Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 10 (click to see context) from:
* Albeit ''Film/{{Blade}}'' is not generally considered a bad film, it was also disregarded as just an "action flick" by many critics. But Creator/GuillermoDelToro's ''Film/BladeII'' is regarded as an improvement from the first for the more harsh critics of the franchise and --by far-- the best of the trilogy (especially in comparison to the third movie) for the fans and the more benevolent critics. It's also considered one of Del Toro's more memorable works (which is saying a lot).
to:
* Albeit ''Film/{{Blade}}'' ''Film/Blade1998'' is not generally considered a bad film, it was also disregarded as just an "action flick" by many critics. But Creator/GuillermoDelToro's ''Film/BladeII'' is regarded as an improvement from the first for the more harsh critics of the franchise and --by far-- the best of the trilogy (especially in comparison to the third movie) for the fans and the more benevolent critics. It's also considered one of Del Toro's more memorable works (which is saying a lot).
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
* In the ''Franchise/{{Godzilla}}'' series:
** After the [[Film/Godzilla1954 first film]], ''Film/GodzillaRaidsAgain'' was the first direct sequel of the series by keeping the dark tone of the original. However, most of atmosphere and weight of the original was effectively lost. The third film, ''Film/KingKongVsGodzilla'' was considered the best of the series for showing the two famous movie monsters duking it out and in color, and would have the grand tradition of Godzilla fighting another monster in a major location.
** ''Film/GodzillaMinusOne'' is this to ''Film/ShinGodzilla''. While both films are {{Continuity Reboot}}s to the 1954 original, ''Minus One'' is seen as this for its compelling human drama and character arc for its main character who was a Kamikaze pilot in World War II, and his war trauma that involves Godzilla. While both films don't show as much Godzilla, it's executed in a way that Godzilla's presence serves a purpose in the plot and how he personally affects people while Shin Godzilla is depicted as a lost animal just trying to survive while the Japanese politicians waste their time trying to act against him, but in a way that's legally possible.
** After the [[Film/Godzilla1954 first film]], ''Film/GodzillaRaidsAgain'' was the first direct sequel of the series by keeping the dark tone of the original. However, most of atmosphere and weight of the original was effectively lost. The third film, ''Film/KingKongVsGodzilla'' was considered the best of the series for showing the two famous movie monsters duking it out and in color, and would have the grand tradition of Godzilla fighting another monster in a major location.
** ''Film/GodzillaMinusOne'' is this to ''Film/ShinGodzilla''. While both films are {{Continuity Reboot}}s to the 1954 original, ''Minus One'' is seen as this for its compelling human drama and character arc for its main character who was a Kamikaze pilot in World War II, and his war trauma that involves Godzilla. While both films don't show as much Godzilla, it's executed in a way that Godzilla's presence serves a purpose in the plot and how he personally affects people while Shin Godzilla is depicted as a lost animal just trying to survive while the Japanese politicians waste their time trying to act against him, but in a way that's legally possible.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 41 (click to see context) from:
* The ''[[Film/MissionImpossibleFilmSeries Mission: Impossible]]'' film series is a rare franchise where (after the [[Film/MissionImpossibleIII third film]], the first one regarded by a majority of people as [[SurprisinglyImprovedSequel actually being]] [[GrowingTheBeard really good]]) each subsequent movie has gotten better reviews than its predecessor, partly because the films [[SerialEscalation just keeping topping themselves]] in terms of increasingly insane and over-the-top stunts. After the standout [[Film/MissionImpossible1996 first one]] the films fluctuated in quality, but by ''[[Film/MissionImpossibleGhostProtocol Ghost Protocol]]'' and ''[[Film/MissionImpossibleRogueNation Rogue Nation]]'', some were beginning to see that they'd even reached greater heights than before. ''[[Film/MissionImpossibleFallout Fallout]]'', the sixth entry, is touted by some as one of the best action films of TheNewTens. Since then, ''[[Film/MissionImpossibleDeadReckoningPartOne Dead Reckoning Part One]]'' has gotten very slightly inferior scores to ''Fallout'' but still maintains a very high bar.
to:
* The ''[[Film/MissionImpossibleFilmSeries Mission: Impossible]]'' film series is a rare franchise where (after the [[Film/MissionImpossibleIII third film]], the first one regarded by a majority of people as [[SurprisinglyImprovedSequel actually being]] [[GrowingTheBeard really good]]) each subsequent movie has gotten better reviews than its predecessor, partly because the films [[SerialEscalation just keeping topping themselves]] in terms of increasingly insane and over-the-top stunts. After the standout [[Film/MissionImpossible1996 first one]] the films fluctuated in quality, but by ''[[Film/MissionImpossibleGhostProtocol Ghost Protocol]]'' and ''[[Film/MissionImpossibleRogueNation Rogue Nation]]'', some were beginning to see that they'd even reached greater heights than before. ''[[Film/MissionImpossibleFallout Fallout]]'', the sixth entry, is touted by some as one of the best action films of TheNewTens. Since then, ''[[Film/MissionImpossibleDeadReckoningPartOne ''[[Film/MissionImpossibleDeadReckoning Dead Reckoning Part One]]'' Reckoning]]'' has gotten very slightly inferior scores to ''Fallout'' but still maintains a very high bar.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 5 (click to see context) from:
* Although ''Film/TheAddamsFamily'' was very well recieved critically and financially, it's often accepted that its sequel, ''Film/AddamsFamilyValues'', is even better, especially regarding plot and script.
to:
* Although ''Film/TheAddamsFamily'' was very well recieved received critically and financially, it's often accepted that its sequel, ''Film/AddamsFamilyValues'', is even better, especially regarding plot and script.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
* The ''Film/DiaryOfAWimpyKid'' trilogy, despite having opened with mixed reception, would later be looked upon more fondly. The second movie, ''Rodrick Rules'' is regarded as the best of the three movies. Furthermore, many consider ''Dog Days'' to at least be better than the original.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 30 (click to see context) from:
* The original ''Film/{{Gremlins}}'' movie is regarded as a classic '80s horror-comedy, even if it feels [[SeinfeldIsUnfunny cliché by today's standards]] to some. Warner Brothers had tried to make a Gremlins sequel for years with no success before finally re-hiring director Joe Dante to helm it, which he did on the condition that he had final authority on the film's content. The result was 1990's ''Film/Gremlins2TheNewBatch'', which cranked the satire and metahumour up by mocking the very concept of movie sequels and taking a sledgehammer to the Fourth Wall.
to:
* The original ''Film/{{Gremlins}}'' movie is regarded as a classic '80s horror-comedy, even if it feels [[SeinfeldIsUnfunny [[OnceOriginalNowCommon cliché by today's standards]] to some. Warner Brothers had tried to make a Gremlins sequel for years with no success before finally re-hiring director Joe Dante to helm it, which he did on the condition that he had final authority on the film's content. The result was 1990's ''Film/Gremlins2TheNewBatch'', which cranked the satire and metahumour up by mocking the very concept of movie sequels and taking a sledgehammer to the Fourth Wall.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
Per the Sequel Consensus thread
and even the Cameron Avatar general thread, very few people, even on TVT prefer Avatar 2 to the first one or consider it an improvement. For the most part, it's seen as on the same level as the first one by most (mediocre story with great visuals).
and even the Cameron Avatar general thread, very few people, even on TVT prefer Avatar 2 to the first one or consider it an improvement. For the most part, it's seen as on the same level as the first one by most (mediocre story with great visuals).Deleted line(s) 8 (click to see context) :
* While ''Film/{{Avatar}}'' was by no means a bad movie, many viewers held the opinion that its script was rather forgettable. ''Film/AvatarTheWayOfWater'', on the other hand, is considered by many to be a better movie than its predecessor due to having a less generic plot and having a more developed cast of characters. Even many of the haters of the first one concede the sequel is better.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 40,41 (click to see context) from:
* ''Film/ManiacCop'': is considered by many fans as actually inferior to its' sequels, Maniac Cop 2 and Maniac Cop 3:Badge of Silence, the latter 2 having a much higher budget and upping the ante of action over horror.
* The ''Film/MissionImpossibleFilmSeries Mission: Impossible]]'' film series is a rare franchise where (after the [[Film/MissionImpossibleIII third film]], the first one regarded by a majority of people as [[SurprisinglyImprovedSequel actually being]] [[GrowingTheBeard really good]]) each subsequent movie has gotten better reviews than its predecessor, partly because the films [[SerialEscalation just keeping topping themselves]] in terms of increasingly insane and over-the-top stunts. After the standout [[Film/MissionImpossible1996 first one]] the films fluctuated in quality, but by ''[[Film/MissionImpossibleGhostProtocol Ghost Protocol]]'' and ''[[Film/MissionImpossibleRogueNation Rogue Nation]]'', some were beginning to see that they'd even reached greater heights than before. ''[[Film/MissionImpossibleFallout Fallout]]'', the sixth entry, is touted by some as one of the best action films of TheNewTens. Since then, ''[[Film/MissionImpossibleDeadReckoningPartOne Dead Reckoning Part One]]'' has gotten very slightly inferior scores to ''Fallout'' but still maintains a very high bar.
* The ''Film/MissionImpossibleFilmSeries Mission: Impossible]]'' film series is a rare franchise where (after the [[Film/MissionImpossibleIII third film]], the first one regarded by a majority of people as [[SurprisinglyImprovedSequel actually being]] [[GrowingTheBeard really good]]) each subsequent movie has gotten better reviews than its predecessor, partly because the films [[SerialEscalation just keeping topping themselves]] in terms of increasingly insane and over-the-top stunts. After the standout [[Film/MissionImpossible1996 first one]] the films fluctuated in quality, but by ''[[Film/MissionImpossibleGhostProtocol Ghost Protocol]]'' and ''[[Film/MissionImpossibleRogueNation Rogue Nation]]'', some were beginning to see that they'd even reached greater heights than before. ''[[Film/MissionImpossibleFallout Fallout]]'', the sixth entry, is touted by some as one of the best action films of TheNewTens. Since then, ''[[Film/MissionImpossibleDeadReckoningPartOne Dead Reckoning Part One]]'' has gotten very slightly inferior scores to ''Fallout'' but still maintains a very high bar.
to:
* ''Film/ManiacCop'': ''Film/ManiacCop'' is considered by many fans as actually inferior to its' its sequels, Maniac ''Maniac Cop 2 2'' and Maniac ''Maniac Cop 3:Badge 3: Badge of Silence, Silence'', the latter 2 two having a much higher budget and upping the ante of action over horror.
* The''Film/MissionImpossibleFilmSeries ''[[Film/MissionImpossibleFilmSeries Mission: Impossible]]'' film series is a rare franchise where (after the [[Film/MissionImpossibleIII third film]], the first one regarded by a majority of people as [[SurprisinglyImprovedSequel actually being]] [[GrowingTheBeard really good]]) each subsequent movie has gotten better reviews than its predecessor, partly because the films [[SerialEscalation just keeping topping themselves]] in terms of increasingly insane and over-the-top stunts. After the standout [[Film/MissionImpossible1996 first one]] the films fluctuated in quality, but by ''[[Film/MissionImpossibleGhostProtocol Ghost Protocol]]'' and ''[[Film/MissionImpossibleRogueNation Rogue Nation]]'', some were beginning to see that they'd even reached greater heights than before. ''[[Film/MissionImpossibleFallout Fallout]]'', the sixth entry, is touted by some as one of the best action films of TheNewTens. Since then, ''[[Film/MissionImpossibleDeadReckoningPartOne Dead Reckoning Part One]]'' has gotten very slightly inferior scores to ''Fallout'' but still maintains a very high bar.
* The
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 41 (click to see context) from:
* ''Film/MissionImpossible'' is a rare franchise where (after the [[Film/MissionImpossibleIII third film]], the first one regarded by a majority of people as [[SurprisinglyImprovedSequel actually being]] [[GrowingTheBeard really good]]) each subsequent movie has gotten better reviews than its predecessor, partly because the films [[SerialEscalation just keeping topping themselves]] in terms of increasingly insane and over-the-top stunts. After the standout first one the films fluctuated in quality, but by movie [[Film/MissionImpossibleGhostProtocol 4]] and [[Film/MissionImpossibleRogueNation 5]], some were beginning to see that they'd even reached greater heights than before. ''Film/MissionImpossibleFallout'', the sixth entry, is touted by some as ''one of the best action films of TheNewTens''.
to:
* ''Film/MissionImpossible'' The ''Film/MissionImpossibleFilmSeries Mission: Impossible]]'' film series is a rare franchise where (after the [[Film/MissionImpossibleIII third film]], the first one regarded by a majority of people as [[SurprisinglyImprovedSequel actually being]] [[GrowingTheBeard really good]]) each subsequent movie has gotten better reviews than its predecessor, partly because the films [[SerialEscalation just keeping topping themselves]] in terms of increasingly insane and over-the-top stunts. After the standout [[Film/MissionImpossible1996 first one one]] the films fluctuated in quality, but by movie [[Film/MissionImpossibleGhostProtocol 4]] ''[[Film/MissionImpossibleGhostProtocol Ghost Protocol]]'' and [[Film/MissionImpossibleRogueNation 5]], ''[[Film/MissionImpossibleRogueNation Rogue Nation]]'', some were beginning to see that they'd even reached greater heights than before. ''Film/MissionImpossibleFallout'', ''[[Film/MissionImpossibleFallout Fallout]]'', the sixth entry, is touted by some as ''one one of the best action films of TheNewTens''.TheNewTens. Since then, ''[[Film/MissionImpossibleDeadReckoningPartOne Dead Reckoning Part One]]'' has gotten very slightly inferior scores to ''Fallout'' but still maintains a very high bar.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
* ''Film/ManiacCop'': is considered by many fans as actually inferior to its' sequels, Maniac Cop 2 and Maniac Cop 3:Badge of Silence, the latter 2 having a much higher budget and upping the ante of action over horror.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
As per "No Recent Examples cleanup" thread decision. This rule has already been added to No Recent Examples Please
decision. This rule has already been added to No Recent Examples PleaseAdded DiffLines:
'''A Administrivia/{{No Recent Examples|please}} rule applies to this trope'''. Examples shouldn't be added until '''six months''' after the sequel is released, to avoid any knee-jerk reactions.
----
----
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 51 (click to see context) from:
* ''Film/TheLordOfTheRingsTheFellowshipOfTheRing'' [[AndYouThoughtItWouldFail blew away all expectations]] and forever [[GenreTurningPoint set the bar]] for what an epic HighFantasy film would look like. ''Film/TheTwoTowers'' took everything that worked in the original film and cranked it way up, with better pacing, expanding the supporting cast while simultaneously giving the others more time to shine, and providing some of the most iconic moments in the whole series (the return of Gandalf the White, the [[BigBadassBattleSequence Battle of Helm's Deep]]], Sam's lump-in-the-throat-inducing climactic speech to Frodo, and the march of the Ents on Isengard, among ''many'', many others. And those who don't find it the best in the trilogy certainly give the spot to the closer ''[[Film/TheLordOfTheRingsTheReturnOfTheKing The Return of the King]]'', that aside from [[EndingFatigue not knowing when to end]], was a GrandFinale with even better battle scenes and no dearth of emotional moments, leading to box-office records all over the place and tying for a record-breaking 11 Academy Awards.[[note]]Regarding the source material, [[DividedForPublication the second and third installments are technically not "sequels"]].[[/note]]
to:
* ''Film/TheLordOfTheRingsTheFellowshipOfTheRing'' [[AndYouThoughtItWouldFail blew away all expectations]] and forever [[GenreTurningPoint set the bar]] for what an epic HighFantasy film would look like. ''Film/TheTwoTowers'' took everything that worked in the original film and cranked it way up, with better pacing, expanding the supporting cast while simultaneously giving the others more time to shine, and providing some of the most iconic moments in the whole series (the series: the return of Gandalf the White, the [[BigBadassBattleSequence Battle of Helm's Deep]]], Deep]], Sam's lump-in-the-throat-inducing climactic speech to Frodo, and the march of the Ents on Isengard, among ''many'', many others. And those who don't find it the best in the trilogy certainly give the spot to the closer ''[[Film/TheLordOfTheRingsTheReturnOfTheKing The Return of the King]]'', that which - aside from [[EndingFatigue not knowing when to end]], end]] - was a GrandFinale with even better battle scenes and no dearth of emotional moments, leading to box-office records all over the place and tying for a record-breaking 11 Academy Awards.[[note]]Regarding the source material, [[DividedForPublication the second and third installments are technically not "sequels"]].[[/note]]
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
* ''Film/ANightmareOnElmStreet3DreamWarriors'' is considered by a lot of fans to be the best in the series. Same with ''Film/WesCravensNewNightmare'', though some consider that a separate film from the main series.
* Although ''Film/TheAddamsFamily'' was very well recieved critically and financially, it's often accepted that its sequel, ''Film/AddamsFamilyValues'', is even better, especially regarding plot and script.
* While the original ''Film/{{Alien}}'' is a great movie -- interesting characters, creepy and horrifying designs for the alien, it introduced the xenomorph life cycle to an unsuspecting populace, and so on -- the second movie, ''Film/{{Aliens}}'', is widely [[ContestedSequel (though not universally)]] regarded as a better film. It also benefited from a GenreShift from straight up Horror to Action Horror, which meant that instead of suffering from {{Sequelitis}}, ''Aliens'' was able to do things its own way.
* ''Film/AsterixAndObelixMissionCleopatra'' ([[ComicBook/{{Asterix}} the titular comics]] live-action adaptation) was a lot funnier and better than the first, ''Film/AsterixAndObelixTakeOnCaesar''. Its own sequel, ''[[http://streetfighter-4.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/asterix_aux_jeux_olympiques1.jpg Asterix and Obelix at the Olympic Games]]'', is said to be less good than the second but better than the first.
* While ''Film/{{Avatar}}'' was by no means a bad movie, many viewers held the opinion that its script was rather forgettable. ''Film/AvatarTheWayOfWater'', on the other hand, is considered by many to be a better movie than its predecessor due to having a less generic plot and having a more developed cast of characters. Even many of the haters of the first one concede the sequel is better.
* ''Film/BatmanBegins'' was the reboot everyone hoped for after [[Film/BatmanAndRobin the Neon Age of Schumacher]], but it was ''Film/TheDarkKnight'' that won universal acclaim and a posthumous UsefulNotes/AcademyAward for Creator/HeathLedger.
* ''Film/BeforeSunrise'' is widely considered to be a great romance film. Its sequels ''Before Sunset'' and ''Before Midnight'' are regarded by most people to be just as good as, if not better than, the original because of their exploration of different stages of Jesse and Celine's relationship and consequently more mature themes of growing up and long-term commitment.
* Albeit ''Film/{{Blade}}'' is not generally considered a bad film, it was also disregarded as just an "action flick" by many critics. But Creator/GuillermoDelToro's ''Film/BladeII'' is regarded as an improvement from the first for the more harsh critics of the franchise and --by far-- the best of the trilogy (especially in comparison to the third movie) for the fans and the more benevolent critics. It's also considered one of Del Toro's more memorable works (which is saying a lot).
* Downplayed example: ''Film/BladeRunner'' is [[VindicatedByHistory now widely considered]] such a cinematic classic that no follow-up could [[ToughActToFollow ever live up]] to its greatness. The announcement of a sequel was met with disbelief and incredulity, but the naysayers were proved wrong when ''Film/BladeRunner2049'' received overwhelmingly positive reviews from critics, who found it ''at least'' as good as the original if not superior, despite the astronomical expectations. It quickly earned a spot on many lists of the best movie sequels of all time, and picked up two Academy Awards to boot. There's a small but devoted crowd that considers it better than the original thanks to its expanded world-building, deep and emotionally moving story and better writing of its [[ActionGirl female characters]].
* ''Film/BrideOfFrankenstein'' is often considered to be a horror masterpiece and even better than [[Film/{{Frankenstein 1931}} its predecessor]], which is no small feat. In its retrospective of the 100 all-time greatest films, ''Magazine/TimeMagazine'' hailed it as "one of those rare sequels that is infinitely superior to its source."
* ''Film/DollarsTrilogy'' is widely considered to be three good movies, with the closer ''Film/TheGoodTheBadAndTheUgly'' standing out as the best.
* ''Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse'':
** ''Film/CaptainAmericaTheFirstAvenger'' was considered a solid action movie by most critics and audiences, applauded for its fun characters and proper character development, but it had the second-lowest box office returns of the MCU's first wave of movies (only ''Film/{{The Incredible Hulk|2008}}'' did worse), and it was written off by numerous fans as nothing more than a simple prologue to ''Film/{{The Avengers|2012}}''. To many people's pleasant surprise, ''Film/CaptainAmericaTheWinterSoldier'' turned out to be one of Marvel Studios' most critically acclaimed films to date, garnering the strongest reviews for the series since ''The Avengers'', and the fandom considers it one of the contenders for the best film in the franchise. It's also another one of the GenreShift examples, as ''First Avenger'' was a WWII adventure while ''Winter Soldier'' was a ConspiracyThriller.
** In general, Phase 3 is seen as having fixed many of the problems that most of the films in Phases 1 and 2 had, namely their forgettable villains and [[StrictlyFormula formulaic nature]], as well as Phase 2 focusing entirely too much on world-building and continuity.
** ''Film/AntMan1'' was a decent, uneven film with solid performances, entertaining fight scenes and enjoyable sense of humor, but a boring villain, [[StrangledByTheRedString poorly written romance]], awkward attempts at connecting itself to the larger [=MCU=], and the fact that it was mostly a retread of ''Film/IronMan1'' hamstrung it a great deal. ''Film/AntManAndTheWasp'', on the other hand, improved upon it greatly with tighter pacing, more entertaining dynamics between the main characters, connections to the [=MCU=] that came across as far less forced, and a more interesting, fun, and unique plot that featured a compelling, sympathetic antagonist in the form of Ghost.
** ''Film/AvengersAgeOfUltron'' has its strong points, but it's generally seen as a step down from ''Film/{{The Avengers|2012}}'', which was a ToughActToFollow. In particular, many reviewers criticized its overly complex plot, its over-abundance of new characters (not all of whom were properly developed), and its occasionally [[MoodWhiplash uneven blend of drama and comedy]], as well as a few overlong action sequences that lacked any real pathos. ''Film/AvengersInfinityWar'' is considered an improvement in every conceivable way, with many critics calling it one of the greatest superhero films ''ever''. It boasts a tighter plot, a stronger villain, and more epic action sequences; it manages to effectively juggle ''dozens'' of superheroes in the same cast, and it's all capped off by [[spoiler:[[TheBadGuyWins an emotional gut-punch of an ending]].]] ''Film/AvengersEndgame'' shattered everyone's expectations all over again, ending with a GrandFinale to end all {{Grand Finale}}s.[[note]] Note that this is partly due to a talent shakeup at Marvel Studios: Creator/JossWhedon directed the first two ''Avengers'' films, but frequently had to deal with ExecutiveMeddling by Marvel's infamous "creative committee". After he declined to return, he was replaced by Creator/TheRussoBrothers who only had to answer to Creator/KevinFeige following Disney restructuring the company.[[/note]]
** ''Film/SpiderManNoWayHome'' has been garnering better reviews than its [[Film/SpiderManHomecoming two]] [[Film/SpiderManFarFromHome predecessors]] and has shaped itself as one of Marvel Studios' most acclaimed films, seen as on par with the above-mentioned ''Avengers: Endgame''.
* ''Film/{{Crank}}'' was somewhat over-the-top (mildly formulated) but enjoyable. The sequel [[{{Pun}} cranked]] everything up, including the meta. Please have your ration of BellisariosMaxim ready!
* ''Film/DrunkenMaster'' is a thoroughly beloved action-comedy, and a classic of {{Wuxia}} cinema that turned Creator/JackieChan into a movie star. Against all odds, its sequel ''Drunken Master II'' managed to surpass its high bar: Magazine/TimeMagazine ranked it one of the 100 greatest films '''''of all time''''' in 2005, and Creator/RogerEbert called its climactic foundry sequence the greatest fight scene ever committed to film.
* The ''Franchise/EvilDead'' series.
** ''Film/{{The Evil Dead|1981}}'' was a cult film that was noted for its extreme violence and low-budget gore. ''Film/EvilDead2'', however, added a new element of slapstick comedy, which is apparently what Creator/SamRaimi wanted all along. The action also focuses more on the character of Ash, who became something of a cult icon.
** The third film, ''Film/ArmyOfDarkness'', has the highest budget and is the most well known. It continued the trend toward increased slapstick violence and making Ash a wisecrack-spouting badass, which is generally what people remember most about the series.
* ''Film/TheExpendables'' was a case of CriticalDissonance. ''Film/TheExpendables2'' managed to get better reviews alongside very positive audience remarks, as it added more big names, more action and used a more comedic, self-deprecating tone.
* ''Franchise/FridayThe13th'': Interestingly, [[Film/FridayThe13th1980 the original film]] is not usually the one people remember. [[EarlyInstallmentWeirdness It doesn't even feature Jason]], and on its own, is usually seen as a mediocre slasher at best. The [[Film/FridayThe13thPart2 following]] [[Film/FridayThe13thPartIII three]] [[Film/Fridaythe13thTheFinalChapter films]] are the classics, with the fourth film usually being hailed as the ultimate ''Friday the 13th'' film. ''[[Film/FridayThe13thPartVIJasonLives Part VI]]'' also has its fans.
* ''Film/GIJoeRetaliation'' is seen as this to people who enjoyed ''Film/GIJoeTheRiseOfCobra''. Others consider it to be a SurprisinglyImprovedSequel.
* ''Film/GameraGuardianOfTheUniverse'' was a pretty good reboot of a long-dead franchise. ''Film/Gamera2AdventOfLegion'' had a tighter script, deeper characters, better special effects, more action and more gore. ''Film/Gamera3AwakeningOfIrys'' had less action but even deeper characterization and still better special effects with more effective gore, and a better script. It's still debated whether the second or third is the best, but everyone agrees they're both better than the first.
* Some film buffs consider ''Film/TheGodfatherPartII'' to be better than the original ''Film/TheGodfather'', and everyone considers it to be at the very least comparable. This is partly because of the brilliant decision to tell as parallel stories the origin of Vito Corleone's criminal career, which was a part of the original Mario Puzo novel, and the tragic descent of his son Michael.
* The original ''Film/{{Gremlins}}'' movie is regarded as a classic '80s horror-comedy, even if it feels [[SeinfeldIsUnfunny cliché by today's standards]] to some. Warner Brothers had tried to make a Gremlins sequel for years with no success before finally re-hiring director Joe Dante to helm it, which he did on the condition that he had final authority on the film's content. The result was 1990's ''Film/Gremlins2TheNewBatch'', which cranked the satire and metahumour up by mocking the very concept of movie sequels and taking a sledgehammer to the Fourth Wall.
* For the third ''Film/HarryPotter'' film, ''[[Film/HarryPotterAndThePrisonerOfAzkaban The Prisoner of Azkaban]]'', Chris Columbus left the series and auteur Creator/AlfonsoCuaron stepped in. The end result is a film that many critics consider far more mature and stylized than the [[TheFilmOfTheBook by-the-book]] adaptation approach of the first two films.
* ''Film/HelloMaryLouPromNightII'', while more obscure, is considered a superior film to the original ''Film/PromNight1980'' by those who have seen it. [[InNameOnly It's actually a sequel in name only]], and has a more original premise that combines elements of both the slasher and supernatural horror genres, while also having a more self-referential tone, and it embraces its campiness to the fullest extent. It also pays homage to many, many classic horror films. The original ''Prom Night'', while still fun to watch for its own reasons, stuck very, very close to conventional slasher tropes, and is considered one of the more generic films in the genre.
* While ''Film/TheHungerGames'' is good, its sequel ''Film/TheHungerGamesCatchingFire'' improves on it in every way: a new director, less JitterCam, better performances from everyone, spot-on pacing, much improved effects, a darker and more mature story that remains completely faithful to the book, and a third act filmed in IMAX with a shocking and sudden {{Cliffhanger}} ending. While the first film had to skirt around violence involving children and teenagers, the adult cast for [[spoiler:the special edition Hunger Games featuring past winners]] gave this one much more free rein with its action sequences.
* ''Film/JamesBond'': The first three films are generally considered to be progressively better than the one that came before it. ''Film/{{Goldfinger}}'' is still regarded by some as the best Bond film ever.
* ''Film/JohnnyEnglishReborn'': Many viewers found Johnny's CharacterDevelopment from lucky moron into CrouchingMoronHiddenBadass to make for much more interesting watching than the first film.
* ''Film/MadMax''
** ''Film/MadMax1'' and ''Film/MadMax2TheRoadWarrior''. The first was impressive for a low-budget action film to come out of Australia, though by today's standards is rather slow-paced and tedious (despite some excellent auto-stunts). The second film practically popularized the ScavengerWorld and TheApunkalypse in film, filled with balls to the wall action and was the best remembered film in the series for the next 30+ years, at least until...
** ''Film/MadMaxFuryRoad'', critically acclaimed for its action, [[ShowDontTell visual storytelling]] and WorldBuilding, acting, surprising amounts of CharacterDevelopment and depth despite a very simple story, and relentlessly feminist message. It earned universally positive reviews - 97% on Rotten Tomatoes (a point higher than ''Film/SchindlersList'', it's actually the 4th highest rated movie on the site) and [[OutOfTheGhetto an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture]], unheard of for a [[ScifiGhetto summer action movie]]. It was only a few weeks after its release that fans and critics started calling it one of the greatest action films ever made.
* ''Film/MissionImpossible'' is a rare franchise where (after the [[Film/MissionImpossibleIII third film]], the first one regarded by a majority of people as [[SurprisinglyImprovedSequel actually being]] [[GrowingTheBeard really good]]) each subsequent movie has gotten better reviews than its predecessor, partly because the films [[SerialEscalation just keeping topping themselves]] in terms of increasingly insane and over-the-top stunts. After the standout first one the films fluctuated in quality, but by movie [[Film/MissionImpossibleGhostProtocol 4]] and [[Film/MissionImpossibleRogueNation 5]], some were beginning to see that they'd even reached greater heights than before. ''Film/MissionImpossibleFallout'', the sixth entry, is touted by some as ''one of the best action films of TheNewTens''.
* ''Film/NightOfTheLivingDead1968'' basically invented the entire zombie movie genre overnight, even while [[UnbuiltTrope simultaneously destroying it]] with subtle undertones of social satire. For the sequel ten years later, Creator/GeorgeRomero wisely followed the ethos of "If ain't broke, don't fix it", and kept the core premise of characters trapped in one building that was besieged by zombies, but made the masterstroke of setting it in an urban shopping mall. The result, ''Film/DawnOfTheDead1978'', is a gorier, scarier, funnier, and more intense film than the original, delivering more of what everyone liked in the original but adding more action and more zombies while upping the social attire to scathingly sharp levels.
* Reviews of ''Film/Paddington2'' frequently mentioned it was even better than the critically acclaimed first film. It also became the most-reviewed film on Rotten Tomatoes with a perfect 100% score, surpassing ''WesternAnimation/ToyStory2''.
* ''Film/ThePinkPanther1963'' tends to be hit by this, at least for modern audiences. The original movie, while far from unpopular in its day, is essentially a typical (and somewhat dated) 1960s sex farce with a bumbling French policeman played by Creator/PeterSellers popping up every so often. As the policeman -- a certain Inspector Jacques Clouseau -- proved to be the EnsembleDarkHorse even for contemporary audiences, the sequel ''Film/AShotInTheDark'' made him the central character, amped up the absurdist humour and structured the narrative to be more of a crime/murder-mystery spoof, which later sequels would [[{{Sequelitis}} for better or worse]] draw on more.
* The third ''Film/PoliceAcademy'' film, ''Police Academy 3: Back in Training'' is considered by most fans as the series' peak.
* ''Film/RiseOfThePlanetOfTheApes'' was considered a flawed but successful and enjoyable reboot to an ailing [[Franchise/PlanetOfTheApes sci-fi franchise]], with a groundbreaking performance by Creator/AndySerkis helping to make up for its faults. ''Film/DawnOfThePlanetOfTheApes'' improves on everything, with more complex characters, both human and ape, across the board, strong social and political themes that are deeply explored, and a career-best performance from Serkis, with many calling for an Oscar nomination. The result has been compared to ''Film/TheEmpireStrikesBack'' and ''Film/TheDarkKnight'', been called one of the best and most emotionally powerful movies of 2014, and the kind of film other summer blockbusters should strive to be. And trilogy closer ''Film/WarForThePlanetOfTheApes'' managed to also be an improvement with its heightened emotion and tension, leading to even higher critical scores.
* ''Film/{{Scream 2}}'' is considered by critics to be scarier and funnier than the original ''Film/{{Scream 1996}}''. {{Discussed}} in Randy's film class, where everyone discusses movie sequels, the frequency of sequels that are better than first installments, and which sequels achieve this.
* ''Film/SonicTheHedgehog2020'' was already considered an astounding subversion of VideoGameMoviesSuck, and ''Film/SonicTheHedgehog22022'' earned even better remarks with a larger scope, fun new characters, and more elements reminiscent of the games.
* ''Film/SpiderMan2'' had a drastically improved plot and insight on the main character when compared to the first movie, as well as longer, bigger, and better fight scenes. And if anything, the knockout train battle against Doctor Octopus was the Spider-Man fight everyone had been waiting and hoping for.
* ''Franchise/StarWars''
** While ''Film/ANewHope'' is considered a cinematic masterpiece, many consider ''Film/TheEmpireStrikesBack'' as an even better film, and the best of the ''Franchise/StarWars'' saga, though [[PopularityPolynomial at the time of release it was disliked by many fans]], and there are some who still argue ''A New Hope'' was better (perhaps because ''A New Hope'' can be enjoyed pretty well on its own, whereas casual viewers of all the other films will suffer ContinuityLockOut).
** ''Film/RevengeOfTheSith'' is generally considered the best of the prequels, although some claim [[SurprisinglyImprovedSequel that's more on the previous two's faults than the film's own merits.]]
* ''Film/SuperSizeMe2HolyChicken'': Held against the original ''Film/SuperSizeMe'', this really shows Spurlock's maturation as a film-maker with vastly improved camerawork, editing, and scripting, as well as delivering a much more targeted and robust critique of the fast food industry by focusing on its VeryFalseAdvertising and [[MegaCorp Big Chicken]]'s abusive corporate practices against the regular farmers compared with the far more {{Anvilicious}} message of the original.
* ''Film/Terminator2JudgmentDay'' got even more acclaim than ''Film/TheTerminator'', and had a much higher gross than the already-beloved first film. Like the ''Franchise/{{Alien}}'' series, it shifted from horror in the first installment (which was effectively a SlasherMovie) to a greater focus on action in the second. Incidentally, both sequels were directed by Creator/JamesCameron, though unlike ''Alien'', Cameron also directed the first ''Terminator''.
* ''Film/TheLordOfTheRingsTheFellowshipOfTheRing'' [[AndYouThoughtItWouldFail blew away all expectations]] and forever [[GenreTurningPoint set the bar]] for what an epic HighFantasy film would look like. ''Film/TheTwoTowers'' took everything that worked in the original film and cranked it way up, with better pacing, expanding the supporting cast while simultaneously giving the others more time to shine, and providing some of the most iconic moments in the whole series (the return of Gandalf the White, the [[BigBadassBattleSequence Battle of Helm's Deep]]], Sam's lump-in-the-throat-inducing climactic speech to Frodo, and the march of the Ents on Isengard, among ''many'', many others. And those who don't find it the best in the trilogy certainly give the spot to the closer ''[[Film/TheLordOfTheRingsTheReturnOfTheKing The Return of the King]]'', that aside from [[EndingFatigue not knowing when to end]], was a GrandFinale with even better battle scenes and no dearth of emotional moments, leading to box-office records all over the place and tying for a record-breaking 11 Academy Awards.[[note]]Regarding the source material, [[DividedForPublication the second and third installments are technically not "sequels"]].[[/note]]
* ''Film/TheThing1982'' is widely regarded as one of the greatest, if not the greatest, remakes ever made, with many considering it to be superior to ''Film/TheThingFromAnotherWorld''.
* The Vengeance Trilogy by Park Chan Wook started with ''Film/SympathyForMrVengeance'', which isn't a bad film, but relatively obscure. ''Film/{{Oldboy 2003}}'', the second film, is the one everyone remembers. ''Film/SympathyForLadyVengeance'', the third film, was also well-received but is not as well-known as ''Oldboy''. However, these are all stand-alone films [[ThematicSeries linked only by the theme of vengeance]].
* ''Film/WrongTurn2DeadEnd'' received a far better reception than the original film, even though it was DirectToVideo. Having Music/HenryRollins in it probably helped.
* ''Film/XMenFilmSeries''
** ''Film/X2XMenUnited'' is considered an improvement on the already good original ''Film/XMen1'', fleshing out the characters and themes introduced in the first one, while providing more action. Bryan Singer said the strategy for ''X2'' was to follow the ''Empire Strikes Back'' plot, where they split up the characters for purposes of development, then bring them together again for a fantastic finish.
** While ''Film/XMenFirstClass'' was well-liked by fans for bringing the ''X-Men'' series back on track, ''Film/XMenDaysOfFuturePast'' has been even more well-received and cited by a few reviewers as the best of the ''X-Men'' movies. It even currently has the highest Rotten Tomatoes score in the series at 92%, placing ''DOFP'' among the best-reviewed Marvel movies of all, Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse or otherwise. The movie has also become the top-grossing ''X-Men'' film in terms of worldwide box office by far, usurping the position previously held by ''[[Film/XMenTheLastStand The Last Stand]]''.
** Among the Wolverine spin-off trilogy, the critically-bashed ''Film/XMenOriginsWolverine'' was followed by a SurprisinglyImprovedSequel with ''Film/TheWolverine'', which was itself followed by ''Film/{{Logan}}'', critically adored (92% on Rotten Tomatoes) and praised by many critics as [[http://www.businessinsider.com/logan-reviews-critics-2017-3/#its-dark-and-risky-1 "one of the best superhero movies ever"]] for its darker tone. It even got an Academy Award nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay, becoming very first comic book film to ever do so.
** While ''Film/{{Deadpool|2016}}'' was a funny and well-liked movie, some fans consider ''Film/Deadpool2'' to be a better film that has better humor and action scenes. Some critics have praised ''Deadpool 2's'' humor for satirizing DarkerAndEdgier superhero flicks like ''[[Film/CaptainAmericaTheWinterSoldier The Winter Soldier]]'', ''[[Film/BatmanVSupermanDawnOfJustice Batman v Superman]]'', and ''Film/{{Logan}}''.
----
* Although ''Film/TheAddamsFamily'' was very well recieved critically and financially, it's often accepted that its sequel, ''Film/AddamsFamilyValues'', is even better, especially regarding plot and script.
* While the original ''Film/{{Alien}}'' is a great movie -- interesting characters, creepy and horrifying designs for the alien, it introduced the xenomorph life cycle to an unsuspecting populace, and so on -- the second movie, ''Film/{{Aliens}}'', is widely [[ContestedSequel (though not universally)]] regarded as a better film. It also benefited from a GenreShift from straight up Horror to Action Horror, which meant that instead of suffering from {{Sequelitis}}, ''Aliens'' was able to do things its own way.
* ''Film/AsterixAndObelixMissionCleopatra'' ([[ComicBook/{{Asterix}} the titular comics]] live-action adaptation) was a lot funnier and better than the first, ''Film/AsterixAndObelixTakeOnCaesar''. Its own sequel, ''[[http://streetfighter-4.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/asterix_aux_jeux_olympiques1.jpg Asterix and Obelix at the Olympic Games]]'', is said to be less good than the second but better than the first.
* While ''Film/{{Avatar}}'' was by no means a bad movie, many viewers held the opinion that its script was rather forgettable. ''Film/AvatarTheWayOfWater'', on the other hand, is considered by many to be a better movie than its predecessor due to having a less generic plot and having a more developed cast of characters. Even many of the haters of the first one concede the sequel is better.
* ''Film/BatmanBegins'' was the reboot everyone hoped for after [[Film/BatmanAndRobin the Neon Age of Schumacher]], but it was ''Film/TheDarkKnight'' that won universal acclaim and a posthumous UsefulNotes/AcademyAward for Creator/HeathLedger.
* ''Film/BeforeSunrise'' is widely considered to be a great romance film. Its sequels ''Before Sunset'' and ''Before Midnight'' are regarded by most people to be just as good as, if not better than, the original because of their exploration of different stages of Jesse and Celine's relationship and consequently more mature themes of growing up and long-term commitment.
* Albeit ''Film/{{Blade}}'' is not generally considered a bad film, it was also disregarded as just an "action flick" by many critics. But Creator/GuillermoDelToro's ''Film/BladeII'' is regarded as an improvement from the first for the more harsh critics of the franchise and --by far-- the best of the trilogy (especially in comparison to the third movie) for the fans and the more benevolent critics. It's also considered one of Del Toro's more memorable works (which is saying a lot).
* Downplayed example: ''Film/BladeRunner'' is [[VindicatedByHistory now widely considered]] such a cinematic classic that no follow-up could [[ToughActToFollow ever live up]] to its greatness. The announcement of a sequel was met with disbelief and incredulity, but the naysayers were proved wrong when ''Film/BladeRunner2049'' received overwhelmingly positive reviews from critics, who found it ''at least'' as good as the original if not superior, despite the astronomical expectations. It quickly earned a spot on many lists of the best movie sequels of all time, and picked up two Academy Awards to boot. There's a small but devoted crowd that considers it better than the original thanks to its expanded world-building, deep and emotionally moving story and better writing of its [[ActionGirl female characters]].
* ''Film/BrideOfFrankenstein'' is often considered to be a horror masterpiece and even better than [[Film/{{Frankenstein 1931}} its predecessor]], which is no small feat. In its retrospective of the 100 all-time greatest films, ''Magazine/TimeMagazine'' hailed it as "one of those rare sequels that is infinitely superior to its source."
* ''Film/DollarsTrilogy'' is widely considered to be three good movies, with the closer ''Film/TheGoodTheBadAndTheUgly'' standing out as the best.
* ''Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse'':
** ''Film/CaptainAmericaTheFirstAvenger'' was considered a solid action movie by most critics and audiences, applauded for its fun characters and proper character development, but it had the second-lowest box office returns of the MCU's first wave of movies (only ''Film/{{The Incredible Hulk|2008}}'' did worse), and it was written off by numerous fans as nothing more than a simple prologue to ''Film/{{The Avengers|2012}}''. To many people's pleasant surprise, ''Film/CaptainAmericaTheWinterSoldier'' turned out to be one of Marvel Studios' most critically acclaimed films to date, garnering the strongest reviews for the series since ''The Avengers'', and the fandom considers it one of the contenders for the best film in the franchise. It's also another one of the GenreShift examples, as ''First Avenger'' was a WWII adventure while ''Winter Soldier'' was a ConspiracyThriller.
** In general, Phase 3 is seen as having fixed many of the problems that most of the films in Phases 1 and 2 had, namely their forgettable villains and [[StrictlyFormula formulaic nature]], as well as Phase 2 focusing entirely too much on world-building and continuity.
** ''Film/AntMan1'' was a decent, uneven film with solid performances, entertaining fight scenes and enjoyable sense of humor, but a boring villain, [[StrangledByTheRedString poorly written romance]], awkward attempts at connecting itself to the larger [=MCU=], and the fact that it was mostly a retread of ''Film/IronMan1'' hamstrung it a great deal. ''Film/AntManAndTheWasp'', on the other hand, improved upon it greatly with tighter pacing, more entertaining dynamics between the main characters, connections to the [=MCU=] that came across as far less forced, and a more interesting, fun, and unique plot that featured a compelling, sympathetic antagonist in the form of Ghost.
** ''Film/AvengersAgeOfUltron'' has its strong points, but it's generally seen as a step down from ''Film/{{The Avengers|2012}}'', which was a ToughActToFollow. In particular, many reviewers criticized its overly complex plot, its over-abundance of new characters (not all of whom were properly developed), and its occasionally [[MoodWhiplash uneven blend of drama and comedy]], as well as a few overlong action sequences that lacked any real pathos. ''Film/AvengersInfinityWar'' is considered an improvement in every conceivable way, with many critics calling it one of the greatest superhero films ''ever''. It boasts a tighter plot, a stronger villain, and more epic action sequences; it manages to effectively juggle ''dozens'' of superheroes in the same cast, and it's all capped off by [[spoiler:[[TheBadGuyWins an emotional gut-punch of an ending]].]] ''Film/AvengersEndgame'' shattered everyone's expectations all over again, ending with a GrandFinale to end all {{Grand Finale}}s.[[note]] Note that this is partly due to a talent shakeup at Marvel Studios: Creator/JossWhedon directed the first two ''Avengers'' films, but frequently had to deal with ExecutiveMeddling by Marvel's infamous "creative committee". After he declined to return, he was replaced by Creator/TheRussoBrothers who only had to answer to Creator/KevinFeige following Disney restructuring the company.[[/note]]
** ''Film/SpiderManNoWayHome'' has been garnering better reviews than its [[Film/SpiderManHomecoming two]] [[Film/SpiderManFarFromHome predecessors]] and has shaped itself as one of Marvel Studios' most acclaimed films, seen as on par with the above-mentioned ''Avengers: Endgame''.
* ''Film/{{Crank}}'' was somewhat over-the-top (mildly formulated) but enjoyable. The sequel [[{{Pun}} cranked]] everything up, including the meta. Please have your ration of BellisariosMaxim ready!
* ''Film/DrunkenMaster'' is a thoroughly beloved action-comedy, and a classic of {{Wuxia}} cinema that turned Creator/JackieChan into a movie star. Against all odds, its sequel ''Drunken Master II'' managed to surpass its high bar: Magazine/TimeMagazine ranked it one of the 100 greatest films '''''of all time''''' in 2005, and Creator/RogerEbert called its climactic foundry sequence the greatest fight scene ever committed to film.
* The ''Franchise/EvilDead'' series.
** ''Film/{{The Evil Dead|1981}}'' was a cult film that was noted for its extreme violence and low-budget gore. ''Film/EvilDead2'', however, added a new element of slapstick comedy, which is apparently what Creator/SamRaimi wanted all along. The action also focuses more on the character of Ash, who became something of a cult icon.
** The third film, ''Film/ArmyOfDarkness'', has the highest budget and is the most well known. It continued the trend toward increased slapstick violence and making Ash a wisecrack-spouting badass, which is generally what people remember most about the series.
* ''Film/TheExpendables'' was a case of CriticalDissonance. ''Film/TheExpendables2'' managed to get better reviews alongside very positive audience remarks, as it added more big names, more action and used a more comedic, self-deprecating tone.
* ''Franchise/FridayThe13th'': Interestingly, [[Film/FridayThe13th1980 the original film]] is not usually the one people remember. [[EarlyInstallmentWeirdness It doesn't even feature Jason]], and on its own, is usually seen as a mediocre slasher at best. The [[Film/FridayThe13thPart2 following]] [[Film/FridayThe13thPartIII three]] [[Film/Fridaythe13thTheFinalChapter films]] are the classics, with the fourth film usually being hailed as the ultimate ''Friday the 13th'' film. ''[[Film/FridayThe13thPartVIJasonLives Part VI]]'' also has its fans.
* ''Film/GIJoeRetaliation'' is seen as this to people who enjoyed ''Film/GIJoeTheRiseOfCobra''. Others consider it to be a SurprisinglyImprovedSequel.
* ''Film/GameraGuardianOfTheUniverse'' was a pretty good reboot of a long-dead franchise. ''Film/Gamera2AdventOfLegion'' had a tighter script, deeper characters, better special effects, more action and more gore. ''Film/Gamera3AwakeningOfIrys'' had less action but even deeper characterization and still better special effects with more effective gore, and a better script. It's still debated whether the second or third is the best, but everyone agrees they're both better than the first.
* Some film buffs consider ''Film/TheGodfatherPartII'' to be better than the original ''Film/TheGodfather'', and everyone considers it to be at the very least comparable. This is partly because of the brilliant decision to tell as parallel stories the origin of Vito Corleone's criminal career, which was a part of the original Mario Puzo novel, and the tragic descent of his son Michael.
* The original ''Film/{{Gremlins}}'' movie is regarded as a classic '80s horror-comedy, even if it feels [[SeinfeldIsUnfunny cliché by today's standards]] to some. Warner Brothers had tried to make a Gremlins sequel for years with no success before finally re-hiring director Joe Dante to helm it, which he did on the condition that he had final authority on the film's content. The result was 1990's ''Film/Gremlins2TheNewBatch'', which cranked the satire and metahumour up by mocking the very concept of movie sequels and taking a sledgehammer to the Fourth Wall.
* For the third ''Film/HarryPotter'' film, ''[[Film/HarryPotterAndThePrisonerOfAzkaban The Prisoner of Azkaban]]'', Chris Columbus left the series and auteur Creator/AlfonsoCuaron stepped in. The end result is a film that many critics consider far more mature and stylized than the [[TheFilmOfTheBook by-the-book]] adaptation approach of the first two films.
* ''Film/HelloMaryLouPromNightII'', while more obscure, is considered a superior film to the original ''Film/PromNight1980'' by those who have seen it. [[InNameOnly It's actually a sequel in name only]], and has a more original premise that combines elements of both the slasher and supernatural horror genres, while also having a more self-referential tone, and it embraces its campiness to the fullest extent. It also pays homage to many, many classic horror films. The original ''Prom Night'', while still fun to watch for its own reasons, stuck very, very close to conventional slasher tropes, and is considered one of the more generic films in the genre.
* While ''Film/TheHungerGames'' is good, its sequel ''Film/TheHungerGamesCatchingFire'' improves on it in every way: a new director, less JitterCam, better performances from everyone, spot-on pacing, much improved effects, a darker and more mature story that remains completely faithful to the book, and a third act filmed in IMAX with a shocking and sudden {{Cliffhanger}} ending. While the first film had to skirt around violence involving children and teenagers, the adult cast for [[spoiler:the special edition Hunger Games featuring past winners]] gave this one much more free rein with its action sequences.
* ''Film/JamesBond'': The first three films are generally considered to be progressively better than the one that came before it. ''Film/{{Goldfinger}}'' is still regarded by some as the best Bond film ever.
* ''Film/JohnnyEnglishReborn'': Many viewers found Johnny's CharacterDevelopment from lucky moron into CrouchingMoronHiddenBadass to make for much more interesting watching than the first film.
* ''Film/MadMax''
** ''Film/MadMax1'' and ''Film/MadMax2TheRoadWarrior''. The first was impressive for a low-budget action film to come out of Australia, though by today's standards is rather slow-paced and tedious (despite some excellent auto-stunts). The second film practically popularized the ScavengerWorld and TheApunkalypse in film, filled with balls to the wall action and was the best remembered film in the series for the next 30+ years, at least until...
** ''Film/MadMaxFuryRoad'', critically acclaimed for its action, [[ShowDontTell visual storytelling]] and WorldBuilding, acting, surprising amounts of CharacterDevelopment and depth despite a very simple story, and relentlessly feminist message. It earned universally positive reviews - 97% on Rotten Tomatoes (a point higher than ''Film/SchindlersList'', it's actually the 4th highest rated movie on the site) and [[OutOfTheGhetto an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture]], unheard of for a [[ScifiGhetto summer action movie]]. It was only a few weeks after its release that fans and critics started calling it one of the greatest action films ever made.
* ''Film/MissionImpossible'' is a rare franchise where (after the [[Film/MissionImpossibleIII third film]], the first one regarded by a majority of people as [[SurprisinglyImprovedSequel actually being]] [[GrowingTheBeard really good]]) each subsequent movie has gotten better reviews than its predecessor, partly because the films [[SerialEscalation just keeping topping themselves]] in terms of increasingly insane and over-the-top stunts. After the standout first one the films fluctuated in quality, but by movie [[Film/MissionImpossibleGhostProtocol 4]] and [[Film/MissionImpossibleRogueNation 5]], some were beginning to see that they'd even reached greater heights than before. ''Film/MissionImpossibleFallout'', the sixth entry, is touted by some as ''one of the best action films of TheNewTens''.
* ''Film/NightOfTheLivingDead1968'' basically invented the entire zombie movie genre overnight, even while [[UnbuiltTrope simultaneously destroying it]] with subtle undertones of social satire. For the sequel ten years later, Creator/GeorgeRomero wisely followed the ethos of "If ain't broke, don't fix it", and kept the core premise of characters trapped in one building that was besieged by zombies, but made the masterstroke of setting it in an urban shopping mall. The result, ''Film/DawnOfTheDead1978'', is a gorier, scarier, funnier, and more intense film than the original, delivering more of what everyone liked in the original but adding more action and more zombies while upping the social attire to scathingly sharp levels.
* Reviews of ''Film/Paddington2'' frequently mentioned it was even better than the critically acclaimed first film. It also became the most-reviewed film on Rotten Tomatoes with a perfect 100% score, surpassing ''WesternAnimation/ToyStory2''.
* ''Film/ThePinkPanther1963'' tends to be hit by this, at least for modern audiences. The original movie, while far from unpopular in its day, is essentially a typical (and somewhat dated) 1960s sex farce with a bumbling French policeman played by Creator/PeterSellers popping up every so often. As the policeman -- a certain Inspector Jacques Clouseau -- proved to be the EnsembleDarkHorse even for contemporary audiences, the sequel ''Film/AShotInTheDark'' made him the central character, amped up the absurdist humour and structured the narrative to be more of a crime/murder-mystery spoof, which later sequels would [[{{Sequelitis}} for better or worse]] draw on more.
* The third ''Film/PoliceAcademy'' film, ''Police Academy 3: Back in Training'' is considered by most fans as the series' peak.
* ''Film/RiseOfThePlanetOfTheApes'' was considered a flawed but successful and enjoyable reboot to an ailing [[Franchise/PlanetOfTheApes sci-fi franchise]], with a groundbreaking performance by Creator/AndySerkis helping to make up for its faults. ''Film/DawnOfThePlanetOfTheApes'' improves on everything, with more complex characters, both human and ape, across the board, strong social and political themes that are deeply explored, and a career-best performance from Serkis, with many calling for an Oscar nomination. The result has been compared to ''Film/TheEmpireStrikesBack'' and ''Film/TheDarkKnight'', been called one of the best and most emotionally powerful movies of 2014, and the kind of film other summer blockbusters should strive to be. And trilogy closer ''Film/WarForThePlanetOfTheApes'' managed to also be an improvement with its heightened emotion and tension, leading to even higher critical scores.
* ''Film/{{Scream 2}}'' is considered by critics to be scarier and funnier than the original ''Film/{{Scream 1996}}''. {{Discussed}} in Randy's film class, where everyone discusses movie sequels, the frequency of sequels that are better than first installments, and which sequels achieve this.
* ''Film/SonicTheHedgehog2020'' was already considered an astounding subversion of VideoGameMoviesSuck, and ''Film/SonicTheHedgehog22022'' earned even better remarks with a larger scope, fun new characters, and more elements reminiscent of the games.
* ''Film/SpiderMan2'' had a drastically improved plot and insight on the main character when compared to the first movie, as well as longer, bigger, and better fight scenes. And if anything, the knockout train battle against Doctor Octopus was the Spider-Man fight everyone had been waiting and hoping for.
* ''Franchise/StarWars''
** While ''Film/ANewHope'' is considered a cinematic masterpiece, many consider ''Film/TheEmpireStrikesBack'' as an even better film, and the best of the ''Franchise/StarWars'' saga, though [[PopularityPolynomial at the time of release it was disliked by many fans]], and there are some who still argue ''A New Hope'' was better (perhaps because ''A New Hope'' can be enjoyed pretty well on its own, whereas casual viewers of all the other films will suffer ContinuityLockOut).
** ''Film/RevengeOfTheSith'' is generally considered the best of the prequels, although some claim [[SurprisinglyImprovedSequel that's more on the previous two's faults than the film's own merits.]]
* ''Film/SuperSizeMe2HolyChicken'': Held against the original ''Film/SuperSizeMe'', this really shows Spurlock's maturation as a film-maker with vastly improved camerawork, editing, and scripting, as well as delivering a much more targeted and robust critique of the fast food industry by focusing on its VeryFalseAdvertising and [[MegaCorp Big Chicken]]'s abusive corporate practices against the regular farmers compared with the far more {{Anvilicious}} message of the original.
* ''Film/Terminator2JudgmentDay'' got even more acclaim than ''Film/TheTerminator'', and had a much higher gross than the already-beloved first film. Like the ''Franchise/{{Alien}}'' series, it shifted from horror in the first installment (which was effectively a SlasherMovie) to a greater focus on action in the second. Incidentally, both sequels were directed by Creator/JamesCameron, though unlike ''Alien'', Cameron also directed the first ''Terminator''.
* ''Film/TheLordOfTheRingsTheFellowshipOfTheRing'' [[AndYouThoughtItWouldFail blew away all expectations]] and forever [[GenreTurningPoint set the bar]] for what an epic HighFantasy film would look like. ''Film/TheTwoTowers'' took everything that worked in the original film and cranked it way up, with better pacing, expanding the supporting cast while simultaneously giving the others more time to shine, and providing some of the most iconic moments in the whole series (the return of Gandalf the White, the [[BigBadassBattleSequence Battle of Helm's Deep]]], Sam's lump-in-the-throat-inducing climactic speech to Frodo, and the march of the Ents on Isengard, among ''many'', many others. And those who don't find it the best in the trilogy certainly give the spot to the closer ''[[Film/TheLordOfTheRingsTheReturnOfTheKing The Return of the King]]'', that aside from [[EndingFatigue not knowing when to end]], was a GrandFinale with even better battle scenes and no dearth of emotional moments, leading to box-office records all over the place and tying for a record-breaking 11 Academy Awards.[[note]]Regarding the source material, [[DividedForPublication the second and third installments are technically not "sequels"]].[[/note]]
* ''Film/TheThing1982'' is widely regarded as one of the greatest, if not the greatest, remakes ever made, with many considering it to be superior to ''Film/TheThingFromAnotherWorld''.
* The Vengeance Trilogy by Park Chan Wook started with ''Film/SympathyForMrVengeance'', which isn't a bad film, but relatively obscure. ''Film/{{Oldboy 2003}}'', the second film, is the one everyone remembers. ''Film/SympathyForLadyVengeance'', the third film, was also well-received but is not as well-known as ''Oldboy''. However, these are all stand-alone films [[ThematicSeries linked only by the theme of vengeance]].
* ''Film/WrongTurn2DeadEnd'' received a far better reception than the original film, even though it was DirectToVideo. Having Music/HenryRollins in it probably helped.
* ''Film/XMenFilmSeries''
** ''Film/X2XMenUnited'' is considered an improvement on the already good original ''Film/XMen1'', fleshing out the characters and themes introduced in the first one, while providing more action. Bryan Singer said the strategy for ''X2'' was to follow the ''Empire Strikes Back'' plot, where they split up the characters for purposes of development, then bring them together again for a fantastic finish.
** While ''Film/XMenFirstClass'' was well-liked by fans for bringing the ''X-Men'' series back on track, ''Film/XMenDaysOfFuturePast'' has been even more well-received and cited by a few reviewers as the best of the ''X-Men'' movies. It even currently has the highest Rotten Tomatoes score in the series at 92%, placing ''DOFP'' among the best-reviewed Marvel movies of all, Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse or otherwise. The movie has also become the top-grossing ''X-Men'' film in terms of worldwide box office by far, usurping the position previously held by ''[[Film/XMenTheLastStand The Last Stand]]''.
** Among the Wolverine spin-off trilogy, the critically-bashed ''Film/XMenOriginsWolverine'' was followed by a SurprisinglyImprovedSequel with ''Film/TheWolverine'', which was itself followed by ''Film/{{Logan}}'', critically adored (92% on Rotten Tomatoes) and praised by many critics as [[http://www.businessinsider.com/logan-reviews-critics-2017-3/#its-dark-and-risky-1 "one of the best superhero movies ever"]] for its darker tone. It even got an Academy Award nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay, becoming very first comic book film to ever do so.
** While ''Film/{{Deadpool|2016}}'' was a funny and well-liked movie, some fans consider ''Film/Deadpool2'' to be a better film that has better humor and action scenes. Some critics have praised ''Deadpool 2's'' humor for satirizing DarkerAndEdgier superhero flicks like ''[[Film/CaptainAmericaTheWinterSoldier The Winter Soldier]]'', ''[[Film/BatmanVSupermanDawnOfJustice Batman v Superman]]'', and ''Film/{{Logan}}''.
----
