The sequel Aliens.
Of the thousands of sequels that have been released over the decades, only a fraction of them are considered great, but that hasn't stopped Redditors from debating which ones are the best of all time. Between some unsurprising classics, massively unpopular opinions, and everything in between, Reddit s have some ionate feelings about these movie sequels.
The Godfather Part II (1974)
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considered the greatest movie of all time, and it's just as good. Putmeinkoch not only thinks the movie is the best sequel ever made but adds, "There might not even be a better movie." Many fans actually prefer Part II to the original movie, as it's a more sprawling epic, and it tells two stories at once.
The film isn't just a sequel that follows Michael taking over from his father as head of the family, but it's a prequel, too. The movie is interspersed with scenes set in the 1910s when Vito started his business. It also features the most tragic character death in the Godfather series, which will break viewers' hearts just as Fredo broke Michael's heart.
Addams Family Values (1993)
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Addams Family Values improved on the first one in pretty much every way." There's a huge nostalgia factor when looking at Addams Family Values, as so few movies are produced today that have practical effects and look genuinely dirty. Not only does the sequel look great, but it has way more gags and is more creative.
The Addams Family series is having something of a renaissance recently, as the 2019 animated reboot was a huge success, as was the 2021 sequel, and later this year Netflix will release the Tim Burton-directed series Wednesday. It's almost come full circle, as Addams Family Values director Barry Sonnenfeld was clearly influenced by Burton's gothic comedy violence in the early 90s. Hopefully, Wednesday will be more in line with the 1993 movie in of practical sets and special effects.
Evil Dead II (1987)
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Evil Dead II is the best sequel ever, and makes a hilarious argument, stating, "Does any character in Godfather 2 replace a limb with a chainsaw? No?? I rest my case." While the 1987 film might not be on the same level as the mobster sequel when it comes to production value, storytelling, or stakes, Evil Dead II certainly improves on its predecessor in every way.
The movie switched genres and became as much of a comedy as a horror, making for one of the best-ever afterlife-based comedies. It features two of cinema's most unique weapons - Ash's chainsaw hand and Boomstick, which Ash calls his shotgun. And it features one of the most shocking endings ever made.
D2: The Mighty Ducks (1994)
Stream On Disney+
The Dark Knight of the Mighty Ducks trilogy.
While that might sound like hyperbole, it's certainly more entertaining than its predecessor, introduces the best characters, and the stakes have never been higher, as the Ducks reunite as Team USA for the Goodwill Games. Dean Portman and Russ Tyler were introduced in the movie, two of the most beloved characters, and they should have returned in Mighty Ducks: Game Changers.
Paddington 2 (2017)
Stream On HBO Max
Lawrence of Arabia, and every other classic movie.
There was even a surprisingly lengthy scene in The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent that was dedicated to the film. Massive Talent is an action comedy where Nicolas Cage plays himself, and the last thing audiences would have expected to see was a scene about Paddington 2, but that's a testament to how much of an impression the feel-good movie left on people.
Shrek 2 (2004)
Stream On Peacock
Shrek did a great job subverting all of the Disney fairytale tropes, and Shrek 2 managed to do it again while giving the characters even more depth. Great, fun movie."
The first two Shrek movies were a some of the best from Dreamworks Animations, and the studio hasn't been able to repeat it since. The sequel is arguably even better than its predecessor, as the animation is more detailed, the world-building is even more immersive, and it introduces the best character in the series that isn't Shrek or Donkey - Puss in Boots.
Blade Runner 2049 (2017)
Stream On HBO Max
Blade Runner 2049 managed to tastefully answer the mystery of the 1982 release while telling new stories within the world.
Redditors want to see Blade Runner 3 more than almost any other hypothetical sequel.
Split (2016)
Rent On AppleTV, Amazon, Google Play, Vudu, & Redbox
Split was a secret sequel, as it was marketed as a standalone thriller about a serial killer with 24 different personalities, and it was only revealed in a mid-credits scene that it's tied to the universe.
The mid-credits scene shows David Dunne sitting in a diner watching the news. The film is exciting, but not because it's a sequel. Split is a fantastic thriller with a Shyamalan twist that actually lands, and the connection to Unbreakable could easily be removed, and it wouldn't make any difference to the film whatsoever.
Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
Stream On Disney+
Star Wars movie elevated the series from a fun sci-fi adventure to an epic and dramatic space saga, which houses one of the most shocking plot twists in history.
Blueorcawhale thinks "Star Wars wouldn't be what it is today without that movie. It is the pillar to the entire franchise's success." With rumors that Empire was ghost-directed by George Lucas, there's so much history behind the 1980 film. It's a classic that's more memorable than its predecessor, and the franchise hasn't reached such heights in the 40 years since.
The Raid 2 (2014)
Stream On Pluto TV
The Raid 2 is the best sequel ever, arguing, "Some people complain that it overextends itself with its storyline, but I really like the extra substance to the movie." The movie does what every great sequel should do, as it expands the world, further develops the characters, and it's still full of surprises.
But, it feels so much more expansive than its predecessor because the original was so isolated. 2011's The Raid was a simple movie about an elite task force infiltrating a high-rise building run by a drug lord, whereas The Raid 2 is a 2.5-hour sprawling gangster epic that sees Rama going undercover. It's full of prison riots, motorbike chases, and the brutal combat scenes are more intricate than ever.
