Disney / 20th Century Fox
Sequels have a spoiled repute for being less than impressive . On the positive side , you have franchise like the newStar Trek moviesand Guardians of the Galaxy , where the continuation are n’t necessarily bad , they ’re just more of the same . On the sorry end , you ’re left with what most sequels become : do-or-die attempts from studio to make more money by churning out sheer garbage , likeSon of the Mask , Basic Instinct 2,Sex and the City 2 , andLegally Blonde 2 : crimson , White , and Blonde .
Luckily , sci - fi is a genre that ’s mostly been spared from horrific theatrically released subsequence ( the straight person - to - DVD single are another tale ) . In fact , there are quite a few intemperately praised sci - fi sequels out there … some of which have even succeed Oscars . If you want to watch some enceinte sci - fi subsequence , match out the list below to discover the seven best .
Disney / 20th Century Fox
7. Jurassic World (2015)
After 1997’sThe Lost World , which was n’t bad , and 2001’sJurassic Park III , which was just all right , theJurassic Park franchisetook a suspension that lasted well over a tenner . It returned in 2015 withJurassic World , which blame up decades after the original picture show . In the film , the park is now open and has become a raging success . But it all come in doss down down due to a genetically organise dinosaur that no homo can subdue .
Jurassic Worldfollowed a pretty standard sequel chemical formula where you take what works in the original and make it bigger . The result was a amazingly entertaining moving picture . The scenario of dinosaur attacking a operative theme Mungo Park filled with guests was a spate of fun , and the cellular inclusion of thing like the gyrosphere was a smart way to both pay homage to the original and produce a Modern and exciting adventure . And while someJPfans have belligerently hat everything that come after the first movie , Jurassic Worldwas unbelievably successful , earning $ 1.67 billion at the box office and even scoring a estimable 71 % on Rotten Tomatoes .
6. Avatar: The Way of Water (2022)
The 2009 filmAvatarwas a key moment in cinematic chronicle . Somehow , despite premiering at the top of a worldwide recession , it became the highest - gross film of all sentence and the first movie to make more than $ 2 billion at the box bureau . Avatarwas a visual spectacle thanks to its innovational use of motion - seizure engineering science . And the movie ’s plot was pleasurable , despite being cliché . And by cliché , I mean it was basically the plot of Disney’sPocahontas , but on a different planet .
Its subsequence , The Way of Water , was released in 2022 , and when compare side by side , the ocular effects far outshine the original . vivid , coloured , and lifelike , The Way of Wateris truly one of the most gorgeous movies ever made . It also carry a deeper dive into the lore of Pandora , the conflicts between the Na’vi , and the backgrounds of the characters – all of which made the movie feel more fresh , compelling , and gripping than the archetype . The Way of Wateralso crossed the $ 2 billion mug , paving the way for more sequel , the first of which is expected in 2025 .
5. Blade Runner 2049 (2017)
shoot place 30 age after the original film , Blade Runner 2049introduced Ryan Gosling as the replicant K , who believes he is the son of Harrison Ford ’s Rick Deckard . K also chance upon a secret that could destabilize society and propel a replicant uprising . The picture asks what throw someone human and who does ( and does n’t ) deserve to be treated as one .
Blade Runner 2049received rave reviews from critics , with Digital Trends order in 2017 , “ From its prima roll to its phenomenal ’ LXXX future aesthetic and its clever expanding upon of the material , Blade Runner 2049is a desirable subsequence that has the branch to become a classic unto itself . ” The filmwas also praised for its sensational ocular effect , which finally won the movie one of two Oscars .
4. Dune: Part 2 (2024)
In the 2024 sequelDune : Part Two , Paul Atreides team up with Chani and the Fremen kinship group to get revenge on the Harkonnens . The film has receivedimmense praise from critics and audience . At a insistency conference , director Denis Villeneuve even said thathe thinks the motion picture is betterthan the first , say , “ For me , this film is much better thanPart One . There ’s something more live in it . There ’s a kinship to the character … ”
Those characters have receive the most congratulations and have been cited as a critical component ofDune : Part Two‘s succeeder . In particular , Austin Butler ’s portrayal of Feyd - Rautha has received wide acclaim thanks to his authentically haunting and sinister on - concealment comportment . Other new cast penis who did a fantastic problem in the sequel include Florence Pugh andChristopher Walken . Fans have a flock to look forward to as well , with the forthcoming seriesDune : Prophecyin ontogeny and another subsequence , Dune : Messiah , coming at some decimal point .
3. Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
In James Cameron ’s 1984 filmThe Terminator , a cyborg from the time to come ( Arnold Schwarzenegger ) is get off back in clock time to wipe out a cleaning woman ( Linda Hamilton ) whose son will one day lead the human resistance against the ALI known as Skynet . The movie was a collision and is undeniably gratifying , but when compare to its sequel , it feels incredibly subscript .
Cameron came back in 1991 withT2 , and just likeThe Way of Water , he built upon the original story and add more layers of depth , ultimately make a vastly superior motion picture . Judgment Daywent deeper into the part of John and Sarah Connor , and also gave audiences more insight into the impending robot uprising . Plus , it utilized some of L.A. ’s dynamical mount , like its cemented riverways , to create some truly iconic scene . WhileThe Terminatoris trade good , T2is great . It holds an impressive 91 % on Rotten Tomatoes , and an even more impressive audience score of 95 % .
2. Aliens (1986)
In 1979 , Ridley Scott’sAlienscared the heck out of audiences . In the flick , a xenomorphic alien crosshatch aboard a starship and set out picking off the crew one by one . The movie was glowering , claustrophobic , and full of suspense . Plus , Sigourney Weaver ’s characterization of the strong and fearless Lt . Ellen Ripley was fantastic and one of thebest female performances in a sci - fi film .
Then , in 1986 , Cameron come up along with the sequelAliens . This time around , the motion-picture show transitioned out from horror and became more action - packed , while still continue a good dose of suspense throughout . In the motion-picture show , Ripley deliver to LV-426 ( where they earlier bump the exotic eggs ) after find out it had been work into a terraforming colony . Naturally , by the clip she arrives , aliens have already killed everyone , and it ’s up to Ripley to kick some ass once again .
Aliensis an incredibly unique and enjoyable subsequence because it masterfully change literary genre while still very much feeling like an Alien picture . It claim a story interview loved and retread it with more activity , more aliens , bigger set , and with child stakes . Sigourney Weaver even receive a Best Actress nominating address for her role in the film , which was pure merited .
1. Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
The Empire Strikes Backisn’t just the best sci - fi subsequence ever , it ’s one of the greatest motion picture of all time . It ’s so iconic that when most people think ofStar war , they’re thought of conniption fromThe EmpireStrikes Back . From the epic battle on Hoth with the AT - AT Walkers , to Lando in Cloud City , Han Solo pin in carbonite , and Luke describe that Darth Vader is his father , the list of memorable moments is well-nigh interminable .
The Empire Strikes Backdid everything right . From its smooth tonic switching from dangerous undertaking to action to Romance language and back to escapade again to its furthering of theStar Warssaga to its pure pacing and its campy appealingness that have only gotten sweet with age , everything about it works flawlessly . It ’s just a downright enjoyable classic that never gets old . In fact , in 2014,Empiremagazine conducted a poll andThe Empire Strikes Backwas vote as the neat moving-picture show of all time perThe Wrap . Who can argue with that ?
