It is only possible to determine the best movies of all time by considering the numerous notable films that use sequels to continue the story. Even though they don't always match the originals, some sequels are among the best movies ever. Here are the Top 10 Movie Sequels of All Time.
1. The Empire Strikes Back
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Now that everyone knows Darth Vader is Luke Skywalker's father, it is no longer a shocking plot development. However, in 1980, it was. The tone of "Empire Strikes Back" is much darker than the primarily upbeat "A New Hope," and our heroes ultimately come up short. The "Star Wars" mythos will always remember iconic scenes like Han Solo being frozen in carbonite, Luke escaping the wampa, and Yoda's Jedi training. This middle installment of the original "Star Wars" trilogy increased the suspense before the climax and demonstrated that a sequel could get better and more ambitious.
2. Blade Runner 2049
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Denis Villeneuve finds new ways to explore the relationship between humans and androids nearly 40 years after Ridley Scott's groundbreaking 1980 film, taking its dystopian vision to an even darker and more expansive level. The sequel may be longer than the original but offers plenty of thought-provoking scenes in the narrative of Officer K, played by Ryan Gosling, a new LAPD blade runner who sets out to track down Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford), a blade runner who vanished decades earlier.
3. The Godfather Part II
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Francis Ford Coppola surpasses his earlier gangster masterpiece by vastly enlarging the focus to a more complex, shadowy world of tycoons. The tragic tone is heightened by the dual timelines' structural gambit, which alternates between Michael's (Al Pacino) attempts to turn his criminal enterprise into more respectable business ventures and his father's (Robert De Niro) immigrant journey to America and ties to his community. One man fights to defend his family while his son destroys his own.
4. Terminator 2: Judgment Day
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The villain of a great sequel determines how good it is. How do you surpass a killer machine as unstoppable as Arnold Schwarzenegger? Could you give it a facelift? As James Cameron's main antagonist in "Terminator 2: Judgement Day," Robert Patrick elevated the role of a soulless silver goo monster. Patrick's dead-faced performance ("Have you seen this boy"), coupled with Cameron's drive to push FX technology way beyond the scope of what our tiny 1991 brains thought was possible, gave audiences cinematic moments that have been parodied, copied but (to this day) never topped. Only a film this perfect could make a character made entirely out of the laughably named "mimetic poly-alloy" substance as frightening as the "Jaws" shark.
Linda Hamilton has also begun to grow as a result of this movie. Even though Sarah Connor is essential to John Connor's existence, John Connor would not exist without Sarah. This was the character change audiences had been waiting for—reintroduced doing pull-ups in a mental institution. Hamilton does a flawless job of capturing the no-nonsense prepper. Many would attempt to duplicate this brilliant glare in her wake, but all would fall short.
5. Avengers: Infinity War
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Who would have thought that one snap could alter everything? In "Infinity War," Josh Brolin's purple supervillain Thanos didn't play around, eradicating half of all life on Earth with a single snap of his fingers. With an encyclopedia-length A-list cast, "Infinity War" exceeded the two previous "Avengers" films in significance and made fans wait forever for its sequel, "Avengers: Endgame." The World's Mightiest Heroes were reduced to dust in "Infinity War," which, like "The Empire Strikes Back," ended on the saddest endings. This scene will live in the memories of all MCU fans.
6. Paddington 2
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The 2017 sequel to the family-friendly "Paddington" movie had the impression that it was deliberately made to warm and break hearts. To celebrate his aunt's 100th birthday, the main character, a bear, wants to buy her a great book about London. However, he becomes entangled in a complicated plot run by the evil Phoenix Buchanan (a never-failingly endearing Hugh Grant). Although he always smiles, Paddington has some startlingly dark thoughts: What if his loved ones desert him while he's in jail? What if he perishes? Would he give his life to save the people he loves? But fear not; there is a happy ending that so perfectly affirms the strength of the community that it will have anyone with two eyes and a heart in tears.
7. Toy Story 3
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Even though Disney has stated that a fifth "Toy Story" movie is in the works, we'd like to reminisce about the series' earlier three-film incarnation. The 2010 film "Toy Story 3," directed by Lee Unkrich, skips ahead when Andy is preparing to leave for college and unintentionally throws his toys away. Naturally, things get out of hand, and Woody must find the other toys and work to win them back to Andy. The animated fun of the first two movies is still there, but "Toy Story 3" stands out for its moving reflections on loss and maturing. Don't be surprised if you cry; you came for the nostalgia of your youth.
8. Avatar: The Way of Water
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Never besmirch James Cameron. It's a phrase that has been used countless times since the debut of "Avatar: The Way of Water," the director's 13-year-long follow-up to the all-time highest-grossing film (before inflation). The first "Avatar" movie generated ongoing discussion on social media about its cultural relevance, but the sequel defied all predictions. It became the third-highest grosser in history with box office receipts of $2.4 billion. However, money alone does not make "The Way of Water" a fantastic sequel. Cameron produced another jaw-dropping and show-stopping film spectacle that is an entirely different visual treat from the first "Avatar" by developing new technology to capture motion capture performances underwater.
Although very little of what is depicted on screen is true, it is simple to accept Pandora and the area around the characters as accurate. "The Way of Water" is impressive just for that. Although the sequel received criticism for rehashing story beats, it does so on a completely different and much smaller scale. Epic battle movies aren't what "The Way of Water" is about. Its story is so straightforward for a Hollywood blockbuster (parents essentially have to save and protect their children; there is no threat to the universe) that it almost feels radical. The plot is scaled back in "The Way of Water," which elevates it above the first "Avatar" by focusing entirely on world-building immersion and emotional family dynamics.
9. Spider-Man 2
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Being Spider-Man is challenging. In the 2004 follow-up, Tobey Maguire's character, Peter Parker, struggles with schoolwork, finds it difficult to keep a job, and struggles to approach Kirsten Dunst, the girl of his dreams. Additionally, Alfred Molina, the scientist he admires, has permanently attached himself to two sentient cyborg tentacles. While there is no shortage of original, jaw-dropping action, the movie's proper stroke of brilliance is how tastefully it centers the risks associated with each of Parker's relationships. In "Spider-Man 2," each scene is a set piece that Sam Raimi painstakingly directs.
10. The Dark Knight
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Christopher Nolan's "The Dark Knight," the only superhero film to appear on Variety's 100 Greatest Movies of All Time list, earned over $1 billion worldwide and revolutionized the comic book film by giving the Caped Crusader a gritty, more realistic spin and requiring that the genre be taken seriously. The "Batman Begins" prequel depicts Bale's flawed hero attempting to save a crumbling Gotham City, but the political backdrop of the picture keeps the stakes on a human scale. Of course, Heath Ledger's portrayal of the Joker sets a new bar for comic villains on the big screen and gives a career-defining and Oscar-winning performance.
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