10 Movie Sequels Better Than The Original

3. The Dark Knight

Almost a decade after Batman And Robin killed the franchise, Christopher Nolan brought things back to life with Batman Begins: a dark, grounded origin story that did a great job of revitalising the hero and bringing it into the modern era.

With the origins out of the way and Christian Bale's Bruce Wayne fully established, the sequel was then free to take a few more risks and tell a more expansive story, starting with the entrance of the Joker. From the opening heist onwards, Heath Ledger's Clown Prince of Crime walks away with not just the film, but comic book movie villainy in general. An agent of chaos, Ledger gives a performance so captivating, mystifying, electric, and threatening, that nothing can come close.

For that alone it's a better film, but Nolan raises the bar in every other area too: Maggie Gyllenhaal is an upgrade on Katie Holmes, Bale is even better than before, and there's a mix of influences from Frank Miller to Michael Mann that make this thrill, shock, and awe throughout its runtime. With incredible action, a compelling story, and one of the best hero v villain battles we've seen, it's not just a great comic book movie or a great sequel, but a great film.