“Yeah this one was good, but the original was definitely better.” How many times have you heard this statement after getting out of a sequel to one of your favorite movies? 

Of course, everyone wants a sequel to their favorite movie to be a good one. They want the sequel to follow the original’s storyline, progress the characters we know and love, create new challenges for our protagonists, and introduce something new that the fans have never seen before However, many sequels do not live up to the expectations of the fans who loved and enjoyed the original. This provokes a conversation between millions of moviegoers as to let a great movie stand alone or how in many ways, a sequel can be better than the original. 

Arguably the most famous sequel is The Dark Knight. This movie introduced one of the best villains in movie history, the Joker. The Joker’s character is built around exposing the Batman and pushing him to the boundaries of his moral code. However, many Batman fans would argue that the original, Batman Begins, is the better Batman movie and that The Dark Knight is a crime thriller instead of a Batman movie. 

The Scarecrow and Ra’s-al-Ghul were some foundational characters in the Batman story, and fighting them in the smoggy, dark parts of Gotham City did indeed show the true Batman grit. But, the Joker, specifically Heath Ledger’s Joker, is the only true rival to Batman’s power as a superhero. The Joker has no need for anything other than to expose Batman’s inability to save everyone. 

Expressed in Batman’s time-crunching choice to either save the girl he loves, Rachel Dawes, or Harvey Dent, a driven man who seeks to save Gotham from all of the crime in its city. The Joker lied about the location of each, tricking Batman into saving Harvey Dent, who thought he was going to Dawes location. Unfortunately, Dawes died because of the Joker’s trick, and Dent lived to become Two-Face, driven mad by the rage of Dawes’ passing. This movie brings out Batman’s internal conflict, furthers the development of his character in the trilogy, introduces new and dynamic characters, and is overall one of the best sequels to ever exist.

Not all good sequels are superhero films. Afterall, the fun cannot be left to Marvel and DC. Thus, we turn to Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back. I will never forget this movie, nor will I forget the first time I saw the Imperial Walkers approaching the Hoth base. Empire Strikes Back accomplishes everything a sequel is supposed to do, and more. 

The story is completely driven by the characters we came to love in the first movie, A New Hope. Luke’s spiritual force quest takes him to Yoda in a remote Dagobah. Han Solo and Leia Skywalker are in constant retreat from the pursuit of the Empire. Darth Vader, the fearsome Sith antagonist who only appeared in A New Hope for eight minutes and six seconds, is unwavering in his attempts to capture Luke and dispel the Rebel Alliance.

For a space-epic, the writing of our heroes most harrowing trials and the exploration of Darth Vader is captivating and keeps viewers on the edge of their seat.

The next time you see a sequel, whether in the reclining leather cushions of a movie theater or in your parent’s musty basement, keep in mind what a sequel needs in order to be successful. Fans of a movie series will always be critical of a sequel to a great film, but remember what the sequel has to accomplish: continuing the storyline, developing characters, creating memorable moments for fans and casual viewers alike, introducing new elements to the movie series, and arguably the most important, maintaining accuracy.