20 Greatest Direct Sequels Ever Made
4. Terminator 2: Judgement Day
Those questioning James Cameron for spending all of his time working on the Avatar franchise should remember that he is responsible for two of the greatest sequels ever made in Aliens and Piranha II: The Spawning. No wait, that doesn't sound right. Oh yeah, that other sequel he made, Terminator 2.
The most expensive movie in history at the time, Judgement Day was over fifteen times more expensive than the first Terminator. Seen by many as a huge gamble, these fears were quickly assuaged as it would go on to earn almost $520m at the worldwide box office and quickly earn a reputation as an absolute game-changer.
As common as it may be these days, Terminator 2 was one of the first mega-budget sequels to extensively utilize CGI effects, and over a quarter of a century later still remains one of the best. From the performances of Linda Hamilton and Arnold Schwarzenegger to the tear-inducing ending via the shape-shifting T1000 and stunning freeway chase, Terminator 2 is one of the most iconic movies in the history of action cinema.