* the rare animated follow-up that said, “What if we gave Goofy an existential crisis and made him go to college?” And guess what? It works! Max is now a rebellious college freshman trying to distance himself from dear ol’ dad, only to discover that the goofiness runs deep in the family genes. The movie gives you X Games vibes, 2000s-era college angst, and an actual beatnik poetry club. Plus, Goofy in a beret is a gift from the animation gods. With Bill Farmer back voicing Goofy and Jason Marsden returning as Max, it’s both absurd and oddly touching. It’s basically *Dead Poets Society* if Robin Williams were a clumsy cartoon dog. | © Walt Disney Television Animation

Cropped Addams Family Values — Addams Family Values (1993)

The Addams are back – and this time, they brought a baby and sent Wednesday to summer camp. *Addams Family Values* dials up the gothic glam and deadpan humor that made the first film a cult hit, and somehow ends up even better. Christina Ricci absolutely owns every frame as Wednesday, whether she’s electrocuting fellow campers or staging a very hostile Thanksgiving play. Angelica Huston’s Morticia remains the gold standard of goth mom goals, and Raul Julia is so effortlessly suave as Gomez it hurts. Joan Cusack slides in as the seductive, gold-digging serial killer Debbie, and you can’t help but root for her, too. It's a dark comedy that sharpens its teeth and takes no prisoners. | © Paramount Pictures

Cropped Oceans Twelve — Ocean's Twelve (2004)

*Ocean's Twelve* is the cinematic equivalent of a group chat full of beautiful, famous people deciding to casually steal a Fabergé egg because… why not? George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, and the rest of the beautifully dressed crew return for a sequel that’s less about the heist and more about style, banter, and Julia Roberts pretending to be Julia Roberts (yes, really). Catherine Zeta-Jones joins the chaos, adding a layer of smoldering tension and Interpol flair. Is the plot twisty and a little ridiculous? Of course. But it's also self-aware, tongue-in-cheek, and having way too much fun to care. It’s like a high-stakes European vacation with eleven of your most charming frenemies. | © Warner Bros. Pictures

Cropped Madagascar Escape 2 Africa — Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa (2008)

What happens when four spoiled zoo animals finally get a taste of their roots? A surprisingly touching – and still very loud – adventure. *Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa* takes Alex the lion (voiced with ego and flair by Ben Stiller), Marty the zebra (Chris Rock at full Chris Rock-ness), Melman the hypochondriac giraffe (David Schwimmer), and Gloria the sassy hippo (Jada Pinkett Smith) to their ancestral homeland. There’s soul-searching, stampedes, and of course, the return of the scene-stealing penguins and Sacha Baron Cohen’s deranged King Julien. This sequel hits that sweet spot where absurd meets heartfelt, and somehow makes interspecies romance… kinda sweet? Yeah, we said it. | © DreamWorks Animation

Cropped spider man 2 — Spider-Man 2 (2004)

There’s a reason Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man still holds a place in the superhero hall of fame, and *Spider-Man 2* is a big part of it. Our friendly neighborhood web-slinger struggles with rent, love, pizza delivery, and – oh yeah – a tentacled mad scientist in a trench coat, brilliantly brought to life by Alfred Molina as Doctor Octopus. Directed by Sam Raimi, this sequel doesn’t just throw punches; it hits emotional beats harder than Doc Ock’s mechanical arms. Kirsten Dunst returns as MJ, James Franco broods as Harry Osborn, and the train scene? Legendary. It’s the rare superhero film that dares to ask, “What if Peter Parker actually needed therapy?” | © Columbia Pictures / Marvel Enterprises

Cropped The Bourne Supremacy — The Bourne Supremacy (2004)

Matt Damon returns in *The Bourne Supremacy*, and this time, Jason Bourne is angrier, deadlier, and even more confused about his past. Seriously, someone get this man a memory app. Paul Greengrass steps in as director, shaking things up – literally – with handheld camera chaos and blistering chase scenes. After being dragged back into the world he tried to forget, Bourne starts globe-trotting and neck-snapping with ruthless precision. Joan Allen enters the fray as the no-nonsense CIA agent who’s slowly realizing maybe the agency is *also* the problem. This sequel keeps its foot on the gas, with a mix of paranoia, intrigue, and raw Matt Damon intensity. | © Universal Pictures

Cropped Pirates of the Caribbean Dead Mans Chest — Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (2006)

Captain Jack Sparrow is back, eyeliner intact and morals still wildly negotiable. *Dead Man’s Chest* ups the ante with krakens, cursed chests, and Bill Nighy as Davy Jones – a tentacled sea-ghoul with a heart (literally) locked away. Johnny Depp sways and slurs his way through another eccentric performance, while Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley return for more swashbuckling and unresolved sexual tension. The CGI? Still holds up. The plot? As tangled as Jack’s dreadlocks. But somehow it works, creating a sequel that’s part high seas adventure, part supernatural soap opera. And don’t act like you didn’t hum the theme song for a week afterward. | © Walt Disney Pictures

Cropped Avengers Endgame — Avengers: Endgame (2019)

Let’s be real: *Endgame* didn’t just follow up a movie – it followed up an entire *decade* of superhero storytelling. And against all odds (and timelines), it actually delivered. This is the cinematic equivalent of a 3-hour emotional group hug and a punch to the face, wrapped in spandex. Robert Downey Jr. gives Tony Stark the sendoff he deserves, Chris Evans proves chivalry isn’t dead, and every Marvel hero from Black Panther to Ant-Man shows up for the ultimate crossover battle royale. Time travel? Check. Mjölnir coming home to Cap? Check. Ugly crying in a dark theater surrounded by strangers? Double check. It’s messy, glorious, and exactly what we signed up for. | © Marvel Studios / Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

Cropped Inside Out 2 — Inside Out 2 (2024)

Just when you thought you’d emotionally recovered from the first *Inside Out*, Pixar returns to crack your heart open all over again – but now with *more* puberty. *Inside Out 2* brings back the emotional control center inside Riley’s head, but this time, Joy (voiced once again by Amy Poehler, queen of bubbly optimism) has company. And by “company,” we mean new emotions like Anxiety, voiced to perfection by Maya Hawke, who makes social dread feel both terrifying and oddly relatable. The sequel manages to expand its world while still keeping those Pixar gut-punches flowing. If you didn’t cry at least once, are you even human? | © Pixar Animation Studios / Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

Cropped Toy Story 2 — Toy Story 2 (1999)

Pixar’s first sequel was *way* more than a cash grab – it was a masterclass in storytelling that made grown adults cry over a cowgirl doll named Jessie. *Toy Story 2* deepened the original’s themes about loyalty, identity, and the creeping fear of abandonment (y’know, for kids!). Tom Hanks and Tim Allen return as Woody and Buzz, this time navigating yard sales, collector scams, and the heartbreak of being outgrown. Joan Cusack’s introduction as Jessie? Instant icon status. And Kelsey Grammer’s turn as the duplicitous Stinky Pete proves even toys can be passive-aggressively evil. It’s funny, emotional, and somehow makes packing tape dramatic. | © Pixar Animation Studios / Walt Disney Pictures

Cropped Aliens — Aliens (1986)

James Cameron took Ridley Scott’s slow-burn horror masterpiece and said, “Cool, but what if we add *space marines* and an entire hive of nightmare fuel?” The result: *Aliens –* a sequel that doesn't just raise the stakes; it straps them to a pulse rifle. Sigourney Weaver returns as Ellen Ripley, now fully transformed into the sci-fi equivalent of a battle-hardened queen. The film gave us unforgettable one-liners (“Get away from her, you b****!”), an adorable space orphan named Newt, and enough xenomorph mayhem to ruin your sleep schedule. It’s louder, bloodier, and somehow still deeply human. Who knew maternal instincts and flamethrowers paired so well? | © 20th Century Fox

Cropped Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom — Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)

Before Indy was battling Nazis again, he took a wild detour through dark temples, booby traps, and a dinner menu that included *chilled monkey brains*. *The Temple of Doom* is the most chaotic of the original trilogy, with Harrison Ford once again donning the fedora and cracking that iconic whip. This time, he’s teamed up with the delightfully screamy Willie Scott (played by Kate Capshaw) and the forever ride-or-die Short Round (Ke Huy Quan, who instantly stole every scene). Yes, it’s darker. Yes, it’s wild. Yes, it made you question what was appropriate for a PG movie. But it’s also a pulpy rollercoaster of doom that somehow still rocks. | © Lucasfilm Ltd. / Paramount Pictures

Cropped The Empire Strikes Back — The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

Let’s face it – *The Empire Strikes Back* is the gold standard of “the sequel is better than the original.” It took everything you loved about *Star Wars* and gave it emotional depth, an ice planet, a green swamp wizard, and the most jaw-dropping parental reveal in movie history. Mark Hamill gets his Jedi glow-up, Carrie Fisher rocks a snowsuit like it’s couture, and Harrison Ford is peak scoundrel as Han Solo (the “I love you” / “I know” moment? Iconic). With Yoda’s sage advice, Vader’s heavy breathing, and John Williams’s score soaring through space, it’s the rare sequel that left fans stunned, teary-eyed, and begging for more. | © Lucasfilm Ltd. / 20th Century Fox

Cropped The Dark Knight — The Dark Knight (2008)

This isn’t just a sequel – it’s the *blueprint* for how to elevate a superhero movie into a full-blown cinematic event. *The Dark Knight* took everything *Batman Begins* laid down and said, “Let’s make Gotham *feel* like a ticking time bomb.” Christian Bale returns with his trademark gravelly growl, but it's Heath Ledger who hijacks the film (and our nightmares) as the Joker – chaotic, terrifying, and so iconic it earned him a posthumous Oscar. Christopher Nolan turns a comic book story into a crime epic with moral dilemmas, explosions, and a surprising number of scenes involving pencils. This is Batman at his broodiest, and the Joker at his most haunting. | © Warner Bros. Pictures

Cropped Terminator 2 Judgment Day — Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)

James Cameron doesn’t believe in small sequels. T2 is what happens when you take a killer robot, flip the script, and give him a heart (kinda). Arnold Schwarzenegger returns, but this time he’s the *good* guy – a reprogrammed Terminator who suddenly has to babysit the future of humanity, a young Edward Furlong as John Connor. Linda Hamilton’s Sarah Connor, now a jacked, survivalist badass, steals every scene with one bicep curl. And let’s not forget the T-1000, played by Robert Patrick, sliding through bars and making liquid metal look *terrifyingly* cool. Explosive, quotable, and groundbreaking for its effects, this sequel doesn’t just deliver – it terminates the competition. | © Tri-Star Pictures / Carolco Pictures

Cropped Shrek 2 — Shrek 2 (2004)

If the first *Shrek* was a witty fairytale takedown, *Shrek 2* is the rare sequel that leans harder into absurdity – and becomes a pop culture *supernova*. Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, and Cameron Diaz return as the greenest couple and their mouthy sidekick, but the real MVP? Antonio Banderas as Puss in Boots – equal parts Zorro, fluffball, and chaos gremlin. With a Fairy Godmother who belts *Holding Out for a Hero* like she’s headlining Coachella, and a “Meet the In-Laws” plotline gone ogre-wrong, it’s endlessly quotable and oddly touching. And let’s be honest: the human version of Shrek? Weirdly hot. | © DreamWorks Animation

Cropped The Lord of the Rings The Two Towers — The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)

Middle-earth escalates dramatically in *The Two Towers*, where talking trees go to war and Gollum finally gets his time to shine (and hiss, and monologue). Andy Serkis gives a motion-capture masterclass as the ring-obsessed Gollum, whose internal dialogue is honestly more intense than most therapy sessions. Meanwhile, Viggo Mortensen’s Aragorn gets even more heroic, Legolas and Gimli begin their bromantic kill-count rivalry, and Helm’s Deep becomes the greatest rainy battle since… ever. Peter Jackson’s epic vision just keeps growing – more battles, more heartbreak, and more moments that make you want to yell, “For Frodo!” even when doing laundry. | © New Line Cinema

Cropped The Godfather Part II — The Godfather Part II (1974)

Yes, *The Godfather* was a masterpiece. But *Part II*? That’s where things get Shakespearean. Francis Ford Coppola delivers a rare sequel-prequel hybrid, diving deep into Michael Corleone’s cold descent into ruthless power while flashing back to young Vito Corleone’s rise – portrayed with quiet, magnetic intensity by Robert De Niro. Al Pacino is a brooding force of nature, slowly becoming the monster he swore he’d never be, and the family dinner scenes have never been so tense. It’s prestige cinema at its finest – layered, tragic, and filled with enough betrayal to fuel ten seasons of a prestige TV drama. You’ll need a glass of red wine and a deep sigh after this one. | © Paramount Pictures

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Sequels often get a bad rep – and for good reason. Too many follow-ups feel like cash grabs that fall flat, failing to capture the magic of their originals. But every now and then, a sequel breaks the mold, surprising audiences with great storytelling, character development, and even better action. In this list, we’re counting down the top 20 movie sequels that don’t suck – in fact, they might even outshine the originals. From superhero blockbusters to animated gems and iconic franchises, these sequels prove that the second (or third) time can be the charm. Whether you’re revisiting favorites or looking for what to watch next, this roundup of genuinely great movie sequels has something for every film fan.