When it comes to generating firm numbers at the box agency , sequels are the name of the secret plan . However , a franchise can not just be build from a singular idea . Rather , additional episode work best when they take their original stories into fresh raw directions while adhering to the established premise . These change could occur with any identification number of elements , whether they relate to the tone , plot , or narration .

However , Hollywood has manifest that darkness is one of the most popular routes to take . TheHarry Potterfranchise , now getting aHarry PotterTV show , is one of the serious examples of this idea . Throughout the serial publication , the films get progressively darker in their tone , story , and visuals . Although it might not be for everyone , incorporating an high-strung direction can be good , and sometimes of the essence for sequels . There are manymovie sequel with massive budget coming in 2025which will in all probability follow the same trend .

10Avatar: The Way Of Water (2022)

First Movie: Avatar (2009)

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When James Cameron releasedAvatarin 2009 , it represented a monumental step in cinematic innovation . The unique extra personal effects and stereoscopic 3D movement seizure were groundbreaking , and unsurprisingly , it ’s the most successful pic ever made . In 2022 , the highly anticipated sequelAvatar : The Way of Waterfinally reach screensbut take thing in a new guidance .

The assumption of the original is undoubtedly dark , as the humans are willing to demolish the entire Na’vi civilization in pursual of resource . However , the subsequence throw off more light on the evil human drill and demonstrates further maltreatment of the Na’vi population . The film reveals the Tulkun hunt mathematical operation , where mankind kill sanctified hulk to express their Amrita . big yet , Colonel Miles Quaritch and his soldier show zero self-reproach , burning down villages and killing locals just to find Jake Sully . The franchise will continue in 2025 withAvatar : Fire and Ash .

9Batman Returns (1992)

First Movie: Batman (1989)

Batman Returns assure the return of Michael Keaton ’s Bruce Wayne after his triumph over the Joker . This time , the Dark Knight faces a novel scourge in the form of The Penguin , an outcast who wants retaliation on Gotham City . Featuring Danny DeVito as Oswald Cobblepot , Michelle Pfeiffer as Selina Kyle a.k.a . Catwoman , and Christopher Walken as Max Schreck , Batman Returns is Tim Burton ’s second and terminal motion picture based on the iconic DC comic character .

Regardless of any personal preference concerning which of theBatmanmoviesis ranking , Tim Burton ’s take on the cap crusader is undoubtedly iconic . The first film , Batman , was a smash reach upon its 1989 release , both commercially and critically . Three old age later , Burton followed up withBatman Returns . Even within the first few min of the runtime , it ’s decipherable that the sequel has a unlike tone .

When it comes to Burton ’s directorial style , black and skittish tinge are virtually guaranteed . But withBatman Returns , Burton ramp up the authority of his trope , integrate more vehemence and torture . The villains are whole out of their minds , and it compliments the nightmarish aura . Even though these changes tot to the level of fatuousness , they effectively make a foreign noir vibe that only served to benefit the overall timber .

Oppenheimer, The Dark Knight, and Inception

8Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)

First Movie: Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)

Captain America : The Winter Soldier , directed by Joe and Anthony Russo , follow Steve Rogers as he adapts to contemporary life while confronting a new adversary , the mysterious Winter Soldier , amidst internal threats to S.H.I.E.L.D. The film explores themes of combine and commitment as Rogers teams up with allies to uncover hidden conspiracies .

The MCU is no unknown to the practice of going down a obscure route with sequel . Their moving picture have manifest this pattern time and again across different franchises . After all , inAvengers : eternity War​​​​​ , the hero lose the last struggle and literally one-half of all life sentence is root out . However , Captain America : The Winter Soldierrepresents a great early deterrent example of the MCU taking a dark direction , the overall pallet even being dark than its predecessor .

While the original celluloid is a hopeful narration about a small - statured man bend superhero , the sequel explores the tragical journey of Bucky Barnes , otherwise known as The Winter Soldier . With the events of Bucky ’s past , it gives the movie a much gloomier vibe compare to its harbinger . Captain America is also now in an unfamiliar environment , and amidst the pandemonium of S.H.I.E.L.D. ’s prostration , it is n’t clear which side he should be fight back for .

Imagery of The Godfather movies

7Logan (2017)

First Movie: X-Men (2000)

Logan is set in a near futurity where an aging Wolverine , play by Hugh Jackman , take concern of a frail Professor Xavier , depict by Patrick Stewart , at a secluded positioning near the Mexican border . Their sequestered cosmos is disrupted by the arrival of a young mutant , follow up on by malevolent forces .

In 2017 , film director James Mangold pull out off a seemingly impossible exploit . He created a standalone movie in a franchise that ’s nearly 20 years erstwhile , and it arguably turn over out to be the best installment . well yet , he used a totally different formula to do it . Loganwas particular for legion reasons , but perhaps most significantly , it demo a perfect utilization of sinister tint .

With the title character , one might initially expect a traditional superhero motion picture , butLogancouldn’t be far from it . It shows the once muscular 10 - piece as battered , emotionally weary version of their old self . Set in a bleak future where mutants are nearly nonextant , there does n’t seem to be anything deserving fighting for . Nobody else could bet Wolverine but Hugh Jackman , and alternatively of erroneously attempting to First State - age him , his seasoned flavor pop off helping hand in mitt with his horrific setting .

Collage of Willow and Clash of the Titans

6The Dark Knight (2008)

First Movie: Batman Begins (2005)

The Dark Knight , directed by Christopher Nolan , is the second installing in the Batman trilogy star Christian Bale as Batman . Released in 2008 , the cinema succeed Batman ’s confederation with Jim Gordon and Harvey Dent as they battle the mastermind offense that threatens Gotham , face the menacing Joker .

Christopher Nolan ’s legendaryDark Knighttrilogyneeds no introduction . The enfranchisement started secure in 2005 withBatman Begins , which offered a thoughtful origin history and the enthral natural process that ’s typically found in superhero motion picture . However , Nolan still alter the atmosphere in the sequel and effectively create a cinematic masterpiece out ofThe Dark Knight .

Christopher Nolan is one of the most acclaimed , classifiable movie maker of his generation . Here ’s our ranking of his picture show from worst to best .

Imagery-from-Logan-and-Jurassic-World-Fallen-Kingdom

Custom Image by Yeider Chacon

The Dark Knightis widely considered to be the great superhero movie ever made , and for good reason . The flick take what is allegedly an idyllic criminal offense - defend grinder ’s journey and creates a mealy , sinister , and entrance thriller that never waver in quality . The unsettling spirit is largely a intersection of Heath Ledger ’s masterful performance as The Joker , who embodied the use to its farsighted length . These gloomy elements do n’t find out of place for an instant , and they get up the patch from enceinte to exceptional .

5Aliens (1986)

First Movie: Alien (1979)

Aliens is a 1986 Sci - Fi classic by writer and theater director James Cameron . asterisk Sigourney Weaver as Ellen Ripley , it ’s widely take one of the right Sci - Fi Horror moving picture ever made . Ripley must band together with a group of Colonial Marines to investigate a catastrophe at a terraforming colony .

In 1979 , Ridley Scott make an explosion within the cinematic sci - fi genre via his critically hail space horrorAlien . It was one of the first works of its kind , blending revulsion and sci - fi in a manner that had never been see before . The picture show is unquestionably drear , but interestingly enough , the sequel is even darker . Although some might prefer the original toAliens , its quality is undeniable .

The difference of opinion in comparative shade between the two picture orb around the Xenomorphs . InAlien , the beast is an elusive , looming presence that take down victim sequentially . InAliens , the Xenomorph threat is much more actualise and fierce , which contribute to the hopeless ambience . Even though the continuation exchange horror for action at law to a prominent grade , it surprisingly bolsters the dreadful nature . The dread - fill story of the Xenomorphs was also recently continued with Fede Álvarez ’s 2024Alien : Romulus .

Headshot Of Sam Worthington In the Los Angeles premiere of ‘Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1’

4Indiana Jones And The Temple Of Doom (1984)

First Movie: Raiders Of The Lost Ark (1981)

The 2nd installment in Steven Speilberg ’s classic film enfranchisement , Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom boast the nominal grinder on an adventure in India , attempting to save the children of a outside Greenwich Village from a violent cult of the goddess Kali . Harrison Ford reprises his function as Indiana Jones , with a put up mould that include Kate Capshaw , Ke Huy Quan , Amrish Puri , and Philip Stone .

Steven Spielberg’sIndiana Jonesfranchise has dazzled audiences for decades . Since the 1981 release ofRaiders of the Lost Ark​​​​​ , the serial has grown into a worldwide sensation , inspiring bequest sequels , subject park drive , and television games . Although the films go through a rollercoaster of event , there is a thoroughgoing difference in climate between the first and second installment .

While the original has an adventuresome , lighthearted flavour , The Temple of Doomis daunting , and at times , bone - chilling . From the get - go , the circumstance are utterly black . The small town whose sacred artifact was slip is physically affected by its absence , which gives off the effect that the entire land is cursed . From there , Harrison Ford ’s Indiana Jones and his companions inscribe an unfamiliar place and are met with gross panic . Whether it be beating hearts pulled from pectus or possession , the sequel clear convey on a Modern vibe .

Headshot Of Zoe Saldana In The 2024 KERING Women In Motion Awards

3The Godfather Part II (1974)

First Movie: The Godfather (1972)

Francis Ford Coppola ’s The Godfather II continues Michael Corleone ’s story as he expands the Corleones ' comportment as a offense syndicate . The movie is also half devoted to the backstory of Vito Corleone , comply his rise to power in 1920s New York City . While The Godfather is considered one of the greatest motion-picture show ever made , The Godfather Part II was able to dwell up to the original and good six Oscars at the 1975 Academy Awards .

Often referenced as the greatest film ever created , Francis Ford Coppola’sThe Godfatherhas stood the trial of clock time as a wonder in cinematic history . It presently holds the number two place on IMDb ’s Top 250 movies lean , and clearly so . It ’s a formidable task to create a sequel that preserve the original ’s lineament , butThe Godfather Part IIdidn’t disappoint ( at identification number four on IMDb ) .

While The Godfather focuses on the rise and fall of members of the Corleone family , the trilogy also tells the stories of four other families .

Batman Returns Movie Poster

Batman Returns sees the return of Michael Keaton’s Bruce Wayne after his victory over the Joker. This time, the Dark Knight faces a new threat in the form of The Penguin, an outcast who wants revenge on Gotham City. Featuring Danny DeVito as Oswald Cobblepot, Michelle Pfeiffer as Selina Kyle a.k.a. Catwoman, and Christopher Walken as Max Schreck, Batman Returns is Tim Burton’s second and final movie based on the iconic DC comics character.

The bloodline toward dark subject in the sequel runs parallel to the nature of the history . While the first movie focalize on Al Pacion ’s Michael Corleone ’s rising slope and the glossy exterior of unionised crime , part two delf into the underbelly of the lifestyle . It explore the moral radioactive decay that certain choices can do , andCorleone ’s translation exemplify these change . His action are ruthless , and he ultimately becomes the worst version of himself . In the case ofThe Godfather Part II , the dark way worked utterly .

2Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban (2004)

First Movie: Harry Potter And The Sorcerer’s Stone (2001)

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban : In Harry ’s third year at Hogwarts , he face more complex magic challenges and encounter fear - inducing Dementors . The escape of the notorious wizard Sirius Black from Azkaban casts a shadow over the school twelvemonth , presenting novel threat and enigma for Harry and his friends to unravel .

TheHarry Pottermoviesperfectly exemplify the practice of sequels bit by bit moving towards a darker landscape . However , unlike other franchises , the Wizarding World seems to produce exponentially glowering until its net moments . Although the films feature mickle of cheerfulness , there is n’t a unmarried installment where Hogwarts is devoid of any threats . With that being say , the big change in timbre occurs in the third film , Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban .

Everything about this subsequence is grim , from the sepulchral dementors to Lupin ’s loup-garou form . For the first time , Harry enter Hogwarts when danger is already establish , and it presents a threat to every bookman . Sirius Black ’s unmistakable flight produce an unsettling craze , especially without know his reliable aim . The cerebration of him footle around the palace at night is completely terrific . The film ’s nature is a product of its source textile ’s plot , but the cinematic execution is unflawed .

Headshot Of Michael Keaton In The Los Angeles Special Screening Of ‘Knox Goes Away’

1Star Wars; The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

First Movie: A New Hope (1977)

The Empire Strikes Back is the second installment in the original Star Wars trilogy , directed by Irvin Kershner . Released in 1980 , it follows Luke Skywalker as he trains under Jedi Master Yoda , while Princess Leia , Han Solo , and the Rebel Alliance look ongoing threats from the Galactic Empire and Darth Vader .

In 1977 , George Lucas created what would be one of the declamatory cinematic universes in macrocosm when he releasedStar Wars(later gift the titleA New Hope ) . The film was evidently a monolithic success at the box office , yet the follow - up smashed first moment and is arguably the crown precious stone of theStar Warsmovies . However , the second installment is observably dissimilar from its harbinger . To its core , The Empire Strikes Backfeels much darker thanA New Hope​​​​​​ , and it makes sense in thoughtfulness of the plot .

Beyond lineament of atmosphere or setting , the matter that are happen to the character are simply worse than in the previous movie . There is n’t much succeeder for the fighter of the write up , and their obstacles only get larger . Han Solo is betray by Lando , Luke gets his hand turn out off , and to make matters worse , he learns that the astronomic potentate responsible for is his father . Yet no one will say take a crap this sequel ( and some others ) darker was a bad thought when it remains among the greatest movie of all time .

Headshot of Danny DeVito

Captain America 2 Poster All Characters

Captain America: The Winter Soldier, directed by Joe and Anthony Russo, follows Steve Rogers as he adapts to contemporary life while confronting a new adversary, the mysterious Winter Soldier, amidst internal threats to S.H.I.E.L.D. The film explores themes of trust and loyalty as Rogers teams up with allies to uncover hidden conspiracies.

Headshot Of Chris Evans

Samuel L. Jackson headshot

01232710_poster_w780.jpg

Logan is set in a near future where an aging Wolverine, played by Hugh Jackman, takes care of a frail Professor Xavier, portrayed by Patrick Stewart, at a secluded location near the Mexican border. Their secluded existence is disrupted by the arrival of a young mutant, pursued by malevolent forces.

Headshot Of Dafne Keen In The UK Premier Disney+ Series

01386160_poster_w780.jpg

The Dark Knight, directed by Christopher Nolan, is the second installment in the Batman trilogy starring Christian Bale as Batman. Released in 2008, the film follows Batman’s alliance with Jim Gordon and Harvey Dent as they combat the organized crime that threatens Gotham, facing the menacing Joker.

Headshot Of Christian Bale In The <code>The Pale Blue Eye</code> LA Premiere

Headshot Of Heath Ledger In The 2006 Oscars Nominees Luncheon

Aliens Movie Poster

Aliens is a 1986 Sci-Fi classic by writer and director James Cameron. Starring Sigourney Weaver as Ellen Ripley, it’s widely considered one of the best Sci-Fi Horror films ever made. Ripley must band together with a group of Colonial Marines to investigate a disaster at a terraforming colony.

Headshot Of Sigourney Weaver In The James Cameron And Jon Landau Handprints And Footprints Ceremony.

Headshot Of Michael Biehn In The Spike TV&rsquo;s Scream Awards 2006

Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom Movie Poster

The second installment in Steven Speilberg’s classic film franchise, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom features the titular hero on an adventure in India, attempting to save the children of a remote village from a violent cult of the goddess Kali. Harrison Ford reprises his role as Indiana Jones, with a supporting cast that includes Kate Capshaw, Ke Huy Quan, Amrish Puri, and Philip Stone.

Headshot Of Harrison Ford In The 29th Annual Critics' Choice Awards

Headshot OF Kate Capshaw

The Godfather Part II Movie Poster

Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather II continues Michael Corleone’s story as he expands the Corleones' presence as a crime syndicate. The film is also half devoted to the backstory of Vito Corleone, following his rise to power in 1920s New York City. While The Godfather is considered one of the greatest movies ever made, The Godfather Part II was able to live up to the original and secure six Oscars at the 1975 Academy Awards.

Headshot of Al Pacino

Headshot Of Robert De Niro In The 35th Annual Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards Night

01159479_poster_w780.jpg

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban: In Harry’s third year at Hogwarts, he faces more complex magical challenges and encounters fear-inducing Dementors. The escape of the notorious wizard Sirius Black from Azkaban casts a shadow over the school year, presenting new threats and mysteries for Harry and his friends to unravel.

Headshot of Daniel Radcliffe In The London screening of &lsquo;The Lost City&rsquo;

Headshot Of Emma Watson In The Kering Foundation Caring For Women Dinner

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The Empire Strikes Back is the second installment in the original Star Wars trilogy, directed by Irvin Kershner. Released in 1980, it follows Luke Skywalker as he trains under Jedi Master Yoda, while Princess Leia, Han Solo, and the Rebel Alliance face ongoing threats from the Galactic Empire and Darth Vader.

Headshot Of Mark Hamill In The Premiere of Disney&rsquo;s Star Wars

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