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The Best Movie Sequels Ever Made

The Best Movie Sequels Ever Made

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One of the most reliable strategies in Hollywood is trading on the success of a movie to make a sequel. At first, this was seen as a sometimes crass and unimaginative approach to filmmaking, a slight for an industry aspiring for artistic approval but under pressure to make a profits. In recent years, the industry seems to have found the right formula for franchise building.

To determine the best sequels of all time, 24/7 Tempo developed an index using average ratings on IMDb, an online movie database owned by Amazon, and a combination of audience scores and Tomatometer scores on Rotten Tomatoes, an online movie and TV review aggregator, as of early November 2023, weighting all ratings equally. We considered only movies with at least 5,000 audience votes on either IMDb or Rotten Tomatoes as well as 10 Tomatometer critic reviews, and ruled out documentaries. Cast credits are from IMDb.

Studios have realized that retaining top-shelf acting talent, crafting crisply-written plots and well-drawn characters, and bringing back acclaimed directors such as Peter Jackson and Christopher Nolan (who have films on this list) to stay with a franchise has produced winning sequels. Most of the films on our list are actually rated above the original by Rotten Tomatoes. At least two — “The Dark Knight” and “The Godfather: Part II” — are considered among the greatest films ever. (Here is a list of the greatest movie you have probably never seen.)

Any list about the best sequels of all time must start with the Marvel Comics Universe. There are nine films from the industry’s most successful franchise on the list, including four Spider-Man movies.

Other franchises with best sequels are well-represented on the list. For sci-fi fans, those would be Star Wars (three movies) and Star Trek (two). The durable James Bond franchise, whose main character has been played by eight actors, had three films on the list, as does the Planet of the Apes and the beloved Toy Story franchise. (Click here to see the 50 best Disney movies of all time.)

Here is the list of the 50 best sequels of all time:

50. War for the Planet of the Apes (2017)

Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox
  • IMDb user rating: 7.4/10 (239,236 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 84% (57,181 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 94% (360 reviews)
  • Starring: Andy Serkis, Woody Harrelson, Steve Zahn

49. From Russia with Love (1963)

Source: Courtesy of United Artists

Source: Courtesy of United Artists
  • IMDb user rating: 7.4/10 (125,534 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 84% (93,624 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 95% (60 reviews)
  • Starring: Sean Connery, Robert Shaw, Lotte Lenya

48. Incredibles 2 (2018)

Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
  • IMDb user rating: 7.6/10 (268,984 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 84% (18,775 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 93% (387 reviews)
  • Starring: Craig T. Nelson, Holly Hunter, Sarah Vowell

47. The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013)

Source: Courtesy of Lionsgate

Source: Courtesy of Lionsgate
  • IMDb user rating: 7.5/10 (632,802 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 89% (424,606 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 90% (293 reviews)
  • Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth

46. Kill Bill: Vol. 2 (2004)

Source: Courtesy of Miramax

Source: Courtesy of Miramax
  • IMDb user rating: 8.0/10 (713,748 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 89% (841,697 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 84% (244 reviews)
  • Starring: Uma Thurman, David Carradine, Michael Madsen

45. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014)

Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox
  • IMDb user rating: 7.6/10 (422,887 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 88% (204,786 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 90% (315 reviews)
  • Starring: Gary Oldman, Keri Russell, Andy Serkis

44. Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation (2015)

Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
  • IMDb user rating: 7.4/10 (354,552 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 87% (93,374 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 94% (325 reviews)
  • Starring: Tom Cruise, Rebecca Ferguson, Jeremy Renner

43. Skyfall (2012)

Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures

Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
  • IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (648,708 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 86% (374,338 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 92% (381 reviews)
  • Starring: Daniel Craig, Javier Bardem, Naomie Harris

42. Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982)

Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
  • IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (116,510 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 90% (85,576 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 88% (64 reviews)
  • Starring: William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelley

41. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)

Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.

Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
  • IMDb user rating: 7.9/10 (580,283 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 86% (1,168,939 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 90% (259 reviews)
  • Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint

40. Creed III (2023)

Source: Courtesy of United Artists Releasing

Source: Courtesy of United Artists Releasing
  • IMDb user rating: 7.4/10 (10,088 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 96% (2,500 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 87% (237 reviews)
  • Starring: Michael B. Jordan, Tessa Thompson, Jonathan Majors

39. Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens (2015)

Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
  • IMDb user rating: 7.8/10 (885,086 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 85% (235,773 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 93% (442 reviews)
  • Starring: Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac

38. Star Trek: First Contact (1996)

Star Trek: First Contact (1996) | LeVar Burton in Star Trek: First Contact (1996)
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

N/A

Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
  • IMDb user rating: 7.6/10 (121,411 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 89% (100,725 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 92% (61 reviews)
  • Starring: Patrick Stewart, Jonathan Frakes, Brent Spiner

37. Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior (1982)

Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior (1982) | Mel Gibson in The Road Warrior (1981)
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.

N/A

Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
  • IMDb user rating: 7.6/10 (187,751 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 86% (84,761 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 95% (56 reviews)
  • Starring: Mel Gibson, Bruce Spence, Michael Preston

36. Captain America: Civil War (2016)

Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
  • IMDb user rating: 7.8/10 (708,963 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 89% (181,003 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 90% (424 reviews)
  • Starring: Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr., Scarlett Johansson

35. How to Train Your Dragon 2 (2014)

Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox
  • IMDb user rating: 7.8/10 (316,987 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 89% (188,724 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 91% (188 reviews)
  • Starring: Jay Baruchel, Cate Blanchett, Gerard Butler

34. Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)

Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
  • IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (777,545 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 92% (283,258 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 90% (306 reviews)
  • Starring: Chris Evans, Samuel L. Jackson, Scarlett Johansson

33. Thor: Ragnarok (2017)

Chris And Luke Hemsworth | Chris Hemsworth and Tessa Thompson in Thor: Ragnarok (2017)
Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

N/A

Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
  • IMDb user rating: 7.9/10 (646,926 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 87% (95,590 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 93% (436 reviews)
  • Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston, Cate Blanchett

32. Before Midnight (2013)

Before Midnight (2013) | Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy in Before Midnight (2013)
Source: Courtesy of GEM Entertainment

N/A

Source: Courtesy of GEM Entertainment
  • IMDb user rating: 7.9/10 (148,768 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 82% (37,550 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 98% (206 reviews)
  • Starring: Ethan Hawke, Julie Delpy, Seamus Davey-Fitzpatrick

31. Spider-Man: Far from Home (2019)

Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures

Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
  • IMDb user rating: 7.5/10 (380,418 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 95% (69,272 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 90% (450 reviews)
  • Starring: Tom Holland, Samuel L. Jackson, Jake Gyllenhaal

30. Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi (1983)

Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox
  • IMDb user rating: 8.3/10 (986,400 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 94% (1,014,017 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 82% (96 reviews)
  • Starring: Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher

29. X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014)

Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox
  • IMDb user rating: 7.9/10 (679,797 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 91% (277,422 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 90% (330 reviews)
  • Starring: Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Hugh Jackman

28. Evil Dead II (1987)

Source: Courtesy of Rosebud Releasing Corporation

Source: Courtesy of Rosebud Releasing Corporation
  • IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (154,088 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 89% (148,534 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 95% (60 reviews)
  • Starring: Bruce Campbell, Sarah Berry, Dan Hicks

27. Avengers: Infinity War (2018)

Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
  • IMDb user rating: 8.4/10 (924,530 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 91% (60,119 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 85% (485 reviews)
  • Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo

26. Mission: Impossible – Fallout (2018)

Mission: Impossible - Fallout (2018) | Tom Cruise in Mission: Impossible - Fallout (2018)
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

N/A

Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
  • IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (307,992 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 88% (16,468 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 97% (437 reviews)
  • Starring: Tom Cruise, Henry Cavill, Ving Rhames

25. The Dark Knight Rises (2012)

The Dark Knight Rises (2012) | Tom Hardy in The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.

N/A

Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
  • IMDb user rating: 8.4/10 (1,578,386 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 90% (1,212,887 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 87% (372 reviews)
  • Starring: Christian Bale, Tom Hardy, Anne Hathaway

24. The Bride of Frankenstein (1935)

Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures

Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
  • IMDb user rating: 7.8/10 (45,621 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 87% (24,880 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 98% (47 reviews)
  • Starring: Boris Karloff, Elsa Lanchester, Colin Clive

23. The Bourne Ultimatum (2007)

Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures

Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
  • IMDb user rating: 8.0/10 (616,488 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 91% (1,922,847 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 92% (269 reviews)
  • Starring: Matt Damon, Edgar Ramírez, Joan Allen

22. Paddington 2 (2017)

Paddington 2 (2017) | Brendan Gleeson in Paddington 2 (2017)
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.

N/A

Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
  • IMDb user rating: 7.8/10 (67,820 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 87% (8,755 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 99% (246 reviews)
  • Starring: Ben Whishaw, Hugh Grant, Hugh Bonneville

21. Goldfinger (1964)

Source: Courtesy of United Artists

Source: Courtesy of United Artists
  • IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (176,275 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 89% (100,000 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 99% (68 reviews)
  • Starring: Sean Connery, Gert Fröbe, Honor Blackman

20. Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)

Mad Max: Fury Road (2015) | Tom Hardy in Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.

N/A

Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
  • IMDb user rating: 8.1/10 (1,042,131 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 86% (129,988 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 97% (439 reviews)
  • Starring: Tom Hardy, Charlize Theron, Nicholas Hoult

19. Logan (2017)

Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox
  • IMDb user rating: 8.1/10 (688,052 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 90% (93,272 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 93% (423 reviews)
  • Starring: Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart, Dafne Keen

18. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)

Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
  • IMDb user rating: 8.2/10 (717,370 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 94% (768,808 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 88% (73 reviews)
  • Starring: Harrison Ford, Sean Connery, Alison Doody

17. Toy Story 2 (1999)

Toy Story 2 (1999) | Tom Hanks in Toy Story 2 (1999)
Source: Courtesy of Buena Vista Pictures

N/A

Source: Courtesy of Buena Vista Pictures
  • IMDb user rating: 7.9/10 (548,385 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 87% (1,000,804 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 100% (169 reviews)
  • Starring: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack

16. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II (2011)

Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.

Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
  • IMDb user rating: 8.1/10 (849,283 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 89% (250,000 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 96% (332 reviews)
  • Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint

15. Before Sunset (2004)

Source: Courtesy of Warner Independent Pictures

Source: Courtesy of Warner Independent Pictures
  • IMDb user rating: 8.1/10 (248,039 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 92% (71,186 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 94% (177 reviews)
  • Starring: Ethan Hawke, Julie Delpy, Vernon Dobtcheff

14. Toy Story 4 (2019)

Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
  • IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (222,860 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 94% (53,157 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 97% (452 reviews)
  • Starring: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Annie Potts

13. Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (2022)

Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (2022) | Antonio Banderas in Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (2022)
Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures

N/A

Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
  • IMDb user rating: 7.9/10 (148,417 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 94% (5,061 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 95% (183 reviews)
  • Starring: Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek, Harvey Guillén

12. Avengers: Endgame (2019)

Avengers: Endgame (2019) | Paul Rudd, Mark Ruffalo, and Tom Holland in Avengers: Endgame (2019)
Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

N/A

Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
  • IMDb user rating: 8.4/10 (939,893 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 90% (72,727 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 94% (546 reviews)
  • Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo

11. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)

Source: Courtesy of New Line Cinema

Source: Courtesy of New Line Cinema
  • IMDb user rating: 8.9/10 (1,710,236 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 86% (34,679,773 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 93% (275 reviews)
  • Starring: Elijah Wood, Viggo Mortensen, Ian McKellen

10. Toy Story 3 (2010)

Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
  • IMDb user rating: 8.2/10 (786,394 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 90% (607,826 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 98% (309 reviews)
  • Starring: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack

9. Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)

Source: Courtesy of TriStar Pictures

Source: Courtesy of TriStar Pictures
  • IMDb user rating: 8.5/10 (1,033,964 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 94% (749,360 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 93% (84 reviews)
  • Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Linda Hamilton, Edward Furlong

8. Aliens (1986)

Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox
  • IMDb user rating: 8.3/10 (678,602 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 94% (430,019 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 97% (77 reviews)
  • Starring: Sigourney Weaver, Michael Biehn, Carrie Henn

7. Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)

Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures

Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
  • IMDb user rating: 8.3/10 (649,300 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 98% (25,000 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 93% (411 reviews)
  • Starring: Tom Holland, Zendaya, Benedict Cumberbatch

6. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)

Source: Courtesy of New Line Cinema

Source: Courtesy of New Line Cinema
  • IMDb user rating: 8.7/10 (1,546,188 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 95% (1,341,428 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 95% (255 reviews)
  • Starring: Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Viggo Mortensen

5. Top Gun: Maverick (2022)

Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
  • IMDb user rating: 8.3/10 (520,850 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 99% (50,000 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 96% (465 reviews)
  • Starring: Tom Cruise, Jennifer Connelly, Miles Teller

4. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023)

Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures

Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
  • IMDb user rating: 8.8/10 (221,691 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 94% (10,000 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 95% (368 reviews)
  • Starring: Shameik Moore, Hailee Steinfeld, Brian Tyree Henry

3. Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox
  • IMDb user rating: 8.7/10 (1,205,389 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 97% (1,058,608 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 94% (105 reviews)
  • Starring: Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher

2. The Dark Knight (2008)

Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.

Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
  • IMDb user rating: 9.0/10 (2,419,864 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 94% (1,831,566 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 94% (345 reviews)
  • Starring: Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Aaron Eckhart

1. The Godfather: Part II (1974)

Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
  • IMDb user rating: 9.0/10 (1,183,912 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 97% (411,793 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 96% (114 reviews)
  • Starring: Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Robert Duvall
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