Because of their wide-ranging, speculative nature, it is not at all uncommon for these great sequels, however, has proven to be quite inconsistent. Unfortunately, many subsequent films fail to live up to the quality of the original. On the other hand, though, some sequels offer creative expansions of the worlds established by the films that inspired them, leading to great success both critically and commercially.

Sometimes, sequels are so good that they even manage to overshadow the films that came before them. While it is great that these films receive such high praise and attention, it is a shame that the wonderful films that inspired them fall by the wayside. It is crucial to that these were the movies that first introduced audiences to their marvelous new worlds, establishing the settings and characters that would be dazzling viewers for years to come. Despite being great works of science fiction, these excellent films fell into the shadow of their popular sequels.

10 The Terminator (1984)

Overshadowed By Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)

Before Terminator 2: Judgment Day could establish itself as one of the best science fiction sequels of all time, James Cameron introduced audiences to the dangerous world of The Terminator. This 1984 feature blended elements of sci-fi and action to create a captivating story about a time-traveling killing machine determined to prevent the birth of the man who would one day go on to lead a rebellion against the self-aware robotic army.

The Terminator proved to be a major success, defying the expectations of many critics. The pleasant surprises did not end there, however, with Terminator 2: Judgment Day going on to receive widespread acclaim, while also dominating the box office, earning around 520 million dollars.

The long-awaited sequel even managed to win four Academy Awards, a fairly rare feat for science fiction movies. While The Terminator was beloved for the seven years before Judgment Day was released, it quickly became overshadowed. Nevertheless, The Terminator remains an exciting, action-packed blast in its own right.

9 Dune (2021)

Overshadowed By Dune: Part Two (2024)

Denis Villeneuve's 2021 adaptation of Frank Herbert's beloved sci-fi novel, Dune, immediately blew audiences away with its stunning effects and meticulous world-building. The film follows a young hero named Paul Atreides (played by Timothée Chalamet) as his family is thrust into a war on the dangerous desert-like planet, Arrakis.

The massive success of the first film left expectations incredibly high for Dune: Part Two. Fortunately, Villeneuve not only met these expectations but vastly exceeded them.

Dune was a box office smash and a critical hit, raking in ten Oscar nominations and six wins across an array of technical categories. The success of Dune and its gripping ending left audiences hungry for more. The massive success of the first film left expectations incredibly high for Dune: Part Two. Fortunately, Villeneuve not only met these expectations but vastly exceeded them.

Since its release in early 2024, Dune: Part Two has been earning huge praise from critics and audiences alike. With a dramatic, riveting continuation of the story, and an expansion of all the elements fans loved about the first film, Dune: Part Two has the potential to dominate the awards season. However, it is essential to that the film wouldn't be the same without Dune to launch the story in the right direction.

8 Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977)

Overshadowed By The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

It is no secret that Star Wars is easily among the most iconic science fiction franchises of all time. The series was a widespread phenomenon from the moment the first installment was released. Star Wars (now known as Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope) introduced audiences to characters, stories, and galaxies they had never even imagined.

With the massive hype surrounding the film, a series of sequels seemed absolutely necessary, although it would be nearly impossible to live up to the standards set by the original. Incredibly, The Empire Strikes Back managed to defy the odds and gave the franchise a new installment that certainly rivaled (if not sured) A New Hope.

Thanks to the inclusion of one of the most iconic plot twists in cinema history, The Empire Strikes Back served as an exciting continuation of the first film that effectively avoided disappointing its audience. Years later, The Empire Strikes Back has come to be considered the greatest Star Wars movie by many, stealing the spotlight away from the film that started it all.

7 Spider-Man (2002)

Overshadowed By Spider-Man 2 (2004)

Although the beloved superhero, Spider-Man, has made numerous film appearances over the years, many viewers first fell in love with the character while watching the trilogy of films directed by Sam Raimi. Released in 2002, Spider-Man launched the series, introducing viewers to Peter Parker (played by Tobey Maguire), a meek student whose life is turned upside-down when a radioactive spider gives him various unique abilities.

The film was very well-received, thanks to its exciting-yet-heartfelt story, as well as Maguire's charming performance. Although fans were very satisfied with the quality of Spider-Man, its 2004 sequel, Spider-Man 2, gained even more praise. Part of what helped Spider-Man 2 sur its predecessor was the introduction of its new lead villain, Doctor Octopus (played by Alfred Molina), whose emotional backstory made him a complex, interesting character.

Spider-Man 2 used the elements established by the first film to help itself dive right into the action, offering a fun viewing experience from beginning to end. Nevertheless, Spider-Man remains an enjoyable sci-fi feature in its own right, introducing the world to Maguire's beloved iteration of the character.

6 Cloverfield (2008)

Overshadowed By 10 Cloverfield Lane (2016)

It is difficult to compare Cloverfield and its first sequel, 10 Cloverfield Lane, as they are such drastically different films. Released in 2008, Cloverfield employs a found-footage style to tell the story of a group of New Yorkers desperately trying to survive in the midst of a deadly attack by a massive, otherworldly creature.

The gripping horror film was praised for its dedication to its unusual style, which helped add to the undeniably frightening effect of its story. Eight years later, the film's sequel, 10 Cloverfield Lane, went in a completely different direction, although it remained just as intense and scary.

This follow-up film used a more straightforward, cinematic style, and focused on an entirely new set of characters. Instead of relying on visuals of the horrifying creatures, the film achieved its chilling nature through suspense and the characters' own distrust of each other. 10 Cloverfield Lane was praised more highly by critics, particularly for its grounded, human-focused take on the alien invasion genre.

5 Blade Runner (1982)

Overshadowed By Blade Runner 2049 (2017)

Star Wars wasn't the only popular sci-fi franchise to star Harrison Ford. In 1982, Ford stepped into the leading role in Blade Runner, an adaptation of Philip K. Dick's classic novel, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? Set in a futuristic version of Earth, the film follows an agent tasked with tracking down a series of human-like robots, calling into question what it really means to be a human.

The film may not have been an immediate success, but it left a lasting legacy on the world of sci-fi cinema, the impact of which can still be felt today. Decades later, the film's sequel, Blade Runner 2049, earned popularity and acclaim much more quickly. Set thirty years after the original, the film serves as a continuation of the story, with multiple actors (including Ford) returning to reprise their roles.

Blade Runner 2049 was an immediate hit, earning nearly 280 million dollars (as opposed to the 42 million earned by the first one) and even winning multiple Academy Awards. Denis Villeneuve's direction may have helped the sequel gain more popularity, but Ridley Scott's Blade Runner remains an essential part of science fiction history.

4 Mad Max (1979)

Overshadowed By Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)

In 1979, George Miller created the outlandish Australian sci-fi/action film, Mad Max. The film, which occurs in a post-societal breakdown version of the future, would go on to launch a major franchise, with new films still being released nearly fifty years later.

Unfortunately, being so unlike anything else being made at the time, the original Mad Max movie left critics rather divided, with many failing to take it seriously (despite the fact that it earned a hundred million dollars on a budget of less than half a million). Fortunately, the sequels (for the most part) received much more consistent praise.

In particular, the fourth film in the franchise, Mad Max: Fury Road, ended up being one of the most successful blends of science fiction and action ever put to film. The thrilling film was a massive hit both commercially and critically, earning over 380 million dollars in addition to receiving six Academy Awards. Sadly, this caused the original Mad Max to get overshadowed, particularly among modern audiences. Regardless, Mad Max remains an entertaining science fiction film that paved the way for the whole genre of post-apocalyptic action movies.

3 Frankenstein (1931)

Overshadowed By Bride Of Frankenstein (1935)

Based on the Mary Shelley novel, which is often considered to be one of the first works of science fiction literature, Frankenstein is a 1931 sci-fi/horror feature that proves that even the classics can be overshadowed by their sequels. As most sci-fi lovers know, the film follows the story of an ambitious scientist who assembles a living creature out of the body parts of various corpses, soon coming to face the grim consequences of his actions.

The groundbreaking film left a major impact on the genre, inspiring numerous sequels and spin-offs over the years. Four years after Frankenstein was released, its first sequel came in the form of Bride of Frankenstein.

Frankenstein (1931) has a 94% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

The 1935 feature directly continues the events of the first film, showing Dr. Frankenstein's desperate attempts to undo his work, only to end up being coerced into making a female counterpart for the fearsome creature he constructed. Bride of Frankenstein was widely considered to be an improvement from the first film, going on to steal Frankenstein's spotlight for many years to come.

2 Guardians Of The Galaxy (2014)

Overshadowed By Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023)

In 2014, James Gunn introduced the unconventional group of heroes known as the Guardians of the Galaxy to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Their debut feature, aptly titled Guardians of the Galaxy, showed how the group formed, highlighting their unlikely origins and their first world-saving adventure together.

The film was a success, offering a refreshing, imaginative addition to the MCU, and also launching a new trilogy of its own. Although many fans adored the first Guardians film, the final installment did manage to steal the spotlight. Nine years after the Guardians were introduced to the MCU, Gunn returned to write and direct one final film for the popular heroes.

To viewers' delight, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 proved to have all the elements fans loved about the franchise, with the addition of a surprisingly emotional undertone. The film dove deep into the backstory of one of the franchise's underappreciated characters, and offered a genuine, heartfelt conclusion. Although Guardian of the Galaxy Vol. 3 may have risen to the top of the trilogy in the eyes of many, the first film remains an enjoyable, action-packed adventure.

1 The Avengers (2012)

Overshadowed By Avengers: Infinity War (2018)

At the time it was released, The Avengers was a major cultural phenomenon, being the first film to bring together Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, and other beloved heroes for one massive motion picture event. The film earned an astounding 1.5 billion dollars, skyrocketing to the number three spot on the list of highest grossing movies of all time (at the time).

The Avengers was unlike anything that had been released before, offering an exciting experience not just for superhero fans, but for all sorts of movie lovers. Of course, Marvel was not about to just let things stop there. Multiple sequels were soon released, including the 2018 feature, Avengers: Infinity War, which further redefined what a superhero could be.

Thanks to its shocking ending which left audiences discussing the film for a long time after the credits rolled, Infinity War sured The Avengers in just about every regard.

Thanks to its shocking ending which left audiences discussing the film for a long time after the credits rolled, Infinity War sured The Avengers in just about every regard. The groundbreaking sci-fi film even broke the two billion dollar barrier at the box office, effectively leaving The Avengers in its shadow; and, of course, MCU fans knew another major film was waiting just around the corner.