# Most Successful Sequels? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 5, 2017, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-successful-sequels/800766 "2017-11-05T14:00:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2017, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-successful-sequels/800766/41 "2017-11-06T23:57:22Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > If we consider the 1990s Batman movies to be all part of a series, then Batman Forever was far better than Batman or Batman Returns. That’s not even remotely close to being true. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2017, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-successful-sequels/800766/42 "2017-11-07T00:30:43Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > That’s not even remotely close to being true. For purposes of this thread, I’d argue for BATMAN RETURNS over BATMAN. But what does FOREVER have going for it? Kilmer isn’t a clear improvement over Keaton; he just seems lightly drugged. And, at that, Kidman isn’t more interesting than Pfeiffer; because, really, who the hell _is?_ So what’s the selling point? ---
**Author:** ![Annoying\_Buzz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Annoying\_Buzz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annoying_Buzz)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2017, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-successful-sequels/800766/43 "2017-11-07T01:38:10Z")
I don’t know if I’d say the Back to the Future sequels were better than the original, but they definitely built on the original and expanded it in positive and thought-provoking ways, rather than just being an easy re-hash. Temple of Doom is arguable, but The Last Crusade stands alongside Raiders of the Lost Ark. ---
**Author:** ![Dropo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce7236/32.png) [@Dropo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dropo)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2017, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-successful-sequels/800766/44 "2017-11-07T02:58:16Z")
_Tarzan and his Mate_ (1934) \> _Tarzan the Ape Man_ (1932). _Swordsman II_ (1992) \> _The Swordsman_ (1990) Sequels to sequels: _Curse of the Fly_ (1963) \> _Return of the Fly_ (1959) _Ghidorah, the Three-headed Monster_ (1964) \> _King Kong Vs. Godzilla_ (1962) _Billion Dollar Brain_ (1967) \> _Funeral in Berlin_ (1966) ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2017, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-successful-sequels/800766/45 "2017-11-07T03:15:06Z")
The **Bourne** sequels with Matt Damon were as good or better than the original. **War for the Planet of the Apes** was as good or better than its predecessors. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2017, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-successful-sequels/800766/46 "2017-11-07T04:15:26Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > If we consider the 1990s Batman movies to be all part of a series, then Batman Forever was far better than Batman or Batman Returns. But not one of them comes close to measuring up to the 1966 classic. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2017, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-successful-sequels/800766/47 "2017-11-07T05:08:48Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > For purposes of this thread, I’d argue for BATMAN RETURNS over BATMAN. Without question. I really thought that was universally agreed upon. ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2017, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-successful-sequels/800766/48 "2017-11-07T14:31:51Z")
**Clerks 2** was kind of a surprise. I think having a credible female lead made a huge difference. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2017, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-successful-sequels/800766/49 "2017-11-07T15:35:37Z")
I thought The Madness of King George III was way better than I or II. > [@edwards\_beard](#): > > I just watched Manhanter a week ago in a Horror/Thriller movie marathon and my friend and I both had to laugh, but feel a bit bad for the actor that played Lecter. I disagree. other than the 80s “Miami Vice” cinematography, I find Manhunter holds up very well. I prefer Brian Cox’s more believable, subtle interpretation over the scenery (and people:eek:) chewing that Hopkins brings to the role. Speaking of Miami Vice, Michael Mann did a [sort of remake of Manhunter in Miami Vice](http://miamivice.wikia.com/wiki/Shadow_in_the_Dark). Crockett takes over the Peterson role, and gets so into the head of a serial killer that he nearly goes crazy. One of the better episodes. ---
**Author:** ![It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/it_s_not_rocket_surgery/32/312_2.png) [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/It_s_Not_Rocket_Surgery)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2017, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-successful-sequels/800766/50 "2017-11-07T18:36:39Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > I thought The Madness of King George III was way better than I or II. What did you think of Malcolm X? Leonard Part 6 was the weakest of the series. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2017, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-successful-sequels/800766/51 "2017-11-07T20:58:46Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > Without question. I really thought that was universally agreed upon. Batman Returns is just slightly better than Batman and Robin. I’d rate them: Batman Forever (clear #1) Batman (Thanks to Jack Nicholson) Batman Returns (Way too dark) Batman and Robin (An absolute train wreck) ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5ac83/32.png) [@Doug\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_K)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2017, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-successful-sequels/800766/52 "2017-11-08T19:34:22Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > Everybody who liked _Superman II_ owes it to themselves to forget about the Dick Lester sequel and watch the Richard Donner director’s cut. A vast improvement. I loved the theatrical release. The Donner cut was a horrible mess, and has caused the original to be hard to find. ---
**Author:** ![Clawdio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d07c76/32.png) [@Clawdio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clawdio)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2017, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-successful-sequels/800766/53 "2017-11-08T19:48:21Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > Possibly controversial: _Gremlins 2 The New Batch_ embraced the silliness a lot more and that made it a better movie. Can’t link from work, but if you haven’t seen the Key & Peele sketch about the writers room brainstorming for Gremlins 2, it is hilarious! ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2017, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-successful-sequels/800766/54 "2017-11-08T20:02:08Z")
> [@Doug\_K](#): > > I loved the theatrical release. The Donner cut was a horrible mess, and has caused the original to be hard to find. Really? Your experience is the opposite of mine. I can find the “standard” theatrical-release version of Superman II easily (heck, it’s bundled with I, III, and IV on one multi-disc set that’s out in the stores), but I really had to look in a specialty store to find the “Donner Cut”. And I agree with **Cochrane** – the Donner cut is better. The messiness comes from it being cobbled together from existing parts, and lacking some scenes that were never shot. But it’s overall more appealing. The theatrical version, which ripped parts out of the existing work and tried to build a coherent story with new scenes is the one that’s a mess. ---
**Author:** ![BomTek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bomtek/32/21364_2.png) [@BomTek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BomTek)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2017, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-successful-sequels/800766/55 "2017-11-08T20:23:52Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > In my opinion – though I can, just off the top of my head, give you half-a-dozen reasons _why_ – Angelina Jolie’s second outing as Lara Croft was better than the first; but while I figure that flick got made due to the financial success of the first one, I also figure its _lack_ of financial success was because folks didn’t love the first one. I haven’t seen either, but from what I’ve heard, the recent _Ouija_ movies follow this pattern. The second one was pretty good, but the first was so fucking dull that no one wanted to see a sequel to it. ---
**Author:** ![BomTek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bomtek/32/21364_2.png) [@BomTek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BomTek)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2017, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-successful-sequels/800766/56 "2017-11-08T20:26:37Z")
Also, since I just saw it this past weekend and it’s topical, I loved _Thor: Ragnarok_, whereas I thought the original and sequel were both pretty forgettable. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2017, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-successful-sequels/800766/57 "2017-11-08T20:49:58Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > Really? Your experience is the opposite of mine. I can find the “standard” theatrical-release version of Superman II easily (heck, it’s bundled with I, III, and IV on one multi-disc set that’s out in the stores), but I really had to look in a specialty store to find the “Donner Cut”. It’s really available from Amazon. You can stream it or download it. You can also get it on Blu-ray and DVD. > **[Amazon.com: Superman II - The Richard Donner Cut : Christopher Reeve, Margot...](https://www.amazon.com/Superman-II-Richard-Donner-Cut/dp/B000IJ79WU)** > > Product Description Superman II: Richard Donner Cut, The (DVD)It's the version you've never seen. Finally released as visionary director Richard Donner originally conceived and intended, Superman II: The Richard Donner Director's Cut is a... You can even have it shipped to you the next day. ---
**Author:** ![JeffB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeffb/32/188_2.png) [@JeffB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JeffB)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2017, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-successful-sequels/800766/58 "2017-11-08T20:55:49Z")
> [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](#): > > Leonard Part 6 was the weakest of the series. I thought it was the strongest. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2017, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-successful-sequels/800766/59 "2017-11-08T20:58:02Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > It’s really available from Amazon. You can stream it or download it. You can also get it on Blu-ray and DVD. > > [www.amazon.com/Superman-II-Richard-Donner-Cut/dp/B000IJ79WU](http://www.amazon.com/Superman-II-Richard-Donner-Cut/dp/B000IJ79WU) > > You can even have it shipped to you the next day. That’s supposed to be **readily** available. Damn auto-incorrect. ---
**Author:** ![dorvann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/df705f/32.png) [@dorvann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dorvann)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2017, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-successful-sequels/800766/60 "2017-11-09T04:13:36Z")
Terminator IMHO, this is how I’d rank the Terminator films: 1. _Terminator 2: Judgment Day_ 2.\* The Terminator\* 2. _Terminator Genisys_ (Yes, I actually liked it.) 3. \*Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines \* 5 _Terminator Salvation_ If I included the tv series _Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles_ I probably place it at number 2. Star Trek I’d rank the Star Trek tv series: 1.\* Star Trek: The Next Generation\* 2. _Star Trek: Deep Space Nine_ 3. _Star Trek: Enterprise_ 4. \*Star Trek: Voyager \* 5._Star Trek: The Original Series_ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-successful-sequels/800766.md?page=2)