22 Sequels That Are Better Than The Original Movie

First is the worst, second is the best...

More often than not, us cinephiles hold original movies near and dear to our hearts and besmirch the name of their sequels.

Paramount Pictures

"NoThInG iS bEtTeR ThAn ThE oRiGiNaL."—Some dude from your college film theory class probably.

BUT even the No.1 film aficionado can admit that ONCE IN A BLUE MOON there's a sequel that's better than the original.

Paramount Pictures

Well, recently Reddit user u/GJT3465 asked the masses "Which sequels are actually better than the originals?" Lemme tell ya, me and my film degree couldn't agree more.

Paramount Pictures

Here are some of the best replies that you hate to admit are correct:

1. Toy Story 2

Pixar

"The first Toy Story was great, but Toy Story 2 was even better."

—TheRazal

2. Winter Soldier (Captain America 2)

Marvel

"Winter Soldier is the best Captain America movie. Cap's conflict over Bucky and what S.H.I.E.L.D. was doing PLUS the tight plot and minimal side plots made the film excellent."

—Marthamem

3. Shrek 2

DreamWorks

"I rewatched it recently and never realized how many great adult jokes and references there are. Also the 'I Need A Hero' scene is still one of the greatest song montages ever. Fight me."

—abbster9328

4. Thor: Ragnarok (Thor 3)

Marvel

"Thor: Ragnarok was the perfect Thor movie. Loki, Hulk, Valkyrie — all perfect. Plus, so many great scenes in the movie."

—Marthamem

5. Logan (Wolverine 3)

Marvel

"It's a grand finale. It's the greatest send off of a character ever. And yes, I'm including those in the MCU. It quite possibly cannot be rivaled without feeling like an imitation. You almost can't. Logan did what no one else could...kill the invincible man."

—zappy487

6. Spider-Man: Far From Home (Spider-Man 2)

Marvel

"I honestly thought Far From Home was better than Homecoming. Don't get me wrong, I love them both and it was a pretty close-run thing, but Far From Home hit every beat I wanted out of a Marvel movie and MORE."

—Portarossa

7. Aliens (Alien 2)

20th Century Fox

"Aliens is way more badass."

—Aleforge

8. 22 Jump Street (21 Jump Street 2)

SONY

"It was unreasonably good."

—churrosrule

9. The Godfather Part II

Paramount Pictures

"The Godfather was already a great movie, but the sequel brought the story up another notch."

—SketchyRabbleRouser

10. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (LOTR 2)

New Line Cinema

"The film is more exciting, darker, sinister, more epic than Fellowship of the Ring."

—Bamich

11. Paddington 2

StudioCanal

"Paddington is a near-perfect movie, and yet they somehow hit it out of the park with Paddington 2."

—dr_breeze

12. Blade Runner 2049 (Blade Runner 2)

Warner Bros.

"BR2049 has all the art and style of the first movie, but has a much better written story and better pacing of said story."

—joaquinrasta

13. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Harry Potter 3)

Warner Bros.

"PoA was, hands down, the best Harry Potter movie."

—freezerbreezer

14. Casino Royale (James Bond 23)

SONY

"Casino Royale is the best Bond movie. Mads Mikkelsen was great."

—Qyro

15. Bad Boys II

SONY

"The first one is quite boring, but the second one has more action and humor. There are some badass scenes —like most of the Cuban scenes at the end — and there is some great epic music to go with it, too."

—acampbell98

16. The Road Warrior (Mad Max 2)

Warner Bros.

"The Road Warrior really shaped the world of Mad Max for me more than the first Mad Max. I tell people to watch Mad Max to get an idea of who Max is, but you won't get into who he really is until Road Warrior."

—inksmudgedhands

17. Ocean's Thirteen (Ocean's Eleven 2)

Warner Bros.

"Ocean's Thirteen went back to Vegas and pretty much followed the same general outline as Eleven, but better and with higher stakes."

—II_Confused

18. Bourne Supremacy (Bourne Identity 2)

Universal Pictures

"Supremacy is amazing. Karl Urban's character was a fantastic villain to match Bourne."

—SerSleepy

19. Terminator 2: Judgement Day

TriStar Pictures

"Sure, the first one is great, but T2 fucking slaps."

—Jahneboi

20. Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan

Paramount Pictures

"Such a great movie that told an amazing story. Even more so when you consider the fact that Kirk and Khan were never face-to-face in the entire film."

—Deftallica

21. Rush Hour 2

New Line Cinema

"Their friendship is already established in this movie, so we have so many better moments between them — like when Lee thinks that Carter has been killed. There's also that great scene where Jeremy Piven says, “Buttercream, buttercream, let's just throw a dead animal on you!” Which I quote with my friends constantly."

—Shyla Watson

22. The Dark Knight (Batman Begins 2)

Warner Bros.

"My goodness, where do I start? Higher stakes, darker plot, plus having not only the Joker AND Two-Face as villains? Simply amazing. Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, and Aaron Eckart are the Holy Trinity."

—Ehis Osifo

Are there any sequels do you think are better than the originals? Do you think this list is complete bologna? Let us know in the comments below!