9 Movie Franchises That Peaked With The Second Film

Movie sequels don’t always work, but they’ve been the best installments to major franchises in certain instances. In an era of mainstream movie culture, when reboots, spinoffs, and seemingly unnecessary sequels are so common, it’s comforting to remember the cases where sequels worked like a charm. Replicating the success of a fantastic original film is challenging, and there are plenty of examples of it being done for the wrong reasons. However, when the right creative team is involved, sequels can be even more evocative than the first film.

A sequel film has an inherent advantage over an original story, as audiences view it with previous knowledge and feelings toward the characters and overarching narrative. With that in mind, emotional payoffs can have a more powerful effect. Consider Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy. While Batman Begins is primarily overshadowed by The Dark Knight, its narrative threads are essential to how much audiences care about Bruce Wayne, Jim Gordon, and other characters in the sequel. That added weight has allowed some sequels to be considered among the best movies of all time and the standout films in their respective franchises.

9 Star Wars

The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

While the original Star Wars was a revolutionary, industry-altering blockbuster, The Empire Strikes Back is widely considered the best Star Wars film. The prominent claim to fame of The Empire Strikes Back is that it’s a darker film that ends on a down note, contrasting the feel-good victory ending of A New Hope. The cliffhanger conclusion leaves audiences unsure of Han Solo’s fate and shocked by Luke’s traumatic experience. It’s completely different from the first film and successfully evocative.

Aside from the ending, The Empire Strikes Back expanded the franchise in many meaningful ways. The deeper exploration of Luke and Vader’s dichotomy matured the overarching narrative. Yoda’s introduction expanded upon the mysticism of the Force. Unforgettable planets like Hoth and Dagobah were introduced, growing the galaxy. The sequel expanded upon the ingenuity of the first film, and none of the subsequent Star Wars films have been as indisputably exceptional.

8 The Terminator

Terminator 2: Judgement Day (1991)

James Cameron is responsible for two of the greatest sequels of all time, having directed Aliens and Terminator 2: Judgement Day. While the first Alien is still arguably better, Terminator 2: Judgement Day is widely considered an improvement over the first and the best Terminator film altogether. While the first is a fantastic and revolutionary action film, Terminator 2 subverts expectations by making Schwarzenegger’s Terminator the protagonist, resulting in a thought-provoking story with groundbreaking special effects.

7 The Before Trilogy

Before Sunset (2004)

Richard Linklater’s Before trilogy is one of the most moving and authentic romance sagas ever made. While the first film was lightning in a bottle and seemingly difficult to replicate, Before Sunset takes the chance encounter of Jesse and Celine to a new stage. The film’s dialogue is so specific and speaks directly to the complexity of relationships, life, and the societal restrictions that prevent human beings from following their hearts. Few romance movies are as raw and candid as Before Sunset, building up toward a brilliant, powerful ending.

6 Spider-Man Trilogy

Spider-Man 2 (2004)

The films in Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man saga are some of the most beloved superhero media, pre-dating the MCU as an essential step toward modern comic book movie culture. While Spider-Man has a fantastic villain performance from Willem Dafoe, Spider-Man 2 is one of the most well-rounded superhero movies ever. Many superhero films are distinguishable for their great villains, but few have examined the dichotomy of hero and villain in as captivating a manner as Sam Raimi’s masterpiece, balancing Spider-Man and Doc Ock’s time.

Spider-Man 2 captures the essence of its titular hero and the sacrifices it takes to be Spider-Man. The film’s conflict has real, relatable stakes as Peter tries to balance his life desires with his profound responsibility to be a hero. Maguire’s Spider-Man is one of the most grounded heroes depicted in film, and the sequel highlights the trend toward more mature, complex characters in superhero movies.

5 The Dark Knight Trilogy

The Dark Knight (2008)

Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy is another iconic interpretation of a beloved hero, and The Dark Knight is widely considered not only the best in the saga but also the best superhero movie ever. The series set the gold standard for modern superhero films, with a grounded setting and psychologically complex characters. Nolan’s prestige as a writer/director has given the film a reputation as being a standout among franchise titles.

Heath Ledger’s Joker is the highlight of The Dark Knight and is still considered the best villain performance in DC movies. It’s one of the few franchise movie performances to win an Academy Award, and it launched The Joker into mainstream media with memorable quotes and a psychological examination that captivated superhero fans and casual moviegoers alike. The Dark Knight Rises had enormous expectations to amount to and ultimately wasn’t as impactful as the second film.

4 Universal’s Frankenstein

Bride of Frankenstein (1935)

Of every classic Univeral Studios monster movie, Bride of Frankenstein stands out with modern nuance and a compelling thematic undertone. The first Frankenstein film was a classic monster movie, but following Bride of Frankenstein, the subsequent sequels never lived up to the first two. While Universal monster movies were entertaining horror flicks for the time, none were as sophisticated and innovative as Bride.

3 Shrek

Shrek 2 (2004)

The first Shrek movie is fantastic, but Shrek 2 is an incredible sequel that took the best qualities from the first while successfully adding new elements. The introduction of Puss in Boots makes a significant impact, as he’s proven to be a leading star-worthy movie character and adds a hilarious element to the crew of fairytale heroes. Not to mention, Prince Charming is a phenomenal movie villain who perfectly contrasts Shrek and the team. For adults and children alike, Shrek 2 is one of the funniest animated movies ever and stands out as the best in its franchise.

2 Captain America

Captain America: The Winder Soldier (2014)

Even after dozens of movies in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Captain America: The Winter Soldier is still one of the best. In retrospect, The First Avenger is an endearing introduction to Chris Evans’ portrayal of the character, but it doesn’t have the impact and nuance of its sequel. The Winter Soldier is one of the most down-to-earth, gritty movies in the entire franchise. Civil War matches its character depth, but the team-up aspect means it’s less centered around the Captain America character, instead focusing on the set-up for Avengers: Infinity War.

1 Hannibal Lecter

The Silence of the Lambs (1991)

While The Silence of the Lambs is regularly viewed as a standalone film, it was adapted from the second book in its series. The first book had previously been adapted into the film Manhunter, which boasted a fantastic Hannibal Lecter performance from Brian Cox. The Silence of the Lambs became the definitive film in its franchise, even winning the Academy Award for Best Picture, with subsequent prequels and sequels failing to amount to the same critical acclaim. Anthony Hopkins is synonymous with the Hannibal Lecter character and gives his best performance in the 1991 classic.