Top 11 Superior Movie Sequels

CJ Tiernan
Nov 7, 2025
6 min read

Updated: Nov 10, 2025

By CJ Tiernan

When creating a sequel to a movie, often the deciding factor is whether or not the first one was successful. For that reason, a sequel (or prequel or remake) has a lot to live up to. So when a sequel is able to surpass the greatness of the original, it is worthy of standing up and taking notice. Below is a list of my 11 favorite sequels to movies I've ever seen that I felt were even better than the original.

1. Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2005)

Rundvald, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

This movie is a unique example on the list. It is a new movie following these same two characters, Wallace & Gromit, but is the first one in the series that isn't a short film. The main reason that it is both so high on my list and exceeds the greatness of the original is the comedy. I have spent the past 20 years of my life endlessly quoting this film and all its great lines. It is one of the funniest movie of all time and highly under-appreciated (as animation often is). If you haven't seen this movie before, get your act together, find a friend, and throw this one on. I refuse to believe you will be disappointed. Plus, it's stop-motion animation. I love that style!

Funniest line: "Because of these?"

2. The Dark Knight (2008)

"The Dark Knight" came out when I was in College. My roommates and I watched this thing over and over and over again. We basically had it running on a 24-hour loop in the living room like the TV section of an electronics store, showcasing the greatness of the technology. I don't know if you've heard of this Christopher Nolan guy, but he's pretty good. Batman is a story that has made its way to theaters many times before, but no one ever made the story this cool. Heath Ledger gives one of the greatest performances of all time and is just about the coolest villain ever.

Lasting question: "Why so serious?"

3. Top Gun: Maverick (2022)

Speaking of cool movies, I give you Top Gun: Maverick. This one of the greatest movies I've ever seen. The action and tension are relentless. It has a lot of nostalgia and nods to the previous iteration, but is unquestionably capable of completely standing on its own. It also features Glen Powell and Monica Barbaro before their careers completely blew up.

Words to live by: "Don't think, just do."

4. Thor: Ragnarok (2017)

This is the 3rd movie featuring Chris Hemsworth as Thor (5th if you count the first 2 "Avengers" movies). The first one had the funny moment in the cafe where he spikes a coffee cup on the ground and shouts "another," but we didn't know he was this funny. "Thor: Ragnarok" is non-stop funny. Taika Waititi created a superhero movie that was hilarious without being a spoof. In conjunction with James Gunn on "Guardians of the Galaxy," he helped change the MCU and spun it to a less self-serious direction. Also, the music in this movie is sick. The battle at the beginning and again at the end on the Bifrost Bridge are fantastic.

Greatest Improv: "He's a friend from work."

5. The Suicide Squad (2021)

"Guardians of the Galaxy" may stand as my favorite trilogy of all time. All 3 movies are fantastic. Usually, there is a miss or two in the midst of trilogy. Even with that high praise, "The Suicide Squad" is my favorite superhero movie James Gunn has done (He also did Superman in 2025 and Super way back in 2010). From the hilarious misdirect at the start, to the comedy throughout, this movie rocks. And they make some of the violence very funny. Who doesn't love funny violence?

Most ubiquitous credo: "I cherish peace with all my heart. I don't care how many men, women, and children I need to kill to get it."

6. The Muppets (2011)

Jason Segel co-wrote and starred in this movie that felt like a little bit sequel and a little bit reboot. It was a lot of bit awesome. The first movie from way back in the '70s is incredible. The song Kermit sings at the beginning from a bog, "The Rainbow Connection," is one of the most lasting songs ever written for a movie. And yet, I thought this movie was better. Barely, but better. It utilizes a lot of the same tricks as previous Muppet movies, like meta humor and celebrity cameos. It is a sweet tale and musical delight.

Existential query for our time: Are you a man, or a muppet?

7. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989)

Of all the movies on this list, I have seen "Christmas Vacation" the most (maybe second behind "The Dark Knight"). It is a seasonal staple. It perfectly highlights the highs and lows of the holiday season and then turns it up to 11 with a splash of kidnapping at the end. There are so many little visual gags that you can spot after having missed it the previous 20 years you watched it. I love the extravagant effort by Chevy Chase's Clark constantly going unrewarded only to have him turn around and believe that everything will work the next time. It's fun to watch him slowly go mad.

Sincerest apology: "I'm sorry, this is our family's first kidnapping."

8. Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019)

Ah, the Tom Holland Spider-Man. He seems like such a kid that he is so perfect for the role. Tobey Maguire never struck me as a kid, so his story was harder to buy. The first iteration, "Homecoming," is a great movie with a fun villain. I like "Far From Home" more because the stakes get ratcheted up. It pulls Spider-Man out of his element, as he is playing a road game in Europe. The Jake Gyllenhaal villain is also a lot of fun and there is an element of "I don't know what to believe" that keeps you off balance as you watch.

Best comeback: "Bitch, please! You've been to space."

9. Mission: Impossible - Fallout (2018)

8 movies. The Mission: Impossible saga made it up to 8 movies! That was very impressive 3-decade run showcasing Tom Cruise's relentless pursuit to make fun and entertaining movies. This one is the best of the bunch. From the world's greatest fight scene in a bathroom, to the helicopter chase scene/battle, this movie has such great set pieces. While the missions rarely feel impossible, I do love the high stakes. Plus, who doesn't love it when they pull off the face to reveal they're one of the good guys instead of whoever's face they were wearing. Classic!

Helpful advice: "Open your chute when the system says. Not before, and definitely not after, or the last thing that goes through your mind will be your kneecaps."

10. Fast Five (2011)

I stopped watching the "Fast & Furious" after they dropped cars from the sky but before they went to space. Other than the 3rd one, I quite enjoyed them. "Fast Five" is my favorite. It introduces The Rock and turns into a heist film. Now, I'll agree they really drifted from the street-racing roots of the original but it's not my place to judge. I'm just here to plop down in the cinema for an entertaining flick. If it departs from what I was expecting, as long as it's a good one, it's fine with me. The safe scene at the end is so epic.

Spin for the win: "I ain't negative. I'm just positive you're going to screw it up."

11. Twisters (2024)

I loved the first "Twister" movie. It was a great story and had a wonderful balance of comedy, drama, and romance. The thing is, the new one blew all of those elements out of the water. Now, it is fair to question whether or not we should believe the quantity of tornados they're exposed to throughout the film is realistic. Brother, realistic is for the birds. Give me the action! This movie is non-stop white-knuckler with also some sweet relationships and fun characters. If you haven't seen this movie, do yourself a favor and check it out.

Tips and tricks: "You can always trust a guy who puts his face on a t-shirt."

Final Thoughts

Sequels always have an uphill climb to live up to the original. They also have the benefit of not having to reintroduce you to all the characters. Sometimes that allows the filmmakers to be able to just throw you straight into the world to perfect effect. I am sure that I left some of your favorite sequels off the list or perhaps you just preferred the original to the new movie in some of these instances. Whatever the case, please let me know in the comments below. Thanks! I've also left a small list down below of movies that just missed my list.