Ranking the Top 10 Legacy Sequels of All-Time
Legacy sequels are all the rage these days, as original content continues to be less of a priority for studios. While I’m not a total fan of that going forward, every now and then these franchises execute a new sequel in a way that honors the old and breaks ground with the new. Here are the top 10 legacy sequels/requels of the last decade.
10. KINGDOM OF THE PLANET OF THE APES
Kicking off the list is an atypical type of legacy reboot where while it continues the lore of the previous trilogy but doesn’t include any of the characters from before. What classifies this as a sequel is its clear focus on Caesar as this “messiah” type influence that carries the plot of the film. I think that’s exactly what makes these reboots so success is its ability to build off of the past and introduce a new world and group of well-developed people. New franchise lead, Noa, had a hard act of to follow but makes for a an rootable youthful but flawed hero. He and the girls relationship is the heart of the film that provides more twists and turns than most apes movies. A great return to form that had a lot to live up to.
9. BLADE RUNNER 2049
It’s a damn shame that essentially both of the Blade Runner movies have flopped at the box office considering how good they are. The newest one actually surpasses the original thanks to feats like the incredible visuals and its world-building. Harrison Ford returns and looks more motivated to not tarnish his character’s legacy (more on that soon) and gets a great onscreen partner in Ryan Gosling. If the manage to milk a third movie they have to figure out a way to get more people to see it.
8. THE FORCE AWAKENS
This is the only Disney movie that Rogue One loses out to right now is The Force Awakens. This might change over time but right now The Force Awaken is just more of a feel-good film and that's how Star Wars should make you feel. It still has the heartbreaking moments we've come to cherish but so many of the scenes are poignant in a way that only one particular scene was in Rogue One. That's what sets it apart on top of the buttloads of nostalgia that is present in this reboot. The new cast consisting of Adam Driver, Oscar Isaac, Daisy Ridley, and John Boyega are actually given a lot of spotlight in this one and have as much charisma as the OG crew. The only downside of this is obviously that it's almost a carbon copy of A New Hope. Whoops.
7. HALLOWEEN (2018)
The Halloween franchise is quite hit or miss in its long history, but in 2018’s comeback with the same title as the original - it’s back with a bang. Using only the OG movie as canon, it’s less confusing and contrived as the other 13 editions (minus 1978’s version). Jamie Lee Curtis is back and better than ever as Laurie strode with an awesome revenge arc.
6. CREED
After six rocky movies, did we really need another? The answer is yes. I didn’t think we did (and we got three more to be exact) yet here we are wanting more. While creed 2 and 3 are good movies as well, this is the one that really feels like a legacy sequel and not a spin off. Stallone is back in form with a performance as good as any coupled with the great chemistry he has w/ Michael b Jordan. It doesn’t break any barriers or anything but it FEELS like a rocky movie at its core and thanks to the many years since it’s well-founded in almost all facets.
5. MAD MAX: FURY ROAD
The most recent franchise addition in furiosa was a welcome part of the universe, it doesn’t hold a candle to what fury road did a few years prior. It wasn’t particularly close either. Fury road’s non-stop vehicular action is so uniquely crafted that it’s hard not the be locked in. So much so that the film was nominated for 10 WHOPPING academy awards and actually won six of them. The movies above mad max may not be as technically sound as fury road but they make up for it in different areas such as humor, screenplay, and heart.
4. NO WAY HOME
Next, we have the movie that is home (haha pun unintended) to possibly the worst-kept secret in Hollywood history. That is, of course, the inclusion of Andrew Garfield and Tobey Maguire's Spidermen in the movie. Somehow though, the "surprise" worked almost flawlessly and their returns were not wasted. If you want nostalgia, this is the place to get it. It's littered with winks to the audience and callbacks that really rewards the audience for their superfan natures. While not all the jokes land here, this a very funny film that impressively doesn't take away from the serious nature of the big moments. Yes, it's not as gimmicky as it appears and genuinely has some touching moments in such a wild movie. This would beeves higher if it didn't waste a couple of returning enemies and had a better way of breaking the multiverse.
3. SCREAM (2022)
At... #3 we have the second reboot that takes place 11 years after the last (weird coincidence). We get all the legacy characters back together for the last time (RIP to that one character) and they're always fun to see in action. They don't get a ton to do this time (besides Dewey) because most of the time is dedicated to the new cast but it might actually have worked out for the better when looking back on it. There really isn't too much to complain about besides the fact that the killers are hinted at a little too heavily throughout and that takes a little punch out of the reveals, which are pretty great by themselves. On the positive side of things, the new cast is straight awesome. Jenna Ortega is a rising star and they're lucky to have her. The kills in this movie are also deliciously gory and the most inventive since the second film. Finally, the heart in this movie is surprisingly felt more than any others, thanks to the nice tributes made in it to Wes Craven.
2. BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE
You’re probably noticing a pattern in the top 5, as most of these pictures were released in the last few years. I think that’s because people realized that these franchises need to be meticulously thought out so that they don’t destroy legacies. For example, reboots like ghostbusters, Jurassic world, and Indiana jones have been soulless, cash-grabbing affairs that fans rejected. Okay, that sentiment is now out of the way so we can get to one of the best movies of 2024: Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. A cleverer named sequel to a beloved cult classic gave way to a follow up that turned what worked in the original up to 100. We get more of Michael keaton’s beetlejuice, a deeper dive into the world of the undead, and A FANTASTIC use of the soundtrack/score. I’d also like the mention how the title sequences theme song never gets old and sets the modo instantly for what is to come.
TOP GUN: MAVERICK
Last but not least we have what I and many others might refer to as the quintessential legacy sequel. The first top gun effort was a solid and well-received film that didn’t necessarily have people clamoring for a round 2. Luckily, with the advancement of technology and the increasing boldness of Tom cruise we were gifted with a movie that surpassing the original in every aspect. Nominated for six Oscar’s (including best picture ) maverick has a more engaging plot, heartwarming moments, GREAT sound, editing, visual effects that duck you into the flying sequences.
