Movie sequels/remakes that are better than the first?
 

Aliens? I dunno. Alien is kind of dark/cult sci-fi and Aliens is big budget, working from already established world kind of stuff. There are some over the top lines that are kind of cheesy, but for some reason I find myself watching Aliens more often than Alien.

The Thing, John Carpenter version is IMO far superior to the first. This in fact is one of my favorite movies ever. Never gets old or outdated. They could release the film today and outside the grainy film quality, which I think even adds to the tone of the film, I think it would still bring in the big bucks.

Any thoughts ?

Star Trek II - The Wrath of Kahn

Godfather Part II, although the first was one of the best movies ever. It deserves mention for being the best sequel ever, even if it wasn't better than the original.

Dunno if it counts, but I liked The Two Towers a whole lot better than the fellowship of the ring, maybe I'm just a nerd :D

Well my vote goes for Aliens.

Also mentioned should be GodFather II, however that is/was designed as a trillogy, so therefore it shouldnt count.

And T2: Judgement Day shoud get a mention as well.

~Fox

Yeah, I second Terminator 2. Great sequel. Things don't look too hot for T3 unfortunately.

-C.S. Flim

T2 was great.

Not sure if this counts, but Star Wars Attack of the Clones was better than Phantom Menace

EASY
Waynes World 2 - better plotline, and better Garth :)
Bill and Teds Bogus Journey - better plotline, and more boobicles :)

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets!!! much better than the first movie

the third Prisoner of Azkaban will be out this fall i believe.
That will be even better!
I read all the books and book 3 is my favorite so far!

In a vote for a remake that was better than the original, I'd have to nominate "Ocean's Eleven."

star wars 2wice:

the empire strikes back was better than ANH
attack of the clones was better than the phantom menace

I would say Terminator 2, Empire Strikes Back, as well as Return of the Jedi...

A couple that haven't been mentioned: it might be heresy to say it, but Tom Savini's 1990 remake of Night of the Living Dead is, in many ways, better than the original. (Which is not to deny how great the first one is, btw.) And, um, Toy Story 2 is a kids' movie about the inevitability of aging and death, which makes it, you know, heavier than the original.

revival of an old thread...

Return of the King better than the previous two movies...

I liked the remake of King Kong with Jessica Lange better than the 1933 original with Fay Wray, although, I thought Fay was sexier than Jessica. ;)

The only sequels that stick in my head as being better than the first would be T2 and T3. I'm probably the only person in the universe that thinks T3 was the best of the 3.

Terminator 2 was much better than the first one, even though the first one rocked. The third one was a joke. :(

Aliens is also better than the first one (Cameron).

I think the Ocean's Eleven remake is better than the first one as well!

Matrix Reloaded was better than the first one if ya ask me.

I think Blade II was much, MUCH better than the first one!

I can't think of any more, even though I know they're out there.

-Lasereth

I must agree on most counts...

'Aliens',' Wayne's World 'II an'd Bill and Ted's Bogus Journ'ey are all as good, and most people would agree better than the original...

John Carpenter's 'The Thing' is absolutely sweet, Kurt Russell's best movie... Well that's not saying much...

Anyhow, 'The Godfather Part II'. As fan I've had many an argument over which installment was better. Some say II some maintain that Brando makes I unassailable, to which they counter with the De Niro etc. Frankly I don't make distinctions, but it ought to be mentioned that it was not designed to be a Trilogy originally, Copolla only decided to make a third later on... Why? I wish I knew... Not that it was bad, but it didn't live up to the legacy...

Which brings me to 'For a Few Dollars More' and 'The Good, The Bad and the Ugly', certainly better than 'Fistful of Dollars', but then again are they sequels or unrelated tales with the same character? Maybe I'm a bit obsessive... Ok no maybe about it but I digress...

'Breakdance II: Electric Boogaloo', by far the funnier film...

In my opinion Rocky III and IV are far better comedies than the original ever was as a drama/sham Oscar winner...

Evil Dead II and III are better than I...

The Rambo series just got more hilarious with each installment...

'Mad Max II: The Road Warrior' the best of the series...

Terminator 2. much better than the first one.

And oh yeah.... I'm probably going to be alone on this one, but I liked Predator 2 much more than the first one.

Like everyone has been saying...

Terminator 2 was much better than the first one. Awesome movie.

I think that "Alien: Resurrection" was the best of the line. The baby alien at the end always makes me croon lovingly at it, and feel so sad when it's sucked out into space. I do feel that all of the following three movies in the series were better than "Alien", though.

John Carpenter's "The Thing" is a masterpiece. I love Carpenter, and I think he would do well to find some more remakes to try his hand at. He has vision; he takes his idea for the story, makes sure he has a good hold on all of the creative reins, and starts the horse to racing.

I think that sequels in general have more potential for excellence than the originals in a series. The initial movie sets the scene and lays some ground rules for the world you're watching, leaving the sequel free to explore and expand on the original elements. Some writers and directors just don't get it.

better remake: thin red line.

better sequel: empire strikes back.

I second that nomination. As good as the rat pack cast is, the plot of the movie just unravels all over the place. Great cast in the remake too, and they developed the plot into something memorable. I don't think you can truly appreciate how good the remake is until you see how messy the original was.

Sequels that are better:

- Wayne's World 2
- Terminator 2
- The Empire Strikes Back

I guees I am one of the few people who has seen the original LOTR. It was made in the late 70s I think. It was also Black and White. So I'm kinda happy at the fact that the new LOTR is way better than that one.

My runner ups:

T2
Night of the Living Dead
Martix: Reloaded
Scary Movie 3
Nightmare on Elms Street 2
Bad Boys 2
Austin Powers Goldmember
Back to the Future 3
Beverly Hills Cop 2

Close Picks:

Airplane
Star Wars
Halloween
Rush Hour


How about the Worst Sequels?

Mine are:

Scary Movie 2

Let see...

1. TROK looks like its gonna whup some ass...
2. Alien Resurrection was kinda better than the other 3, I thought Alien 3 was great.
3. Star Wars: Return of Jedi kicked the other 2. (The original triology mind you since the newer ones are shitty)
4. Star Trek: The Undiscovered Country and Wrath of Khan was pretty good. I've seen the newer ones with the Next Generation crew but the storyline is kinda crappy except for First contact.
5. T2. T3 fukin sucks, let it die guys...let it die...
6. Matrix Reloaded, more action and more cool effects. Need I say more?
7. X-men2. Wolverine gets to use his claw. Again, need I say more?
8. Mad Max. Can't really say for sure. Saw couple, couldn't tell which one was the original but they all got pretty good storyline.
9. I'm SHOCKED that noone mentioned James Bond. Obviously some of the sequel were better than the original!

i like the new italian job and gone in 60 seconds movies.. much better than the original.. but for the times them movies were great..

Bad Boys 2. It got ripped by critics, but i think the story is better, better action sequences, etc.

I guess that is why it took 8 years to make it.

X-Men 2 was everything the first movie was, just done with a bigger budget and more confidence. Thumbs up for that one.

No mention of Superman II?? Kneel before Zod!!

And The Empire Strikes Back is my favorite of the original trilogy.

Thomas Crown Affair. Watch the original just to see what was considered sexy at the time. It is hilarious.

Star Trek II
The Empire Strikes Back
X-Men 2
Blade II

One vote for Italian Job - (not that I'm dissing Michael Caine, but it was a movie that benefited from better technology and it has Donald Sutherland afterall)

One vote for Lara Croft : Cradle of Life - I liked the second one much more.. Seemed more epic, and less cheesy.

Damn, forgot about that one.. I loved the first one, but the second one was leaps and bounds beyond it

I gotta disagree with all of the T2 and Ocean's 11 people. Although both are outstanding movies, it is hard to compare to the originals because there is such a time lapse between the two movies. T1 was cutting edge for it's time. And Ocean's Eleven (original) again was limited by the technology at the time. Don't get me wrong, I love all four of the movies, but I don't think that it is a fair comparison.

Anyway, back on topic....The Silence of the Lambs was so much better than Manhunter.

Peter Jackson's remake of King Kong will be better than the one made in the 60s or whatever, clay animation vs CG. No contest. :P

a lil movie called Scarface anyone

austin powers 2 was far better than 1 or 3

x2

Desperado vs. El Mariachi... More money, better acting, better effects, better props, salma hayek.

No way. The original is a wonderful piece of cinema. I just wished I still had my notes from American Cinema 101 class in order to back up my statement. :p

Agreed, 'Silence of the Lambs' was way better than 'Manhunter'. 'Hannibal' was good, but not better. And from the remake standpoint, 'Red Dragon' whipped 'Manhunter's ass.

But of the four of them, 'Silence of the Lambs' was arguably the best.