Sequels worth a peek
by eman2136 | created - 10 Jan 2013 | updated - 10 Jan 2013 | Publicmost of the original works preceding these are worth checking out, in some cases these movies surpass their originals. personally, i have only included movies i have seen at least once. the next time i view any more sequels, if they make the cut, will be added.
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1. Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
R | 137 min | Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
A cyborg, identical to the one who failed to kill Sarah Connor, must now protect her ten year old son John from an even more advanced and powerful cyborg.
Director: James Cameron | Stars: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Linda Hamilton, Edward Furlong, Robert Patrick
Votes: 1,169,679 | Gross: $204.84M
Probably highly regarded as the best sequel of all time. This movie delivers a quality story as well action and never-before-seen visual effects that revolutionized CGI for future film-making.
2. Final Destination 3 (2006)
R | 93 min | Horror, Thriller
Wendy Christensen and a group of teens who escaped a fatal roller-coaster crash face a bloody date with Death.
Director: James Wong | Stars: Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Ryan Merriman, Kris Lemche, Alexz Johnson
Votes: 153,215 | Gross: $54.10M
This movie put this franchise back on track, with the original creators returning to put the movie series back in it's place.
3. Paranormal Activity 2 (2010)
R | 91 min | Horror, Mystery
After experiencing what they think are a series of "break-ins", a family sets up security cameras around their home, only to realize that the events unfolding before them are more sinister than they seem.
Director: Tod Williams | Stars: Katie Featherston, Micah Sloat, Molly Ephraim, David Bierend
Votes: 109,625 | Gross: $84.75M
I won't give away the ending but this isn't your typical sequel when you watch all the way through, be sure you do.
4. Paranormal Activity 3 (2011)
R | 83 min | Horror, Mystery, Thriller
In 1988, young sisters Katie and Kristi befriend an invisible entity called Toby, who resides in their home.
Directors: Henry Joost, Ariel Schulman | Stars: Chloe Csengery, Jessica Tyler Brown, Christopher Nicholas Smith, Lauren Bittner
Votes: 99,544 | Gross: $104.01M
Technically a prequel, this story goes back to the beginning to where it all started.
5. Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
PG | 124 min | Action, Adventure, Fantasy
After the Rebels are overpowered by the Empire, Luke Skywalker begins his Jedi training with Yoda, while his friends are pursued across the galaxy by Darth Vader and bounty hunter Boba Fett.
Director: Irvin Kershner | Stars: Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Billy Dee Williams
Votes: 1,374,731 | Gross: $290.48M
6. Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983)
PG | 131 min | Action, Adventure, Fantasy
After rescuing Han Solo from Jabba the Hutt, the Rebels attempt to destroy the second Death Star, while Luke struggles to help Darth Vader back from the dark side.
Director: Richard Marquand | Stars: Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Billy Dee Williams
Votes: 1,117,638 | Gross: $309.13M
7. Back to the Future Part II (1989)
PG | 108 min | Adventure, Comedy, Sci-Fi
After visiting 2015, Marty McFly must repeat his visit to 1955 to prevent disastrous changes to 1985...without interfering with his first trip.
Director: Robert Zemeckis | Stars: Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson, Tom Wilson
Votes: 570,511 | Gross: $118.50M
"Great Scott!" "This is heavy." "Where we're going, we don't need roads." Not the sequel I wanted to see but a glimpse into any time frame of these characters is interesting. Too bad Crispin Glover could not reprise his role as George McFly and had to be given to lesser known actor.
8. Back to the Future Part III (1990)
PG | 118 min | Adventure, Comedy, Sci-Fi
Stranded in 1955, Marty McFly learns about the death of Doc Brown in 1885 and must travel back in time to save him. With no fuel readily available for the DeLorean, the two must figure how to escape the Old West before Emmett is murdered.
Director: Robert Zemeckis | Stars: Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Mary Steenburgen, Tom Wilson
Votes: 479,166 | Gross: $87.73M
Marty is stuck back 1955, again? Well, where are we gonna go this time, how about the ol' west?
9. Hostel: Part II (2007)
R | 94 min | Horror
Three American college students studying abroad are lured to a Slovakian hostel and discover the grim reality behind it.
Director: Eli Roth | Stars: Lauren German, Heather Matarazzo, Bijou Phillips, Roger Bart
Votes: 95,726 | Gross: $17.61M
10. The Bourne Supremacy (2004)
PG-13 | 108 min | Action, Mystery, Thriller
When Jason Bourne is framed for a CIA operation gone awry, he is forced to resume his former life as a trained assassin to survive.
Director: Paul Greengrass | Stars: Matt Damon, Franka Potente, Joan Allen, Brian Cox
Votes: 485,767 | Gross: $176.24M
11. The Bourne Ultimatum (2007)
PG-13 | 115 min | Action, Mystery, Thriller
Jason Bourne dodges a ruthless C.I.A. official and his Agents from a new assassination program while searching for the origins of his life as a trained killer.
Director: Paul Greengrass | Stars: Matt Damon, Edgar Ramírez, Joan Allen, Julia Stiles
Votes: 657,105 | Gross: $227.47M
12. Crank: High Voltage (2009)
R | 96 min | Action, Crime, Thriller
Chelios faces a Chinese mobster who has stolen his nearly indestructible heart and replaced it with a battery-powered ticker which requires regular jolts of electricity to keep working.
Directors: Mark Neveldine, Brian Taylor | Stars: Jason Statham, Amy Smart, Clifton Collins Jr., Dwight Yoakam
Votes: 158,553 | Gross: $13.63M
Yes, a bit over the top. But it does retain most of the actors and the original writers/directors, especially the main actor/character.
13. Desperado (1995)
R | 104 min | Action, Crime, Drama
Former musician and gunslinger El Mariachi arrives at a small Mexican border town after being away for a long time. His past quickly catches up with him and he soon gets entangled with the local drug kingpin Bucho and his gang.
Director: Robert Rodriguez | Stars: Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek, Joaquim de Almeida, Cheech Marin
Votes: 197,116 | Gross: $25.63M
Some might say this isn't a sequel, but it is when you consider Robert Rodriguez's "El Mariachi" as the first in the series.
14. Once Upon a Time in Mexico (2003)
R | 102 min | Action, Crime, Thriller
Hitman "El Mariachi" becomes involved in international espionage involving a psychotic CIA agent and a corrupt Mexican general.
Director: Robert Rodriguez | Stars: Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek, Johnny Depp, Willem Dafoe
Votes: 169,440 | Gross: $56.36M
15. Lethal Weapon 2 (1989)
R | 114 min | Action, Crime, Thriller
Riggs and Murtaugh are on the trail of South African diplomats who are using their immunity to engage in criminal activities.
Director: Richard Donner | Stars: Mel Gibson, Danny Glover, Joe Pesci, Patsy Kensit
Votes: 188,230 | Gross: $147.25M
16. Lethal Weapon 3 (1992)
R | 118 min | Action, Crime, Thriller
Martin Riggs and Roger Murtaugh pursue a former LAPD officer who uses his knowledge of police procedure and policies to steal and sell confiscated guns and ammunition to local street gangs.
Director: Richard Donner | Stars: Mel Gibson, Danny Glover, Joe Pesci, Rene Russo
Votes: 178,085 | Gross: $144.73M
Probably my favorite and everybody else's in this series of movies.
17. Lethal Weapon 4 (1998)
R | 127 min | Action, Crime, Thriller
With personal crises and age weighing in on them, LAPD officers Riggs and Murtaugh must contend with deadly Chinese triads that are trying to free their former leaders out of prison and onto American soil.
Director: Richard Donner | Stars: Mel Gibson, Danny Glover, Joe Pesci, Rene Russo
Votes: 171,866 | Gross: $130.44M
18. Mission: Impossible II (2000)
PG-13 | 123 min | Action, Adventure, Thriller
IMF agent Ethan Hunt is sent to Sydney to find and destroy a genetically modified disease called "Chimera".
Director: John Woo | Stars: Tom Cruise, Dougray Scott, Thandiwe Newton, Ving Rhames
Votes: 376,567 | Gross: $215.41M
19. Mission: Impossible III (2006)
PG-13 | 126 min | Action, Adventure, Thriller
IMF agent Ethan Hunt comes into conflict with a dangerous and sadistic arms dealer who threatens his life and his fiancée in response.
Director: J.J. Abrams | Stars: Tom Cruise, Michelle Monaghan, Ving Rhames, Philip Seymour Hoffman
Votes: 389,591 | Gross: $134.03M
20. Saw II (2005)
R | 93 min | Horror, Mystery
A detective and his team must rescue 8 people trapped in a factory by the twisted serial killer known as Jigsaw.
Director: Darren Lynn Bousman | Stars: Donnie Wahlberg, Beverley Mitchell, Franky G, Emmanuelle Vaugier
Votes: 275,554 | Gross: $87.04M
21. Saw III (2006)
R | 108 min | Horror, Mystery, Thriller
Jigsaw abducts a doctor in order to keep himself alive while he watches his new apprentice put an unlucky citizen named Jeff through a brutal test.
Director: Darren Lynn Bousman | Stars: Tobin Bell, Shawnee Smith, Angus Macfadyen, Bahar Soomekh
Votes: 211,660 | Gross: $80.24M
22. Saw IV (2007)
R | 93 min | Horror, Mystery, Thriller
Despite Jigsaw's death, and in order to save the lives of two of his colleagues, Lieutenant Rigg is forced to take part in a new game, which promises to test him to the limit.
Director: Darren Lynn Bousman | Stars: Tobin Bell, Scott Patterson, Louis Ferreira, Costas Mandylor
Votes: 164,292 | Gross: $63.30M
23. Saw V (2008)
R | 92 min | Horror, Thriller
Following Jigsaw's grisly demise, Mark Hoffman is commended as a hero, but Agent Strahm is suspicious, and delves into Hoffman's past. Meanwhile, another group of people are put through a series of gruesome tests.
Director: David Hackl | Stars: Scott Patterson, Costas Mandylor, Tobin Bell, Betsy Russell
Votes: 137,131 | Gross: $56.75M
24. Saw VI (2009)
R | 90 min | Horror, Mystery, Thriller
Agent Strahm is dead, and FBI agent Erickson draws nearer to Hoffman. Meanwhile, a pair of insurance executives find themselves in another game set by Jigsaw.
Director: Kevin Greutert | Stars: Tobin Bell, Costas Mandylor, Mark Rolston, Betsy Russell
Votes: 124,714 | Gross: $27.69M
25. Saw 3D (2010)
R | 90 min | Horror, Mystery
As a deadly battle rages over Jigsaw's brutal legacy, a group of Jigsaw survivors gathers to seek the support of self-help guru and fellow survivor Bobby Dagen, a man whose own dark secrets unleash a new wave of terror.
Director: Kevin Greutert | Stars: Tobin Bell, Costas Mandylor, Betsy Russell, Cary Elwes
Votes: 109,278 | Gross: $45.71M
Yes, there may have been too many "Saw" movies, pretty much one per year since the original was released, and they did jump on the "3D bandwagon". At least we have some final closure for the entire story. Note: Just a rumor, maybe another Saw movie but not for awhile.
26. Iron Man 2 (2010)
PG-13 | 124 min | Action, Sci-Fi
With the world now aware of his identity as Iron Man, Tony Stark must contend with both his declining health and a vengeful mad man with ties to his father's legacy.
Director: Jon Favreau | Stars: Robert Downey Jr., Mickey Rourke, Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle
Votes: 865,757 | Gross: $312.43M
27. Hellboy II: The Golden Army (2008)
PG-13 | 120 min | Action, Adventure, Fantasy
A prince of the mythical world starts a rebellion against humanity in order to rule the Earth. Hellboy and his team must fight to stop him from locating the all-powerful Golden Army.
Director: Guillermo del Toro | Stars: Ron Perlman, Selma Blair, Doug Jones, John Alexander
Votes: 285,221 | Gross: $75.75M
As with most sequels, doesn't quite live up to the original. But it still has some originality with this one. Again contains the correct formula for a sequel to maintain it's integrity: same director, same actors, same writer.
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