Summary
Movie trilogies used to rely on a strong first entry before progressing the series, but with the rise of franchises based on popular IPs,more and more first movies end up being less impressive than the sequels. Franchises rely on creating a series of movies that audiences will enjoy. However, there are plenty of franchises that only found their footing after the first film was released.
This isn’t to say that they are inherently bad, but the later entries do surpass the original film in quality.This can also occur when a sequel has a change in director or style that drastically improves the franchise. However it happens, there are plenty of movie franchises where sequels outshine the first film, setting a new benchmark for the rest of the franchise.
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Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines
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Terminator: Dark Fate
James Cameron’s futuristic sci-fiaction series,Terminator, launched his career to new heights in 1984, as well as further cementing Arnold Schwarzenegger’s status as one of the biggest action stars of the 1980s and 1990s. However,Cameron’s ambition for the film outgrew the budget and technology of the time.
The iconic T-1000 robot fromTerminator 2: Judgment Daywas intended to appear in the original movie, but due to constraints,Cameron could not make it work in time for the movie. However, this led to the sequel becoming one of the most iconic movies of all time.
Terminator 2: Judgment Day
Cast
Terminator 2: Judgment Day is a sci-fi action film directed by James Cameron, set ten years after the original. It chronicles a new effort to eliminate future rebellion leader John Connor, despite a reprogrammed terminator dispatched to safeguard him.
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Captain America: Civil War
The 2011Captain Americamovie was a great introduction to the character, and it did a great job bringing the character into the present day MCU. However, when the director was changed from Joe Johnston to Joe and Anthony Russo between the first movie and the sequels,the tone and quality of the movies drastically changed.
2014sThe Winter Soldier, and the incredible ensemble filmCaptain America: Civil Wardelivered excitement and heroics on a scale that far exceeded the original, and landed the Russo’s the gig as directors on the movies that would close out the Infinity Saga.
9 Worst Sins Of The Captain America Movie Series
The Captain America movies are some of the most beloved in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but they did still make some mistakes along the way.
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Toy Story 4
97%
Toy Storyfirst hit theaters in 1995, and the movie launched Pixar as a major player in the animated family movie space. However,the original movie also had a lot of groundwork to coverin introducing the characters and having Buzz and Woody become friends, rather than jealous rivals.
The subsequent movies were able to dig deeper emotionally and explore what happens when kids grow out of playing with their toys. This evolution of the themes, alongside the audience growing up themselves,made the sequels exponentially better than the original.
Toy Story 2
Toy Story 2, released in 1999, is the sequel to the beloved original, where Woody is kidnapped by toy collector Al McWhiggen, prompting a rescue mission by Andy’s toys. As the toys embark on this adventure, Buzz Lightyear encounters a formidable counterpart, and Woody faces decisions about his true place in the world.
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Live and Let Die
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No Time to Die
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When examining either the earliest James Bond movie from 1962,Dr. Nostarring Sean Connery, or Daniel Craig’s debut as the character in 2006sCasino Royale,the franchise continued to improve after these projects.
Both of these early entries were good, butas the franchise became more established, and the actors grew to understand the character of 007 even more, the quality continued to improve. In every way, from the action, to the drama, the romance, to the espionage, these films became more exciting and engaging with time and subsequent entries.
James Bond
The James Bond franchise follows the adventures of British secret agent 007 as he combats global threats. With a license to kill, Bond faces off against various villains and criminal organizations, employing high-tech gadgets, espionage, and charm. The series spans multiple films, featuring exotic locations, thrilling action sequences, and memorable characters. Bond’s mission to protect the world and uphold justice remains central, making the franchise an enduring icon in the spy genre.
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John Wick: Chapter 4
John Wickis inarguably one of the best action film franchises Keanu Reeves has ever starred in, and compared to other franchises in general, but the quality did improve after the first movie.The first film is a solid introduction,but the stakes around this deadly assassin hunting down dangerous criminals because they killed his dog feel somewhat underwhelming.
The later films see Wick becoming ever more deadly, facing bigger challenges, andultimately overshadowing the first entry.
John Wick
“John Wick” is a neo-noir action-thriller franchise centered around a retired hitman who returns to the criminal underworld to seek vengeance. Known for its intense and stylistic action sequences, the franchise has redefined modern action cinema with its choreographed gunfights, hand-to-hand combat, and intricate world-building. The series explores themes of loyalty, honor, and survival in a secret society of assassins.
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Shrek Forever After
Shrekis one of the best properties to ever come from Dreamworks, with a world built around numerous fairytales that all crossover into the popular series of films.However, the first movie is a pretty standard retelling of the unwilling hero rescuing a trapped princess.
The sequels, especiallyShrek 2, become far more ambitious and creative. Exploring the Kingdom of Far Far Away, introducing a duplicitous fairy godmother, and subverting expectations makes the second entry noticeably better than the first.
Shrek 2
Shrek 2 follows Shrek, Fiona, and Donkey as they travel to the kingdom of Far, Far Away to meet Fiona’s parents, the Queen and King. Tensions arise when the Fairy Godmother and her son, Prince Charming, conspire to disrupt Shrek and Fiona’s marriage. Released on June 17, 2025.
Every Shrek Movie Ranked From Worst To Best
The Shrek movies range from very good to very very bad. Which animated film is an All Star, and which one is still Holding Out For A Hero?
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
78%
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
84%
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1
77%
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2
96%
Harry Potterquickly became one of the biggest andhighest grossing franchisesof all time when it first hit theaters in 2001. The novels upon which the films were based were outrageously popular, and the films gained the same degree of critical acclaim. However,the series did undergo changes from the first movie through to the eighth and final entry.
One of the biggest changes throughout the series that led to a jump in quality came with a change in directors from the third film onward.While the first movie is still a classic, there are better films later in the series.
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Spider-Man 3
In 2002,Spider-Manswung onto the big screen in a way that had never been done before, and it launched a new era for superhero movies. While this first entry did make a big splash, andcemented Sam Raimi’s position as an incredible director in multiple genres, the sequelSpider-Man 2was even better.
With Alfred Molina playing Otto Octavius, the film took the franchise to new heights and promised a bright future ahead for the series.However,Spider-Man 3did not continue this meteoric rise.
Spider-Man 2
Spider-Man 2 continues Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy, with Tobey Maguire returning as Peter Parker. Released in 2004, the film follows Peter’s struggle with balancing his personal life and superhero responsibilities, while confronting the formidable villain, Doc Ock, portrayed by Alfred Molina. Parker’s relationships with Mary Jane and Harry Osborn further complicate his journey.
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Logan
The FoxX-Menmovies started strong with a compelling superhero story, and an incredibly strong cast. However, when the franchise tried to break off and highlight their most popular hero, Wolverine played by Hugh Jackman,it failed to hit the right notes with 2009sX-Men Origins: Wolverine.
However, the subsequent entries,The WolverineandLogan, garnered far more favorable reviews and critical acclaim.Which made the Wolverine trilogy worthwhile, despite the false start ofX-MenOrigins: Wolverine.
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Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga
In 1979,Mad Maxhit theaters and sparked the beginning of an incredible post-apocalyptic franchise. While that first movie proved successful, it was only the beginning fordirector and writer George Miller’s vision.The first film opened the door to sequels and popularized the character and world created by Miller, but it wasn’t until later that the full extent of this vision was realized.
From the immediate sequel, which further exposes the wasteland,to the 2015 revisiting of the original story, the franchise continues to improve after the original.
10 Great Movies That Inspired The Mad Max Franchise (& How)
From The General to Once Upon a Time in the West, there are many classic movies that have influenced George Miller’s work on the Mad Max franchise.
