10 Characters Who Were Massively Improved In Sequels
5. Michael Corleone - The Godfather Part 2
Two of the greatest films in cinema from the big man himself Francis Ford Coppola, The Godfather and The Godfather Part II perfectly outline the rise and fall of Michael Corleone, slowly transforming the man from a respected military hero into a deadly mob boss at the behest of his father Vito.
Even though the sequel might just clip short of the original movie in popular consensus, it's the film that solidifies the first movie's character work in the most fantastic of ways, toeing the line between Vito's own rise to infamy and Michael's slow descent into loss.
Michael's growth from the reluctancy that defined him in the first film to his bad decisions and power plays of The Godfather Part II is a nuanced, drawn out affair, and one that only improved with the way Coppola defined Michael's every action by comparing it to his father's homegrown empire. Watching him crumble isn't necessarily pleasant, but it's done with such a human touch that it's too fascinating to pull away from.