Get ready, because this summer movie season is about to be an all-you-can-eat buffet of sequels, reboots, and cinematic déjà vu. Hollywood, ever risk-averse and increasingly desperate for box office gold, is doubling down on IP.
Making a sequel in Hollywood might be one of the most stress-inducing tasks for the cast, crew, director, and producer. Why? Because the original film was likely well-loved and successful, and creating a follow-up risks tarnishing that legacy if it’s not done right.
Most sequels don’t come close to capturing the originality or impact of the first film. But once in a while, a sequel not only holds its own — it becomes a landmark. For my money, these are the best sequels ever made:
The Godfather Part II
Toy Story 2 and Toy Story 3
Aliens
Before Sunset
The Empire Strikes Back
Terminator 2: Judgment Day
Mad Max: Fury Road
The Dark Knight
Spider-Man 2
The Return of the King
Dune: Part Two
The challenge with sequels is that you’re also up against a passionate, often unforgiving fanbase — the kind that’ll metaphorically call for heads if the follow-up doesn’t live up to expectations. That’s why many sequels play it safe. They stick to familiar territory, avoid risks, and try to appeal to the broadest possible audience — often at the cost of originality.
For every “The Godfather Part II” (still the greatest sequel ever made) there are a dozen forgettable cash grabs that limp into theaters, riding the coattails of their far superior predecessors. But every now and then, a sequel doesn’t just measure up — it redefines what we thought was possible.
Take “The Dark Knight,” for example. Christopher Nolan didn’t just make a good Batman movie; he cracked open the genre and gave us a sprawling, morally complex crime epic that still echoes through superhero cinema today. That unforgettable shot of Heath Ledger’s Joker leaning out of the cop car window? Pure poetry.
Then there’s “Before Sunset,” a sequel that shouldn’t have worked at all — but did, beautifully. Nine years after the charming and spontaneous walk-and-talk of “Before Sunrise,” Richard Linklater reunited Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy for a quiet masterpiece that somehow makes two people talking feel more thrilling than most blockbusters.
And of course, we can’t talk about great sequels without bowing to “Terminator 2: Judgment Day.” James Cameron didn’t just up the ante — he launched it into the stratosphere. It’s one of those films where every technical decision feels like it was made by someone ten years ahead of their time, and yet it still hits on a human level. The relationship between Sarah Connor and the Terminator? Surprisingly tender. The highway chase with the semi-truck? Still heart-pounding, still unmatched.
Like it or not, the summer sequel machine is revving back up. A wave of follow-ups is headed our way—most of them creatively bankrupt, some barely anticipated, and a few almost guaranteed to flop. Still, in the midst of all the rehashes and cash grabs, there’s always the slim chance that one might actually surprise us. Stranger things have happened. Here’s looking at you “28 Years Later.”