Superior Sequels and Prequels to Poorly Received Movies
by prgiordano | created - 5 months ago | updated - 2 weeks ago | PublicWe've all been there. Films from our childhoods that we've enjoyed personally, but were not actually critically well-received to begin with. Despite that, they would each get more and more fans over time to officially earn the title of "cult classic" and better appreciation from viewers around the world (even the crews behind the films themselves if they weren't particularly fond of them to begin with). In recent times, studios have been taking advantage of that nostalgia and creating direct sequels to these works that try to mine those memories and create something that could pay off for them in the long run. Now that doesn't mean than fans won't know the difference between them and their predecessors (Space Jam: A New Legacy), but there have actually been sequels created over the years that actually do improve upon what worked before and expand upon that to actually being Oscar-worthy in their own right (Top Gun: Maverick). These are some of the movies that gratifyingly fall under that particular category.
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1. Top Gun: Maverick (2022)
PG-13 | 130 min | Action, Drama
After thirty years, Maverick is still pushing the envelope as a top naval aviator, but must confront ghosts of his past when he leads TOP GUN's elite graduates on a mission that demands the ultimate sacrifice from those chosen to fly it.
Director: Joseph Kosinski | Stars: Tom Cruise, Jennifer Connelly, Miles Teller, Val Kilmer
Votes: 696,945 | Gross: $718.73M
Rotten Tomatoes score for predecessor: 57% Rotten Tomatoes score for this sequel: *96%*
2. The Suicide Squad (2021)
R | 132 min | Action, Adventure, Comedy
Supervillains Harley Quinn, Bloodsport, Peacemaker, and a collection of nutty cons at Belle Reve prison join the super-secret, super-shady Task Force X as they are dropped off at the remote, enemy-infused island of Corto Maltese.
Director: James Gunn | Stars: Margot Robbie, Idris Elba, John Cena, Joel Kinnaman
Votes: 409,688 | Gross: $55.82M
Rotten Tomatoes score for predecessor: 26% Rotten Tomatoes score for this sequel: *90%*
3. Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa (2008)
PG | 89 min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy
The Madagascar animals fly back to New York City, but crash-land on an African nature reserve in Kenya, where they meet others of their own kind, and Alex especially discovers his royal heritage as prince of a lion pride.
Directors: Eric Darnell, Tom McGrath | Stars: Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, David Schwimmer, Jada Pinkett Smith
Votes: 247,485 | Gross: $180.01M
Rotten Tomatoes score for predecessor: 55% Rotten Tomatoes score for this sequel: 64%
4. Annabelle: Creation (2017)
R | 109 min | Horror, Mystery, Thriller
Twelve years after the tragic death of their little girl, a doll-maker and his wife welcome a nun and several girls from a shuttered orphanage into their home, where they become the target of the doll-maker's possessed creation, Annabelle.
Director: David F. Sandberg | Stars: Anthony LaPaglia, Samara Lee, Miranda Otto, Brad Greenquist
Votes: 150,889 | Gross: $102.09M
Rotten Tomatoes score for predecessor: 28% Rotten Tomatoes score for this sequel: *70%*
5. Ouija: Origin of Evil (2016)
PG-13 | 99 min | Drama, Horror, Mystery
In 1967 Los Angeles, a widowed mother and her daughters add a new stunt to bolster their seance scam business by inviting an evil presence into their home, not realizing how dangerous it is.
Director: Mike Flanagan | Stars: Elizabeth Reaser, Lulu Wilson, Annalise Basso, Henry Thomas
Votes: 73,111 | Gross: $35.14M
Rotten Tomatoes score for predecessor: 5% Rotten Tomatoes score for this prequel *84%*
6. Orphan: First Kill (2022)
R | 99 min | Crime, Drama, Horror
After orchestrating a brilliant escape from an Estonian psychiatric facility, Esther travels to America by impersonating the missing daughter of a wealthy family.
Director: William Brent Bell | Stars: Isabelle Fuhrman, Julia Stiles, Rossif Sutherland, Hiro Kanagawa
Votes: 46,273
Rotten Tomatoes score for predecessor: 58% Rotten Tomatoes score for this prequel: 71%
7. The Angry Birds Movie 2 (2019)
PG | 97 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
The flightless birds and scheming green pigs take their feud to the next level.
Directors: Thurop Van Orman, John Rice | Stars: Jason Sudeikis, Josh Gad, Leslie Jones, Bill Hader
Votes: 35,231 | Gross: $41.66M
Rotten Tomatoes score for predecessor: 44% Rotten Tomatoes score for this sequel: 72%
8. The Expendables 2 (2012)
R | 103 min | Action, Adventure, Thriller
Mr. Church reunites the Expendables for what should be an easy paycheck, but when one of their men is murdered on the job, their quest for revenge puts them deep in enemy territory and up against an unexpected threat.
Director: Simon West | Stars: Sylvester Stallone, Liam Hemsworth, Randy Couture, Jean-Claude Van Damme
Votes: 322,332 | Gross: $85.02M
Rotten Tomatoes score for predecessor: 42% Rotten Tomatoes score for this sequel: 67%
9. Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones (2002)
PG | 142 min | Action, Adventure, Fantasy
Ten years after initially meeting, Anakin Skywalker shares a forbidden romance with Padmé Amidala, while Obi-Wan Kenobi discovers a secret clone army crafted for the Jedi.
Director: George Lucas | Stars: Hayden Christensen, Natalie Portman, Ewan McGregor, Christopher Lee
Votes: 758,998 | Gross: $310.68M
Rotten Tomatoes score for Episode 1: 51% Rotten Tomatoes score for this sequel: 65%
10. Saw X (2023)
R | 118 min | Horror, Mystery, Thriller
A sick and desperate John travels to Mexico for a risky and experimental medical procedure in hopes of a miracle cure for his cancer only to discover the entire operation is a scam to defraud the most vulnerable.
Director: Kevin Greutert | Stars: Tobin Bell, Shawnee Smith, Synnøve Macody Lund, Steven Brand
Votes: 73,975
Rotten Tomatoes score for 2005 movie: 50% Rotten Tomatoes score for this prequel: 80%
11. Terrifier 2 (2022)
Not Rated | 138 min | Horror
After being resurrected by a sinister entity, Art the Clown returns to the timid town of Miles County where he targets a teenage girl and her younger brother on Halloween night.
Director: Damien Leone | Stars: Lauren LaVera, David Howard Thornton, Elliott Fullam, Sarah Voigt
Votes: 46,770
Rotten Tomatoes score for predecessor: 55% Rotten Tomatoes score for this sequel: 86%
12. Jackass Number Two (2006)
R | 92 min | Documentary, Action, Comedy
Chris Pontius, Johnny Knoxville, Steve-O, Bam Margera, and the whole crew return to the screen to raise the stakes higher than ever before.
Director: Jeff Tremaine | Stars: Johnny Knoxville, Steve-O, Chris Pontius, Bam Margera
Votes: 80,193 | Gross: $72.78M
Rotten Tomatoes score for predecessor: 49% Rotten Tomatoes score for this sequel: 66%
13. Wrong Turn 2: Dead End (2007 Video)
R | 93 min | Adventure, Horror
A group of reality show contestants find themselves fighting for their survival against a family of hideously deformed inbred cannibals who plan to ruthlessly butcher them all.
Director: Joe Lynch | Stars: Erica Leerhsen, Henry Rollins, Texas Battle, Aleksa Palladino
Votes: 45,610
Rotten Tomatoes score for predecessor: 40% Rotten Tomatoes score for this sequel: 70%
14. Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again (2018)
PG-13 | 114 min | Comedy, Musical, Romance
Five years after the events of Mamma Mia! (2008), Sophie prepares for the grand reopening of the Hotel Bella Donna as she learns more about her mother's past.
Director: Ol Parker | Stars: Lily James, Amanda Seyfried, Meryl Streep, Cher
Votes: 108,997 | Gross: $120.63M
Rotten Tomatoes score for predecessor: 55% Rotten Tomatoes score for this sequel: 79%
15. Minions: The Rise of Gru (2022)
PG | 87 min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy
The untold story of one twelve-year-old's dream to become the world's greatest supervillain.
Directors: Kyle Balda, Brad Ableson, Jonathan del Val | Stars: Steve Carell, Pierre Coffin, Alan Arkin, Taraji P. Henson
Votes: 85,479 | Gross: $369.70M
Rotten Tomatoes score for predecessor: 56% Rotten Tomatoes score for this sequel: 70%
16. Hocus Pocus 2 (2022)
PG | 103 min | Comedy, Family, Fantasy
Two young women accidentally bring back the Sanderson Sisters to modern day Salem and must figure out how to stop the child-hungry witches from wreaking havoc on the world.
Director: Anne Fletcher | Stars: Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, Kathy Najimy, Whitney Peak
Votes: 52,744
Rotten Tomatoes score for predecessor: 40% Rotten Tomatoes score for this sequel: 65%
17. The Wolverine (2013)
PG-13 | 126 min | Action, Sci-Fi
Wolverine comes to Japan to meet an old friend whose life he saved years ago, and gets embroiled in a conspiracy involving yakuza and mutants.
Director: James Mangold | Stars: Hugh Jackman, Will Yun Lee, Tao Okamoto, Rila Fukushima
Votes: 492,146 | Gross: $132.56M
Rotten Tomatoes score for predecessor: 38% Rotten Tomatoes score for this sequel: *71%*
18. Tall Girl 2 (2022)
TV-PG | 97 min | Comedy, Drama, Family
After Jodi Kreyman gains popularity, her miscommunications start causing rifts with those around her and now she really needs to 'stand tall'.
Director: Emily Ting | Stars: Ava Michelle, Griffin Gluck, Sabrina Carpenter, Anjelika Washington
Votes: 6,269
Rotten Tomatoes score for predecessor: 38% Rotten Tomatoes score for this sequel: 63%
19. Rugrats in Paris (2000)
G | 78 min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy
While on a family vacation in Paris, the Rugrats attempt to help Chuckie find a new mom while stopping his dad from marrying a conniving businesswoman who hates kids.
Directors: Stig Bergqvist, Paul Demeyer | Stars: Christine Cavanaugh, Elizabeth Daily, Cheryl Chase, Tara Strong
Votes: 13,624 | Gross: $76.51M
Rotten Tomatoes score for predecessor: 59% Rotten Tomatoes score for this sequel: 76%
20. Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982)
PG | 113 min | Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
With the assistance of the Enterprise crew, Admiral Kirk must stop an old nemesis, Khan Noonien Singh, from using the life-generating Genesis Device as the ultimate weapon.
Director: Nicholas Meyer | Stars: William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelley, James Doohan
Votes: 129,228 | Gross: $78.91M
Rotten Tomatoes score for predecessor: 52% Rotten Tomatoes score for this sequel: *87%*
21. Jay and Silent Bob Reboot (2019)
R | 105 min | Action, Adventure, Comedy
Jay and Silent Bob inadvertently sign away their names and rights to the new Bluntman and Chronic movie. Now they head to Hollywood to stop the film from being made. Along the way Jay discovers that he is a father.
Director: Kevin Smith | Stars: Joey Lauren Adams, Ben Affleck, Fred Armisen, Diedrich Bader
Votes: 28,266 | Gross: $4.59M
Rotten Tomatoes score for predecessor: 52% Rotten Tomatoes score for this sequel: 66%
22. Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017)
PG-13 | 119 min | Action, Adventure, Comedy
Four teenagers are sucked into a magical video game, and the only way they can escape is to work together to finish the game.
Director: Jake Kasdan | Stars: Dwayne Johnson, Karen Gillan, Kevin Hart, Jack Black
Votes: 445,490 | Gross: $404.52M
Rotten Tomatoes score for predecessor: 51% Rotten Tomatoes score for this sequel: 76%
23. Fubar: Balls to the Wall (2010)
R | 85 min | Comedy
Terry and Dean head north to make sweet cash in the oil patch.
Director: Michael Dowse | Stars: David Lawrence, Jamil Jabril, Terra Hazelton, Paul Spence
Votes: 1,758
Rotten Tomatoes score for predecessor: 55% Rotten Tomatoes score for this sequel: *90%*
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