15 Best Movie Sequels That Surpassed the Original

By Vlad Zakh · December 24, 2025

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Most sequels are just cashing in, but a few deserve to be remembered as the main event. The Empire Strikes Back scattered the rebellion and hit Luke with the biggest reveal in the series. The Godfather Part II ran two stories side by side, a son consolidating power while his father’s origins finally got shown. Aliens turned one creature into a whole hive, and Terminator 2 flipped its killer machine into a bodyguard. Plenty of people will tell you these beat the originals, and they’re not wrong.

The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

01

The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

IMDb ★ 8.7 RT 93% Metacritic 82

The rebellion is scattered and Luke learns a truth about his father that changes everything.

Directed by Irvin Kershner · 2h 04m · Rated PG

Won 1 Oscar27 wins & 21 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Disney Plus, YouTube TV · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Godfather Part II (1974)

02

The Godfather Part II (1974)

IMDb ★ 9.0 RT 96% Metacritic 90

A parallel rise and fall, with the son consolidating power as the father's own origin is finally shown.

Directed by Francis Ford Coppola · 3h 22m · Rated R

Won 6 Oscars17 wins & 21 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential, Paramount+ Amazon Channel, MGM Plus, Paramount+ Roku Premium Channel · Rent: JustWatch TV, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Aliens (1986)

03

Aliens (1986)

IMDb ★ 8.4 RT 93% Metacritic 84

A colonial marine unit is sent to confront a whole hive of the creatures that nearly killed Ripley.

Directed by James Cameron · 2h 17m · Rated R

Won 2 Oscars20 wins & 25 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Netflix, fuboTV, Philo, YouTube TV, Netflix Standard with Ads · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Dark Knight (2008)

04

The Dark Knight (2008)

IMDb ★ 9.1 RT 94% Metacritic 85

A district attorney and a vigilante are pushed past their limits by a criminal who wants neither money nor power.

Directed by Christopher Nolan · 2h 32m · Rated PG-13

Won 2 Oscars163 wins & 165 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: HBO Max Amazon Channel, YouTube TV, TNT, TBS, tru TV, HBO Max · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)

05

Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)

IMDb ★ 8.6 RT 90% Metacritic 75

A reprogrammed Terminator now protects the boy an earlier model was sent to kill.

Directed by James Cameron · 2h 17m · Rated R

Won 4 Oscars39 wins & 33 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential, Paramount+ Amazon Channel, YouTube TV · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Plex · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior (1981)

06

Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior (1981)

IMDb ★ 7.6 RT 93% Metacritic 77

A lone drifter defends a fuel-rich outpost from a marauding gang in the wasteland.

Directed by George Miller · 1h 36m · Rated R

8 wins & 16 nominations

Where to watch

Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Plex · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Spider-Man 2 (2004)

07

Spider-Man 2 (2004)

IMDb ★ 7.5 RT 93% Metacritic 83

Peter Parker's double life as Spider-Man collides with a new, tragic supervillain.

Directed by Sam Raimi · 2h 07m · Rated PG-13

Won 1 Oscar25 wins & 60 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Disney Plus, Hulu, fuboTV, YouTube TV, FXNow · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014)

08

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014)

IMDb ★ 7.6 RT 91% Metacritic 79

An uneasy truce between surviving humans and a growing ape civilisation starts to collapse.

Directed by Matt Reeves · 2h 10m · Rated PG-13

Nominated for 1 Oscar17 wins & 48 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Hulu, fuboTV, FXNow · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Before Sunset (2004)

09

Before Sunset (2004)

IMDb ★ 8.1 RT 95% Metacritic 91

Two strangers who spent one night together in Vienna meet again by chance nine years later in Paris.

Directed by Richard Linklater · 1h 20m · Rated R

Nominated for 1 Oscar10 wins & 32 nominations

Where to watch

Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Toy Story 3 (2010)

10

Toy Story 3 (2010)

IMDb ★ 8.3 RT 98% Metacritic 92

Discarded toys plot their escape from a daycare centre after their owner leaves for college.

Directed by Lee Unkrich · 1h 43m · Rated G

Won 2 Oscars64 wins & 96 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Disney Plus · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Mission: Impossible – Fallout (2018)

11

Mission: Impossible – Fallout (2018)

IMDb ★ 7.7 RT 98% Metacritic 87

A botched arms deal forces Ethan Hunt's team into their most dangerous mission yet.

Directed by Christopher McQuarrie · 2h 27m · Rated PG-13

Nominated for 1 BAFTA Award26 wins & 42 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential, Paramount+ Amazon Channel, YouTube TV, FXNow, Paramount+ Roku Premium Channel · Rent: JustWatch TV, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Kill Bill: Vol. 2 (2004)

12

Kill Bill: Vol. 2 (2004)

IMDb ★ 8.0 RT 84% Metacritic 83

The quieter, more patient half of the same revenge story.

Directed by Quentin Tarantino · 2h 16m · Rated R

23 wins & 84 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: YouTube TV, MovieSphere+ Amazon Channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

X2: X-Men United (2003)

13

X2: X-Men United (2003)

IMDb ★ 7.4 RT 85% Metacritic 68

A military strike on Xavier's school forces mutants and humans into an uneasy alliance.

Directed by Bryan Singer · 2h 13m · Rated PG-13

6 wins & 41 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Disney Plus · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

22 Jump Street (2014)

14

22 Jump Street (2014)

IMDb ★ 7.0 RT 84% Metacritic 71

The same duo goes undercover at college and repeats the formula that worked the first time, on purpose.

Directed by Phil Lord & Christopher Miller · 1h 52m · Rated R

7 wins & 26 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Netflix, Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential, Paramount+ Amazon Channel, YouTube TV, Paramount+ Roku Premium Channel · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Ocean's Thirteen (2007)

15

Ocean's Thirteen (2007)

IMDb ★ 6.9 RT 70% Metacritic 62

The crew reunites for revenge against a casino owner who betrayed one of their own.

Directed by Steven Soderbergh · 2h 02m · Rated PG-13

1 win & 5 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: HBO Max Amazon Channel, YouTube TV, HBO Max, Starz Apple TV channel · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Streaming availability data from JustWatch, via TMDB. Availability changes often, so check the service before you plan a movie night.

Vlad Zakh

Founder, Movieix

Founder of Movieix. He started the site because most recommendation pages felt like noise. Here, lists are sorted by who's in the film, where it's from and what mood you're in tonight.