What do drug dealing, prostitution and Hollywood have in common? If you answered Charlie Sheen youd be wrongsort of. The correct answer is they all thrive on repeat business and nothing brings the crowds back into the cinema like the second and third films in a successful trilogy. There are exceptions to every rule (cough) Iron Man 2 (cough) but generally speaking the second film in a trilogy always improves on the original. Characters can be further developed without having to spend valuable screen time explaining their motivations or origins. The films world can be further explored in greater detail and the scope of the story can be greatly expanded. The second film also tends to be remembered more fondly than the third and final film for a myriad of reasons. The last film in the trilogy may struggle with providing a satisfying ending for example. The second film also doesn't have to worry too much about tying up all the plots strands set up in the first film or collapsing under its own weight due to the Hollywood sequel mantra of More! Louder! Bigger!. So, as we've set up the above rules which prove the second film in a trilogy is always the best (cough) The Matrix Reloaded (cough) join us for a look at ten films which categorically, unequivocally, prove just that(cough) Hangover II (cough).
