10 Movie Sequels Better Than The Original

1. The Empire Strikes Back

There are sequels, and then there's the sequel.

There's a good reason that when follow-ups a remade, it's The Empire Strikes Back that's been the most commonly cited example for over 30 years, because it's the gold standard in how to take an already great story and make it darker, deeper, and, of course, better.

With a new director and writer onboard - Ivan Kershner and Lawrence Kasdan respectively - the saga was given a slightly more serious, adult tone; testing its characters, taking Luke's journey in very surprising new directions (including one of the greatest twists in cinematic history), and adding some bigger emotional stakes alongside genuine humour and romance.

The cinematography goes up a level, with Peter Suschitzky creating a dark, moody aesthetic, and the action scenes likewise (the duel between Vader and Luke remains one of the series' best, and the Battle of Hoth is a simply stunning sequence), without losing the sense of wonder that helped make the first so great.

Agree with this list? What other sequels bettered the original? Let us know down in the comments.