10 More Horror Movie Sequels MASSIVELY Better Than The Original
1. Dawn Of The Dead
Nobody in mainstream American cinema has contributed to the zombie subgenre as much as George A. Romero, as seen by his work in the Living Dead franchise.
Kicking things off with 1968's Night of the Living Dead, Romero delivered the requisite thrills - so much so, that critics, trades, and families chastised the violence and gore - while delivering incisive commentary on racism, Cold War anxieties, and the conformist, fragile nature of American society in the '60s.
Impressively, 1978's Dawn of the Dead managed to build upon all these winning factors and expand the scope of the story's events, sharply critiquing the consumerist nature that was steadily rising at the time. It also benefitted from exploring the then-novel idea of seeing survivors make their way through the apocalypse and the toll that takes on them.
Furthermore, an increased budget meant Romero and his production team could stage more elaborate set pieces, as well as deliver on truly groundbreaking makeup work for the zombies - or ghouls, as they are referred to in the movie.
All in all, Dawn of the Dead takes the cake on being the better film, which is no small feat given what it had to follow.