Movie sequels don’t exactly have the best reputation, and justifiably so in most cases – have you seen The Fox and The Hound 2 and the follow-up to The Little Mermaid? They’re probably best avoided.
But every now and then a second instalment comes along that blows our socks off even more than the original and we’ve rounded those up for you right here.
So grab the kiddos, and the popcorn, and watch these sequels that, in our opinion, exceed all expectations and even – dare we say it? – surpass the overall quality of the film they are following up! Enjoy.
Despicable Me 2 (2013)
Packed with wonderful visuals that are morphed into truly captivating and hilarious gags and images, Despicable Me 2 picks up the baton from its 2010 compatriot and then merrily speeds with it right into the gloriously absurd. Admittedly, it’s not quite as original as Despicable Me, but the Minions really come into their own with the sequel, even setting up their own spinoff film.
Netflix.
Incredibles 2 (2018)
Kids across the world waited 14 long years to find out what happened to this superhero family next – they all wanted to know how Jack Jack’s powers would develop. It was definitely worth the wait. The storytelling is top-notch, it touches on relevant themes and there’s no shortage of action sequences. But what makes part two even more special is that it includes a closer look at the superhero family’s dynamic as mum, Elastigirl balances crime fighting with motherhood and dad, Mr Incredible, becomes the ultimate stay-at-home dad. Awwww.
OSN On Demand.
Paddington 2 (2017)
The popular children’s book character created by Michael Bond, first leapt on to the big screen in 2014 and was very well-received. Paddington followed the adventures of the Peruvian bear of the same name as he made a new home (and lots of faux-pas) in London. This paved the way for a sequel, which sees the beloved bear settling in with his newfound human family and working a number of odd jobs to pay for a gift. The first was a winner and hard to beat, but we think the sequel does… just!
Amazon Prime.
Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
The success of the first movie was so huge that a second became inevitable (and then a third, fourth, fifth etc after that). While the original will always hold a place in the hearts of Star Wars fans everywhere, it has to be argued that Episode IV is slightly better. The characters are more fully fleshed out, and the movie’s conflict is set on a much grander scale. Not only that, one greatest plot twists in history is revealed: Darth Vader outing himself as Luke Skywalker’s father. That’s pretty hard to beat to be honest.
Disney+ Originals on OSN.
Shrek 2 (2004)
This was always going to be difficult to top as Shrek is an absolute family classic, but along came number two and it took things to another level of awesome. The starring role of the Fairy Godmother alone is enough to put this film above its predecessor in the watch-ability stakes, but the clever pop culture references throughout as well as brilliant storyline and funny one-liners are everything.
Amazon Prime.
Toy Story 4 (2019)
Four Toy Story films may seem like a spot of overkill and indeed, there was concern that it had run its course – particularly as Toy Story 3 seemed to wrap up the trilogy perfectly. But, somehow the fourth instalment manages to tug at those heartstrings with emotional scenes even more heart-breaking than those that have come before. Plus, new characters like Forky and Ducky, coupled with the budding romance between Woody and Bo, make this our favourite of the lot.
Amazon Prime.
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)
This is a tough one as, to be fair, every single Harry Potter film is brilliant in its own way, but if we had to choose our favourite in the series, it would be this one. In fact, it’s so good it could even pass as a standalone film. The cinematography is better, the storyline is more exciting and complex, it features time travel, tackles darker themes and centre more on the development of the characters and their relationships with one another. There are some scary moments to add to the suspense.
OSN On Demand.
