Most people tend to agree that the second movie in a franchise is usually inferior to the original film. However, there are some notable exceptions; for example, for every Grease 2 that stinks up the box office, there is an X-2: X-Men United.
Thanks to the accessibility of the Internet, it is now easier than ever to revisit the sequels to properties that may have flown under the radar at initial release, but are actually hidden gems of unlauded awesomeness. Here are 10 sequels from within the last 5 years that are criminally underrated and have gone unnoticed by the general public.
Trainspotting 2
A continuation from where the 1996 Danny Boyle flick left off, Trainspotting 2 brings back the original cast to see what the surviving members of the old Scottish crew have been up to in the 20 years since the original.
Some characters have wound up better than others, and there is a unique meta-angle with the storytelling that loops the events of the film into what would eventually become the novels upon which the two movies are based.
Overall, necessary viewing for fans of Ewan MacGregor, Danny Boyle, and author Irving Welsh.
Super Troopers 2
Comedy sequel Super Troopers 2 came into existence thanks to a successfully funded Indiegogo project in 2015. The sequel to the early 2000s cult comedy hit was probably written off by uninitiated moviegoers as a cheap throwaway sequel to the cult classic after the underwhelming trailer was released.
However, the actual viewing experience had proven to be surprisingly good, and includes cameos from the likes of Damon Wayans Jr. and Will Sasso. The boys from the comedy troupe Broken Lizard still got it, and the jokes hit as hard and as fast as they did with the original incarnation.
The Lego Batman Movie
Technically more along the lines of a spinoff film than a direct sequel to The Lego Movie, 2017’s The Lego Batman Movie is an enjoyable romp into Batman lore with all the DC-licensed characters and references Warner Animation Group could cram into a 2-hour film.
Though a bit light on plot and lacking the main protagonists of the previous film, The Lego Batman Movie is as visually breathtaking as its predecessor, and cements Will Arnett as the go-to movie voice for a humorous take on everyone’s favorite Dark Knight (sorry, Kevin Conroy).
The Spongebob Movie: Sponge Out of Water
Tom Kenny is back as everyone’s famous cartoon sponge in the follow-up to 2004’s The Spongebob Squarepants Movie.
Definitely a more psychedelic movie experience than the first film, Sponge Out of Water takes the movie out of Bikini Bottom yet again, but this time around spends more time above water with some amazing CGI and also a trippy dolphin sequence.
While probably not as memorable as the original movie, the sequel is quite possibly more entertaining for both adults and children alike.
Logan
The definitive end to the X-Men saga (at least as far as FOX’s involvement is concerned), Hugh Jackman assumes the role of Wolverine for a final time in 2017’s Logan to footnote the emotional conclusion of this popular character’s journey.
Set in a dour futuristic timeline where only a handful of mutants still remain, Logan plays more like a western than like a typical action-packed superhero flick, and this added gravitas makes it one of the most compelling additions to the X-Men franchise, if not arguably one of the best.
Split
While technically a sequel, Split is a bit of a fake-out, in that it’s not revealed to be a sequel until the very last scene in the movie, where Bruce Willis reprises his role as David Dunn, the protagonist from the first M. Night Shyamalan film Unbreakable.
Still, it’s one of the rare movies that can be watched as its own standalone entity as a gripping horror/sci-fi thriller; with the introduction of James McAvoy as a character who effortlessly takes on multiple personalities, Split is a movie that deserves to be revisited again and again, and is one of Shyamalan’s best films in recent years.
Hey Arnold!: The Jungle Movie
Most would discount the importance of a movie that was made to go straight to television; such is not the case with Hey Arnold!: The Jungle Movie. While its predecessor had a theatrical release back in 2002, the Nickelodeon television movie was a worthy successor and paid superior homage to the 90s Nicktoon.
The Jungle Movie had also successfully solved the biggest mystery of the series: the whereabouts of Arnold’s parents. Longtime fans also get their shipping needs met as the movie finally made Shortaki (Helga Pataki and Arnold Shortman) a couple in canon.
Blade Runner 2049
Though it performed poorly at the box office, 2017’s Blade Runner 2049 is a worthy successor to the film that singlehandedly ushered the cyberpunk genre into modern cinema.
Thanks in no small part to the visionary direction of Denis Villeneuve, the movie picks up where the 1982 classic ended, introducing some very compelling new characters with “Joe” the current Blade Runner (played by Ryan Gosling), and reintroduces some originals to tie the two movies together.
A masterclass in sci-fi cinematography which went on to win two Oscars at the 90th Annual Academy Awards.
Star Wars: The Last Jedi
A movie that has split moviegoers, 2017’s The Last Jedi is the second in a trilogy under the now Disney-backed Star Wars franchise. Love it or hate it, The Last Jedi brings back fan favorites such as Leia, Chewbacca, Han and Luke, while at the same time getting viewers further invested in the stories surrounding the new heroes, Rey, Poe and Finn.
As Rian Johnson only worked on the second movie in the trilogy (J.J. Abrams had worked on both Episodes VII and IX), the movie has a different feel and message that goes against traditional Star Wars tropes; where fans lie on their devotion to the familiar will determine their overall enjoyment of this divisive sequel.
The Secret Life of Pets 2
In a year of some amazing animated sequels (Toy Story 4, Frozen 2) and admirable new properties (The Missing Link, Abominable), it is totally understandable that Illumination’s Minion-less movie would slide under the radar. However, The Secret Life of Pets 2 is a wonderful movie that sees Max and Duke leave the city and meet the no-nonsense farm dog Rooster, played by Harrison Ford in his very first credit as a voice actor.
The adorable bunny Snowball, voiced by Kevin Hart, also returns with a bigger role, and now believes he is a superhero. Colorful and hilarious, this is a thoroughly fun movie that can act as a standalone as well as a worthy addition to The Secret Life of Pets series. Let’s hope Illumination’s take on the new Super Mario Bros. movie is just as enjoyable.
