The Empire Strikes Back, it is the only sequel in the history of movies that is better than the original. Now I still love T-2, Godfather II, and Superman II, they are all great sequels, but I just don't think they are as great as the originals.

The Empire Strikes Back takes the characters in a whole new direction from the Original Star Wars. It does not recycle any worlds from the original, it does not recycle any plots from the original, and it doesn't rely on bigger is better to sell the movie, the last hour is actually more intimate than the original. And it also has a great twist and a cliff hanger ending which was never done at that time. Although the Original Star Wars is a classic too, these are the only two Star Wars movies that are really great, the other four are just sequels and prequels that have their good and bad moments.

Man, I must be the only person who thinks ROTJ is better then ESB.

Actually, I think ROTJ is better then the first.

The Godfather, Part II is a masterpiece.

ESB edged out the victory over Spidey2 and X2. If Nolan can somehow top Batman Begins, then my Empire vote will be null and void.

I agree.

to that too. I respect your choice, i think Return of the Jedi is very underrated, it's not supposed to be the darkest in the trilogy, leaps and bounds ahead of the prequels, and who exactly here gives a crap about Ewoks until the internet told them to be? I for one applaud that they are there becuase too long we've seen battlefields seem to be only owned by two conflicting sides, in this there's a realization like reality that their warzone is someone else's home and these "creatures" totally oblivious to the Empire do help in turning the tides of conflict just like in history.

Terminator 2.

Not technically a sequel I suppose... But I'm going with Dawn of the Dead.

Since that's not an option and there's entirely too many votes here for ESB and Aliens, I'll go with The Godfather, Part II.

Definitely X2. Can't get enough of that movie.

Empire
Aliens and
Star Trek 2 would be mine.

Going by what was on the poll, out of what I've seen I'd have to say X2 was the biggest improvement (not that the first one was bad) when compared to the others.

I went for Aliens, but Road Warrior was good, along with ESB.

EDIT: saw ST:WOK and also agree there as well, best Star Trek movie IMO.

I voted for The Godfather Part II. I was also tempted to vote for Aliens, which is a rather remarkable sequel in that it was an entirely different type of film than the original (more of an action film than straight horror) and was still very effective.

However, I think any discussion of great sequels needs to include at least a mention of The Color of Money.

Of those listed on the poll, Batman Returns.

A few of my other favorites, which I don't think have been mentioned yet:

Addams Family Values
Damien: Omen II
A Very Brady Sequel

I was going to vote for T2 until I saw Aliens on the poll. Way better movie, both in effects and more importantly, storywise than T2.