Top 10 Sequels From The 2010s That Surpassed Their Predecessors

It’s common to hear complaints about the number of movie sequels being made today. And while that’s often true, the 2010s proved that many of these sequels are actually better than the original films.

The 2010s saw a remarkable run of excellent sequels. Many of these films surpassed their originals, even when the first movie was already well-regarded. These sequels achieved both massive commercial success and critical acclaim, proving they were improvements on what came before.

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013)

Many fans consider the first Hunger Games book to be the strongest, likely because it deeply explores Katniss’s intense and dangerous fight for survival in the arena. Although the first movie was well-made, the book’s focus on Katniss’s internal experience didn’t come across as effectively on screen compared to the second film.

Catching Fire feels like a big-budget action movie, and it delivers on that promise. This installment sees Katniss returning to the arena, but this time she teams up with Peeta and other past champions, making it a more straightforward and enjoyable experience for viewers.

The second film in the series was a step up in every way – bigger in scope, more daring, and filled with even more action. It also deepened the story and brought in fresh faces. Critics loved it, giving it a 90% rating on Rotten Tomatoes – the highest of any film in the series – and fans keep coming back to watch it again and again.

Fast Five (2011)

It’s rare to see a film series evolve as dramatically as The Fast and the Furious. What started as a lighthearted movie about street racing has transformed into a global saga where the characters are essentially saving the world.

The fifth film, Fast Five, released in 2011, really changed things for the Fast & Furious series. While the first four movies were relatively small in scope, Fast Five brought everything together, uniting characters from across the series with the original team for an exciting and ambitious heist.

This movie also introduced Dwayne Johnson as Luke Hobbs and was crucial in setting up the events of Fast X. Fast Five is a thrilling, action-packed team-up that’s full of excitement, but it doesn’t go quite as far into unbelievable territory as some of the sequels. That balance makes it the ideal Fast and Furious movie.

Paddington 2 (2017)

Sequels often surpass the original when the first movie is simply good, not exceptional. However, Paddington 2 faced a bigger challenge – the first Paddington is highly acclaimed, with a 96% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and is already considered a modern classic.

Despite the first Paddington movie being a success, Paddington 2 was even better. The story follows Paddington as he’s wrongly accused of a crime and sent to jail, which leads to some truly touching and unforgettable moments.

Paddington 2 received three BAFTA nominations and boasts an almost perfect score on Rotten Tomatoes. It’s considered such a heartwarming film that it’s even referenced in the movie The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, where Nicolas Cage and Pedro Pascal were moved to tears after watching it.

Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)

Captain America: The First Avenger effectively introduced Steve Rogers’ story and was largely set during World War II. Following his team-up in The Avengers, it was a smart move to bring his next solo adventure into the present day, and it really improved the film.

Captain America: The Winter Soldier delivers everything a great superhero movie should. It features fantastic fight choreography, surprising plot twists that impact the Marvel Cinematic Universe going forward, and introduces important characters, including Sam Wilson.

Many fans still believe Captain America: The Winter Soldier is the best movie Marvel has ever made, and it remains excellent even after ten years. Captain America: Civil War is also a strong film and could easily be included on a list of top Marvel movies as well.

Toy Story 3 (2010)

Similar to Paddington, the Toy Story movies began with incredible success. The first film, released in 1995, revolutionized animation and earned a perfect 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes – a score that its sequel, Toy Story 2, also achieved.

Though it came out over ten years after the original, Toy Story 3 feels like a significant step forward. The animation is noticeably improved, and the movie is visually stunning.

The story resonated with audiences who’d grown up with the first film. The toys feeling left behind as Andy gets older was a theme many could connect with. Plus, the movie’s ending is incredibly satisfying, bringing the entire trilogy to a perfect close.

Mission: Impossible – Fallout (2018)

Most movie franchises decline in quality over time, but Mission: Impossible is a notable exception. While the original was a strong action film and the second installment fell flat, the series began to improve with the third movie.

Even though several Mission: Impossible sequels had already surpassed the first film, the sixth installment, Fallout, is remarkably strong – many consider it the best in the series. A major reason is the exceptional cast, which is arguably the strongest of any Mission: Impossible movie.

Tom Cruise stars alongside Rebecca Ferguson, Henry Cavill, Angela Bassett, and a truly impressive cast. The movie is packed with thrilling action, including a breathtaking HALO jump, a brutal bathroom fight, and a spectacular helicopter chase at the climax.

Avengers: Infinity War (2018)

I remember when The Avengers hit theaters in 2012 – it felt like everything a comic book movie should be. Sure, The Dark Knight might have been a stronger film overall, but The Avengers truly captured the feeling of reading a comic book come to life. Seeing all those heroes together, teaming up with those incredible, inventive attacks, was just… amazing.

Even though it was a strong film, Avengers: Infinity War surpassed previous Marvel Cinematic Universe entries by a significant amount. The movie notably united a larger number of heroes than ever before, bringing together the original Avengers with the Guardians of the Galaxy, Doctor Strange, Spider-Man, Black Panther, and several others.

Okay, so for me, what really made this movie work was Thanos. Seriously, he’s the one who carries the whole thing – he’s not just a bad guy, he’s a really well-developed character who makes everything happen. And Avengers: Infinity War just doesn’t let up with the action, which honestly makes it one of the best Marvel movies ever, in my opinion.

Dawn Of The Planet Of The Apes (2014)

After Tim Burton’s 2001 remake of Planet of the Apes wasn’t successful, there was a lot of doubt when another reboot was announced ten years later. But Rise of the Planet of the Apes proved to be a surprisingly good and interesting beginning to a new series of films.

The series really hit its stride with Dawn of the Planet of the Apes. Because there were more apes than humans in this film, we got to see more of their compelling characters, and Andy Serkis’s incredible performance as Caesar truly stood out.

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes successfully builds on the original film by creating a larger, more detailed world and giving audiences more of what they loved. It was even recognized with an Academy Award nomination for its impressive visual effects, and the following movie continued this trend of improvement.

Logan (2017)

Few sequels improved upon their source material as dramatically as 2017’s Logan. Its predecessor, X-Men Origins: Wolverine, was widely considered a failure. Critics and audiences disliked it due to poor special effects, troubled production, and an overall disappointing result.

While The Wolverine was a solid film, Logan is a truly exceptional superhero movie. It’s set in the future and focuses on an older, weakened Wolverine who is facing his own mortality and struggling with his healing abilities.

Teamwork between Hugh Jackman’s character and his on-screen daughter, Laura, combined with the return of Patrick Stewart as Charles Xavier, gave Logan its powerful emotional core. This contributed to the film’s critical acclaim, including a rare Academy Award nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay – a significant achievement for a comic book movie.

Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)

Image made by Yailin Chacon

Despite being a revival of a series that hadn’t seen a new installment in thirty years, Mad Max: Fury Road was a huge hit. While director George Miller was back at the helm, movies revisiting older franchises weren’t usually successful at that time.

Surprisingly, Mad Max: Fury Road wasn’t just a good continuation of the series—many consider it the best Mad Max film ever made. It’s also widely regarded as one of the greatest action movies of all time, which is incredibly high praise.

With a fantastic cast including Charlize Theron and Tom Hardy, Mad Max: Fury Road is famous for its incredible, real-life action sequences. It was also a critical hit, earning 10 Academy Award nominations – a rare achievement for any sequel.

2025-11-19 18:19