10 Best Film Sequels By Different Directors
3. Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
The Sequel to: Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (Lucas, 1977)
The Director: Irvin Kershner
Taking Over From: George Lucas
Looking back, this mustv'e been one of the toughest gigs in cinematic history. How do you follow up what is probably the most popular film of all time? By bettering it, that's how, which is exactly what the (still) little-known Irvin Kershner did.
By taking the western-in-space elements of the first film and imbuing them with a touch of mythology and darkness, Kershner effectively created the best of all the Star Wars films, and the one which gave us its most iconic, memorable moments. It's not just the 'I am your father' stuff, which still works to this day, but what precedes it: Han Solo going full-on badass; the introduction of Yoda and Lando Calrissian; that sprawling, devastating ice-battle on Hoth's unforgiving terrain.
Then there's the ending, with Han Solo's fate hanging in the balance, Luke one-handed, desolate, and Darth Vader and the dark somehow winning against the light. It's surely one of the bleakest, boldest endings to a summer blockbuster ever.