movies

Mad max 1 was a revenge cop story nobody watched outside Australia

Mad max 2 was the apocalyptic Mad max everybody know

I wouldn't say they are better, per se, but these are some sequels I think are on the same level, when compared to the original film in the series:

• Austin Powers 2

• Die Hard With a Vengeance

• Operation Condor 2

• Back to the Future Part 3

• Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome

Empire Strikes Back, Aliens, and Blade Runner 2049 would be my picks.

I saw another comment that spurred my thinking. There are (how many?) sequels in the Terminator series that have only been increasingly worse all because Terminator 2 was so good.

The same goes for Star Wars. Empire Strikes Back is a damn good movie by any measure. I’m confident none of the Star Wars movies since have managed to even come close, and I’d even say the only ones really worth watching are the first, the second, and the immediate prequel (Rogue One)

Hate on Michael Bay and his Transformers movies all you want, but there is only one movie with more robots that turn into more things than cars, more explosions, more ridiculous destruction, more awesomeness, more movie than 2007’s Transformers, and that movie is Transformers: Age of Extinction.

A giant robot that turns into a semi-truck painted with red flames, wielding a sword while riding on the back of another giant robot that turns into a flame-breathing T-rex robot. It’s unparalleled in the stupid dumb action movie genre.

The Two Towers?

I won't go so far as to say this is better than Terminator 2, but Gremlins 2 is such a great sequel. Some people are turned off by the zaniness, but I love how it's basically a parody of unnecessary sequels and that they just swung for the fences with it.

I qualify a good sequel as a movie that can be enjoyed without having to watch the previous. Not that the previous isn't important, just not required.

Terminator 2 clearly fits into this category. As do a lot of sequels. Here is my short list:

• Terminator 2
• The Dark Knight
• Finding Dory
• Toy Story 2
• Spider Man 2 (Toby Maguire)

Do Casino Royal or Rogue One count for anyone?

Hot shots! Part deux.

cars 2. Nothing better than a spy movie where the protagonist is literally a car

I may say unlike the movies, Terminator Zero Series is very good!. It is animated, but story telling is sooo good there.

This is 40 as sequel to knocked up.

Aliens

The Dark Knight

The Empire Strikes Back

Empire Strikes Back.

And if you're into "it's so bad it wraps around and becomes hilarious" films, Troll 2.

Shrek 2

Godfather 2

People who grew up with the original will probably flay me for this.

Bladerunner 2049 was a better movie than Bladerunner. It took everything that was great about the original and improved upon it.

Evil Dead 2, though it’s arguably a re-telling vs a sequel.

Bending the rules a bit here. I know it is not a true sequel, but it's part of a trilogy. Hot Fuzz is better than Shaun of the Dead. Also, except for the second film, I think the Mission Impossible series just gets better with every entry.

Paddington 2

I don’t think there’s a better movie sequel than Terminator 2. It’s the reason why it’s still an ongoing franchise today.

Would people still watch the first Terminator if it wasn’t for Terminator 2?

Wrath of Khan