Superior Sequels and Prequels to Poorly Received Movies
We've all been there. Films from our childhoods that we've enjoyed personally, but were not actually critically well-received to begin with. Despite that, they would each get more and more fans over time to officially earn the title of "cult classic" and better appreciation from viewers around the world (even the crews behind the films themselves if they weren't particularly fond of them to begin with). In recent times, studios have been taking advantage of that nostalgia and creating direct sequels to these works that try to mine those memories and create something that could pay off for them in the long run. Now that doesn't mean than fans won't know the difference between them and their predecessors (Space Jam: A New Legacy), but there have actually been sequels created over the years that actually do improve upon what worked before and expand upon that to actually being Oscar-worthy in their own right (Top Gun: Maverick). These are some of the movies that gratifyingly fall under that particular category.
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- DirectorJoseph KosinskiStarsTom CruiseJennifer ConnellyMiles TellerThe story involves Maverick confronting his past while training a group of younger Top Gun graduates, including the son of his deceased best friend, for a dangerous mission.Rotten Tomatoes score for predecessor: 57%
Rotten Tomatoes score for this sequel: *96%* - DirectorJames GunnStarsMargot RobbieIdris ElbaJohn CenaSupervillains Harley Quinn, Bloodsport, Peacemaker, and a collection of nutty cons at Belle Reve prison join the super-secret, super-shady Task Force X as they are dropped off at the remote, enemy-infused island of Corto Maltese.Rotten Tomatoes score for predecessor: 26%
Rotten Tomatoes score for this sequel: *90%* - DirectorEric DarnellTom McGrathStarsBen StillerChris RockDavid SchwimmerThe Madagascar animals fly back to New York City, but crash-land on an African nature reserve in Kenya, where they meet others of their own kind, and Alex especially discovers his royal heritage as prince of a lion pride.Rotten Tomatoes score for predecessor: 55%
Rotten Tomatoes score for this sequel: 64% - DirectorDavid F. SandbergStarsAnthony LaPagliaSamara LeeMiranda OttoTwelve years after the tragic death of their little girl, a doll-maker and his wife welcome a nun and several girls from a shuttered orphanage into their home, where they become the target of the doll-maker's possessed creation, Annabelle.Rotten Tomatoes score for predecessor: 28%
Rotten Tomatoes score for this sequel: *70%* - DirectorMike FlanaganStarsElizabeth ReaserLulu WilsonAnnalise BassoIn 1967 Los Angeles, a widowed mother's daughter tries to communicate with her late father through a Ouija board, but unleashes a demon instead.Rotten Tomatoes score for predecessor: 5%
Rotten Tomatoes score for this prequel *84%* - DirectorWilliam Brent BellStarsIsabelle FuhrmanJulia StilesRossif SutherlandAfter orchestrating a brilliant escape from an Estonian psychiatric facility, Esther travels to America by impersonating the missing daughter of a wealthy family.Rotten Tomatoes score for predecessor: 58%
Rotten Tomatoes score for this prequel: 71% - DirectorThurop Van OrmanJohn RiceStarsJason SudeikisJosh GadLeslie JonesThe flightless birds and scheming green pigs take their feud to the next level.Rotten Tomatoes score for predecessor: 44%
Rotten Tomatoes score for this sequel: 72% - DirectorSimon WestStarsSylvester StalloneLiam HemsworthRandy CoutureMr. Church reunites the Expendables for what should be an easy paycheck, but when one of their men is murdered on the job, their quest for revenge puts them deep in enemy territory and up against an unexpected threat.Rotten Tomatoes score for predecessor: 42%
Rotten Tomatoes score for this sequel: 67% - DirectorGeorge LucasStarsHayden ChristensenNatalie PortmanEwan McGregorTen years after initially meeting, Anakin Skywalker shares a forbidden romance with Padmé Amidala, while Obi-Wan Kenobi discovers a secret clone army crafted for the Jedi.Rotten Tomatoes score for Episode 1: 51%
Rotten Tomatoes score for this sequel: 65% - DirectorKevin GreutertStarsTobin BellShawnee SmithSynnøve Macody LundA sick and desperate John travels to Mexico for a risky and experimental medical procedure in hopes of a miracle cure for his cancer only to discover the entire operation is a scam to defraud the most vulnerable.Rotten Tomatoes score for 2005 movie: 50%
Rotten Tomatoes score for this prequel: 80% - DirectorJeff TremaineStarsJohnny KnoxvilleSteve-OChris PontiusChris Pontius, Johnny Knoxville, Steve-O, Bam Margera, and the whole crew return to the screen to raise the stakes higher than ever before.Rotten Tomatoes score for predecessor: 49%
Rotten Tomatoes score for this sequel: 66% - DirectorJoe LynchStarsErica LeerhsenHenry RollinsTexas BattleA group of reality show contestants find themselves fighting for their survival against a family of hideously deformed inbred cannibals who plan to ruthlessly butcher them all.Rotten Tomatoes score for predecessor: 40%
Rotten Tomatoes score for this sequel: 70% - DirectorOl ParkerStarsLily JamesAmanda SeyfriedMeryl StreepFive years after the events of Mamma Mia! (2008), Sophie prepares for the grand reopening of the Hotel Bella Donna as she learns more about her mother's past.Rotten Tomatoes score for predecessor: 55%
Rotten Tomatoes score for this sequel: 79% - DirectorKyle BaldaBrad AblesonJonathan del ValStarsSteve CarellPierre CoffinAlan ArkinThe untold story of one twelve-year-old's dream to become the world's greatest supervillain.Rotten Tomatoes score for predecessor: 56%
Rotten Tomatoes score for this sequel: 70% - DirectorAnne FletcherStarsBette MidlerSarah Jessica ParkerKathy NajimyTwo young women accidentally bring back the Sanderson Sisters to modern day Salem and must figure out how to stop the child-hungry witches from wreaking havoc on the world.Rotten Tomatoes score for predecessor: 40%
Rotten Tomatoes score for this sequel: 65% - DirectorJames MangoldStarsHugh JackmanWill Yun LeeTao OkamotoWolverine comes to Japan to meet an old friend whose life he saved years ago, and gets embroiled in a conspiracy involving yakuza and mutants.Rotten Tomatoes score for predecessor: 38%
Rotten Tomatoes score for this sequel: *71%* - DirectorEmily TingStarsAva MichelleGriffin GluckSabrina CarpenterAfter Jodi Kreyman gains popularity, her miscommunications start causing rifts with those around her and now she really needs to 'stand tall'.Rotten Tomatoes score for predecessor: 38%
Rotten Tomatoes score for this sequel: 63% - DirectorStig BergqvistPaul DemeyerStarsChristine CavanaughElizabeth DailyCheryl ChaseWhile on a family vacation in Paris, the Rugrats attempt to help Chuckie find a new mom while stopping his dad from marrying a conniving businesswoman who hates kids.Rotten Tomatoes score for predecessor: 59%
Rotten Tomatoes score for this sequel: 76% - DirectorNicholas MeyerStarsWilliam ShatnerLeonard NimoyDeForest KelleyWith the assistance of the Enterprise crew, Admiral Kirk must stop an old nemesis, Khan Noonien Singh, from using the life-generating Genesis Device as the ultimate weapon.Rotten Tomatoes score for predecessor: 52%
Rotten Tomatoes score for this sequel: *87%* - DirectorKevin SmithStarsJoey Lauren AdamsBen AffleckFred ArmisenJay and Silent Bob inadvertently sign away their names and rights to the new Bluntman and Chronic movie. Now they head to Hollywood to stop the film from being made. Along the way Jay discovers that he is a father.Rotten Tomatoes score for predecessor: 52%
Rotten Tomatoes score for this sequel: 66% - DirectorMatt MaiellaroDave WillisStarsDana SnyderCarey MeansDave WillisWhat happens next with Frylock, Meatwad and Master Shake, who consider themselves crime fighters, but the truth is they never fight crime.Rotten Tomatoes score for predecessor: 49%
Rotten Tomatoes score for this sequel: *100%* - DirectorJake KasdanStarsDwayne JohnsonKaren GillanKevin HartFour teenagers are sucked into a magical video game, and the only way they can escape is to work together to finish the game.Rotten Tomatoes score for predecessor: 51%
Rotten Tomatoes score for this sequel: 76% - DirectorMichael DowseStarsDavid LawrenceJamil JabrilTerra HazeltonTerry and Dean head north to make sweet cash in the oil patch.Rotten Tomatoes score for predecessor: 55%
Rotten Tomatoes score for this sequel: *90%* - DirectorSam IrvinStarsCassandra PetersonRichard O'BrienMary ScheerSpooky high jinks abound when Elvira finds herself spending the night in a mysterious castle en route to 1851 Paris.Rotten Tomatoes score for predecessor: 56%
Rotten Tomatoes score for this sequel: 69% - DirectorRobert RodriguezStarsYaYa GosselinPedro PascalPriyanka Chopra JonasWhen alien invaders capture the Earth's superheroes, their kids must learn to work together to save their parents and the planet.Rotten Tomatoes score for predecessor: 20%
Rotten Tomatoes score for this sequel: *76%*
