The 8 Best Legacy Sequels Of All Time, From ‘Scream’ To ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’
In the larger framework of the entertainment industry, legacy sequels might very well be the hardest thing for a movie studio to successfully pull off.
With fans spending years, sometimes even decades, waiting for a sequel to their favorite prospective franchises, it takes a truly exceptional sequel to match the critical favor of the original.
Thankfully, over the past few decades, the pop culture world has seen plenty of remarkable legacy sequels released to theaters. From darkly comic slasher films to sweeping superhero epics, here are some of the absolute greatest legacy sequels we’ve seen to date, ranked in order from worst to best.
8. Scream (2022)
In a horror subgenre characterized by lesser and lesser sequels, Scream somehow withstands the test of time, remaining just as sharp, intelligent, and comically well-written today as it was in 1996. Jumpstarting the franchise for the modern generation, 2022’s Scream introduces a new array of younger characters to the series – side-by-side with more than a few well-loved characters like Dewey, Gale, and (of course) Neve Campbell’s immortal scream queen, Sidney. Toss in a predictably vengeful Ghostface Killer, and you have the makings for a truly exceptional follow-up to the original Scream series.
7. Doctor Sleep (2019)
Director Mike Flanagan has released plenty of inspired work within the horror genre, most especially in regards to his adaptations of Stephen King’s pre-existing novels. With Doctor Sleep, Flanagan somehow manages to simultaneously capture the essence of The Shining’s sequel novel, all the while weaving in references to the 1980 classic by Stanley Kubrick. The resulting film lives on as an impressive ode to the original Shining, one capable of standing on its own merits while also serving as a wondrous companion piece to Kubrick’s legendary horror film.
6. Halloween (2018)
As mentioned previously, most slasher series have the unfortunate habit of seeing paler and paler sequels following the original’s wake. But with 2018’s Halloween, John Carpenter’s hulking serial killer Michael Myers finally receives the long-awaited sequel he rightfully deserves. Directly tying into the original Halloween while retroactively avoiding the mistakes of its predecessors, Halloween is the bloody, shocking, endlessly entertaining slasher sequel we’ve waited 40 years to see.
5. Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)
An outright sequel to the Tom Holland-led Spider-Man movies, No Way Home also serves as an unofficial sequel of sorts to both Andrew Garfield’s Amazing Spider-Man series and Tobey Maguire’s fan-favorite Spider-Man Trilogy. With returning appearances from numerous past heroes and villains, No Way Home is fan service done right, providing a bittersweet epilogue to so many beloved characters from Spidey’s cinematic history, from the Maguire-centric Doc Ock and Green Groblin to Sony’s renditions of Electro and Lizard.
4. Top Gun: Maverick (2022)
It isn’t very often that a sequel surpasses the original, but such is the odd fate that befalls 2022’s Top Gun: Maverick. Whereas the first Top Gun might have been a tired, bloated, overly-stylized action comedy, Top Gun: Maverick grounds its story in weight, depth, and emotional resonance. Between these foremost characteristics and its high-octane action sequences, there’s little reason to wonder why Maverick is often hailed as one of the best movies of the 2020s yet.
3. Creed (2015)
With the exception of 2006’s Rocky Balboa, the Rocky franchise had become more or less a pastiche of itself with each new disappointing chapter. But with 2015’s Creed, Sylvester Stallone’s hit sports series returns to its humble roots, as seen through Adonis Creed’s underdog story to live up to his father’s legacy. A hard-hitting spinoff that also provides a sweeping send-off to Stallone’s legendary boxer, Creed is no doubt among the greatest sports dramas of the past 20 years, packing a wallop of a punch in its two hour, fifteen-minute runtime.
2. Blade Runner 2049 (2017)
In anyone else’s hands, Blade Runner 2049 might have been a half-baked disaster, retreading the same existential ground explored by Ridley Scott back in 1982. But with Dune director Denis Villeneuve in the driver’s seat, Blade Runner 2049 elegantly lives up to the same heights as the original, matching the first Blade Runner in its vivid performances, unique settings, and surprisingly relatable discussions about existence, technology, and artificial intelligence.
1. Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)
Following in the footsteps of Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior was bound to be difficult. But against all odds, Mad Max: Fury Road somehow managed to become one of the most influential action movies of its era, transcending the limitations of the action genre as a whole. Relying on immersive practical effects, minimal dialogue, and unforgettable characterization, Fury Road is the epitome of all thriller, no filler, living on as the definitive legacy sequel that all other legacy sequels aspire to.
