Though the 2020s are barely greater than midway accomplished, it has already been a decade crammed with nice movies, together with some sequels that managed to surpass their originals. That may be exhausting to do given how usually folks really feel that the first film in a franchise is one of the best, with loads of sequels providing diminishing returns.
Nonetheless, the 2020s have offered us with nice sequels of all types. There are long-awaited legacy sequels, follow-ups to enjoyable animated motion pictures, superhero tasks that received higher with their second installments, and billion-dollar field workplace blockbusters. Not solely are these movies an enchancment over what got here earlier than them, however some are among the many finest sequels ever made.
Sonic The Hedgehog 2 (2022)
A variety of the time, a sequel can enhance on the unique even when there is not a lot of a spot in high quality between the 2 motion pictures. That is the case with Sonic the Hedgehog and Sonic the Hedgehog 2. The primary one overcame a poorly obtained preliminary trailer to turn into successful that critics and audiences appreciated.
Two years later, we received the sequel and it took what labored the primary time and doubled down. Ben Schwartz is as enjoyable as ever voicing Sonic, whereas Jim Carrey is much more excessive and maniacal as Dr. Robotnik. What put this one over the sting was the addition of two beloved characters from the video video games.
Tails joined the fray as Sonic’s new companion and Knuckles performed an antagonist who turns into a pal. Seeing these three characters work together on the large display was a particular second for followers of the franchise and it made for a extremely enjoyable dynamic that set this installment aside.
A Quiet Place Half II (2020)
A Quiet Place Half II had rather a lot to stay as much as. The primary movie, launched in 2018, was one of many higher authentic horror motion pictures of the last decade and have become an enormous hit. The primary film additionally noticed John Krasinski’s Lee killed off, that means the sequel would largely be with out its protagonist.
That ended up understanding for the higher as a result of it allowed Millicent Simmonds to step up into a bigger position. She turns into the principle character and hero of the story, giving a efficiency that many imagine ought to’ve been in consideration come awards season. In fact, Emily Blunt is excellent once more, as is new addition Cillian Murphy.
A Quiet Place Half II additionally labored as a result of it expanded the world a bit. Whereas the primary movie centered on the Abbott household largely of their house, the sequel launched new characters and gave us extra motion involving the creatures which can be so threatening.
Noticed X (2023)
The Noticed franchise is one the place most individuals appear to suppose the primary installment is one of the best. In quite a lot of methods, Noticed II is type of the perfect Noticed film and stood because the franchise’s finest sequel however that modified when Noticed X arrived. Regardless of releasing 19 years after the unique, it gave followers what they all the time needed.
A giant criticism of most Noticed sequels is that they killed off Tobin Bell’s John Kramer, and with out him, the flicks struggled. His charismatic efficiency was a key cause for any success the collection had, so Noticed X labored as a prequel that introduced him again to the forefront.
The plot itself is generally normal Noticed fare however the traps are inventive, the viewers is given a cause to really root for Jigsaw, and his dynamic with Amanda is nice to see earlier than issues turned bitter between them in Noticed III. Noticed X simply has one of the best Rotten Tomatoes rating of the collection at 81%.
Minions: The Rise Of Gru (2022)
There aren’t many, if any, latest authentic characters who’ve turn into as iconic because the Minions from the Despicable Me franchise. They grew to become so standard that they got their very own spin-off film, Minions, in 2015 and it managed to gross greater than $1 billion.
A sequel was imminent, however it did not really feel thrilling since Minions obtained blended to unfavorable evaluations. Nonetheless, Minions: The Rise of Gru ended up being an enormous enchancment over the unique, together with seeing its Rotten Tomatoes rating leap up by 15%.
Minions: The Rise of Gru had a extra centered storyline and featured Steve Carell voicing a youthful model of Gru as he goes on an early journey along with his loyal Minions. The animation model was higher, the screenplay was funnier, and it was clearly successful with youngsters as soon as once more, grossing greater than $900 million.
Terrifier 2 (2022)
One other authentic character from latest historical past who has turn into iconic is Artwork the Clown, although he could not be extra totally different from the aforementioned Minions. After showing in brief movies, Artwork the Clown grew to become the focus of a characteristic venture with 2016’s Terrifier however it was the sequel that actually made Artwork a family identify.
Launched in 2022, Terrifier 2 expands on the lore of the collection, giving us extra Artwork than ever earlier than and introducing Sienna Shaw, a hero who’s Artwork’s rival. The movie outdoes the unique in nearly each approach, from character improvement to memorable scenes to the gory moments the franchise is now identified for.
Terrifier 2 ended up being a serious success commercially, grossing $15 million on a $250,000 funds and touchdown higher evaluations with critics. David Howard Thornton offers a implausible efficiency as Artwork, whereas Lauren LaVera shines as among the finest “remaining women” in horror historical past.
The Suicide Squad (2021)
The historical past of the DCEU was notably messy and certainly one of its lowest factors was 2016’s Suicide Squad. The movie was an enormous flop from a crucial standpoint, because of a disappointing script, points throughout manufacturing, and a disjointed remaining product. A sequel appeared extremely unlikely, but one was greenlit with main modifications.
Many of the characters have been changed however a couple of caught round, together with Margot Robbie’s breakout position as Harley Quinn. On prime of that, James Gunn took over the reins following his success with the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise. The top outcome was among the finest superhero motion pictures of the 2020s.
The Suicide Squad noticed an excellent tackle Harley Quinn and new characters who stood out, like Peacemaker and King Shark. The movie additionally benefited from Gunn’s logos, together with a lovable misfit workforce, inventive motion sequences, good music, and surprisingly deep emotional moments.
Avatar: The Means Of Water (2022)
The primary Avatar was a revolutionary cinematic expertise. It options unimaginable results and makes use of a number of the finest 3D visuals within the historical past of Hollywood, which helped it turn into the highest-grossing film in historical past at over $2.5 billion.
The sequel took greater than a decade to supply and folks thought that curiosity had waned since Avatar by no means actually grew to become an enormous half of popular culture within the time for the reason that first. Nonetheless, folks have been improper as Avatar: The Means of Water was one other large hit, grossing greater than $2 billion once more.
Extra apparently, Avatar: The Means of Water was higher than the primary movie. Jake and Neytiri now had a household and we got causes to care about every member, making each emotional second hit more durable. The motion was larger, the brand new areas of Pandora showcased have been breathtaking, and the visuals have been, once more, astonishing.
Puss In Boots: The Final Want (2022)
After first showing in among the finest animated motion pictures ever, Shrek 2, Puss in Boots was in the end given his personal spin-off movie. Sadly, 2011’s Puss in Boots wasn’t as much as the standard of the early Shrek movies and was extra alongside the traces of the later, much less spectacular sequels.
It regarded like we might by no means get a sequel, and when one was introduced, launched over a decade later, no one anticipated it to be pretty much as good because it was. Nonetheless, Puss in Boots: The Final Want was a marked enchancment in nearly each side, from the animation model to the motion to the character improvement.
Puss in Boots: The Final Want focuses on Puss coping with his personal mortality, which he has by no means confronted earlier than, given his 9 lives. He is stalked by an unimaginable villain in Demise, culminating in an impressive remaining combat. There are additionally a number of nice supporting characters, who provide a number of the film’s most emotional moments.
Dune: Half Two (2024)
Dune is a novel that was usually stated to be unimaginable to adapt due to how dense it’s. That was a part of why David Lynch’s adaptation within the ’80s was one thing of a misfire, even when it grew to become a little bit of a cult basic over time. Denis Villeneuve took on the problem in 2021 and delivered a stellar movie.
That film was in the end simply the primary half and splitting Dune into two elements proved to be good, permitting loads of time for the story to unfold. Dune: Half Two is an absolute epic, giving us extra motion, extra attention-grabbing characters, and a number of the finest scenes you will ever see on an IMAX display.
Dune: Half Two was nominated for Greatest Image amongst its 5 Oscar nominations, whereas taking house wins for Greatest Visible Results and Greatest Sound. The solid is phenomenal, with Timothée Chalalmet, Zendaya, Javier Bardem, Florence Pugh, Rebecca Ferguson, and extra, all doing nice work.
High Gun: Maverick (2022)
Legacy sequels have been hit and miss all through Hollywood historical past. As a rule, ready so lengthy to place out a sequel results in a film that feels extra like a money seize than the rest, resulting in poor evaluations. That ended up not being the case for High Gun: Maverick, although.
Launched greater than 30 years after the unique High Gun, this sequel labored on so many ranges. Tom Cruise’s want to do his personal stunts and make his motion pictures really feel actual performed into the manufacturing of High Gun: Maverick, with each scene within the fighter jets making the viewer really feel like they have been flying with the characters.
High Gun: Maverick is pretty much as good a thrill trip as you will discover, with the film more likely to have anybody on the sting of their seats. It discovered itself nominated for six Academy Awards and grossed greater than $1 billion, proving itself to be one of many biggest sequels ever launched.
