Sequels that surpassed the original

"Someone once told me greed was good; now it seems it's legal," says Gordon Gekko in Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps, the sequel to Oliver Stone's 1987 classic drama. Michael Douglas as Gordon Gekko bursts back onto the financial scene after a spell in prison just as the credit crunch hits Wall Street. We watch as he manipulates those around him — including his estranged daughter Winnie (Carey Mulligan) and her ambitious trader boyfriend Jacob Moore (Shia LaBeouf).

After the 23 year wait for the sequel, we started thinking about the films that ended up better than the first attempt.
 
The Empire Strikes Back
This is the biggie: "Luke, I am your father". Possibly the most mis-quoted movie line around; 'The Empire Strikes Back' is loaded with stellar action sequences and culminates in a one-handed fight sequence between good and evil, son and father.

The Godfather: Part II
This is one dark sequel, and one that teaches you that blood is most certainly not thicker than water when it comes to messing with the Mafia. In Part II, new boss Michael Corleone alienates his sister Connie, his brother Fredo and his wife, Kay. With family like Michael Corleone, who needs enemies…?

The Dark Knight
Under Nolan's direction we find ourselves on the edge of our seat in a complex and disturbing film. It's an artistic masterpiece but the main reason this sequel outshines its original will always be Heath Ledger's posthumous Oscar-winning performance as The Joker, which was nothing short of magnificent. He manages to create a level of such lunacy that left us chilled to the bone, yet longing for more.

Toy Story 2
Hard lessons are learnt about the life of a toy in this sequel. Woody having found out he is a rare collectible toy, befriends Jesse the Cowgirl and is taught the lesson of what it means to be loved by a child: someday that child will stop loving you and you will be forgotten and abandoned. With more depth and tragedy in the second instalment, it's a clear winner against the already brilliant first attempt.

Spider-Man 2
Here is a sequel combining heartfelt characters, superb comedy, and spectacular visuals that perfectly illustrate Spiderman's world. Not only do we get to explore the human side of Parker but we meet the villain Dr. Octopus who makes an enemy of his one-time friend.

X-Men 2
This sequel brings us Wolverine going slightly crazy as he searches for answers of his history, the really awesome Magneto escape scene and an emotional death of a major character. Of course what makes this sequel superior to the original is the introduction of a new enemy, Stryker and his attractive martial artist sidekick kick Yuriko Oyama, known more menacingly as 'Deathstrike'.

Terminator 2
He said "I'll be back" and what a return indeed! This sequel is definitely a favourite for most, with added humour making the film much more entertaining than the original. It unquestionably set the template for major blockbusters that followed, skilfully balancing the amazing CGI alongside intriguing characters and its clever notion of time travel.

Do you agree with our list?
Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps is released 6 October. Read our review here