This Top 5 is considering Best Sequels and, as the concept of a sequel has expanded in recent years (think of the Harry Potter eight movie epic series of “sequels”), for this list, a sequel is defined as a direct follow up to an initial movie. Unfortunately, that means films like Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade were disqualified, as they were the third installment in trilogies, but that does mean Zoolander 2 may be up for consideration. Let’s see if it made the cut.

Gibelwho Productions Top 5 Best Sequels:

5. Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan

4. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

3. Star Wars: Episode V - Empire Strikes Back

2. Star Trek: First Contact

1. Godfather II

Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982): Also known as the film that savedStar Trek and enabled the franchise to continue it’s glorious journey. Harve Bennett took over the property and, promising to deliver a better movie than The Motion Picture, scaled back the budget, focused on the drama, and turned out one of the best installments in the history of Trek. Tackling the issues of old age, revenge from long thought dead enemies, and designing the climactic clash as an epic submarine battle - this showcases the crew at their best and leaves a lasting impression of Kirk and Spock’s friendship.

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002): The followup to the smash hit The Fellowship of the Ring, the sequel continues the story of the various members of the fellowship that has now broken apart, therefore the plot jumps around to touch on the various story threads. Frodo and Sam on their journey to Mt. Doom, the trio of Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli running throughout the landscapes of New Zea…I mean Middle Earth, and Merry and Pippin meeting the Ents. The cinematography and production style remain incredibly consistent between the first and second films, even as the world expands with additional cultures and environments to explore. Also, the Battle of Helm’s Deep is an especially detailed and coherent production of an intense battle (and my 16 year old self must include a note about how Legolas kicks so much ass!).

Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980): The original Star Wars established the universe’s world-building, which left the sequel open to dive deeper into the history and meaning of the Jedi, the Empire, and the Rebellion. The story explores new characters and different worlds - the ice planet Hoth, the humid jungle of Dagobah, and the cerebral Cloud City. In addition, the film turns darker, away from the hero’s journey of the initial film, and starts to ask what happens when that hero is forced to grow up amidst a war surrounded by evil…in fact, evil’s personification is his father. Also, Yoda.

Star Trek: First Contact (1996): How is it possible that a second Star Trekmovie is making this list, considering the rules set forth above?! This film is directly following the first TNG movie (Generations), so therefore counts as a direct sequel for the next generation of crew members… at least in my rules. This is Star Trek at its finest - at this point, the actors have been portraying these characters for 9 years and are at the height of their game, the Borg are a terrifying collective enemy, and the visuals show what Trekcan do with a budget. Despite all these virtues, this film ranks so high on my list because it contains my favorite scene of acting in any film, performed by the absolutely incredible Patrick Stewart and Alfre Woodard.

This is a man scarred by his past making irrational decisions and a woman not afraid to push him hard to make the right choice. Brilliant.

The Godfather: Part II (1974): I distinctly remember the feeling I experienced walking out the theater after watching this masterpiece of filmmaking. It was a bit of awe mixed with respect and the understanding I had just watched something special. The interplay between the modern timeline and flashbacks is handled so expertly, and the acting of Al Pacino is perfectly matched by Robert De Niro - both who are giving career defining performances. My Best Sequel list is full of science fiction and fantasy movies, as that is the genre that typically spews out multiple films, but The Godfather is part of the crime / gangster genre and the second installment was the first sequel to win Best Picture at the Oscars. At the time, it would have been hard to imagine a sequel topping the first film, but The Godfather II is consistently considered one of the greatest films in cinema history.

Honorable Mentions:

The Dark Knight (2008): Barely missing the Top 5 list, this is a film that is complex, funny, dark, dire, and genius. It is a Batman film made about the Joker, with Heath Ledger giving his final great performance, one whose psychological effects may have claimed his life. Superhero films often falter after the initial origin film by throwing too many villains into the next movie; this story features the Joker prominently, but also shows the descent of Harvey Dent, somehow maintaining the balance of the villain, the corrupt politician, Batman, his love interest, and Gotham city. Christopher Nolan proved his mastery of the genre with this film (and probably should have stopped here with the Batman franchise).

Fantasia 2000 (1999): Fantasia was one of my mother’s favorite films and we owned the deluxe box edition of the VHS that came with a film cell and a glossy art book. There was much excitement in our household when the sequel was announced and we went to see this film twice in IMAX theaters; I was just as transfixed by the pairing of music to animation as with the original. A highlight for me is the Rhapsody in Blue piece, although the flying whales and forest sprite segments are also quite memorable.

Kill Bill: Vol. 2 (2004): Quentin Tarantino was firing on all cylinders during his two part Kill Bill tale. The first film contains a ton of creative fights and a lot of unanswered questions. I always preferred the second installment, mostly because the violence is rounded out by emotion, explanation, and motivation. While the first is pure fight, the second finally lets the audience in on the game and allows us to root for the Bride on a deeper level on her quest to kill Bill.

D2: The Mighty Ducks (1994): We are the Champions! The kid’s world gets bigger as they enter the Junior Goodwill Games as Team USA and take on Iceland for the chance of victory. Joined by some new teammates, can the Ducks stay together as their coach is tempted by Hollywood stardom? I taped this movie off Disney Channel and wore the tape out as a kid, especially the campfire scene at the end. Quack! Quack! Quack!

Upcoming:

Independence Day: Resurgence (2016): Another upcoming film in the science fiction category, the film is coming 10 years after the initial movie, which was a staple during my childhood and should be mandatory viewing each fourth of July. The big question is -  can they recapture the magic without Will Smith? Will the special effects hold up in another 10 years (the original is a bit painful to watch in this modern day of slick CGI) One thing is for sure, Brent Spiner is back, so I am excited to see the return of his crazy scientist hair (but wait, didn’t he die in the first one?!).