Sequels actually better than the original

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Although sequels are a financially and artistically sound concept, it is rare that they are well-executed.

Sequels are thriving at the box office, with Inside Out 2 (2024) being the highest-grossing movie of that year. Given their assured success, we can expect to see many more sequels in the upcoming years, including Zootopia 2 (2025), Toy Story 5 (2026), and Frozen 3 (2027). 

Sequel announcements are often met with a lot of anger; what happened to originality? People seem tired of recycled worlds and stories, often crediting these sequels to the laziness of filmmakers. The people yearn for something new and exciting— not another look into the lives of inanimate objects doing the same gimmick for nearly 30 years. 

Unfortunately, this is where I disagree with a loud minority. The truth is, most people are not tired of worlds they are already familiar with, and if you told me you were not planning on seeing any of the upcoming sequels listed above, I would have a hard time believing it. 

I hold an empathetic view towards sequels; executives do not greenlight them merely out of laziness— they do it to see a return on their investments. Viewers are going to watch a sequel over an indie film with a premise they are unfamiliar with; our brains are wired to prefer patterns, after all.

In this red ocean competition, creatives can make an objectively good movie and still flop at the box office when pinned against Zootopia 2 (2025). While I wish we lived in a world where entertainment was purely an art form, we exist in one where it is a business. At the end of the day, can we blame executives for permitting sequels in exchange for job security? 

Besides all this, on paper, the premise of a sequel is an artistically sound idea. As a continuation, a sequel is a story that no longer requires a bunch of exposition and build-up; instead, the film can focus more on the pure story and further develop the characters you have already grown to love and appreciate.

Now that we talked about how sequels are a good idea financially and artistically, I have to address the blemish with them: the sole reason these films garner so much hate. While I can sit here and defend the process behind them, I must admit— many of them just suck.

Poorly rated sequels do not necessarily have bad execution and terrible writing (though I admit, some do); sometimes, the lack of satisfaction boils down to it not being as good as the original. Sequels offer the opportunity to improve and further develop a story, but if it does not come with the same level of humor or novelty as its parent movie (which it will inevitably be compared to), it tarnishes both movies in the process. 

When done right, however, sequels elevate the entire franchise and build excitement within viewers. There is nothing better than when a sequel takes a story to a new level, and in light of this, I will share a few sequels that match the first movie and succeed in quality. 

Monsters University (2013)

I know— technically, this is a prequel —but the same idea applies. This film takes us through Mike and Sully’s college days and provides us with an atmosphere of academic jealousy and challenges, a setting that heavily diverges from Monsters Inc. (2001). I particularly love how honest yet hopeful the message of this film is: although you may find that some dreams are unattainable, you can always still learn to be happy. 

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013)

This movie is a masterpiece— the best out of the Hunger Games franchise. The supporting cast, music, set design, the shift from survival to rebellion, and the unexpected cliffhanger ending make this a thrilling and immersive watch. No notes. 

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules (2011)

The whole purpose of watching the Diary of a Wimpy Kid franchise is to have fun, and there is no better movie to fulfill this objective than Rodrick Rules (2011). I cannot live life without thinking about the iconic house party scene— resulting in excessive gaslighting about the replacement of a bathroom door —at least once a week. 

Smile 2 (2024)

Smile 2 (2024) took what I thought was a forgettable and disappointing horror movie and completely changed my view of the franchise. While the first one put me to sleep, the sequel intrigued me to no end with its morally complex main character, original music, and a unique take on addiction through the lens of a pop star.

Beyond these standouts, there are so many more sequels worth mentioning, including Toy Story 3 (2010), Cinderella 3 (2007), Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (2022), and Paddington 2 (2017). Announcements for sequels can often be frustrating and disappointing, but do not forget that there is always a chance you will witness something truly great with the power to recolor a franchise.