50 Best Movie Sequels of All Time

Released just less than 30 years after the original “Die Hard” (1988), “Live Free or Die Hard” still packs a punch as an over-the-top action flick with Bruce Willis in the lead playing Detective John McClane. Numerous critics agree that the sequel may not be quite as much fun for those who are not fans of the action genre, however.

Bing Crosby revisits his role as Father Chuck O’Malley in this sequel to “Going My Way” (1944) in which he is sent to assist the financially struggling St. Mary’s Academy. Crosby didn’t win an Oscar for his performance as he did for the earlier film, though he was nominated again.

The third entry in Sam Raimi’s Evil Dead franchise trades in real horror for chaotic comedy, while retaining the series’ penchant for violence. Bruce Campbell once again stars as the offbeat hero, Ash, solidifying the character’s status as a cult figure.

Keanu Reeves reprises his role as an assassin who returns to the criminal underworld to repay a debt only to find out there’s a price on his head. Adding star power to the sequel, which received a critics Freshness rating of 89%, are Laurence Fishburne, John Leguizamo, and Bridget Moynahan.

The fifth film in the Mission: Impossible franchise finds Tom Cruise’s Ethan Hunt and his team facing off against revolutionary terrorist organization the Syndicate. An exceptional 93% of critics on Rotten Tomatoes gave the film a positive review, with an average score of 7.5 out of 10. Audience opinion was not as stellar, but still a respectable 87% of those reviewing the film on Rotten Tomatoes gave it the thumbs up.

This is the seventh of the eight films featuring cinema’s favorite wizard. Harry and friends, Ron and Hermione try to destroy the evil Lord Voldemort’s secret to immortality. The film grossed almost $296 million domestically and 85% of audiences on Rotten Tomatoes liked it.

Four years prior to the release of “Rogue Nation,” Tom Cruise starred in the swift and sleek fourth Mission: Impossible film, “Ghost Protocol.” The movie follows Cruise’s Ethan Hunt as his organization, the IMF, goes underground after being falsely associated with a terrorist bombing. The vast majority of critics on Rotten Tomatoes (93%) liked it, frequently citing its exceptional action set pieces.

The well-received final motion picture of the animated three-film trilogy finds the story’s hero Hiccup and his dragon Toothless fighting to protect all that they hold dear. Critics on Rotten Tomatoes gave it a Freshness rating of 91% and 87% of audiences liked the film. The movie grossed $55.5 million over its debut weekend in February.

The second movie in the Bourne Trilogy sees Matt Damon’s Jason Bourne in a distraught position, being forced to resurrect his role as a trained assassin. Although both critics and fans preferred the original “The Bourne Identity” (2002) just slightly more — the earlier film has a 7.9 rating on IMDb compared with the later movie’s 7.7, for instance — most agree that the sequel is a thrilling, worthy successor.

Following on the success of Disney’s “Finding Nemo,” “Finding Dory” brings back many of the same characters. Dory, voiced by Ellen DeGeneres, is a forgetful blue tang fish searching for her parents, who gets assistance from her friends Marlin and Nemo. The sequel has a 94% Freshness rating among critics on Rotten Tomatoes, who called the film in the Critics Consensus “funny, poignant, and thought-provoking.”

“Star Trek: First Contact” is a hit for both die-hard fans of the franchise and the less initiated. Critic Wesley Lovell writing for Cinema Sight notes that the flick is “not just the best of the Next Generation movies, but one of the best of the entire franchise.” The movie follows Picard and crew as they pursue the Borg, who are intent on traveling to the past to prevent Earth’s first contact with extraterrestrials.

The latest edition of the successful saga of hitman John Wick (starring Keanu Reeves) finds Wick pursued by assassins after he kills a member of the international assassin’s organization. The movie resonated with critics, who gave a rating of 90% on Rotten Tomatoes and said in the Critics Consensus the action in the motion picture was “brilliantly choreographed” — 86% of audiences liked the movie. The film grossed more than $56 million in its opening weekend and has grossed more than its predecessors.

Director J.J. Abrams focused on sleek visuals and satisfying action in this 2013 Star Trek flick. Captain Kirk, played by Chris Pine, leads the Enterprise and crew in an epic battle against a terrifying villain. The movie’s 84% approval amongst critics and 89% amongst audience members makes it an exceptional entry to the uneven franchise.

In the second installment of the dystopian Hunger Games trilogy, heroine Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) and a compatriot are the targets of the government after their victory in the Hunger Games triggers a revolt. According to the Critics Consensus on Rotten Tomatoes, the sequel is “smart” and “smoothly directed.” Reviewers awarded it a Freshness rating of 89% and 89% of audiences liked it. “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire” caught fire with filmgoers, as the film grossed $158 million in its opening weekend.

Released in 1936, “After the Thin Man” is a beloved sequel from the Golden Age of Hollywood. The second Thin Man film again stars William Powell as detective Nick Charles and Myrna Loy as his wife, Nora, as they work to solve a murder mystery with the help of James Stewart’s David Graham. The movie currently has a perfect 100% Freshness score on Rotten Tomatoes.

After a policeman takes down one group of gangsters in Jakarta, Indonesia, the officer must confront corruption with the city’s police force in this Indonesian and American-produced crime/thriller sequel. Critics gave “The Raid 2” a Freshness rating of 80%, saying the sequel delivered the goods on action sequences that appealed to audiences in the original, and 87% of audiences liked it.

Bumbling Inspector Clouseau — played by Peter Sellers — takes the lead in “A Shot in the Dark,” released less than a year after 1963’s “The Pink Panther.” Not only is it a great standalone film, but Rotten Tomatoes’ Critics Consensus states that it’s “often regarded as the best of the Pink Panther sequels.”

The Oscar-nominated, long-awaited sequel to the hugely successful Pixar-animated “The Incredibles” finds a reversal of roles in the hero family, with dad Bob Parr managing the house, while wife Helen saves the world. Released 14 years after the original — which was awarded a 97% Freshness rating by critics on Rotten Tomatoes — “Incredibles 2” received a Freshness rating of 94% from critics. “Incredibles 2” grossed about $180 million in its opening weekend, topping “Finding Dory” for highest grossing weekend for an animated film.

“Dawn of the Planet of the Apes” is the sequel to “Rise of the Planet of the Apes,” which is a reboot of the Apes franchise. In the Oscar-nominated sequel, humans in San Francisco try to stay alive following a plague that has devastated humanity and threatens the apes. The sequel received a Freshness rating of 91% from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, who said in the Critics Consensus the film “expanded on its predecessor with an exciting and ambitious burst of sci-fi achievement.”

Nearly 40 years after the release of “Rocky” (1976) — and with five sequels in between — Sly Stallone resurrects the character of Rocky Balboa for “Creed.” The film finds the iconic boxer acting as trainer and mentor to Apollo Creed’s son Adonis, played by Michael B. Jordan. The film has the highest Rotten Tomatoes Freshness rating of the entire Rocky franchise at 95%, beating even the original film.

In the third of the eight Harry Potter films, the teen wizard is pursued by Sirius Black, a convicted murderer who has escaped prison. Critics on Rotten Tomatoes gave “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban” a Freshness rating of 90%, and 86% of audiences liked the movie. The film grossed almost $250 million domestically.

Following the success of the first “How to Train Your Dragon” film, Jay Baruchel, Gerard Butler, and much of the original cast returned for another adventure. The film earned a 92% Freshness rating on Rotten Tomatoes and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Animated Film.

In the second of Quentin Tarantino’s homage to various movie genres such as martial arts films, blaxploitation movies, and spaghetti Westerns, the Bride, played by Uma Thurman, continues her vengeance against her assailants and boss and ex-lover, Bill (David Carradine). Critics Consensus on Rotten Tomatoes said the film delivered “a suitably hard-hitting sequel,” and critics gave it a Freshness rating of 84%.

Despite falling just short of its predecessors “A New Hope” (1977) and “The Empire Strikes Back” (1980) in terms of online ratings, “Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi” is still beloved by fans. The movie currently holds an audience score of 94% on Rotten Tomatoes and an 8.3 out of 10 rating on IMDb, the latter of which is higher than all other Star Wars movies aside from the first two.

“The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King” is the third installment in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. This film continues the plot of “The Two Towers,” with Frodo, Sam, and Gollum journeying toward Mount Doom in Mordor to destroy the One Ring as their friends throughout Middle-earth continue to wage epic battles against the dark forces of Mordor. The film won 11 Academy Awards, tied for the most of any film. Film critic Roger Ebert called the film “a crowning achievement, such a visionary use of all the tools of special effects, such a pure spectacle…”

After the first Star Trek film disappointed fans and critics, the iconic TV sci-fi program found its film footing with “Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan.” Ricardo Montalban gives a legendary performance as the villainous Khan, a role later reprised by Benedict Cumberbatch in the most recent Star Trek franchise.

No longer restrained by a shoestring budget, as he was while making “Evil Dead” (1981), director Sam Raimi further realized his special effects-laden horror-comedy vision in the follow-up “Evil Dead II.” The inventive sequel — about one man’s efforts to survive demonic attacks in an isolated cabin — received approval from 97% of critics on Rotten Tomatoes.

In its Critics Consensus, Rotten Tomatoes describes “Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior” as the rare sequel that is “even more intense and exciting than its predecessor.” Director George Miller brings audiences back to the post-apocalyptic Australian outback for another round of vehicular mayhem, starring Mel Gibson.

Though its two predecessors — “The Bourne Identity” and “The Bourne Supremacy” — were both certified Fresh by Rotten Tomatoes, “The Bourne Ultimatum” is the top-rated film of the five Jason Bourne movies. Matt Damon plays the titular Jason Bourne, a trained killer with no memory on a mission to find out who he is and who is out to get him.

While most movie franchises would have gotten stale by the sixth installment, Mission: Impossible just keeps getting better. Stylish and packed with stunts, “Mission: Impossible – Fallout” earned a 97% Freshness rating on Rotten Tomatoes — the best reviewed film of Tom Cruise’s storied career. The film was so popular that two more M:I films have already been announced.

One of the most anticipated films of all time, “Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens” finally delivered a universally enjoyed Star Wars film, after the prequel trilogy was universally panned. Fans and critics each enjoyed returning to a galaxy far, far away, giving the film 86% and 93% Freshness rating on Rotten Tomatoes, respectively. The film features newcomers like Daisy Ridley and John Boyega as well as stars from the original Star Wars trilogy, like Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher.

A worthy companion to the 1982 sci-fi classic that came before, “Blade Runner 2049” hit theaters 35 years after the original “Blade Runner.” Despite terrific reviews from critics and audiences, “Blade Runner 2049” was a box office disappointment. The same could be said of the original, though it has since attained cult status.

The third film of the Indiana Jones franchise enlisted legendary actor Sean Connery to play Jones’ (Harrison Ford) father. This time, Indy and his allies must prevent the Nazis from acquiring the Holy Grail. The pairing of Connery and Ford met approval of critics who liked the fact that the sequel was “lighter and more comedic than its predecessor,” according to Critics Consensus on Rotten Tomatoes. “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade” received a Freshness rating of 88% from critics, while 94% of audiences liked the movie.

Years after the whirlwind romance depicted in “Before Sunrise,” Jesse (Ethan Hawke) and Céline (Julie Delpy) reunite for another romantic encounter. “Before Sunset” ranks among IMDb’s top 250 movies of all time. It was also nominated for an Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay.

In the final film of Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy, an aging Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) is brought out of retirement to face Bane (Tom Hardy) and save Gotham yet again. Nolan assembled an all-star cast, featuring Michael Caine, Gary Oldman, Anne Hathaway, Morgan Freeman, and more. Though not the highest rated film in the trilogy, critics on Rotten Tomatoes gave it a Freshness rating of 87% and 90% of audiences liked it.

A sequel to another film on this list, “Before Sunset,” “Before Midnight” again follows Jesse (Ethan Hawke) and Céline (Julie Delpy). Nine years after the previous film, this movie provides a powerful meditation on long-term commitment. “Before Midnight” resonated with critics, who gave it a 97% Freshness rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

The Toy Story franchise helped establish Pixar’s reputation as the creator of entertaining and endearing films that people of all ages can enjoy. Buzz, Woody, and the rest of Andy’s toys return for another adventure — this time in an attempt to rescue Woody from a toy collector. The Critics Consensus on Rotten Tomatoes hailed the film as “The rare sequel that arguably improves on its predecessor” and awarded it a 100% Freshness rating, while 86% of audiences liked the film.

It’s not often that a children’s movie sequel is so charming, entertaining, and well-done that moviegoers are genuinely upset it is not nominated for the Oscars. But “Paddington 2” is such a film. The talking bear in a coat charmed audiences and critics, earning a rare 100% Freshness rating from Rotten Tomatoes.

The eighth and final film of the Harry Potter series was also by far the best reviewed. The teen wizard series finally culminates with an epic battle between our heroes and Voldemort and his followers. Terrific visual effects and powerful, grounded acting performances give this epic saga the finale it deserved.

The Toy Story films have always been popular, and the series’ fourth installment is no different. The film is the ninth-highest grossing digitally animated movie of all time, when adjusting for inflation. As with the preceding films, “Toy Story 4” combines humor, adventure, and emotional storytelling to create a winning movie, which was enjoyed by 97% of critics and 94% of audience members, according to Rotten Tomatoes.

Master of horror George A. Romero returns to a zombie-infested Pennsylvania for “Dawn of the Dead” a decade after releasing the seminal horror classic “Night of the Living Dead.” The film is able to not only deliver frights, but incisive social commentary as well. Critics on Rotten Tomatoes gave the gore-fest a Freshness rating of 93%, and 90% of audiences liked the film.

“The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers” is the highest rated of all Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings movies, receiving 95% positive reviews from both critics and audiences on Rotten Tomatoes. The movie focuses more on action than its predecessor while maintaining its emotional core, delivering viewers a wholly satisfying experience.

James Whale’s “Frankenstein” (1931) was a hugely influential movie. The director followed it up with a wildly inventive and popular sequel, “Bride of Frankenstein.” Writing for Time Out, critic Geoff Andrew called the funny and suspenseful film “Whale’s most perfectly realised movie.”

James Cameron’s early directorial effort “The Terminator” (1984) was a huge success, and currently has a perfect Freshness score on Rotten Tomatoes. As he did with “Aliens,” Cameron delivered an action-packed and visually exceptional sequel with “Terminator 2: Judgment Day” (1991). The movie would win four Academy Awards.

As a result of its “comedy, adventure, and honest emotion … ‘Toy Story 3′ is a rare second sequel that really works,” according to Rotten Tomatoes’ Critics Consensus. Ninety-eight percent of critics liked the movie, which again starred Tom Hanks and Tim Allen voicing the lead roles of Woody and Buzz Lightyear.

The original “Alien” (1979), directed by Ridley Scott, is a frightening classic that holds positive ratings from 97% of critics on Rotten Tomatoes. Its follow-up, “Aliens,” directed by blockbuster master James Cameron, manages to gain even more favor, with a 99% Freshness rating. The sequel maintains the tension of the original while introducing an increase in overall action. Both movies received 94% positive reviews from audiences.

Director Christopher Nolan reinvented the world of Gotham City with his dark and atmospheric “Batman Begins” (2005). He perfected it with “The Dark Knight,” thanks in part to the work of actors Christian Bale, Aaron Eckhart, and the late Heath Ledger, who delivered an iconic performance as the Joker. On Rotten Tomatoes, both critics and audience members gave it a 94% approval rating.

One of the most beloved and exciting films of all time, “Empire Strikes Back” built upon the smash-hit success of the original Star Wars film “A New Hope.” The film delivers classic lines, memorable characters, amazing new planets, and one of the greatest twists in film history.

Nevermind sequels, “The Godfather: Part II” is widely hailed as one of the greatest films of all time. The film chronicles Vito Coreleone’s (Robert De Niro) rise to power in the Mafia along with the struggle of his son (Al Pacino) to maintain power decades later. The film won six Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor for De Niro, and Best Director for Francis Ford Coppola.