During a recent discussion about the best Christmas movies, a pal was prepared to fight to the death to defend Home Alone 2 as a better flick than the original Home Alone. That got us thinking: when is the sequel better than, or at least as good as, the original?
Here are the best sequels of all time!
The Empire Strikes Back
Of course we start with the most famous sequel that outshines the original. Darth Vader revealing that HE is Luke Skywalker’s father is one of the most jaw-dropping plot twists ever. There are so many memorable moments in this 1980 classic that cement the middle chapter of this trilogy as the best of the original Star Wars films.
The Godfather: Part II
Francis Ford Coppola’s second gangster tale in this epic story is much more complex than the first Godfather. Starring two of the greatest actors of our time, Al Pacino and Robert De Niro bring us another one of the best sequels ever.
Top Gun: Maverick
Though the second installment of Top Gun doesn’t necessarily outshine the first, it is a great sequel. Released nearly 40 years after the original film, the sequel not only reunites us with Tom Cruise’s Maverick and Val Kilmer’s Ice Man but we are introduced to new characters brilliantly portrayed by Miles Teller, Glen Powell, et al.
The Dark Knight
Batman Begins was good. But The Dark Knight was better. This is mostly due to Heath Ledger’s portrayal of The Joker. His career-defining performance sets a new standard for big-screen comic villains.
Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again
The Mamma Mia sequel is another example of a sequel that isn’t better than the first, but it’s just as good! This was a pleasant surprise as the second installment was a totally new production while the original was adapted from an already successful stage show.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
According to a study done by Gamblino.com, the second part of the Deathly Hollows story earned 19 more points on Rotten Tomatoes than part 1, solidifying it as one of the best sequels. This isn’t really a shock as both parts are told in just one Harry Potter book. We do understand that it would’ve been impossible to condense the story into one film. However, the first half is definitely a bit slow with the best action of the entire series happening in the second half of the story.
Want more Harry Potter? Check out all of these posts.
Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
We aren’t prepared to call this flick better than the first, but we will admit it’s a solid sequel. Not only was Kevin ditched by his family for the holiday, but he got to have a dream adventure in NYC. By utilizing the city, the film takes the slapstick antics of the first film and makes them that much more appealing. There really is no better city at Christmas time than New York, so we can definitely see why some say this sequel is better than the original.
Did you know the hotel suite at the end of the film is actually the Hilton Chicago? Learn more about it here.
Featured photo via iStock user Biserka Stojanovic.