10 Movie Sequels That Completely Changed Tone

Here it is, the granddaddy of them all. Empire's dark tone in contrast to the fun adventurousness of the A New Hope has led to any darker instalment in a trilogy being referred to as "the Empire Strikes Back" of that particular series. That's some serious staying power for a movie that has since had five follow ups so far.

It's such a perfectly executed evolution from the first film: the stakes are higher, the mood bleaker, the narrative colder. The concept of good versus evil has never been more extreme, there is a distinct black and white morality that is skewed at the last moment with a twist that led to many a jaw hitting the floor in 1980.

One of the all-time great sequels with a tone so different from the first, this is the gold standard of franchise evolution. Every series needs to take notes, because Empire Strikes Back wrote the guidebook.

Which other tone bending sequels belong on this list? Share your reactions below.