10 Movie Franchises That Got Better With Each Film

2. Before

Richard Linklater's Before Sunrise could easily have been a one-off, a beautiful look at two young, star-crossed lovers (Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy) who spend one night together before heading off in seperate directions. The ambiguous ending, in which the pair agree to meet up in 6 months' time, did at least leave the door open for a sequel if Linklater and co. so wanted. 9 years later in 2004, Before Sunset was finally released, with Hawke and Delpy's Jesse and Celine meeting up once again when Jesse's book tour takes him to France. As perceptive as the first film was about youth, Sunset riffed cleverly and authentically on the growing-up process, namely marriage and children. It also happened to conclude on a deeply satisfying if still relatively ambiguous note. 2013's Before Midnight caught up with the pair again, now married, and again managed to improve on the superbly-wrought drama Linklater had already brought to the table. In exploring the difficulties of raising a family and ageing, Midnight is easily the darkest of the three movies, though it's also the best-acted and ultimately the most emotionally gratifying. Linklater's direction, as ever, is nothing short of superb. Will Linklater return for another go-around in 2022? And will he find a way to top himself again?