Long-Delayed Sequels: Better Than The Original?

HostThe voices in this episode are synthetic, and the script was written by a language model. The positions are real, and they come from the thread.

HostSpoiler warning. This episode is made from a thread marked as containing spoilers, and it may give them away.

HostToday on the show, we're diving into a lively debate from Reddit's movies community, where over a hundred and eighty comments wrestled with a deceptively simple question: which movie sequels, released fifteen or more years after their predecessors, actually managed to be good? And why are so many of them... not?

HostThe thread found a few clear winners, but there's still plenty of disagreement about what makes a long-delayed sequel truly work. We've got a strong camp arguing some are even better than the originals, others who value how they honor the spirit, and some who just want a good time. But not everyone's convinced these films are worth the wait.

Better than the originalFor many of us, it's clear that some of these sequels don't just work, they surpass the originals. Take Blade Runner 2049, for instance; it's genuinely one of the best sequels ever made, and some would say it's even better than the first film.

Better than the originalAnd it's not just that one. Mad Max: Fury Road is arguably the best action movie ever made, a two-hour shot of adrenaline where every shot looks like a painting. And Top Gun: Maverick? It's far better than the original, making the first film even better in retrospect by adding depth.

Legacy sequel skepticsI'm not so sure about Maverick. The rationale for the mission was absurd, wasn't it? They couldn't use drones or high-altitude bombers because of 'reasons,' so they had to do the Death Star Trench Run. It's hard to get past the totally generic enemies, too.

Better than the originalBut that's missing the point! Maverick felt like it was actually about something, not just a Naval Recruitment Ad. The passage of time added significant weight to the story and characters, and modern filmmaking techniques made the action sequences incredibly visceral.

Honors the spiritI think the key is whether a sequel truly captures the essential tone and thematic core of the original, allowing characters to evolve realistically. Rocky Balboa is a great example; it gave the franchise the ending it deserved, going back to its roots and feeling as good as the first two.

Honors the spiritT2 Trainspotting also did this brilliantly. It's not just a rehash of the first one; the characters make sense with the passage of time and growing up, dealing with aging and nostalgia in a really thoughtful way.

Legacy sequel skepticsThat's where a lot of these legacy sequels, especially comedies, fall flat. They just try too hard to recreate the originals, relying on callbacks and fan service that feel lazy. Coming 2 America was terrible for that, and Anchorman 2 had too many callbacks.

It knew what it wasBut sometimes, that's exactly what you want! A sequel can be good simply by knowing what it is and delivering on that promise of fun. The new Twisters movie, for example, knows exactly what it is and plays its part exceedingly well, nailing that half-serious, half-campy 90s disaster movie vibe.

HostIt's interesting you bring up Twisters, because the original poster's negative assessment of that film was directly challenged by several commenters in the thread.

It knew what it wasExactly! And Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F is another one. It didn't take things too seriously, and it was just nice seeing Eddie Murphy do his thing after so long. It felt like the first movies did, and sometimes that's enough.

Honors the spiritI'd also point to Doctor Sleep. It walked an incredibly fine line, adapting Stephen King's novel while still honoring Stanley Kubrick's film. It's a magic trick of continuity that shows how a sequel can respect its source material and its cinematic predecessor.

Legacy sequel skepticsBut that's the exception, not the rule. Look at The Thing prequel from 2011. It's a shame they went with CGI over practical effects; it killed it. That ugly-ass CGI really brought it down, and it just reminded you how much better the original was.

Better than the originalI think that's why the best ones, like Blade Runner 2049, succeed. They use modern techniques to create a more immersive experience, but they're also about something more profound than the original, elevating the entire franchise.

It knew what it wasAnd sometimes, a sequel is good simply because it's better than a particularly bad previous installment, or it just gives you that old-school feel. Bill and Ted Face the Music wasn't GREAT, but it felt good and retained that goofy, optimistic vibe.

Honors the spiritEven Tron: Legacy, which took twenty-eight years, was awesome. The Daft Punk soundtrack is one of the greatest film scores ever, and the director clearly knew how to continue classics, introducing new elements while maintaining the core identity.

Legacy sequel skepticsBut that's the problem with many of them; they introduce plot holes or absurd narrative choices. Zoolander 2 was so goddamn bad; it felt like they wrote it right after the first one came out and then just took out all the jokes.

HostIt seems there's a real tension between wanting a sequel to innovate and wanting it to respect what came before. The thread also had a brief but notable tangent regarding actor Jared Leto's personal conduct versus his acting performance in Blade Runner 2049.

HostNow, while most of the room agreed on the standout successes, there were a few views that didn't quite catch on. A few commenters argued that Top Gun: Maverick wasn't actually better than the original, citing those plot absurdities or a lack of the original's 80s charm.

HostAnd while T2 Trainspotting was largely praised, some found it merely enjoyable for fans, but overall a below-average movie. Conversely, a small number of people defended films like Coming 2 America as entertaining, despite the general negative sentiment.

HostUltimately, the discussion showed a strong consensus around films like Blade Runner 2049, Mad Max: Fury Road, and Top Gun: Maverick as setting a high bar for long-delayed sequels. What's clear is that a successful return isn't just about the passage of time, but about how that time is used to either deepen the story, honor its legacy, or simply deliver a good, unpretentious time at the movies.

HostSloppod out.

HostSloppod is sponsored by Taskpile.app.

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