Top Movie Sequels Of The 2000s: A Year-by-Year Breakdown

The 2000s were a fantastic decade for movie sequels, delivering some of the best follow-up films ever made. From scary horror movies to huge superhero blockbusters and even award-winning trilogies, there was always at least one excellent sequel released each year.

As a huge movie fan, I’ve been thinking about the best sequels each year, and it’s not just about how much money they made. I considered what the critics said, how much of a splash they made in pop culture, and everything else that makes a movie truly stand out. What really struck me is how many incredible sequels came out in the 2010s – it honestly feels like that decade changed things, and now we’re seeing sequels more than ever before.

2000 – Scream 3

In 2000, new movie franchises were more successful than sequels. While films like Scary Movie, Final Destination, and X-Men launched successful series, highly anticipated sequels such as Mission: Impossible 2 and The Blair Witch Project 2 didn’t live up to expectations.

Honestly, after seeing all the sequels that came out that year, Scream 3 ended up being the best, though it felt a little like it won by default. But that’s not to say it’s a bad movie! It brought back some of the playful, over-the-top energy that made the first Scream so much fun. It’s just a really good time watching the characters deal with actors playing them – the whole ‘meta’ thing is brilliantly done.

While Scream 3 definitely has its flaws – the reveal of Roman Bridger as Sidney Prescott’s brother being a prime example – it’s generally a good film. What’s really unusual is that all of the Scream movies have been well-received by critics, which is rare for a horror franchise.

2001 – Rush Hour 2

2001, just like the year before, saw the beginnings of hugely popular movie series, including The Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, The Fast and the Furious, and Shrek. Several sequels were also released, like American Pie 2, Scary Movie 2, and another Jurassic Park film – they were good, but didn’t really stand out.

In 2001, Rush Hour 2 was the most successful sequel. Like many great second films, it delivered everything fans enjoyed in the original, but with a more exciting plot and larger-scale action.

The second movie in the series did very well in theaters and was just as good as the first. Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker had even more comedic chemistry this time, making it one of the most enjoyable sequels released in the 2000s.

2002 – The Lord Of The Rings: The Two Towers

Let me tell you, 2002 was packed with sequels. We got the second installments of Blade, Men in Black, and Spy Kids, plus another trip to Halloween town. But the big ones? Star Wars: Attack of the Clones definitely made a splash, and of course, another adventure with Harry Potter kept fans hooked. It was a year where established franchises really dominated the box office.

It’s hard to top any of The Lord of the Rings films, and The Two Towers, the second installment, is particularly impressive. It features a massive battle scene and groundbreaking visual effects, especially in how it brought the character Gollum to life.

I was so thrilled when The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers came out! It wasn’t just me, though – critics absolutely loved it, and it racked up a ton of Academy Award nominations. More importantly, it was a huge success in theaters all over the world. It really showed everyone that this Lord of the Rings series was going to be something truly amazing and last for a long time.

2003 – The Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The King

It’s hard to top anything in The Lord of the Rings series. Many people consider the trilogy to be the best ever made, and The Return of the King provides a truly satisfying conclusion.

This installment elevates the series to a new level with thrilling action and fulfilling character development. It provides a fantastic ending to what is widely considered one of the best stories ever. Notably, the film achieved a historic win at the Oscars, taking home all 11 awards it was nominated for.

Let me tell you, 2003 wasn’t a walk in the park for The Return of the King. There was some real competition! X2 stands out as one of the strongest X-Men movies, Final Destination 2 delivered a satisfying continuation of the series, and honestly, Bad Boys II was just pure, explosive fun. It was a good year for blockbusters, that’s for sure.

2004 – Shrek 2

When it comes to great sequels, 2004 was an exceptionally competitive year. It gave us some of the best follow-up films ever made, including Spider-Man 2 and Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. And Before Sunset is a fantastic addition to a truly memorable film series.

We also considered Kill Bill Vol. 2 and The Bourne Supremacy, but ultimately chose Shrek 2. It’s still the strongest film in the Shrek series, which is saying something considering the original Shrek won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature.

Shrek 2 continues the adventures of Shrek, Fiona, and Donkey, and introduces the charming Puss in Boots. The movie features a truly memorable villain in the Fairy Godmother, a lot of heartwarming moments, and some great songs—the rendition of “Holding Out for a Hero” is particularly fantastic.

2005 – Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge Of The Sith

2005 brought a variety of sequels, with varying degrees of success. Popular choices included Saw II, while Zathura: A Space Adventure was less well-known. Action fans enjoyed Transporter 2, though Cheaper by the Dozen 2 didn’t fare as well with critics. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire was also a major release that year.

Ultimately, Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith was the obvious choice. It faced a unique challenge: the previous two films hadn’t performed well and felt slow, but this one had to fit a complex story into a single movie.

Over time, this movie has become highly regarded, with many fans now viewing it as favorably as the original Star Wars films. Watching Anakin Skywalker’s descent into darkness is deeply moving, and his lightsaber battle with Obi-Wan is considered one of the best in the entire series.

2006 – Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest

2006 saw a lot of third movies in popular series. Mission: Impossible III helped revitalize its franchise, and The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift is considered a strong entry. While Final Destination 3 and Saw III weren’t the best, they generally fit well within their respective series.

We think the best movie sequel from 2006 was Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest. Although it didn’t quite reach the level of the first film, it did a fantastic job of building on the original’s world. Characters like Cutler Beckett were effectively villainous, and Davy Jones was mesmerizing whenever he appeared on screen.

The special effects used for Davy Jones still hold up remarkably well, even by today’s standards. This sequel strikes a sweet spot – it’s more expansive than the original Pirates of the Caribbean film, but not as over-the-top as the later installments. Plus, the ending remains a truly exciting cliffhanger, making it a fantastic follow-up to the first movie.

2007 – Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix

Many highly anticipated sequels in 2007 failed to impress viewers. Spider-Man 3 felt cluttered and disorganized, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End suffered from the same issues, and Shrek the Third lacked the magic of the original films. The Bourne Ultimatum stood out as the only sequel that really measured up.

Overall, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is a fantastic movie, just like the other films in the series. Although it doesn’t include everything from the longest book, it has some of the best scenes in the whole franchise, especially the incredible duel between Voldemort and Dumbledore.

It’s strangely satisfying to watch a villain like Dolores Umbridge finally face consequences. The younger cast members are particularly impressive, and the established actors continue to deliver strong performances, making this another successful installment in the series.

2008 – The Dark Knight

2008, similar to the beginning of the decade, launched popular franchises like Twilight and the Marvel Cinematic Universe. While some sequels, such as Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, didn’t quite hit the mark, others like Hellboy II: The Golden Army were underappreciated. The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian was a decent film, but didn’t leave a lasting impression.

As a huge movie fan, I have to say that nothing that came out in 2008 really compared to The Dark Knight. It completely redefined what a superhero movie could be. Not only did it make over a billion dollars, but critics loved it – it even got nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars, which is a huge deal!

Many consider The Dark Knight to be the definitive Batman movie. It’s a remarkably strong film, blending realistic crime drama with powerful performances – Aaron Eckhart is particularly good, and Heath Ledger’s Oscar-winning portrayal of the Joker is iconic. Ultimately, it’s widely regarded as one of the greatest sequels ever created, in any genre and from any time period.

2009 – Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince

2009 wasn’t a great year for movie sequels. Many, like Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, Twilight: New Moon, X-Men Origins: Wolverine, and The Final Destination, received very negative reviews. However, Saw VI and Fast & Furious were both well-received.

Once again, the Harry Potter series leads the way, with Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince topping the charts. While the movie left out a lot of details from the book, it’s still a well-made film. This installment marked a turning point for the series, becoming noticeably darker, and even featured a near-fatal confrontation between Harry and Draco Malfoy.

The film concludes with a somber moment – Dumbledore’s death – and skillfully prepares the audience for the last two movies in the series. The young cast continued to deliver strong performances, and this film featured some particularly well-done action scenes.

2026-01-06 18:04