There isn’t any doubt that the ’80s have been house to some nice sequels, however the ’90s took issues to the subsequent degree in that division. Many franchises that began within the ’80s noticed new installments arrive within the ’90s, usually to blended outcomes. Some missed the mark and dissatisfied, whereas others are among the many best sequels in historical past.
Practically yearly of the ’90s had a couple of notable sequels, making it tough to pinpoint the very best. Some years have two or extra iconic sequels, whereas others haven’t any, and each circumstances make it equally robust to decide on the very best. Regardless, the highest choice annually is value watching and a worthy successor to its authentic.
1990: Again To The Future Half III
The last decade started with a slew of main sequels arriving. There was Rocky V, Predator 2, Gremlins 2: The New Batch, Kid’s Play 2, and Die Exhausting 2, simply to call a couple of. Nonetheless, the largest have been a pair of threequels, with essentially the most well-known being The Godfather Half III.
Alas, the third film in The Godfather collection was missing in comparison with the bona fide classics that the primary two entries have been, which means the best choice for the yr is Again to the Future Half III. Whereas that is additionally not held in the identical excessive esteem as the primary two, it stays a enjoyable romp with beloved characters.
Again to the Future Half III is completely different from the primary two as a result of it takes the characters to 1885 and sees them go on an journey within the Wild West. That distinctive side could seem odd from afar however the movie is a blast. Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd stay nice collectively, whereas Mary Steenburgen was a robust addition.
1991: Terminator 2: Judgment Day
Sequels truly did not play an enormous a part of the 1991 movie slate. Kid’s Play 3 and Freddy’s Lifeless: The Remaining Nightmare dissatisfied, whereas Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze and The Bare Gun: 2/12 have been enjoyable. That mentioned, there actually was no competitors.
In most years, Terminator 2: Judgment Day wouldn’t solely be the very best sequel, it will be up for the very best film, interval. This sequel modified up the system from the primary, turning Arnold Schwarzenegger’s character into one of many heroes, which labored wonders.
The motion was extra thrilling, Arnold was quotable, Linda Hamilton gave us an all-time badass character, and has visible results that maintain up remarkably effectively. The movie is taken into account among the finest sequels in historical past, was a field workplace smash, and received 4 Academy Awards.
1992: Batman Returns
The primary yr of the ’90s to have severe competitors for the very best sequel was 1992. The likes of Dwelling Alone 2: Misplaced in New York, The Muppet Christmas Carol, and Deadly Weapon 3 are all nice. Nonetheless, it got here right down to Military of Darkness and Batman Returns, and both is a superb selection.
Finally although, it is Batman Returns by a slim margin. The film does what nice sequels do by increasing on what labored within the first movie. There are extra memorable characters, with Catwoman and Penguin nonetheless standing as a few of the greatest Batman villains ever put to the large display.
Tim Burton’s type is all around the movie, whereas the performances of everybody concerned are sturdy. Batman Returns additionally holds up as an unorthodox Christmas basic, which means individuals nonetheless rewatch it yearly greater than even a few of the higher Batman films total.
1993: Addams Household Values
1993 was not precisely an enormous yr for sequels. There have been incredible first installments in franchises like Jurassic Park however the sequels we acquired have been Wayne’s World 2 and Jason Goes to Hell: The Remaining Friday, which weren’t nice. That leaves Addams Household Values because the yr’s greatest follow-up.
Whereas lots of people bear in mind The Addams Household from 1991 extra, Addams Household Values is definitely is without doubt one of the uncommon sequels to surpass the unique. The addition of child Pubert ended up being a enjoyable transfer, whereas Joan Cusack is super because the antagonist who marries Uncle Fester.
All the forged appears much more comfy of their roles. Raul Julia and Anjelica Huston have electrical chemistry, whereas Christina Ricci delivers her greatest work as Wednesday Addams. It is a disgrace we by no means acquired a 3rd installment with this forged as a result of they gentle up the display collectively.
1994: Three Colors: Crimson
There are numerous who think about 1994 to be the very best yr in cinema historical past due to movies like The Shawshank Redemption, Pulp Fiction, The Lion King, and extra. That does not depart a variety of room for sequels, although three stand out. There’s The Bare Gun 33 1/3 and Wes Craven’s New Nightmare that have been sturdy competitors.
Nonetheless, it is truly Three Colors: Crimson that tops the yr. This is not almost as well-known as the opposite sequels listed however the Three Colors trilogy is taken into account among the finest movie collection ever made. Every entry on this French trilogy was met with widespread acclaim.
Three Colors: Crimson is the ultimate leg of the collection, and although not sharing a selected story, it offers with French Revolutionary beliefs like the remainder. Crimson follows a mannequin who befriends a decide after working over his canine and facilities on their bond. The movie holds a 100% Rotten Tomatoes score as effectively.
1995: Die Exhausting With A Vengeance
1995 is an underrated yr for films due to Toy Story, Se7en, Ghost within the Shell, and Earlier than Dawn. By way of sequels, it additionally produced the enjoyable Batman Eternally, the stable Goldeneye, the action-packed Desperado, and the wacky Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls.
We persist with the theme of underrated for the winner although, as Die Exhausting with a Vengeance is the second greatest movie within the collection and is sneakily among the finest sequels ever. The movie strikes the story to New York Metropolis and pairs Bruce Willis with Samuel L. Jackson for limitless leisure.
Whereas opinions for Die Exhausting with a Vengeance aren’t as sturdy as another extremely rated sequels, it is a kind of films that folks preserve coming again to. There’s simply an excessive amount of enjoyable available with Willis and Jackson, whereas Jeremy Irons is nice because the movie’s antagonist.
1996: Muppet Treasure Island
It is tough to choose the highest sequel from 1996 as a result of there weren’t that many. The main target was extra on franchise starters like Mission: Unimaginable and Scream. Nonetheless, we did get Escape from L.A. and Star Trek: First Contact, that are each very stable follow-ups of their collection.
Muppet Treasure Island wins out right here, which is attention-grabbing as a result of it is not a sequel that continues an current story. As an alternative, it takes the Muppets and thrusts them into Robert Louis Stevenson’s legendary story, making for a swashbuckling good time, which inserts in with the remainder of the Muppets franchise.
What makes Muppet Treasure Island work so effectively is that Tim Curry is simply as campy because the Muppets. He’s the one actor to steal the present from the Muppets by doing their very own schtick. Evaluations for the movie have been sturdy, with reward going to the basic Muppets gags and Curry’s efficiency.
1997: Scream 2
Whereas Dwelling Alone 3, Alien Resurrection, and Batman & Robin have been lackluster movies that dissatisfied followers, there have been two main sequels that labored in 1997. The Misplaced World: Jurassic Park was essentially the most anticipated and whereas it did not stay as much as the unique, it stays the very best follow-up within the collection.
A yr after revolutionizing the slasher subgenre, Scream 2 gave us the sequel and it delivered in spades. Though it additionally is not pretty much as good as the primary, Scream 2 continues its meta commentary on horror films and performs into these tropes whereas turning them on their heads.
Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, David Arquette, and Jamie Kennedy are actually good as soon as once more, whereas new additions like Jada Pinkett Smith and Timothy Olyphant ship sturdy performances. Scream is a remarkably constant franchise and the string of high quality sequels began right here.
1998: The Lion King II: Simba’s Satisfaction
One other yr that wasn’t enormous for sequels was 1998. There weren’t many main ones launched in theaters, although Halloween H20: 20 Years Later, and Bride of Chucky have been good. That is why, to seek out the yr’s greatest, you need to take a look at films that have been launched straight to VHS.
That is the place The Lion King 2: Simba’s Satisfaction comes into play. It is among the finest Disney animated sequels ever made, even when it was neglected by some as a result of it went straight to house video. Apparently, the plot of this movie is impressed by Romeo and Juliet, which helps set it aside.
Key voice actors got here again for this movie, like Matthew Broderick and James Earl Jones, whereas Neve Campbell and Andy Dick have been among the many new additions. Simba’s Satisfaction is clearly not on the identical degree as its predecessor however was met with stable opinions regardless.
1999: Toy Story 2
The largest sequel of 1999 was truly a prequel however Star Wars: The Phantom Menace finally dissatisfied audiences. Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me was an excellent sequel, but the largest movies of the yr have been franchise starters like The Matrix, The Mummy, and American Pie.
Regardless, it is exhausting to high Toy Story 2 in any yr. The movie had loads to stay as much as given the groundbreaking success of the primary film, but it managed to surpass it in some methods. Toy Story 2 sees Woody study the reality about his origins and probably get shipped off to a museum quite than be somebody’s toy.
The animation type is improved, the voice appearing stays top-notch, and the emotional highs hit exhausting, particularly with the “When Any person Beloved Me” scene involving Jessie. Toy Story 2, like its predecessor, has a 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes, which is uncommon.