All three LotR movies were filmed back-to-back, they are not sequels. Dune Part 2 was meant to be filmed back to back. It just so happens, that the first one had world-building to do, whereas there's "just" more action in the second part.
Years before Family Guy had Peter Griffin say "it insists upon itself" I felt the way he does about the Godfather franchise as a whole; I will never understand how people enjoy it. it's so BORING. I have honestly tried, multiple times, to watch the franchise, but I consistently get so bored I doze off. I can't tell you anything about the movies.
I think there's an essential difference between a sequel made out of success from the first one and a story that's already imagined and done as more than one movie.
Dune 2 doesn’t count as a sequel just like LOTR: The Two Towers and Return of the King don’t count. They’re part of a single story and always have been.
No, not necessarily. A more accurate comparison would be between a director's debut and sophomore outings, as unlike movie franchises albums by recording artists are singular installments meant to be consumed as a standalone piece from their original work. Plus, most of the highest regarded artists of all time don't hit their stride until much later on in their career. For example, The Beatles, whose golden era is usually considered to start with their sixth album Rubber Soul. By comparison, almost no movie franchises are still good after their third movie, let alone six. A more accurate comparison would be, say, another legendary pop culture figure Stanley Kubrick. While he did make some good films beforehand (noticeably Paths of Glory), his golden era is usually considered to start with his 7th movie, Dr. Strangelove. Similarly, all of Kubrick's movies are standalone pieces in his body of work, much like a recording artist. The same goes for nearly any director. I'd say that movie sequels have no real musical parallel, as you can't really make a sequel to an album (there are exceptions, like the concept album trilogy of Mekakucity Days, Mekakucity Records and Mekakucity Reload made by the vocaloid artist Jin, but again these are incredibly rare exceptions). However, like many movie sequels, musical artists who have careers spanning decades can have the unfortunate fate of merely just rehashing their old sound over and over again without igniting thee same spark of passion that made the originals so good. An example would be current day Bob Dylan or Neil Young.
I feel Across the Spider Verse is a great example of a sequel that takes risks as discussed in the video. I felt the first Spider Verse movie was kind of just a generic superhero movie with a cool art style. Yeah, it was good but I didn’t find its story to be anything exceptional. The story of Across the Spider Verse on the other hand was anything but generic. It was a lot more morally gray and the events of the film really challenged the main character (Miles) on what being a hero truly means. The villain in the second movie also isn’t generically evil like in the first movie and in some ways you could even argue he is in the right more than Miles. This is why I definitely prefer Across the Spider Verse to Into the Spider Verse and think it is one of the best sequels I have seen in the last 10 years.
I think the point of the first SpiderVerse film was to have a generic hero origin story with some twists and beautiful animation that I think really worked. The second one’s plot was very deep and complex similar to Dune with the first one having a semi-simple plot, and then going deeper in the second film. Sequels are failing today because the story constantly gets dumbed down as more films go on.
@@Syracuseman77 I saw it as well in IMAX, hopefully in 2026 there could be a re-release of both Top Guns in IMAX, because the OG will turn 40 that year.
I’d argue Dune 2 does not count as a sequel because it’s the second half of a single story. Same applies for Two Towers and Return of the King. IMHO sequels are only sequels when there was no plan to continue the story beyond the first movie. This puts something like Empire Strikes Back in a murky area because Lucas had a rough outline for a more expansive story but didn’t really know how it was going to play out until he got started.
It’s more to do with the fact that it was an adaption of a singular work. Having a film that’s a singular film with an overarching story down the line planned is different
Part 2 is more complex, nuanced and foreboding than the 1st thats why its better, there's literally more analysis vids on the 2nd than the 1st. People who prefer the first godfather movie tend to be more simple and less analytical types .
Part of what made The Dark Knight great was that Nolan always thought of Batman Begins as a single film and was not thinking ahead. You can watch Batman Begins and be totally happy with it on its own. It's a pretty self-contained story. I think it would've been a different film if he was funded to make a trilogy. That would've affected his creative sense by looking at a much larger story. Because he had that Joker moment at the end, that stirred people's curiosity of what a second film could entail. What I love about each film in his trilogy is that they all feel different. The Dark Knight was a big step up from Batman Begins. You saw the wider world and the consequences of Bruce's actions from Batman Begins. The Dark Knight is the fallout from that. The Dark Knight Rises is more fallout but he's having to build himself up again to save Gotham. Nolan's trilogy is so good!
While this is a great video, you have an error with batman. The joker tells them where he is, batman goes to Rachel and the police goes to Dent. But the joker switches the information, so Batman finds Dent with his face half burnt and the cops are too late for Rachel. Joker switches the info out of Chaos
I love that scene - He walk and stance and very robotic and breaks when Joe Morton’s Dyson says “What?” Her realization that he has no idea why she’s there and she was about to execute a family man in front of his wife and child.
No, no, no, no. I will die on this hill and take everyone with me. Godfather I is vastly superior to Godfather II. It's shot way better. The actors are better, the characters are better. Pacino wasn't ready to take the lead without supporting cast from I (rip Santino). Even Tom was better used. The atmosphere was thicker and tense. It was a tighter movie. I think the Vito flashbacks added nothing but runtime. He rose to power, yeah, I figured. In fact, it all happened too quickly in the flashbacks. It was a mess.
I agree with you, I liked Avatar: The Way of Water, one of the most immersive experiences I had in a theatre, great worldbuilding, even if the story is more or less the same, I feel I liked it better than it's predecessor.
Best sequels personally: The dark knight, godfather part 2, lotr two towers, aliens, terminator 2 judgement day, stsr wars empire strikes back, dune part 2, spider-man across the spider verse, etc etc.
My Mom and I just saw Inside Out 2, we had so much fun and felt happier after it, I feel it's just as good if not better than the original, I think it's a bit more mature than it's predecessor in it's themes, even more EPIC, might be due to the age of Riley, I could relate in some ways even if I'm not a teenager anymore (also I like the change of aspect ratio, is just like from The Terminator to Terminator 2). Speaking of Pixar, curious that you didn't mention Toy Story 2, I love Toy Story, especially the first two movies, but the second one is probably my favorite.
Honestly I agree, Addams Family Values is it's own Godfather 2 (what a coincidence, both produced by Paramount), Christina Ricci as Wednesday stole the show, just as Heath Ledger's Joker in The Dark Knight (imagine if they met).
The earliest sequel I ever saw, was 'Demetrius & the Gladiators' (1954)- it was a sequel to 'The Robe' (1953) - the latter was based on a book ['The Robe', by Lloyd C Douglas], but the film sequel wasn't based on the book sequel, it just appeared to be following Victor Mature's character -- though, according to Wikipedia, a filmed sequel _was_ eventually made to the book sequel, 'The Big Fisherman', in 1959- it doesn't appear to have any plot-connection to the previous films, other than Saint Peter- who was played by a different actor...
One reason some sequels excel is that they, in some fashion or another, reorient the trajectory of the storytelling and recontextualize what came before in ways that improve the originals. What makes The Empire Strikes Back so brilliant in this regard is that it changes the trajectory of the Star Wars saga from being one about, to be a bit reductive, "plucky rebels taking down an evil empire to save the galaxy," to being one much more about "a noble son trying to save his father's soul while not losing his own." For all the brilliance of A New Hope, there's just something much deeper and more enthralling about such a thematic change, and its ramifications completely recolor A New Hope in more interesting ways. In some fashion, it's also how some sequels make successive ones less-than. I could dedicate an entire book to their successes and shortcomings, but It says a lot about the Disney Star Wars sequels (The Force Awakens thru The Rise of Skywalker) that, in some fashion, they revert the franchise back to being a saga about "plucky rebels taking down an evil empire to save the galaxy," and as a result, reduce themselves as a result. They're no longer preoccupied with such deeper storytelling considerations, and they're lesser for it.
Its really too bad that the Godfather Part II doesn't get as much praise as it deserves. If it was in any other franchise, it would be the most famous. But how do you overshadow the Godfather. 😂
Hm, I’m trying to think of examples where the second movie wasn’t all that great but the third movie really shined as the superior sequel. I like to think of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade as falling into this category, but I’m curious if anyone out there can think of similar examples?
I mean, Temple of Doom is technically a prequel set one year before Raiders, but I gotta agree The Last Crusade is the superior sequel and a nice closing to Indy's trilogy, YES, trilogy, I like Kingdom of the Crystal Skull but I know it's flaws, but I won't rewatch Dial of Destiny.
@@davidzeiger1036As someone who was a huge fan of Cars as a kid, I gotta agree, even if I loved Cars 2 at that age (it made me a James Bond fan). Another Example is Men in Black: 1st: classic, 2) not so good, 3) gets good again, better than 2nd one, tho the ending sets the debate of why K recruited J in first place.
T2, Aliens, Top Gun: Maverick, Mad Max 2, Empire Strikes Back, Spiderman 2, Bourne Supremacy, Rush Hour 2, Rise of the Silver Surfer, X2, Before Sunset, Lethal Weapon 2, Blade Runner 2049, Bad Boys 2, From Russia With Love, Sicario: Soldado and Dawn of the Apes are all improved sequels in my view.
I don't know how much it counts for Dune because really if you take the whole story of the first book and you split it in half, which is exactly what they did with the movies, of course the most exciting moments are in the second part, especially in a story that works so much like a crescendo. There is no way in which the first movie could have been more memorable than the second.
Cameron knew how to beat this trick by changing two sci-fi horror films into sci-fi action films. The tones both still maintained a level of suspense, but now had this added level of action that wasn't in the original and allowed the story to progress further than it could've gone if it stayed in its sam genre. The raid is another recent example with how the second one was more of a drama that had these amazing set pieces compared to the first film which was a massive endurance test in how long these offices can survive.
That's a really interesting pattern you've pulled out-- now I'll have to think through the sequels that I've liked and loathed, and see which fit. It reminds me of the video essay by So Uncivilized on the reversals that George Lucas worked into his Star Wars films in terms of both structure and themes. Definitely worth a watch!
I did actually watch the first two Godfathers back to back one day. I found my appreciation of The Godfather Part II better since I was already immersed in the world from The Godfather
Mark my words : the best big budget trilogy of all times is going to be DUNE [because there are small indie films that could compete for this title such as PUSHER or BLUE, RED, WHITE, or THE HUMAN CONDITION...]. It would be the most consistent and accomplished as a whole.
Change the paradigm, focus in on character, and improve on underlying filmmaking. And invert the ending of the first. Follow a tragedy with a triumph (Aliens, Terminator 2) or vice versa (Empire)
People don't know what they want until they see it. Sequels are fine as long as they come from a genuine passion but it's still not easy... Sequels are often cash grabs but even when the motivation is pure in ways that have nothing to do with money, sequels are just difficult to pull off (since you literally want to capture the essence of the original yet do and say something new, it's like threading a needle)...but if all we ever did was use that as a reason to not make them then some of the best movies ever made wouldn't exist.
I don’t think Godfather 2 holds as being better than the first. You don’t get the same character arcs you get with the first film, and I don’t like when the plot is less important than the drama; a vague narrative around a Brooklyn turf war and senate investigation which don’t really matter next to the drama between the brothers. It is still a great film, but the first holds up better.
I’ve always been interested in good sequels to bad films. The biggest example to me is Friday the 13th. The original is frankly carried by special effects, but many of the sequels have entertaining, better written character, and better directing than the original. I think it sort of fits all of these categories with a retooled story; and a bigger budget/updated writers and directors; and introduces two of the best characters in the franchise: Ginny and Jason. Obviously those movies don’t perfectly fit your criteria, but I find it funny that they take a lot of the stuff you mention and twist it in a different way. It also helps that the first film isn’t that great
Umm James Cameron directed three sequels buddy. Avatar way of water. And in my opinion it expands rhe world of Pandora and explores new possiblities paving the way for future installments.
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Godfather 3 wasn't a failure, it's a good movie that has to be compared to two of the greatest movies ever made. People just shit on it out of laziness, it's low hanging fruit with one bad performance because an actress fell out at the last minute and they made a hasty choice replacing her
Not all sequels are great in my book - The Dark Knight is terrible and grossly overrated, Empire Strikes Back although a good movie is way too overhyped. The Godfather Part Two and Terminator 2 are both excellent. Especially Back to The Future 2
Oh c’mon Aliens is a fun action military movie like most of these movies made by him at this time period… but not nearly as good as Alien. it doesn’t help that I don’t like 99% of what he has done. 😊
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom did the exact opposite of this suggestion: did a prequel that showcased the main character as LESS likable than in the previous movie and even de-matured the main character so that moviegoers are slightly confused at a portrayal of a gold-digging tomb raider where they were expecting a Nazi-fighting archaeologist. We should have known, it was George Lucas’s first turn at trying to write prequels that he had no business to. Prequels are inherently bad stories: you know the outcome, so you can’t have any meaningful drama happen in the prequel arc of one story. All you can do is make heavy-handed references only fans will recognize and move around the set dressing in preparation for the actual story. The only exception is Rogue One, being superior to any of the other Star Wars prequels by virtue of not telling anybody before the movie came out that EVERYONE dies in the movie. Good, bad, whomever-nobody survives. If that’s what it takes to make an impactful prequel, you can see why studios are hesitant to make them.
Well, the Star Wars prequels have gotten a revaluation over time, especially after the sequel trilogy, George Lucas said the movies should be watched in order 1-6, that's how I and many of my age did (20 and so on), also I recently watched a film forum cycle of Star Wars in that order, pretty much everyone enjoyed it, even those who hadn't seen it before. Regarding Indiana Jones, Temple of Doom has it's fans, it's main problem as a prequel might be that it shows Indy knowing about supernatural things, when in the first film he says he dosen't believe in that "hocus pocus" stuff.
@@jesustovar2549 Watching SW 1-6 loses the enormous impact of the Vader reveal. A better order IMHO is 4-5 -2-3-6. You keep the reveal, go back in time to explain how you got there, then pick up where you left off with RotJ. Dump episode 1 because it doesn't really affect anything, and ignore all the sequels, they're trash.
MIB3 is the best MIB. Fight me! Probably the only instance of a 3rd instalment being the best, and one of the few instances where the 3rd didnt totally suck.
The next video should be trilogies with the best ending movie because i feel like most trilogies weakest movie are the final one. (God father, batman, star wars, shrek, matrix)
Don’t get me wrong, Return of the Jedi doesn’t hold a light to Empire, and is not nearly as well written-but thematically and character arc-wise, as an ending to the saga, it’s a 10/10…with the added bonus of actually being satisfying. Which I hate to say is so incredibly rare for a 3rd/final installment imo
It’s because films aren’t usually meant to start a series. In most storytelling, the middle chapter tends to be the weakest, but film in the exception.
Hear me out…. Transformers 3 was the best ending…. autobots were friendly caretakers but they went full flex war crimes. it was the explosion filled ending we needed
Blade runner 2049 is better than the original in my opinion. I know that the original is more groundbreaking for the time it was released but the 2049 is a better movie in general.
I really don't understand that sentiment. The first Blade Runner has some of the best, most original, iconic and unique worldbuilding elements, dialogues/monologues (tears in the rain) and characters ever and spawned an entire genre (Cyberpunk), whereas the second, albeit interesting, has pretty bland characters (especially the villains and Robin Wrights character) and some really cliché dialogue, not to mention it retcons the original in some annoying ways
@@richardblakely6854that scene is very cringe, I agree. Left a sour taste in my mouth from the first time I watched it and spoils an otherwise almost perfect movie. Why? Why did they have to include this?
@@kingelijah8049 I disagree, The Godfather is a self-contained story about succession, with a three act structure. The first part of Dune ends in medias res. For example, Paul Atreides only completes his character arc at the end of the second film.
It will never cease to baffle me that people find the Dark Knight to be a better film than Batman Begins. Sure, the Joker is the best character in the trilogy, but the film itself is a convoluted mess.
Whereas in most genres, I think originals are predominantly superior to sequels, in comic book adaptations, it feels like there’s an obligatory origin story (that had to be good enough to warrant a sequel), followed by the story the filmmakers REALLY wanted to tell, concluding with the studio cash grab. Spider-Man 2, X2, Hellboy II, Blade II and Days of Future Past, as well as the above-mentioned Dark Knight, were all superior to their first films.
I'd have to rewatch it, but atm T1 > T2. Great combination of horror, sci-fi and romance, Arnold was an unmatched villain and Kyle Reese was the glue that held it all together. I also liked Godfather Part 1 more than Part 2. Part 2 had some great parts like the Don Vito flashbacks, Fredo and Michael's descent into darkness, but I enjoyed the Don's presence so much that Part 2 was lesser without him.
Typically sequels do not surpass the credibility of the original mainly due the daunting task of rehashing the same trick twice. What makes a sequel better than the original is a few key things but most notably evolution in character development and expansion, diversity and depth in storytelling. The winter soldier has depth in terms storytelling compared to the first avenger. X2 has expansion in scope and stakes compared to Xmen. Terminator 2 has great character evolution for the T-800. The dark knight has diversity in tone and narrative compared to Batman begins. A psycho noir crime thriller whilst begins was more of a crime adventure thriller. Empire has diversity in tone and evolution in character development. A great sequel is a film that replenishes the essence and spirit of the original whilst also providing fresh ideas, elements and a different set of challenges for its characters. Edit: Some sequels fail to reach the standards of their predecessors but are still entertaining. Sometimes disposable entertainment is what the soul needs. Oceans 12 is ridiculous but actually a lot of fun too. I find much satisfaction in it. Not a patch on the original but I enjoy it. It’s ok if some sequels are bad.
But what if the original wasn’t that great in the first place? Enter Friday the 13th, a mediocre film with some good sequels. Sometimes people forget that original work aren’t always masterpieces that can actually be pretty easily improved. That’s why I like the Friday the 13th series, it improves as it goes along. Also I totally agree that a good sequel does not need to surpass the original. Even some of the best sequels like Aliens and T2 don’t eclipse the original
@@thomasffrench3639 I agree with what you said mostly, you made some valid points. You are correct some original movies didn’t quite cut the mustard but the sequel prevails in telling a better story. I really can’t think of any examples in my mind atm. 🤔
@@master-of-mind5881 in my opinion I have a few series: Friday the 13th (2,4,6 in particular) Top Gun Maverick Star Trek (original cast) Fast and Furious
No way can you call "Dune 2" a sequel, it's the completion of "Dune 1". All of these other "Part 1" films tell a complete story and can stand on their own whereas "Dune 1" is only half of a story, it requires "Dune 2" to finish the one single storyline. However,, if there's a "Dune 3" then I guess that will be the sequel, although some people might argue that it's all one three-part story like "Lord of the Rings".
Bro especially with your last two sentences: "They're not trying to preserve anything--they're trying to blaze a new trail..." I mean you GOTTA give credit to The Last Jedi for accomplishing exactly that and basically the entire theme of the movie being a battle cry to let the past die and forge a new story.
I was sad to not see Sam Raimi's Spider-Man 2 amongst the examples :'( It also does what you explain, challenging the hero to their limits and present moral dilemmas that they have to overcome to become a true hero. And it eclipses the first movie! :D
The Top 3 sequels ever made are Aliens, The Godfather Part II and Terminator 2: Judgment Day. After that, you have Empire Strikes Back, you have Top Gun Maverick, Spiderman 2, The Dark Knight, etc
Great video. You should also include The Bride of Frankenstein which is often on Greatest Movies lists and well ahead of the original Frankenstein. It's often cited along with Godfather Part 2 and The Empire Strikes Back as the greatest sequel to a great original.
Don't agree on including LOTR and Dune in these rankings, they were a complete pre-existing work adapted in installments. You have to consider the series as a single story, not as an original followed by sequels.
The truly great sequels are not always "better" than the original. They don't even have to be better. But they do need to help make the original itself better. Godfather 2, Empire Strikes Back and Aliens all do that. I would add Bourne Supremacy to this list. And yes, the story needs to venture into new arritive territory or it will become a mere rehash of the original story.
The sequel to this video will be brilliant.
I can finally afford to make the video I really wanted to make
The sequel to this comment as well.
I've been waiting forever
@@JustanObservation don't do it man, the video ended satisfyingly and there's no where else to really go
@@JustanObservation😂
All three LotR movies were filmed back-to-back, they are not sequels. Dune Part 2 was meant to be filmed back to back. It just so happens, that the first one had world-building to do, whereas there's "just" more action in the second part.
Yes, was going to write this myself. Dune Part 2 is not a sequel. It's the second half of a very long film.
BATMAN BEGINS is the best BATMAN movie.
I would also add Shrek 2 to the "best sequel of all time" list.
Heck, it might be the top along with T2 and empire!
Preach
I would also add Friday the 13th Part 4
Shrek 2 is amazing.
"I know it was you, Joker", Feyd-Rautha said calmly.
" DID YOU PUT YOUR NAME IN THE GOBLET OF FATHERS?!"
"Mine was a drinker and a fiend."
The Godfather Part II to me is the greatest sequel ever because of the standards it had to live up to
Agreed!
Years before Family Guy had Peter Griffin say "it insists upon itself" I felt the way he does about the Godfather franchise as a whole; I will never understand how people enjoy it. it's so BORING. I have honestly tried, multiple times, to watch the franchise, but I consistently get so bored I doze off. I can't tell you anything about the movies.
@@thebigdawgj 👍
@@thebigdawgj It's because u love marvel and family guy. It's not for you.
I'm leaving a comment, so algorithm is happy and the author can afford to make the version of this video, they planned from the beggining.
I think there's an essential difference between a sequel made out of success from the first one and a story that's already imagined and done as more than one movie.
Yes, but the godfather 2 wasn’t planned from the start… but I guess there’s always an exception to the rule.
Including Dune Part 2 in this video is a real stretch, since they were both from the same book.
Dune 2 doesn’t count as a sequel just like LOTR: The Two Towers and Return of the King don’t count. They’re part of a single story and always have been.
@@methos-ey9nftotally agree.
And either of those can be good or bad.
The Dark Knight is my all-time favourite film.
It's a great crime thriller starring Batman and the Joker.
The same thing applies for recording artists with their debut album versus their sophomore album!
No, not necessarily. A more accurate comparison would be between a director's debut and sophomore outings, as unlike movie franchises albums by recording artists are singular installments meant to be consumed as a standalone piece from their original work. Plus, most of the highest regarded artists of all time don't hit their stride until much later on in their career. For example, The Beatles, whose golden era is usually considered to start with their sixth album Rubber Soul. By comparison, almost no movie franchises are still good after their third movie, let alone six. A more accurate comparison would be, say, another legendary pop culture figure Stanley Kubrick. While he did make some good films beforehand (noticeably Paths of Glory), his golden era is usually considered to start with his 7th movie, Dr. Strangelove. Similarly, all of Kubrick's movies are standalone pieces in his body of work, much like a recording artist. The same goes for nearly any director. I'd say that movie sequels have no real musical parallel, as you can't really make a sequel to an album (there are exceptions, like the concept album trilogy of Mekakucity Days, Mekakucity Records and Mekakucity Reload made by the vocaloid artist Jin, but again these are incredibly rare exceptions). However, like many movie sequels, musical artists who have careers spanning decades can have the unfortunate fate of merely just rehashing their old sound over and over again without igniting thee same spark of passion that made the originals so good. An example would be current day Bob Dylan or Neil Young.
One thing that's interesting is that the third album tends to be their best one.
I feel Across the Spider Verse is a great example of a sequel that takes risks as discussed in the video. I felt the first Spider Verse movie was kind of just a generic superhero movie with a cool art style. Yeah, it was good but I didn’t find its story to be anything exceptional.
The story of Across the Spider Verse on the other hand was anything but generic. It was a lot more morally gray and the events of the film really challenged the main character (Miles) on what being a hero truly means.
The villain in the second movie also isn’t generically evil like in the first movie and in some ways you could even argue he is in the right more than Miles. This is why I definitely prefer Across the Spider Verse to Into the Spider Verse and think it is one of the best sequels I have seen in the last 10 years.
I think the point of the first SpiderVerse film was to have a generic hero origin story with some twists and beautiful animation that I think really worked. The second one’s plot was very deep and complex similar to Dune with the first one having a semi-simple plot, and then going deeper in the second film. Sequels are failing today because the story constantly gets dumbed down as more films go on.
They both have their place. Part one had a more fun script and condensed story and more comedy if you want more of a light ride.
Paddington 2 / Rush Hour 2. Two absolutely spectacular movies.
Can't disagree
You cooked fr
Paddington 2 is absolute perfection
Another sequel which is just a rehash is A Quiet Place 2, should have taken notes from Aliens to make it better
Top gun Maverick just made that
You didn't mention Top Gun Maverick or Blade Runner 2049.
Top Gun Maverick was so unexpectedly good. Possibly eclipses the original. Watched it opening weekend on IMAX. The crowd was pumped.
@@Syracuseman77 I saw it as well in IMAX, hopefully in 2026 there could be a re-release of both Top Guns in IMAX, because the OG will turn 40 that year.
Because the original Blade Runner is better.
@@jerogomezrobledo Oh man, I hope so.
@@kingelijah8049Right there with you
I’d argue Dune 2 does not count as a sequel because it’s the second half of a single story. Same applies for Two Towers and Return of the King. IMHO sequels are only sequels when there was no plan to continue the story beyond the first movie. This puts something like Empire Strikes Back in a murky area because Lucas had a rough outline for a more expansive story but didn’t really know how it was going to play out until he got started.
It’s more to do with the fact that it was an adaption of a singular work. Having a film that’s a singular film with an overarching story down the line planned is different
4:04 “The originals were merely low-budget prototypes of what could come next.” I’m reminded strongly of El Mariachi and Desperado.
Yup! Thought of that one too.
I was also thinking of Friday the 13th
Favorite channel of a guy talking about a thing
I don't care what anyone says, Godfather Part II was the best
Nah, close but no cigar
@@unfiltered8682 I respect your opinion, but allow me to make you an offer you can't refuse
Why though ? Part 1 is better in almost every way
We don’t care what you say, Godfather I was the best
Part 2 is more complex, nuanced and foreboding than the 1st thats why its better, there's literally more analysis vids on the 2nd than the 1st.
People who prefer the first godfather movie tend to be more simple and less analytical types .
Part of what made The Dark Knight great was that Nolan always thought of Batman Begins as a single film and was not thinking ahead. You can watch Batman Begins and be totally happy with it on its own. It's a pretty self-contained story. I think it would've been a different film if he was funded to make a trilogy. That would've affected his creative sense by looking at a much larger story. Because he had that Joker moment at the end, that stirred people's curiosity of what a second film could entail. What I love about each film in his trilogy is that they all feel different. The Dark Knight was a big step up from Batman Begins. You saw the wider world and the consequences of Bruce's actions from Batman Begins. The Dark Knight is the fallout from that. The Dark Knight Rises is more fallout but he's having to build himself up again to save Gotham. Nolan's trilogy is so good!
While this is a great video, you have an error with batman.
The joker tells them where he is, batman goes to Rachel and the police goes to Dent. But the joker switches the information, so Batman finds Dent with his face half burnt and the cops are too late for Rachel. Joker switches the info out of Chaos
4:51 Also, now it's Sarah Connor becoming the Terminator herself going for Dyson's head. Becoming the very thing she hated.
I love that scene - He walk and stance and very robotic and breaks when Joe Morton’s Dyson says “What?” Her realization that he has no idea why she’s there and she was about to execute a family man in front of his wife and child.
@@adanrios7951Seeing how dyson’s son came to protect him mirrors how John protects terminator.
@@prettypuff1 in the special edition, John does protect him when Sarah wants to smash his cpu
@@adanrios7951 people think i’m crazy when I think the real story being told of familial love
No, no, no, no. I will die on this hill and take everyone with me. Godfather I is vastly superior to Godfather II. It's shot way better. The actors are better, the characters are better. Pacino wasn't ready to take the lead without supporting cast from I (rip Santino). Even Tom was better used. The atmosphere was thicker and tense. It was a tighter movie. I think the Vito flashbacks added nothing but runtime. He rose to power, yeah, I figured. In fact, it all happened too quickly in the flashbacks. It was a mess.
Terminator 2. Enough said
😂 Facts! 🤖 🤖
Spaceballs 2: The Quest for More Money. The greatest sequel never made.
Rocky 2 also belong to this list
Great video as usual but I do wish you brought up Toy Story 2 & 3 because those are also incredible movie sequels.
James Cameron is the king of sequels.
I agree with you, I liked Avatar: The Way of Water, one of the most immersive experiences I had in a theatre, great worldbuilding, even if the story is more or less the same, I feel I liked it better than it's predecessor.
Imagine if he would have made Titanic 2: Jack’s Revenge?
Best sequels personally:
The dark knight, godfather part 2, lotr two towers, aliens, terminator 2 judgement day, stsr wars empire strikes back, dune part 2, spider-man across the spider verse, etc etc.
My Mom and I just saw Inside Out 2, we had so much fun and felt happier after it, I feel it's just as good if not better than the original, I think it's a bit more mature than it's predecessor in it's themes, even more EPIC, might be due to the age of Riley, I could relate in some ways even if I'm not a teenager anymore (also I like the change of aspect ratio, is just like from The Terminator to Terminator 2).
Speaking of Pixar, curious that you didn't mention Toy Story 2, I love Toy Story, especially the first two movies, but the second one is probably my favorite.
Addams family 2 was better than the Addams family 1
Yes, Great example!
Honestly I agree, Addams Family Values is it's own Godfather 2 (what a coincidence, both produced by Paramount), Christina Ricci as Wednesday stole the show, just as Heath Ledger's Joker in The Dark Knight (imagine if they met).
Heresy!
@@jesustovar2549also Friday the 13th
The earliest sequel I ever saw, was 'Demetrius & the Gladiators' (1954)- it was a sequel to 'The Robe' (1953) - the latter was based on a book ['The Robe', by Lloyd C Douglas], but the film sequel wasn't based on the book sequel, it just appeared to be following Victor Mature's character -- though, according to Wikipedia, a filmed sequel _was_ eventually made to the book sequel, 'The Big Fisherman', in 1959- it doesn't appear to have any plot-connection to the previous films, other than Saint Peter- who was played by a different actor...
We all knew that though Batman Begins was great, Dark Knight be better. But didnt know it would exceed even those expectations.
One reason some sequels excel is that they, in some fashion or another, reorient the trajectory of the storytelling and recontextualize what came before in ways that improve the originals.
What makes The Empire Strikes Back so brilliant in this regard is that it changes the trajectory of the Star Wars saga from being one about, to be a bit reductive, "plucky rebels taking down an evil empire to save the galaxy," to being one much more about "a noble son trying to save his father's soul while not losing his own." For all the brilliance of A New Hope, there's just something much deeper and more enthralling about such a thematic change, and its ramifications completely recolor A New Hope in more interesting ways.
In some fashion, it's also how some sequels make successive ones less-than. I could dedicate an entire book to their successes and shortcomings, but It says a lot about the Disney Star Wars sequels (The Force Awakens thru The Rise of Skywalker) that, in some fashion, they revert the franchise back to being a saga about "plucky rebels taking down an evil empire to save the galaxy," and as a result, reduce themselves as a result. They're no longer preoccupied with such deeper storytelling considerations, and they're lesser for it.
I always enjoy these analytical videos. I've been about doing the same thing for video games.
Its really too bad that the Godfather Part II doesn't get as much praise as it deserves. If it was in any other franchise, it would be the most famous. But how do you overshadow the Godfather. 😂
Hm, I’m trying to think of examples where the second movie wasn’t all that great but the third movie really shined as the superior sequel. I like to think of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade as falling into this category, but I’m curious if anyone out there can think of similar examples?
The Cars franchise?
1st: a classic, 2nd: BAD, 3rd: fitting end to the story
I mean, Temple of Doom is technically a prequel set one year before Raiders, but I gotta agree The Last Crusade is the superior sequel and a nice closing to Indy's trilogy, YES, trilogy, I like Kingdom of the Crystal Skull but I know it's flaws, but I won't rewatch Dial of Destiny.
@@davidzeiger1036As someone who was a huge fan of Cars as a kid, I gotta agree, even if I loved Cars 2 at that age (it made me a James Bond fan).
Another Example is Men in Black: 1st: classic, 2) not so good, 3) gets good again, better than 2nd one, tho the ending sets the debate of why K recruited J in first place.
Harry Potter for a lot of people
Every book trilogy. It's really weird because middle book syndrome is really common in novels and albums. Just not movies for some reason.
Can you do a video about how Andor/Rogue One is such a different Star Wars?
Another good example (in my book at least) is Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me.
Absolutely agree…
It’s the only one of those movies worth watching
I love the subtlety of reusing the same Hollywood's sign shot while pointing out the sequel for being a rehash of the original movie.
T2, Aliens, Top Gun: Maverick, Mad Max 2, Empire Strikes Back, Spiderman 2, Bourne Supremacy, Rush Hour 2, Rise of the Silver Surfer, X2, Before Sunset, Lethal Weapon 2, Blade Runner 2049, Bad Boys 2, From Russia With Love, Sicario: Soldado and Dawn of the Apes are all improved sequels in my view.
Sicario is a terrible call my friend
@@Hibernomania Just to clarify that all these movies mentioned are just my own opinion.
@@thetalentof of course. Agree with most. I just love the first sicario!
Great list, I'd just add Dark Knight. 👍
Agree with some, some are up to opinion. But idk what you're on about Sicario.
I don't know how much it counts for Dune because really if you take the whole story of the first book and you split it in half, which is exactly what they did with the movies, of course the most exciting moments are in the second part, especially in a story that works so much like a crescendo. There is no way in which the first movie could have been more memorable than the second.
Nothing in here for Son of the Mask??
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan definitely fits all the criteria.
Cameron knew how to beat this trick by changing two sci-fi horror films into sci-fi action films. The tones both still maintained a level of suspense, but now had this added level of action that wasn't in the original and allowed the story to progress further than it could've gone if it stayed in its sam genre. The raid is another recent example with how the second one was more of a drama that had these amazing set pieces compared to the first film which was a massive endurance test in how long these offices can survive.
Great point and so true. Also why I was so disappointed in Avatar2, I thought for sure Cameron would nail it.
@@SheilaPatterson I think it he could've of he didn't commit himself to making three films afterwards so he had to keep in the same style.
That's a really interesting pattern you've pulled out-- now I'll have to think through the sequels that I've liked and loathed, and see which fit. It reminds me of the video essay by So Uncivilized on the reversals that George Lucas worked into his Star Wars films in terms of both structure and themes. Definitely worth a watch!
Spiderman 2 and spider verse 2 I swear I’m not a superhero nerd
Disagree completely on godfather p2 being better than p1 but agree on the others.
Great video- but Godfather 1 is better than 2
Jack looks at you with a bewildered stare : " Are you outta your fucking mind!"
Nah, they're both great, could even be one movie.
I did love the De Niro potions in part 2 but part one is a better overall film imho
I did actually watch the first two Godfathers back to back one day.
I found my appreciation of The Godfather Part II better since I was already immersed in the world from The Godfather
Mark my words : the best big budget trilogy of all times is going to be DUNE [because there are small indie films that could compete for this title such as PUSHER or BLUE, RED, WHITE, or THE HUMAN CONDITION...]. It would be the most consistent and accomplished as a whole.
Watch gangs of wasaepur ... it will show you how to really make a sequel
Well to counter your argument, Highlander 2 made a bunch of bold narrative changes. Although in that case those changes were really really dumb.
After Wick 4, somehow 2 became my favourite. Raid 2 is still the best of this century.
Crank 2
Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior!!!
Change the paradigm, focus in on character, and improve on underlying filmmaking. And invert the ending of the first. Follow a tragedy with a triumph (Aliens, Terminator 2) or vice versa (Empire)
People don't know what they want until they see it. Sequels are fine as long as they come from a genuine passion but it's still not easy...
Sequels are often cash grabs but even when the motivation is pure in ways that have nothing to do with money, sequels are just difficult to pull off (since you literally want to capture the essence of the original yet do and say something new, it's like threading a needle)...but if all we ever did was use that as a reason to not make them then some of the best movies ever made wouldn't exist.
Even cash grab sequels can be better than the original. Look at Friday the 13th
I don’t think Godfather 2 holds as being better than the first. You don’t get the same
character arcs you get with the first film, and I don’t like when the plot is less important than the drama; a vague narrative around a Brooklyn turf war and senate investigation which don’t really matter next to the drama between the brothers. It is still a great film, but the first holds up better.
Shrek 2 and Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, both of them surpass their first movies by a lot 😎
I’ve always been interested in good sequels to bad films. The biggest example to me is Friday the 13th. The original is frankly carried by special effects, but many of the sequels have entertaining, better written character, and better directing than the original. I think it sort of fits all of these categories with a retooled story; and a bigger budget/updated writers and directors; and introduces two of the best characters in the franchise: Ginny and Jason. Obviously those movies don’t perfectly fit your criteria, but I find it funny that they take a lot of the stuff you mention and twist it in a different way. It also helps that the first film isn’t that great
Umm James Cameron directed three sequels buddy. Avatar way of water. And in my opinion it expands rhe world of Pandora and explores new possiblities paving the way for future installments.
Yaaaah
Let's get this video to a lot of views in the first hour so that it gets love from youtube
Algorithm bless this video which i liked even before watching it because it's that good
Seriously, sometimes i end up pissed off because i can't like it again after watching it, fix that youtube
Lots of words lots of engagement, yadda yadda
I think i watched the Godfather Movies a hundred times by now
Leave the gun, bring the cannolli.
Godfather 3 wasn't a failure, it's a good movie that has to be compared to two of the greatest movies ever made. People just shit on it out of laziness, it's low hanging fruit with one bad performance because an actress fell out at the last minute and they made a hasty choice replacing her
Not all sequels are great in my book - The Dark Knight is terrible and grossly overrated, Empire Strikes Back although a good movie is way too overhyped. The Godfather Part Two and Terminator 2 are both excellent. Especially Back to The Future 2
Oh c’mon Aliens is a fun action military movie like most of these movies made by him at this time period… but not nearly as good as Alien. it doesn’t help that I don’t like 99% of what he has done. 😊
I hope you do a video on the movie Fresh (1994) how Michael manipulated everyone. Love your channel.
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom did the exact opposite of this suggestion: did a prequel that showcased the main character as LESS likable than in the previous movie and even de-matured the main character so that moviegoers are slightly confused at a portrayal of a gold-digging tomb raider where they were expecting a Nazi-fighting archaeologist. We should have known, it was George Lucas’s first turn at trying to write prequels that he had no business to.
Prequels are inherently bad stories: you know the outcome, so you can’t have any meaningful drama happen in the prequel arc of one story. All you can do is make heavy-handed references only fans will recognize and move around the set dressing in preparation for the actual story. The only exception is Rogue One, being superior to any of the other Star Wars prequels by virtue of not telling anybody before the movie came out that EVERYONE dies in the movie. Good, bad, whomever-nobody survives. If that’s what it takes to make an impactful prequel, you can see why studios are hesitant to make them.
Well, the Star Wars prequels have gotten a revaluation over time, especially after the sequel trilogy, George Lucas said the movies should be watched in order 1-6, that's how I and many of my age did (20 and so on), also I recently watched a film forum cycle of Star Wars in that order, pretty much everyone enjoyed it, even those who hadn't seen it before.
Regarding Indiana Jones, Temple of Doom has it's fans, it's main problem as a prequel might be that it shows Indy knowing about supernatural things, when in the first film he says he dosen't believe in that "hocus pocus" stuff.
@@jesustovar2549 Watching SW 1-6 loses the enormous impact of the Vader reveal. A better order IMHO is 4-5 -2-3-6. You keep the reveal, go back in time to explain how you got there, then pick up where you left off with RotJ. Dump episode 1 because it doesn't really affect anything, and ignore all the sequels, they're trash.
MIB3 is the best MIB. Fight me! Probably the only instance of a 3rd instalment being the best, and one of the few instances where the 3rd didnt totally suck.
Alien one is the best. I don’t like the sequel more it’s just fun
Rhas al gul and the intro movie was ever gonna top dark night w the joker.
Lethal Weapon 2 was a better sequel solely based off the quality of Patsy Kensit's topless scenes.
Scream 2 is not better than Scream 1
The next video should be trilogies with the best ending movie because i feel like most trilogies weakest movie are the final one. (God father, batman, star wars, shrek, matrix)
Don’t get me wrong, Return of the Jedi doesn’t hold a light to Empire, and is not nearly as well written-but thematically and character arc-wise, as an ending to the saga, it’s a 10/10…with the added bonus of actually being satisfying. Which I hate to say is so incredibly rare for a 3rd/final installment imo
It’s because films aren’t usually meant to start a series. In most storytelling, the middle chapter tends to be the weakest, but film in the exception.
Hear me out….
Transformers 3 was the best ending….
autobots were friendly caretakers but they went full flex war crimes.
it was the explosion filled ending we needed
"Dune 2" is easily one of my favorite movies from the modern era. Alongside "The Batman"
Might be a hot take but Blade runner 2049 is better than blade runner
Agreed
Yes, thank you!!
No.
@@kyliefire5008wow such scintillating analysis there champ
Blade runner 2049 is better than the original in my opinion. I know that the original is more groundbreaking for the time it was released but the 2049 is a better movie in general.
I agree but hans zimmer wasn't firing on all cylinders when making the soundtrack
I'm actually one of those people who prefers the original, but I gotta give 2049 another shot.
I really don't understand that sentiment. The first Blade Runner has some of the best, most original, iconic and unique worldbuilding elements, dialogues/monologues (tears in the rain) and characters ever and spawned an entire genre (Cyberpunk), whereas the second, albeit interesting, has pretty bland characters (especially the villains and Robin Wrights character) and some really cliché dialogue, not to mention it retcons the original in some annoying ways
The scene with the very rapey vibes seriously hampers my enjoyment of the original.
@@richardblakely6854that scene is very cringe, I agree. Left a sour taste in my mouth from the first time I watched it and spoils an otherwise almost perfect movie. Why? Why did they have to include this?
I wouldn't consider Dune part II a sequel though. It's just the second part of story too long for one movie.
If that were the case, Godfather 2 wouldn't count either.
@@kingelijah8049 I disagree, The Godfather is a self-contained story about succession, with a three act structure. The first part of Dune ends in medias res. For example, Paul Atreides only completes his character arc at the end of the second film.
How many films do you watch a week?
It will never cease to baffle me that people find the Dark Knight to be a better film than Batman Begins. Sure, the Joker is the best character in the trilogy, but the film itself is a convoluted mess.
Your name fits perfectly…
Dune: Part Two is not a sequel.
How is it you know how to precisely break these topics down to perfection
Aliens is perfect. So is Godfather II.
is it too early to say across the spider-verse fits the bill?
no mention of Twilight: Eclipse? 🥲
Can u do video on lobster movie
Missed
El mariachi and desperado
Whereas in most genres, I think originals are predominantly superior to sequels, in comic book adaptations, it feels like there’s an obligatory origin story (that had to be good enough to warrant a sequel), followed by the story the filmmakers REALLY wanted to tell, concluding with the studio cash grab. Spider-Man 2, X2, Hellboy II, Blade II and Days of Future Past, as well as the above-mentioned Dark Knight, were all superior to their first films.
I'd have to rewatch it, but atm T1 > T2. Great combination of horror, sci-fi and romance, Arnold was an unmatched villain and Kyle Reese was the glue that held it all together.
I also liked Godfather Part 1 more than Part 2. Part 2 had some great parts like the Don Vito flashbacks, Fredo and Michael's descent into darkness, but I enjoyed the Don's presence so much that Part 2 was lesser without him.
Typically sequels do not surpass the credibility of the original mainly due the daunting task of rehashing the same trick twice. What makes a sequel better than the original is a few key things but most notably evolution in character development and expansion, diversity and depth in storytelling. The winter soldier has depth in terms storytelling compared to the first avenger. X2 has expansion in scope and stakes compared to Xmen. Terminator 2 has great character evolution for the T-800. The dark knight has diversity in tone and narrative compared to Batman begins. A psycho noir crime thriller whilst begins was more of a crime adventure thriller. Empire has diversity in tone and evolution in character development. A great sequel is a film that replenishes the essence and spirit of the original whilst also providing fresh ideas, elements and a different set of challenges for its characters.
Edit: Some sequels fail to reach the standards of their predecessors but are still entertaining. Sometimes disposable entertainment is what the soul needs. Oceans 12 is ridiculous but actually a lot of fun too. I find much satisfaction in it. Not a patch on the original but I enjoy it. It’s ok if some sequels are bad.
But what if the original wasn’t that great in the first place? Enter Friday the 13th, a mediocre film with some good sequels. Sometimes people forget that original work aren’t always masterpieces that can actually be pretty easily improved. That’s why I like the Friday the 13th series, it improves as it goes along.
Also I totally agree that a good sequel does not need to surpass the original. Even some of the best sequels like Aliens and T2 don’t eclipse the original
@@thomasffrench3639 I agree with what you said mostly, you made some valid points. You are correct some original movies didn’t quite cut the mustard but the sequel prevails in telling a better story. I really can’t think of any examples in my mind atm. 🤔
@@master-of-mind5881 in my opinion I have a few series:
Friday the 13th (2,4,6 in particular)
Top Gun Maverick
Star Trek (original cast)
Fast and Furious
No way can you call "Dune 2" a sequel, it's the completion of "Dune 1". All of these other "Part 1" films tell a complete story and can stand on their own whereas "Dune 1" is only half of a story, it requires "Dune 2" to finish the one single storyline. However,, if there's a "Dune 3" then I guess that will be the sequel, although some people might argue that it's all one three-part story like "Lord of the Rings".
Bro especially with your last two sentences: "They're not trying to preserve anything--they're trying to blaze a new trail..." I mean you GOTTA give credit to The Last Jedi for accomplishing exactly that and basically the entire theme of the movie being a battle cry to let the past die and forge a new story.
I was sad to not see Sam Raimi's Spider-Man 2 amongst the examples :'( It also does what you explain, challenging the hero to their limits and present moral dilemmas that they have to overcome to become a true hero. And it eclipses the first movie! :D
Before Sunset
Shrek 2
Best Sequel Ever
The Top 3 sequels ever made are Aliens, The Godfather Part II and Terminator 2: Judgment Day. After that, you have Empire Strikes Back, you have Top Gun Maverick, Spiderman 2, The Dark Knight, etc
Really REALLY wish it was “No. Obi Wan killed your father…..”
How much better would that have been 😊
Great video. You should also include The Bride of Frankenstein which is often on Greatest Movies lists and well ahead of the original Frankenstein. It's often cited along with Godfather Part 2 and The Empire Strikes Back as the greatest sequel to a great original.
Don't agree on including LOTR and Dune in these rankings, they were a complete pre-existing work adapted in installments. You have to consider the series as a single story, not as an original followed by sequels.
The truly great sequels are not always "better" than the original. They don't even have to be better. But they do need to help make the original itself better. Godfather 2, Empire Strikes Back and Aliens all do that. I would add Bourne Supremacy to this list. And yes, the story needs to venture into new arritive territory or it will become a mere rehash of the original story.