10 Movie Sequels That Completely Changed Tone

10. Captain America: The Winter Soldier

The second instalment in the Captain America trilogy is arguably the best entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe: The First Avenger was a solid jumping off point, but it failed to resonate in the same way the original Iron Man had, the ante needed to be upped for the sequel.

In come the Russo Brothers, who decided to experiment with a more politically focused narrative and a throwback style in the same vein as 1970s Cold War thrillers.

The experiment was certainly a success, as critics and fans alike agreed that TWS was a significant improvement over TFA. There was a certain bleakness within the tonal shift, the bright and colourful patriotism of the previous film had been replaced with a muted colour palette and a cynical distrust of the American government.

The Winter Soldier himself was presented as a menacing figure, the booming musical score that signalled his arrival wouldn't be out of place in a horror movie. This was a superhero film with some real weight, and it succeeded in making Captain America relevant to a mainstream audience again.