15 Sequels Better Than the Original

After I saw the terrific "Alien: Romulus" last week, I began to think about movie sequels that are actually better than the original film.

Now, my thinking gets complicated here (because I am an idiot, and I always make things harder than they should be) and because I actually DON'T think that "Alien: Romulus" is better than the original "Alien."

However, I DO think that it's better than "Aliens," the second film in the series which - bear with me - most people think is better than the original, which got me to thinking about movies that are better than the ori.....oh, hell...you get what I'm trying to say here!

Note, this list isn't restricted to just "Part 2's." There are titles from series that include many sequels and high number counts. In those cases, I include the the very best entry of the series, but it has to be better than the original (again, I'm needlessly complicating things again).

Anyway, I put together a list of "15 Sequels Better Than The Original" and here it is

(in no particular order):

1) DUNE PART 2 (2024)

The best film of 2024 so far (I really can't imagine that another 2024 film will top it), Denis Villeneuve's extraordinary continuation of Frank Herbert's classic novel is filmmaking of the highest order.

When people talk about big budget, action/adventure, tent pole, franchise, Hollywood movies, this is the Gold Standard that every single release in that genre should be compared to.

It's also much more than that, and is one of the finest examples of important cinematic art (on every single level) mixed with commercial sensibility. A masterwork.

2) MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: FALLOUT (2018)

Here's the deal, the "Mission Impossible" film series is amazing. It's a series in which every single entry is great, and they seem to just keep getting better which each release.

As incredible as each film is, this one, the sixth entry in the series, is absolutely the best.

Loaded with brilliantly staged and executed action sequences, jaw-dropping stunts, and enough plot twists to keep you on the edge of your seat, director Christopher McQuarrie's sublime work here is not only exciting on the simplest of levels, it is also a masterclass in the art of filmmaking.

And Tom Cruise is nuts...and I mean that in the best possible way.

3) SPIDER-MAN 2 (2004)

Sam Raimi's insane, extraordinary, and ridiculously entertaining masterpiece is easily one of the best comic book movies ever made (in fact, is was my favorite comic book movie of all time, until a certain film, that appears later on this list, was released in 2017).

It fulfills all of the requirements of a fun, escapist, action-hero epic, while also being an example of a commercial movie in which the director keeps his crazy independent spirit and personality alive.

A stunning piece of work that also contains one of best villain performances of all time by the great Alfred Molina.

4) MAD MAX: FURY ROAD (2015)

Please.

5) STAR TREK 2: THE WRATH OF KHAN (1982)

This might be the granddaddy of the whole "sequel is better than the original" thing.

The first "Star Trek" movie from 1979 was a bit of a disaster and quite a slog to sit through. But, when Nicholas Meyer (who was coming off of the brilliant sci-fi romance "Time After Time") came in and injected life into the proceedings, things changed completely.

The result is a film that is not only a terrific example of great science-fiction, but also manages to be faithful to the spirit of the TV series, while showcasing state-of-the-art special effects and brilliant ideas.

Also, it simply kicks ass, Ricardo Montalban rules, and Shatner has never been more....Shatnery.

6) DOCTOR SLEEP (2019)

It's better than "The Shining." Yeah...I said it. It's better than "The Shining." Yeah...I said it again.

Mike Flanagan's absolutely brilliant adaptation of Stephen King's novel not only manages to stay faithful to the book, it also stays faithful to Kubrick's 1980 film version of "The Shining," which was NOT at all faithful to Stephen King's book.

It's a juggling act of monumental skill, and "Doctor Sleep" is clever, brutally effective, and scary as hell. It is a much more satisfying experience than Kubrick's rather dull, leaden and simplistic take on King's material, material Kubrick completely misunderstood.

Don't get me wrong, I enjoy the hell out of the sheer goofiness of "The Shining," but "Doctor Sleep" is a thousand times better, explores the themes (specifically about alcoholism) that seemed to completely allude Kubrick.

It also features an incredible, sexy, terrifying performance by the great Rebecca Ferguson that has to be seen to be believed.

7) BATMAN RETURNS (1992)

Tim Burton's follow-up to his 1989 mega-hit is a MUCH better film than the original because it's actually a true "Tim Burton Movie," while the first film was Burton attempting to make an impersonal comic-book film.

"Batman Returns" is loaded with incredible action, scary sequences, gross-out humor, and more.

It is also a GREAT Christmas movie (I watch it every year during the holidays), and a heartbreaking tragedy (the Penguin story line is devastating). The Batman/Bruce Wayne character is much more interesting (Michael Keaton seems much more invested here), and Christopher Walken rules.

But, more than anything else, it is a massive showcase for the unbelievable Michelle Pfeiffer, who is not only extraordinary in the film, but she is, without question, the best Catwoman EVER.

8) DIE HARD 2 (1990)

Yeah, that's right, I think that "Die Hard 2" is better than the original, and I make no apologies for it!

Renny Harlin's magnificently over-the-top-everything-but-the-kitchen-sink sequel starts out as an "11" on the insanity scale of 1 to 10, and never, ever wavers.

The movie takes the "Die Hard" basic premise of wrong guy, in the wrong place, at the wrong time, and launches it into the stratosphere with some of the most creative and beautifully executed action sequences ever filmed.

The performances match the craziness of the script, and Harlin's brilliant direction is the Gold Standard by which most action films should be measured. This is technique of stunning confidence and giddy effectiveness.

It's one of the best action films ever made, filled with excitement, surprises, and brutally funny moments. I LOVE this movie.

9) THE BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN (1935)

It's not hyperbole to say that this is simply one of the greatest films ever made.

James Whale's extraordinary follow-up to his extraordinary original "Frankenstein" is a more personal, effective, and emotionally devastating work. It's just breathtaking on every single level, and it makes me cry every single time I watch it.

I also think that it's the best of the Universal Monster classics, and that's saying a lot, since the Universal Monster movies are among the best films ever made.

10) BILL AND TED'S BOGUS JOURNEY (1991)

Funnier, smarter, and much more imaginatively made than the original, this very entertaining sequel has everything you want from a Bill and Ted movie, and more.

Alex Winter and Keanu Reeves (who had an INCREDIBLE 1991, in addition to this, he also appeared in "My Own Private Idaho," and "Point Break" that year.....yeah, WOW) were both awesome, and the addition of William Sadler as Death was pure genius.

Unabashedly entertaining and one of the best sequels of all time.

11) INDIANA JONES AND THE TEMPLE OF DOOM (1984)

The best of the Indiana Jones movies, by far, and one of Spielberg's slickest and most competently made films.

The action sequences are bigger and better, the set-pieces are more imaginative, the disturbingly dark tone is more complex, and the body count is even higher than the first film.

Another treat is that it opens with a truly great musical number, and we'd have to wait another 35 years or so before Spielberg made a proper musical with is amazing version of "West Side Story."

Also, it's the last good film in the series, as the next three entries all sucked.

12) DAWN OF THE DEAD (1979)

George Romero's first sequel to his seminal masterpiece "Night of the Living Dead" is not only a better movie, but it is, without question, the best zombie film ever made.

I won't go on and on about why it's one of the greatest films ever made, but I will say this: Romero was a genius and this is horror at its best and social satire at its finest. It is simply is a work of art that will live forever.

13) EVIL DEAD 2: DEAD BY DAWN (1987)

This is the second Sam Raimi movie on this list. What can I say, the guy likes to top himself.

The original "Evil Dead" is one of the most brutal, terrifying, gross, and effective horror films of all time. It is also a sterling example of independent filmmaking (released long before it was hip to be an independent filmmaker), featuring wonderful, cost-effective technique, combined with grand imagination and style.

This sequel is all of that and more, only A LOT funnier, and more consistent with the work that Raimi would do after this movie was unleashed onto the public.

This is a true classic in the horror genre (the best film of this entire franchise), and a wildly entertaining film that people watch over and over and over again.

It also gave us the true version of the legendary character of Ash Williams, the hapless, hilarious and wondrous dude played by the one and only Bruce Campbell.

A landmark film....seriously.

14) LOGAN (2017)

The best comic book movie ever made, because it's not really a comic book movie.

James Mangold's astonishing continuation of The Wolverine saga is exceedingly clever, dark, complex, exciting, and it plays like modern day Western.

Featuring superlative performances by Hugh Jackman, Dafne Keen, and Patrick Stewart, great action sequences, and a truly heartbreaking, devastatingly effective ending (that, of course, was crapped all over the by the morons who made the unspeakable "Deadpool and Wolverine"), this is commercial filmmaking at its finest.

15) GREMLINS 2: THE NEW BATCH (1990)

Joe Dante's insane, wild, out-of-control sequel to "Gremlins" is better in every possible way to the original (and I love the original). Dante's unapologetic love for all things goofy, silly, and shamelessly cartoonish dominates this film in masterful fashion.

It takes the basic "weird creatures, weird rules" premise from the original, and turns it into a brutal satire of New York, greed, and politics (John Glover is basically playing Donald Trump, back when Trump was just a greedy, moronic real estate tycoon who attempted to ruin New York City, not the entire world).

It is also a proud, rolling, relentless 106 minute live-action "Looney Tunes" cartoon with some of the most ridiculous jokes, gags and deep references ever included in a big budget tent pole sequel.

It's absolute and complete madness... and it absolutely and completely rules.

So, that's my list of 15 sequels (also available on my Letterboxd) that are better than the originals. Check them out and enjoy!

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"Mad Max" Comes to My Coffee Table

So, it's no secret that I adore the "Mad Max" film series more than most humans adore things like their children, and food, and breathing. They are quite simply five of the greatest films ever made, and examples of the finest that cinema has to offer, made by George Miller, one of the most extraordinarily gifted directors to ever step behind a camera.

One of the people who is quite aware of my love for these movies is fellow film critic and podcast host Jim Laczkowski, the man who created and runs an entire podcast network called The Now Playing Network.

I celebrated a birthday in July, and Jim kindly gifted me with a new coffee table book all about this awesome series of films called: "The Legend of Mad Max: The Complete Saga From Mad Max to Furiosa" by Ian Nathan.

It's a terrific hardcover book that is a pleasure to behold and a joy to have displayed proudly on my coffee table. This large, wonderfully designed and mounted book is jammed with color, energy, and pictures that jump right off of the page.

The back cover of Ian Nathan's terrific "Mad Max" book.

The book features all of the films in the series in chronological order, from their creation to their release. It's packed with cool behind-the-scenes stories, wonderful quotes and some unique perspectives about the making of each movie.

The main thing that makes this book so special are the incredible pictures and spectacular design that accurately capture the visuals and tone of the films perfectly. I have flipped through the book multiple times in awe of the photos (many of which I had never seen before) and a layout of addictive charm.

The first film in the series, "Mad Max," is covered beautifully in this new book.

The "Mad Max" series began with the 1979 original, which is quite different in style and tone than the other pictures in the series. It's a low-budget, edgy, grindhouse revenge thriller that introduces a simple, grimy universe that would eventually develop into one of the most detailed and complex fictional worlds ever created.

It made people take notice of an unknown young Australian actor named Mel Gibson, and it announced the arrival of Miller as one of the smartest filmmakers to hit the scene in years.

"The Road Warrior" blew the doors off of cinemas around the world when it was released in 1982.

"The Road Warrior" (1985) ("Mad Max 2" in other parts of the world) however, blew the doors off of cinemas around the world, and it became abundantly clear that Miller was a master, Gibson was a superstar, and the Wasteland was the most vital and hypnotic post-apocalyptic setting in film.

After the incredible impact of "The Road Warrior" (still one of the greatest, most imaginative, and jaw-dropping action films ever made), Miller shifted gears and released his third Mad Max film entitled; "Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome" (1985), a remarkable piece of filmmaking and, except for the tremendous action/car sequences, NOTHING like the previous film.

"Thunderdome" was a complete departure from the previous film, and it featured the great Tina Turner.

There was the magnificent Tina Turner as Auntie Entity, the ruler of the Thunderdome, and a bunch of weird kids that Max ends up hanging out with. This film confused most audiences, except for the true fans who loved how Miller mixed things up and refused to repeat himself in any way.

The film did OK at the box office (the two Tina Turner songs from the soundtrack fared much better), but not enough to expect a return to the Wasteland anytime soon.

In fact, it would take 30 years for the next chapter to be released....but, wow, was it worth the wait!

Beautifully captured in the book, "Fury Road" changed the face of cinema itself.

"Mad Max: Fury Road" was released on May 15th, 2015, and, quite simply, it changed the face of cinema, and it is possibly the Greatest Action Film Ever Made....period.

"Fury Road" took the world by storm, won a ton of Oscars, and turned a whole new generation onto the work of Miller and the world of the Wasteland.

Then, this year (almost a decade after the release of "Fury Road") Miller released "Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga," a remarkable, awe inspiring piece of filmmaking that left many people scratching their heads (much like "Thunderdome" did in 1985) and complaining simply because it WASN'T "Fury Road."

The misunderstood and remarkable "Furiosa" looks great in this cool book.

What many moviegoers fail to realize is that Miller will never, EVER repeat himself, rest on his laurels, or make some lazy sequel....it's just not in his blood.

Almost everything about "Furiosa" is different than "Fury Road," from the time frame of the story, to the depth of detail, to the scope of vision. It was jarring for many people, and as a result, the film is considered (wrongly) to be a failure artistically simply because it's not the same movie as "Fury Road."

"Furiosa" is a masterpiece, and yet another extraordinary piece of cinema from a master. What people need to do is quit complaining, and start appreciating the fact that no one makes movies like Miller does, and that sometimes an artist is waaaaay ahead of most of his audience and it will take a while for the mere mortals to catch up.

George Miller's "Mad Max" films are the best series of films ever made (yes, better than the "Star Wars," "Lord of the Rings," "Indiana Jones," and "Harry Potter" movie combined), and Ian Nathan's lovely book is a wonderful way to celebrate the genius of the movies.

It's also, simply, one of the coolest looking books that I own, and a tome that I will look at regularly with a great silly grin on my face...the same silly grin that I have on my face when I watch the movies.

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