The list can be found here.
(http://www.empireonline.com/50greatestsequels/default.asp?c=50)
50. Shrek 2
49. Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey
48. Infernal Affairs II
47. Airplane 2: The Sequel
46. Star Trek: First Contact
45. The Naked Gun 2 1/2
44. Hellboy II
43. 28 Weeks Later
42. Blade II
41. Nightmare On Elm Street 3: The Dream Warriors
40. The Four Musketeers
39. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
38. Die Hard With A Vengeance
37. Halloween III
36. Mission: Impossible III
35. Back To The Future Part III
34. The Lost World: Jurassic Park
33. Gremlins 2: The New Batch
32. Scream 2
31. Return to Oz
30. Lethal Weapon 2
29. Dawn Of The Dead
28. Manon Des Sources
27. Addams Family Values
26. The Color Of Money
25. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
24. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
23. Back To The Future Part II
22. Spider-Man II
21. Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
20. Desperado
19. Day Of The Dead
18. The Bourne Ultimatum
17. Wes Craven's New Nightmare
16. The French Connection 2
15. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
14. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
13. Batman Returns
12. Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
11. X2
10. Evil Dead II
09. Superman II
08. Before Sunset
07. The Bourne Supremacy
06. Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
05. The Dark Knight
04. Toy Story 2
03. Terminator 2: Judgment Day
02. The Godfather Part II
01. Aliens
There's a lot of this list that I think Empire got dead wrong, but there's some few under appreciated sequels that they got right.
Happy to see Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey and Gremlins 2 get love; but Day of the Dead is not a better film than Dawn of the Dead.
fumanstan
08-23-09, 03:24 PM
DVDTalkers listing examples of why this list is invalid in 4... 3... 2...
jjcool
08-23-09, 03:35 PM
Looks like any other list I have ever seen from any other entertainment magazine or website. Some good items, some bad, and some downright ugly.
Nesbit
08-23-09, 04:41 PM
I like Day of the Dead a bit more than Dawn of the Dead. The makeup is a LOT better, the human villians a LOT more compelling, and it's got BUB! The major advantage that Dawn has is that the group of heroes are more compelling but Day doesn't spend 99% of the film focusing on the heroes so it's not too big of a deal. (FYI: Love them both)
RagingBull80
08-23-09, 04:54 PM
Dawn is miles ahead of Day IMO.
Groucho
08-23-09, 04:56 PM
I stopped reading at #50. Okay, I lied. I peaked at #49 and it justified my decision.
Drexl
08-23-09, 05:04 PM
If they're going to disqualify the LOTR movies as not being true sequels, I don't think BTTF3 should count, as it was shot back to back with BTTF2.
I really thought Spider-Man 2 would be higher, as it seemed like it got a lot of hype.
costanza
08-23-09, 05:04 PM
Aliens over Godfather Part 2?
Rockmjd23
08-23-09, 05:25 PM
Did Empire forget that there were sequels made before the 1980s? No Bride?
brianluvdvd
08-23-09, 05:49 PM
I stopped reading at #50. Okay, I lied. I peaked at #49 and it justified my decision.
Hell, I was about to post the exact same thing.
Larry C.
08-23-09, 06:01 PM
What a fucking shitty list.
Ginwen
08-23-09, 06:01 PM
If they're going to disqualify the LOTR movies as not being true sequels, I don't think BTTF3 should count, as it was shot back to back with BTTF2.
I really thought Spider-Man 2 would be higher, as it seemed like it got a lot of hype.
Neither should the Four Musketeers, since basically they had too much footage for one movie and turned it into two.
Rockmjd23
08-23-09, 06:04 PM
Wouldn't Manon of the Spring not qualify then?
Joe Schmoe
08-23-09, 06:07 PM
Gremlins 2 better than the original? WTF?
auto
08-23-09, 06:28 PM
Happy to see Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey and Gremlins 2 get love; but Day of the Dead is not a better film than Dawn of the Dead.
Gremlins 2 better than the original? WTF?
The piece never said that the sequels were better than the originals, just that they were good.
Rockmjd23
08-23-09, 06:31 PM
True but the placement of Day implies that they consider it better than Dawn.
mike7162
08-23-09, 07:27 PM
What a joke. Hello? The Road Warrior
Coral
08-23-09, 07:41 PM
I think Manon Des Sources should be ranked MUCH higher than 28.
mcnabb
08-23-09, 08:09 PM
I still say The Empire Strikes Back is the greatest sequel, because it is (depends who you ask), either as great as Star Wars, or better. Plus, it doesn't rehash ANYTHING from the original movie, which Return of the Jedi does.
I still say Godfather II is not better then Godfather I, and T2 is not better then T1. I am not a huge Alien/Aliens fan, so I couldn't be partial about that.
The Dark Knight is alot better then Batman Begins, but I wouldn't put Batman Begins in the classic range of Star Wars or Godfather, so The Dark Knight didn't have as huge expectations going in.
Sonic
08-23-09, 08:13 PM
No Puppet Master II?
Superboy
08-23-09, 08:44 PM
Holy shit. They put some of the worst sequels ever on that list.
Ash Ketchum
08-23-09, 08:49 PM
The Real List:
25 Greatest Sequels Ever (in chronological order):
TARZAN AND HIS MATE (1934)
BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN (1935)
FLASH GORDON’S TRIP TO MARS (1938)
ROAD TO UTOPIA (1945)
COURAGE OF LASSIE (1945)
ATOM MAN VS. SUPERMAN (1950)
DEMETRIUS AND THE GLADIATORS (1954)
FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE (1963)
FOR A FEW DOLLARS MORE (1967)
THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY (1967)
YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE (1967)
DESTROY ALL MONSTERS (1968)
WAR OF THE GARGANTUAS (1968)
EXORCIST II (1977)
URUSEI YATSURA: BEAUTIFUL DREAMER (1984)
ONCE UPON A TIME IN CHINA II (1991)
SWORDSMAN III: THE EAST IS RED (1993)
GODZILLA VS. MECHAGODZILLA (1993)
PATLABOR 2 (1993)
DRUNKEN MASTER II (1994)
GAMERA 3: THE REVENGE OF IRIS (1999)
TENCHI FOREVER (1999)
GHOST IN THE SHELL 2: INNOCENCE (2004)
PUNISHER: WAR ZONE (2008)
CRANK: HIGH VOLTAGE (2009)
And there isn't a single one on Empire's list that's on mine.
(And three of them directed by Mamoru Oshii!)
lamphorn
08-23-09, 09:10 PM
I like that Temple of Doom is ranked higher than Last Crusade. I agree with that.
I'm also really glad to see Aliens above Godfather II. I feel Godfather II is a bit overrated. I would also have put T2 and Empire Strikes Back above it.
Dark Knight would have been about #20 on my list. Way way way overrated.
Gremlins 2 being higher than The Lost World is a joke. I don't know how Gremlins 2 even got on this list.
Matty-O
08-23-09, 09:42 PM
I like that Temple of Doom is ranked higher than Last Crusade. I agree with that.
I'm also really glad to see Aliens above Godfather II. I feel Godfather II is a bit overrated. I would also have put T2 and Empire Strikes Back above it.
Dark Knight would have been about #20 on my list. Way way way overrated.
Gremlins 2 being higher than The Lost World is a joke. I don't know how Gremlins 2 even got on this list.
I was just about to post the same thing about Temple of Doom...for me it ranks just behind Raiders for my favorite in the series. Movie doesn't get much love though(hell...even Spielberg doesn't really care for it).
And Mission: Impossible III happens to be on tv right now as I type this. I was just commenting to my wife that it's too bad it came out how looney Tom Cruise is right around the release date....it really is a good action movie.
Rockmjd23
08-23-09, 09:51 PM
The Real List:
I'll give you credit, you managed to make a worse list than Empire did. I didn't think it was possible. :up:
golden_rod
08-23-09, 10:09 PM
EXORCIST II (1977)
I will spit a leopard myself if that thing ever makes a "Best of" list.
mcfly
08-23-09, 10:46 PM
I like most of those sequels. :lol:
gmanca
08-23-09, 11:21 PM
I'm glad Halloween III got respect for trying to be different as opposed to cashing in on the same story. Even if it's a cheesefest, the mood and atmosphere were great.
project86
08-23-09, 11:25 PM
I really appreciate they put Return to Oz on it, one of my favorites!
Tom Creo
08-23-09, 11:30 PM
The Real List:
BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN (1935)
FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE (1963)
FOR A FEW DOLLARS MORE (1967)
THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY (1967)
YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE (1967)
DESTROY ALL MONSTERS (1968)
ONCE UPON A TIME IN CHINA II (1991)
SWORDSMAN III: THE EAST IS RED (1993)
GODZILLA VS. MECHAGODZILLA (1993)
PATLABOR 2 (1993)
DRUNKEN MASTER II (1994)
GAMERA 3: THE REVENGE OF IRIS (1999)
TENCHI FOREVER (1999)
GHOST IN THE SHELL 2: INNOCENCE (2004)
PUNISHER: WAR ZONE (2008)
CRANK: HIGH VOLTAGE (2009)
And there isn't a single one on Empire's list that's on mine.
(And three of them directed by Mamoru Oshii!)
Love your list, especially the ones quoted above. How can any "best sequel" list not have Bride of Frankenstein?
Blu Man
08-24-09, 12:05 AM
The Dark Knight is my favorite sequel. I think it should be number 1 or 2 because not only was it a great sequel and a great comic book movie, but it was an all around great film. People who love Batman love The Dark Knight, and people who don't like Batman love The Dark Knight.
Batman Returns shouldn't have made the list. Hellboy II, Terminator 2, Toy Story 2, they all deserve it. The big one I haven't seen is Ailens, I have to see that some time.
inri222
08-24-09, 12:12 AM
In no particular order :
The Godfather Part II
Bride of Frankenstein
The Testament of Orpheus
Exorcist III
Curse of the Cat People
Beneath the Planet of the Apes
The Silence of the Lambs
For a Few Dollars More
The Road Warrior
2010
Sanjuro
The Wrath of Khan
The French Connection II
Dawn of the Dead
Evil Dead II
Dean Kousoulas
08-24-09, 12:55 AM
No Ghostbusters II? FAIL. ;)
Iron_Giant
08-24-09, 01:52 AM
Aliens over Godfather Part 2?
I have always said Aliens is the best sequel ever, I was fired up and not surprised to see it at the top of the list.
Rockmjd23
08-24-09, 02:07 AM
A lot of older titles missing:
Adventures of Sherlock Holmes or Scarlet Claw, or House of Fear, or any of them really.
A Shot in the Dark
After the Thin Man
Goldfinger
Samurai II and III
Sanjuro
The Testament of Dr Mabuse
UAIOE
08-24-09, 03:40 AM
At least they didn't say "Jurassic Park 3", because that would be a complete fallacy.
dino88
08-24-09, 04:15 AM
The Devil's Rejects
Ralph Jenkins
08-24-09, 09:51 AM
Gremlins 2, Batman Returns and The Empire Strikes Back are movies I like more than the originals, so I agree with those. The Bride of Frankenstein and The Road Warrior should definitely be on this list. I would put Female Convict Scorpion: Jailhouse 41 on my list, but it's probably too obscure. I also might include Fantasia 2000.
Joe Schmoe
08-24-09, 01:19 PM
The piece never said that the sequels were better than the originals, just that they were good.
Oh. Ok. Wait a minute. Gremlins 2 was a good movie?? WTF??
Groucho
08-24-09, 01:20 PM
Not only was Gremlins 2 a good movie, it was better than the original. :shrug:
RyoHazuki
08-24-09, 01:45 PM
I stopped reading at #50. Okay, I lied. I peaked at #49 and it justified my decision.
I'm hoping you were upset that Bogus Journey wasn't higher on the list.
RagingBull80
08-24-09, 01:53 PM
Not only was Gremlins 2 a good movie, it was better than the original. :shrug:
I'm not a big fan of Gremlins but I love Gremlins 2. It was one of my most watched movies as a kid.
KillerCannibal
08-24-09, 01:55 PM
Wes Craven's New Nightmare does NOT belong on that list. It's horrendously bad.
This list needs The Stepfather 2: Make Room For Daddy.
Dr Mabuse
08-24-09, 02:00 PM
Suckiest pile of suck that ever sucked.
Jaymole
08-24-09, 02:17 PM
Not only was Gremlins 2 a good movie, it was better than the original. :shrug:
Absolutely agree!
Hokeyboy
08-24-09, 02:31 PM
After The Thin Man was just as good as the original. In same ways, even better.
At least they didn't say "Jurassic Park 3", because that would be a complete fallacy.
Other than the abrupt ending, it is a far more entertaining film than the Lost World.
UAIOE
08-24-09, 03:04 PM
Other than the abrupt ending, it is a far more entertaining film than the Lost World.
The book was far more entertaining than the movie, but that is to be expected.
JP3 was just off, I can't explain it, but the movie just felt totally incomplete (and not just because of the ending). It's like someone took the script said said "screw all this other stuff non-dinosaur stuff , all I wanna see is dinosaurs causing people to scream!"
The scenes before the island adventure, where we find out how the events of the first movie have changed his life/character...are far more interesting than another round of running from dinosaurs.
Michael Corvin
08-24-09, 04:32 PM
The book was far more entertaining than the movie, but that is to be expected.
JP3 was just off, I can't explain it, but the movie just felt totally incomplete (and not just because of the ending). It's like someone took the script said said "screw all this other stuff non-dinosaur stuff , all I wanna see is dinosaurs causing people to scream!"
The scenes before the island adventure, where we find out how the events of the first movie have changed his life/character...are far more interesting than another round of running from dinosaurs.
Well you get that feel because that's how it was filmed, IIRC. No real script, very fly by night, the "you know what would be cool" directing.
chris_sc77
08-24-09, 04:40 PM
I think this is a very good list.
Many of these are definitely better than the original and/or previous installments and are the best films in their respective series. Blade II, New Nightmare and Nightmare pt. 3, Die Hard 3, Scream 2, Dawn of the Dead, Indy 3 (easily the best Indy film IMO), Harry POtter 3 and 5, Desperado, Empire SB, Spidey 2, Batman Returns (easily the best batman film that isn't directed by Nolan), Dark Knight , T2 and def. ALiens.
Plus its good to see some love for the underrated French connection 2 which i like more than the original also.
Groucho
08-24-09, 04:41 PM
Harry Potter 3? Isn't that a kid's movie?
UAIOE
08-25-09, 02:46 AM
Well you get that feel because that's how it was filmed, IIRC. No real script, very fly by night, the "you know what would be cool" directing.
That might work for a Youtube video, but not a feature length movie.
dom56
08-25-09, 11:38 AM
Why the hell Predator 2 not on the list?
Hokeyboy
08-25-09, 11:47 AM
Why the hell Predator 2 not on the list?
Because it sucks?
Or to expand on that, because it is insipid, cliche-ridden tripe that doesn't even remotely compare to the original?
UAIOE
08-25-09, 03:10 PM
But...Bill Paxton!
FRwL
08-25-09, 03:27 PM
What a joke. Hello? The Road Warrior
Yep.
I'm surprised by a few underrated additions of ROTJ, TOD, H3, but then the rest of the list is so extremely screwy that i don't even think they know WHY they added those either. Many crappy lists at least have a respectable top picks but here even the top 5 is crappy. If #1 was Troll 2 it wouldn't make a difference.
dhmac
08-25-09, 10:51 PM
FOR A FEW DOLLARS MORE (1967)
THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY (1967)
Sorry, but these aren't sequels (or prequels) to Fistful of Dollars. Although Clint Eastwood dresses the same and acts the same in all three of these Sergio Leone movies, he is actually playing different characters in each one (Joe, Monco, and "Blondie" respectively). They are all cut from the same cloth, so to speak, and are (incorrectly) marketed in the U.S. as the "Man with No Name Trilogy" but they were not made as continuations of the same characters (the fact that Lee Van Cleef plays a bad guy in one and a good guy in another is a dead giveaway of this).
chris_sc77
08-26-09, 12:01 AM
^I dunno about that. I think they could easily be regarded as sequels. If you wanna look at it that way one certainly could.
It doesnt matter if Van Cleef is playing different characters.
Look at Kill Bill. Micheal Parks plays a good guy in the first and a bad guy in the 2nd part and Uma is still playing the same character.
Ash Ketchum
08-26-09, 10:31 AM
Sorry, but these aren't sequels (or prequels) to Fistful of Dollars. Although Clint Eastwood dresses the same and acts the same in all three of these Sergio Leone movies, he is actually playing different characters in each one (Joe, Monco, and "Blondie" respectively). They are all cut from the same cloth, so to speak, and are (incorrectly) marketed in the U.S. as the "Man with No Name Trilogy" but they were not made as continuations of the same characters (the fact that Lee Van Cleef plays a bad guy in one and a good guy in another is a dead giveaway of this).
Clint's the same character in each, it's just that people call him different names. He never ever says what his name is. The old guy in FISTFUL OF $ calls him "Joe," a common name once upon a time to call someone whose name you don't know. (Urchin in war-torn Europe to American G.I.: "You got chewing gum, Joe?" Hence, "G.I. Joe.") Or he could actually be named Joe! In FOR A FEW DOLLARS MORE, some idiot sheriff asserts that the bounty hunter's name is Manco, the only time in the trilogy that Clint is ever actually i.d.'d by someone. Okay, no reason he couldn't be Joe Manco. People DO have first and last names, remember? Tuco calls him "Blondie" in GOOD, BAD, UGLY because--d'uuuuuh--Clint is blond! Clint never tells Tuco what his real name is, so why shouldn't Tuco call him "Blondie."
Case closed. Now, if you want to argue about the time frame and the fact that the Civil War is over in the first two films and is still raging in the third, then I'll come up with another clever explanation for that. Until then...:blush:
Mabuse
08-27-09, 11:50 AM
Case closed. Now, if you want to argue about the time frame and the fact that the Civil War is over in the first two films and is still raging in the third, then I'll come up with another clever explanation for that. Until then...:blush:
That's easy. The Good Bad Ugly comes before the other two. At the end of Good Bad Ugly Clint picks up the pancho that he wears in the earlier films.
The Reaper
08-28-09, 04:42 AM
While it may not be a perfect list, the greatest movie of all time made the #1 spot, so I can forgive them for some of the lesser titles.
Buy: