The 25 Best Movie Sequels of All Time

25. 'Die Hard 2'

It doesn't feel like Christmas without a tree, eggnog and John McClane (Bruce Willis) giving terrorists the beatings of a lifetime. Here he fights to free a snowy Dulles Airport from a group of turncoat U.S. soldiers. The lines are quotable, the action frenetic and the ass-kickings vintage McClane.

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24. 'Christmas Vacation'

Long before the folks at National Lampoon adopted its "crap is king" policy, they released this riotously funny third go-round with the Griswold clan that had us squirting eggnog out of our noses. Let's pretend they never made 'Christmas Vacation 2: Cousin Eddie's Island Adventure.'

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23. 'The Road Warrior'

The term "post-apocalyptic thriller" was born with 'Mad Max,' and its explosive sequel plunged us even further into a world of chaos and greed. Mel Gibson gives a savage, heroic performance as a grieving nomad who fights for a colony he intended to rob ... and no tequila-fueled rant can ever take that away.

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22. 'Before Sunset'

'Before Sunrise' captured the romantic optimism of two youthful strangers (Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy) falling in love over the course of one night. 'Sunset' picks up 10 years later, with the pair meeting for the first time since, and eloquently depicts how the world -- and love -- have changed them.

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21. 'Return of the Jedi'

There are two types of people in this galaxy: Those who found the Ewoks to be an abhorrence, and those who never minded them THAT much (the Moviefone staff is decidedly split). Either way, 'Star Wars: Episode VI' is a flawed but absolutely essential piece to the moon pie that is the original trilogy.

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20. 'Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan'

After 10 'Star Treks,' they all start to seem the same -- with the exception of this character-driven classic, in which Kirk's brooding, Khan's evil glee (no one overacts like Richardo Montalban) and Spock's noble death make for a sci-fi action flick with the pathos of a Greek tragedy. KHAAAAN!

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19. 'After the Thin Man'

Did the word "sequel" even exist yet when this follow-up to the 1934 classic released on Christmas Day in '36? How about "franchise"? Nick and Nora Charles' (William Powell and Myrna Loy) second case was such a hoot that four more 'Thin Man' escapades followed. As Nick might've said, "Phat!"

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18. 'Bourne Supremacy'

With a flawed hero (Matt Damon), primal storyline (amnesiac spy wants to discover his identity) and visceral fight sequences (Bourne beats the snot out of a baddie with a magazine), 'Supremacy' practically saved the action genre from devolving into self-parody. James Bond is grateful.

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17. 'Superman II'

Moodier and arguably better than the original, 'II' brings our hero back down to Earth -- literally -- when he gives up his powers for love. Struggling not just with his identity but also with a badass trio of villains (Sam Raimi, take note), the Man of Steel has never before (or since) been more human, or more real.

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16. 'Rocky II'

Still functioning with at least 85 percent of his brain cells intact, The Italian Stallion (Sylvester Stallone) is packing meat as an Everyday Joe before he's lured back into the ring for a rematch with Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers). Not only is the climactic clash fierce and relentless, but it doesn't even end in a draw.

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15. 'Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban'

Expectations were high when Alfonso Cuarón signed on to direct the third 'Harry Potter' film, and he did not disappoint. Darker than its predecessors and introducing the splendid Gary Oldman as Sirius Black, 'Azkaban' marks the point at which the franchise, like its young leads, grows up.

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14. 'Evil Dead 2'

Sometimes we forget there even was an 'Evil Dead,' Sam Raimi's 1987 sequel being such a superior and definitive romp in campy horror comedy (both star the inimitable Bruce Campbell). And while everyone loves the director's 'Spider-Man' movies, would it kill him to throw us a bony bodiless hand once in a while?

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13. 'Toy Story 2'

It's Pixar's only sequel -- Disney reportedly pressured the studio to do it, since the first 'Story' was so successful. Good thing. Jessie's song about her owner growing up and moving on still makes us tear up; the riff on the iconic "I am your father" scene is a welcome blast from our movie past.

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12. 'Dawn of the Dead'

George A. Romero's 1978 follow-up to the cult classic 'Night of the Living Dead' came out 10 years later than the original -- and it shows. Still as repulsively, squirm-inducingly graphic (in a good way) as the black-and-white 'Night,' the zombie feast that is 'Dawn' is in color. Bright red, mostly.

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11. 'Kill Bill Vol. 2'

'Vol. 1' is amazing, but 'Vol. 2' features the Bride's (Uma Thurman) eyeball-squishing battle royale with Elle Driver (best catfight EVER) and her much-anticipated showdown with Bill, complete with the execution of the legendary five-point palm exploding-heart technique. Has there ever been a more badass heroine?

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10. 'Bride of Frankenstein'

The 1931 original is a monster movie with heart; the '35 sequel is a love story with monsters. Though the Bride is seen for only a few moments in director James Whale's masterpiece, it's his Frankenstein's yearning for romance that carries the day ... That and his short-lived mate's electric hairdo.

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9. 'X2: X-Men United'

No longer bound by the necessary setups of the original, director Bryan Singer upped the ante here -- strengthening the storylines, introducing a cool new mutant and a dastardly human foe, and exploring deeper themes of prejudice and redemption. After all that, the superb action scenes are just gravy.

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8. 'Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade'

While the 'Raiders of the Lost Ark' and 'Temple of Doom' had high stakes, they're dwarfed by those in 'Crusade.' The Nazis beat Indy (Harrison Ford) to the Holy Grail and gain eternal life, and we're all f***ed: You, me, Short Round. It's not just rollicking fun from start to finish -- it's scary, too.

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7. 'The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers'

Peter Jackson accomplished the near impossible: topping his masterful take on his first adaptation of fanboy bible 'LOTR.' Even those who've never read a word of Tolkien (I confess) were swept into the world of Middle-earth ... and the strong arms of Aragorn (did I say that out loud?).

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6: 'Terminator 2: Judgement Day'

With more toys to play with, James Cameron heightened both the effects (if Robert Patrick's T-1000 doesn't blow your mind, then hand in your moviegoing credentials) and the stakes; plus, a ripped Linda Hamilton remains one of the best (and scariest) female action heroes ever.

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5. 'Spider-Man 2'

Tobey Maguire isn't an ideal Spidey to many, and Kirsten Dunst with red hair? Eh. But somehow Sam Raimi made it work in the first and this, the superior second. Credit Alfred Molina as Doc Ock, a threatening -- yet vulnerable -- baddie, and a smart script that made us care about Peter and MJ's rocky road to love.

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4. 'Aliens'

Fans of 'T2's' formidable heroine can thank this sci-fi thriller for introducing director James Cameron to the idea that a girl can kick ass and take names. Sigourney Weaver's Ripley is still the paragon of women warriors on screen, and she's never tougher than in this follow-up to Ridley Scott's original.

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3. 'The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King'

The final chapter in the best trilogy ever has it all: the eye-popping Battle of Minas Tirith, unrequited love (Eowyn for Aragorn, NOT Sam for Frodo) and the endgames for all the members of the Fellowship. Don't whine about the overly long ending; if you're not a fan, you must be an orc.

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2. 'The Empire Strikes Back'

It starts with a bang (the spectacular battle of Hoth), builds to a fever pitch (Luke's first confrontation with Vader) and ends with our heroes' galaxy in utter tumult. Han is frozen in carbonite! Leia is in love with Han! And Vader is Luke's father! God bless the Empire for striking back.

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1. 'The Godfather Part II'

Which 'Godfather' film is better? It's one of modernity's biggest conundrums, and though each of us knows the answer with absolute certainty, it shall remain unresolved. What's not a mystery is that Francis Ford Coppola's exposition-driven continuation of the Corleone family saga is a complete masterpiece.

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A Recap

25. 'Die Hard 2'
24. 'Christmas Vacation'
23. 'The Road Warrior'
22. 'Before Sunset'
21. 'Return of the Jedi'
20. 'Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan'
19. 'After the Thin Man'
18. 'Bourne Supremacy'
17. 'Superman II'
16. 'Rocky II'
15. 'Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban'
14. 'Evil Dead 2'
13. 'Toy Story 2'
12. 'Dawn of the Dead'
11. 'Kill Bill Vol. 2'
10. 'Bride of Frankenstein'
9. 'X2: X-Men United'
8. 'Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade'
7. 'The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers'
6: 'Terminator 2: Judgement Day'
5. 'Spider-Man 2'
4. 'Aliens'
3. 'The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King'
2. 'The Empire Strikes Back'
1. 'The Godfather Part II'

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