# Sequels that are better than the originals
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sequels-that-are-better-than-the-originals/158675
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [March 2, 2003, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sequels-that-are-better-than-the-originals/158675 "2003-03-02T23:47:07Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Fiat\_Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiat_Lux)
#### Post date: [March 2, 2003, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sequels-that-are-better-than-the-originals/158675/1 "2003-03-02T23:47:07Z")
They say that the only sequels to outshine their originals are the New Testament and Huckleberry Finn. Is this true? Have there been other better sequels, in book or film?
Of course, a sequel isn’t the same thing as part of a series, or a trilogy, or whatever. A sequel has to be something that was unplanned for in the original (though sequel series and trilogies and so on count for the sake of argument).
So name a few great sequels.
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### Author:  [@Fiat\_Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiat_Lux)
#### Post date: [March 2, 2003, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sequels-that-are-better-than-the-originals/158675/2 "2003-03-02T23:51:44Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Fiat Lux \*
> \*\*
>
> A sequel has to be something that was unplanned for in the original (though sequel series and trilogies and so on count for the sake of argument).
>
> \*\*
Just because looking back, that’s not the most coherent of statements, what I meant was: _The Empire Strikes Back_ is not the sequel to _Star Wars_, but the current trilogy beginning with _The Phantom Menace_ is the sequel (well, prequel, but same difference) to the original Star Wars films (not that they bear out any arguments for sequels better than the original)
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### Author:  [@Agrippina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agrippina)
#### Post date: [March 3, 2003, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sequels-that-are-better-than-the-originals/158675/3 "2003-03-03T00:04:53Z")
**The Godfather Part II**
**Toy Story 2**
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### Author:  [@Turek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turek)
#### Post date: [March 3, 2003, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sequels-that-are-better-than-the-originals/158675/4 "2003-03-03T00:49:06Z")
**The Road Warrior**
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### Author:  [@The\_Peyote\_Coyote](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Peyote_Coyote)
#### Post date: [March 3, 2003, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sequels-that-are-better-than-the-originals/158675/5 "2003-03-03T00:57:24Z")
Terminator 2
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### Author:  [@TWDuke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TWDuke)
#### Post date: [March 3, 2003, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sequels-that-are-better-than-the-originals/158675/6 "2003-03-03T00:58:07Z")
_Lord of the Rings_
Many people would say _Aliens_ and _Star Trek: The Next Generation_. I am not one.
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### Author:  [@RawkStah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RawkStah)
#### Post date: [March 3, 2003, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sequels-that-are-better-than-the-originals/158675/7 "2003-03-03T01:10:27Z")
**Babe 2: Pig in the City** , even though it didn’t have James Cromwell. It’s like Terry Gilliam made a kiddie flick.
TWDuke: I’m kinda with you on the _Alien_/_Aliens_ thing, but, they are really 2 different genres. The original was a monster movie dressed up in sci-fi, the sequel was a damned good action movie with miniguns. Neither one depends on the other, really.
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### Author:  [@magog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magog)
#### Post date: [March 3, 2003, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sequels-that-are-better-than-the-originals/158675/8 "2003-03-03T01:13:12Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by TWDuke \*
> Many people would say _Aliens_ and _Star Trek: The Next Generation_. I am not one.
Although I do think that _Wrath of Khan_ was better than the original movie.
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### Author:  [@toomuchtv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toomuchtv)
#### Post date: [March 3, 2003, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sequels-that-are-better-than-the-originals/158675/9 "2003-03-03T01:22:21Z")
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (Star Trek, the Motion Picture)
Rambo (First Blood)
The Silence of the Lambs (Manhunter)
After the Thin Man (The Thin Man)
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### Author:  [@MyFootsZZZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MyFootsZZZ)
#### Post date: [March 3, 2003, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sequels-that-are-better-than-the-originals/158675/10 "2003-03-03T01:34:39Z")
Bride Of Frankenstein.
(Toy Story 1, was better IMHO)
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### Author:  [@SPOOFE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SPOOFE)
#### Post date: [March 3, 2003, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sequels-that-are-better-than-the-originals/158675/11 "2003-03-03T06:36:36Z")
Grease 2!!!
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### Author:  [@skaterboarder87](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/skaterboarder87)
#### Post date: [March 3, 2003, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sequels-that-are-better-than-the-originals/158675/12 "2003-03-03T06:39:36Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by SPOOFE \*
> \*\*Grease 2!!! \*\*
Holy jesus; that’s not saying much 😉
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### Author:  [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)
#### Post date: [March 3, 2003, 8:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sequels-that-are-better-than-the-originals/158675/13 "2003-03-03T08:27:39Z")
**Superman 2**
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### Author:  [@New\_Improved\_Scott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/New_Improved_Scott)
#### Post date: [March 3, 2003, 8:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sequels-that-are-better-than-the-originals/158675/14 "2003-03-03T08:48:51Z")
Star Wars ep II (over ep I)
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
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### Author:  [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)
#### Post date: [March 3, 2003, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sequels-that-are-better-than-the-originals/158675/15 "2003-03-03T12:49:19Z")
For my money, Cameron’s **Aliens** is far superior to Scott’s **Alien**.
I think most of the James Bond movies are superior to **Dr. No** , the first.
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### Author:  [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)
#### Post date: [March 3, 2003, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sequels-that-are-better-than-the-originals/158675/16 "2003-03-03T12:56:15Z")
For my money, Cameron’s **Aliens** is far superior to Scott’s **Alien**.
I think most of the James Bond movies are superior to **Dr. No** , the first.
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### Author:  [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)
#### Post date: [March 3, 2003, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sequels-that-are-better-than-the-originals/158675/17 "2003-03-03T13:12:07Z")
For my money, Cameron’s **Aliens** is far superior to Scott’s **Alien**.
I think most of the James Bond movies are superior to **Dr. No** , the first.
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### Author:  [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)
#### Post date: [March 3, 2003, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sequels-that-are-better-than-the-originals/158675/18 "2003-03-03T13:20:09Z")
For my money, Cameron’s **Aliens** is far superior to Scott’s **Alien**.
I think most of the James Bond movies are superior to **Dr. No** , the first.
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### Author:  [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)
#### Post date: [March 3, 2003, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sequels-that-are-better-than-the-originals/158675/19 "2003-03-03T13:25:47Z")
For my money, Cameron’s **Aliens** is far superior to Scott’s **Alien**.
I think most of the James Bond movies are superior to **Dr. No** , the first.
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### Author:  [@interface2x](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/interface2x)
#### Post date: [March 3, 2003, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sequels-that-are-better-than-the-originals/158675/20 "2003-03-03T13:37:58Z")
Everything okay over there, **Cal**?
P.S. Agree with you about _Aliens_.
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