10 Movie Sequels Better Than The Original

5. Blade Runner 2049

Although it wasn't a commercial success and there were countless different cuts released, Blade Runner stands as a seminal work of science fiction, often hailed as one of the greatest movies made in the genre.

It isn't the kind of film that needs a sequel, nor were there really any calls for one. And yet Denis Villeneuve came along with a follow-up 35-years later, and suddenly it made perfect sense.

Blade Runner 2049 may have been a commercial flop - hopefully one that eventually achieves the same revered status as the original - but it's a masterclass in how to make a legacy-quel, telling its own story within the same world that not only ties back to the original in interesting, unique ways, but actually improves that movie too by reframing the story of Deckard and Rachael, and contrasting it with the love between K and Joi.

It's a film of what it means to be human, but within that it's a search for belonging and to feel loved, which gives this movie a beating heart that belies its replicant centre. Managing to be both epic and intimate, and featuring some of the most beautiful cinematography you'll see, the movie is emotional, intense, and above all else, surprisingly, human.