10 Wildly Unnecessary Movie Sequels That Were Awesome Anyway

This sequel is a bit different to the rest. On paper, it appears to be a no-brainer, with The Conjuring making an unprecedented amount of money on a smaller budget while receiving rave reviews. However, this is a horror sequel, and they almost never work out. The release of prequel Annabelle didn't help either, as though financially successful, it proved a letdown for both fans and critics.

The key reason The Conjuring 2 didn't suffer the same fate is the return of James Wan. He turned a typical horror story into something so much more by using superb cinematography and sound design to create intense environments and build non-stop anxious tension.

Because of this, the film felt new even though the more conventional horror tropes are still there. Showing the personal struggles of the Warrens also made the supernatural tale feel grounded in reality, and so when the characters are thrown into these terrifying situations, the audience is truly invested in their fates.

The Conjuring 2 was not only a sequel which arguably surpasses its predecessor, but also turned out to be the linchpin of the massively successful Conjuring Universe, which would not have been possible if the film wasn't this good.