Top 10 Sequels That Aren’t As Bad As Everyone Says

Words of Wisdom indeed, especially with Number One!

Jaredludy15: That SP Episode is :The China Probrem". Check it Out at SouthParkStudios.com.

witch episode of southpark was that?

is it wrong that i miss indy kicking nazi ass, still good movie

I like how Indiana jones was number 1 and they talked about the aliens being so weild well i was in a comic shop the other day and was reading a comic that had a cross over moment. its hard to explane but Indiana jones and star wars was linked together... im trying to rememeber everything but cant so if you really care then look up how star wars links with indiana jones, something about the millenium falcon being crashed and its really old and indiana jones was standing by it or something it was really cool and my friend the comic guy lol was telling me all about it but i forgot most of the details he told me but i thought you was would know more about it then me and talk about it but yeah it just something to think about before you go on a rant about how aliens dont belong in a indiana jones movie

I really loved the 1st terminator :D

whoa, whoa.... "Back to the Future 3" is much maligned? I have never heard this before and am really surprised. I love the entire trilogy but I DEFINITELY prefer 3 to 2. Part 2 is a great chapter in the series, but as its own movie, it's a bit of a mess, with a much weaker plot, weird pacing and moments of strangely bad acting, which I never see anywhere else in the trilogy. Part 3 is a FANTASTIC movie on its own rights. As a kid I even preferred it to Part 1 (not anymore), probably because it was more viscerally entertaining to a child, and I was really interested in Westerns. Anyone who thinks it is the weak link of the series, I consider to be sadly mistaken.

As for Indy 4, there's not much I can say that you haven't already discussed, but I indeed hated it. I was SO excited for it, so ready for another adventure with Indy, but I just felt robbed and insulted. And no, I was not LOOKING for little things to complain about while watching....they just simply happened. Believe it or not, the alien plot wasn't what bothered me. I was used to the fantastic element in Indiana Jones movies (and the EU), and I had been interested in the mythos of crystal skulls leading up to the film. No, what really ate at me were the STUPID moments, the things that were thrown in for silly reasons. Like the monkeys, yes. Like the fridge scene. Going down multiple waterfalls like it's nothing. And the stupid ANTS MAKING A TOWER. I'm sorry, that's just DUMB. And it speaks to another problem of George Lucas', that irked me with the Star Wars films as well- his tendency to use CGI to solve any tricky scenes. It really is a shame, because ILM was created for the original Star Wars and revolutionized the special effects industry; it saddens me that the man behind that has resorted to CGI for almost every effect anymore. It simply was not an enjoyable movie.

I loved Spiderman 3 I do'n't understand why veryoen hates it. The thing that bothers me is the arguments against it are weak. One comment irks me whoever said "but he’s actually killing Eddie Brock, that doesn’t make sense !" Why not? he didn't mean to kill him he was trying to destroy Venom. I also like that he didn't kill Sandman that was a nice unique twist as well that Sandman was really responsible for Uncle Ben's death
Everything else James said it all for me

Halloween 3 is one of my favorite films. I feel like its an extended episode of the original Outer Limits made in the 80s. I know some people who like H3 more than any of the other Halloween films. I wouldn't go that far but I did have the pleasure of essentially finding a new appreciation for it when I saw it on the big screen in Rochester NY. Tom Atkins did a Q and A afterwards and I rambled like a moron.

Psycho 2 has always been one of my favorite films and I'm so happy it was mentioned here. I also agree with the majority of everything said, especially Indiana Jones 4.
Gremlins 2 is a great Creature Feature.
I think Rocky Balboa was a decent remake of Rocky V, some of the things I think he tried to accomplish in R5 he succeeds with in RB.
I also really like Spider-Man 3 separate from the franchise and it reminds me a lot of Sam Raimi's earlier films (esp. Crimewave). My Dad loves it because he compares it to the Marvel annuals of the 70s full of multiple villains and action.

Other sequels I love that most people shaft are Battle Royale 2, Dario Argento's Inferno, Land Of The Dead, Iron Man 2 and Hellboy 2. Today's audiences are too critical and literal and often dismiss ambiguity which frustrates me to no end. That's why it feels like prequels, remakes and reboots keep coming. They can't enjoy campy humor or some style over substance.

I don't have sequels because they are sequels. Some of the best movies ever made were sequels, look at Terminator 2, Aliens, The Dark Knight, etc. My problem with sequels is that all too often sequels are made just to cash in on the success and popularity of the first one. Or a remake is made just to cash in on the nostalgia of the original. I don't care if someone takes multiple movies to tell a whole story; look at Superman and Superman 2, that was originally supposed to be one whole movie, but was split in half because it was so long. (I personally prefer the Richard Donner cut over the theatrical cut just because the overall tone of the movie doesn't shift into the goofy too much)
What I hate is how franchises appear from films that weren't supposed to be franchises. Terminator and Terminator 2, that story was pretty much resolved. The only hate I have for Terminator 3 is the renege on the whole idea of "no fate but what you make". As an action packed popcorn flick, T3 gets the job done.

I could go on, but I think I've made my point. I realize that movies have to first be a commercially proven medium before they become an artistic medium, but when a film is both artistic and commercially proven, there's no need to throw the art out the window just to make sure a film sells. That's throwing the baby out with the bathwater.

I've seen most of those films and I agree. Those are some great sequels. People shouldn't put them down. And Rocky V had a great story and the fact the family solves problems with violence helps reinfornce their backgrounds. Thats how Rocky grew up and how his sonir raised. It's truly set in Rocky's world.

I just created an account just to wright down my thoughts about the latest Indiana Jones movie even though I'll probably recieve alot of hate for this.

I was around 16 when I saw Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull in theaters with a bunch of frieds. Prior to that I had, to be honest, never really sat down and watched an Indiana Jones movie from beginning to end. I remenber seing parts of Temple of Doom on TV when I was younger but that's about it.

Needless to say, I didn't have any of the expectations nor the hype that the older generation seemed to have, and I actually loved the movie! I loved the fact that it takes place during the 50's, wich I find a really charming time, all the action, suspense and different enviroments. Sure it had it's share of dumb moments, and I thought the little twists here and there were pretty obvious, but I actually liked the opening nuclear scene as well as the ending. Nuclear bombs and aliens have allways facinated me, and don't tell me that the motorbike race through the city isn't spectacular!

Since the day I saw Kingdom of the Crystal Skull in theaters I of course saw the old trilogy as well, and liked them alot to, but to be honest, and I know every one out there will hate me for this, the latest one is my favourite and to this day it's the one I have seen the most times!

The worst thing about Spider-Man 3 was sticking Venom in the story. It should have been The Lizard, with Dr. Connors having been in the previous film and already established. Having to fight Sandman was cool enough, but having to fight (and help) Connors, along with Harry, would have been the ultimate. There was no reason for Venom to be in the film, and he wasn't even LIKE Brock anyway. Raimi didn't even want him in the film, Marvel insisted. Otherwise, besides the pointless emo dancing scene, the movie was very good, Sandman was excellent, and the dynamic between Harry and Peter worked very well.

I always thought Lost World was an excellent sequel. It had a different tone, and I liked it overall. The T-Rex loose in SD was bad ass, because it was an homage to classic monster films. I don't really know why a lot of people "hated" it, considering it was well done.

Also, again, people "hated" Rocky V because they expected it to have another big fight. But that wasn't the point of the film. Rocky had already HAD 4 big fights. This was his career winding down, and him going broke and going back to real life, back to his roots. It was excellent taken in the context of what the series was really about: character driven drama. There just happened to be fights because Rocky is a boxer, but the series was not about the action.

On the other hand, I think Psycho 2 and Gremlins 2 are perfect examples of movies that never should have been made. A lot of sequels didn't need to be made. Some are excellent, others are terrible. In general, I think the only sequels that ever really work, are sequels that were pre-planned from the beginning, like Star Wars. The ones that usually wind up being garbage, are the ones that are just cheap cash-in attempts by the studio, because the first film made money. Then again, there are the rare examples where a sequel is (arguably) better than the first, such as Aliens, Terminator 2, The Dark Knight, the later (60s) Godzilla films, etc.

what you said about spider-man 3 is rigth.
many of my friends say it is the worst spider-man movie and that it sucks, but i think it is pretty good.
it's just too bad about venom, because many people see him as one of THE archenemies of spider-man, that's why many people expected so much from venom.
maybe it would have been better they didn't announce he was going to be in the movie until people saw it at the premiere.
i think people wouldn't complan that much then, because they wouldn't have had any expectations about venom

Actually Gremlins 2 is a tribute to Die Hard.Rambo Gizmo was neat.

In Rocky V, Rocky didn't even touch Tommy Gun when he's supposed to knock him out., u can see this pretty easily.

Spiderman 3 has too much love fuss going on, it's way too cheesy.He makes up with the Sandman in the end, that's true, but he's actually killing Eddie Brock, that doesn't make sense ! Spiderman 2 however, was the best in the series, one of the sequels that's slightly better than the original.Anyway Spiderman are the best Marvel movie series so far

Indy 4 is a blast though, lots of great moments.And I liked the intro scene, with the A-bomb test and the hiding in the refrigerator.The 50's were an awesome setting for the series.
IF you're aware of Von Danniken, who links archaeology and ufo mythology, the Aliens & the Ufo are no surprise, indeed.
But what I hated so bad about this movie, was the wedding.Did Roger Moore married Maud Adams in Octopussy? Or Sean Connery Ursula Andress? What a fucking ending.Indy got married.

I totally agree with the Halloween 3 entry... It's one of my fav stand-alone horror movies.
Some great aspects include Dean Cundy photography, classic Carpenter/Howarth score (similar to their Christine soundtrack, which is also great)... and Tom Atkins of course ! :)

i loved Crystal Skull and Spiderman 3. it seems sequels to really good movies usually get shit all over by the general public. i'm praying The Dark Knight Rises doesn't suffer the same fate, and get criticism that only revolves around the fact that it wasn't as good as The Dark Knight

I completely agree with your comment about Indiana Jones. It was a really good movie I enjoyed. I also agree what you said about critics. there are a lot of movies that I thought was good, but critics knit pick at things that are not even a big deal. I feel like people hate more movies now then they did before. A lot of people, I feel, go to rotten tomato and base their opinions off of what the critics say. I think that people don't like to form their own opinions now. I enjoy your site, keep up the good work.

I just have to say that I agree on everything you say about Indiana Jones. The same way you felt when you watched the third terminator-movie I felt when watching the Chrystal Skull in the theatre. I never knew it would be so hated and I felt it was extremely unfair when it happened. This is my first comment and I just felt I had to defend that movie somehow, to me it fits in the trilogy. Not nearly as good as the other three but Indy's old, the entire movie ends with him (almost) leaving the position as the worlds foremost explorer and archeologist to his son. And that is sort of what i take from that movie. Last Crusade gives you the idea that Indy can go on forever, but with this you really get the idea that he is sort of done.

I didn't prepare such a long comment, but I just wanted to defend Spielberg and Lucas in this movie. In short, I liked it. A lot.

Keep up the good work.

I always felt that Ghostbusters was timeless, and Ghostbusters 2 was charming in a 1989 time capsule sort-of-way. An all-rap soundtrack (not unlike the first TMNT), a mix of practical and really early digital effects (the beams), and influences from the Real Ghostbusters.
It's still one of my favorite movies, but it's a whole lot more dated than the first.

As for Crystal Skull, I actually enjoyed it. I mean, some might say it's outlandish, but the original trilogy wasn't exactly plausible. Last time I checked, ripped a man's heart through his chest without breaking the skin isn't an accepted medical practice. Still, I think the CGI spam brought it down, though. Get rid of the monkeys. That is all.

Sigh... I always hate to disagree with James, but I just can't bring myself to like Crystal Skull. I agree completely on the fridge, but... The thing is, aliens aren't mentioned anywhere is any classic mythologies, at least not bluntly, unless you use a far-fetched interpretation. The first three movies used epic artifacts that most people can really only dream about, but Crystal Skulls aren't even very well known. Eh... Just my opinion.

The funny thing about sequels is if they came out without a number on them, meaning if Spider-man 3 came out with the title "Spider-Man", (and there were no other Spider-man movies ever produced at the time until it came out) people would love it because it would have nothing to live up to. Every movie in a series should be appreciated in a different way like James said. I hate mindless-majority criticism.

I can't believe you mention Spider Man 3 & Terminator 3. I't look like everyone hates and spit on this movies. Actually I love Spider Man 3 more than even first two movies. It's because the things you mention. The struggle between you inside demons (remember Batman and his double personality) I think Spider Man 3 is good movie, not the best movie not great but good movie.
Also I have tons of post of T3 movie. Thousands of times I write comments that T3 make more sense than T2 movie. Think about it: How can the events in T2 can happen if they prevent the Judgement Day? It can't. Because of simple rule: reason - consequence . Judgement Day was unavoidable like Arnie said in the van. Think deeply and most of you understand. Love this review , I can't believe I see so many movies that I like. May be only Robocop 2 is missing. I think Robocop 2 is equally good to Robocop 1 which is one of my favorite franchise ever.

I think the problem with the fourth Indy movie is more that it tries too hard to be like the old ones, winking at the audience all the time.

And there are too many people going with him, his love interest, his son, that oder dude.

They could all well be in the movie, just not that much, Make it more about the character than about what he is supposed to do and it will fall into where it's supposed to fall.

Anyway... it is difficult to revive the franchise no doubt about that, especially since the 3rd movie was so good.

And about the fridge scene... in comparison to the other scenes like with the mine-cart or the rubber boat you could still think: Ok, it could happen if they were really, really lucky. But with the fridge it's like... even if it did not get destroyed by the explosion, Indy would have been smashed to death at the impact at least, no way of ever being able to survive that, not by any chance!

I think this pretty much stands for why this movie is inferior to the old ones, esp 1 & 3. It's more over the top, more ridiculous and does not take itself as seriously as it should have.

i didnt understand this either ! i liked the crystal skull... sure its cheesy but its supposed to be

the nerd has spoken

Really love this video. I'm sick of hearing people complaining about movies (and videogames) just because they're not like the classics. Iniana Jones 4 and Spider-man 3 were really cool movies (and some others of the list).

You did an awesome job, James. That makes me respect you more ^^

I love this video, mostly because I agree most the movies you pick. And I can almost promise you most people didn't like some of them simply because they heard how much other people disliked them, and they don't decide for themselves. But I completely disagree with Halloween 3, that movie was seriously awful. **spoiler alert** Stealing Stone Henge... seriously!?

Couldn't agree more with your selections. (I think Robocop 2, however, should've made the list. As it is the best of the Robocop films).

In my opinion, not only was Spider-Man 3 better than Spider-Man, but it is also still up there in the top 5 comic book films of all time (Just under the nolan batman films).

Indiana Jones, I'll admit... I disliked it when I first saw it in theatres, but repeated viewings have made me appreciate it more, and I see it as part of the classic series.

One thing, I'm pretty certain the alien in Kingdom of the Crystal Skull isn't based on the 50s movie aliens, it's based on real life grey alien reports

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. My friends and I all watched the entire Indiana Jones series one movie a week together from start to finish. We loved them all, and it took us back to when we could watch a movie and not nitpick about things or be upset that something was implausible. We enjoyed them for the characters, humor, action, and story telling. The same goes for the fourth movie. Sure it wasn't the best in the series (we think that honor goes to the third,) but we still loved it. We laughed together, cheered together whenever they escaped a trap or a bunch of bad guys, and chatted about all the little things we loved and hated afterwards. Overall, though, we thought it was a good movie. Then again, we also watched the Super Mario Bros. movie together and loved it for its camp. There's no accounting for taste, and I think everyone should just always try to have a good time. :)

i love sequels especially bad ones just cause theres usually so fun to watch.if any has a problem with sequels there just way to uptight.i know theres some really bad and unpleasant ones but i just ignore them

SM3 was the most dissapointed I've been at the movie theater ever. I've seen worse films, but I had high expectations for that one because of Venom, my favorite superhero villian that isn't in the Batman series. They turned him into a little angry child who is shorter and smaller then Peter Parker, which was absurd. In the comic books and tv series I grew up with, Eddie Brock (Venom) was a a massive guy who had uncontrollable rage towards Peter 24/7. Bottom line, the character was bad*ss in the comics, yet somehow Sam Raimi and the writers envisioned him as a pathetic weakling who is afraid to do anything himself until he gets lucky enough to be empowered by the symbiote. Just plain stupid and a ripoff to fans.

I agree with you 100% there , the only reason I dont like Spiderman 3 as much as the others is because of the replay value, I wouldnt watch Spiderman 3 as many times as I watched 1&2

Agree with everything but Spiderman 3 and Indiana Jones 4. I would throw Godfather 3 in that list. No where near the the first two, but it's still a decent film.

Makes sense to me. People would rather accept others point of view rather than support theirs because they can't come up with valid arguments. But not all people, of course. It's just opinion and this is why I'm typing this right now.
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Man, I love Indiana Jones 4. The refrigerator and the aliens were ok, but the tarzan thing was a little too much.

i pretty much agreed with everything the nerd said. with the exception to spider man 3. it was a decent movie but hardly worth any kinda praise. i honestly thought that venom was really under developed.

Totally agree with you about Season of the Witch...love that movie and they should have kept up with the Halloween anthology idea instead of butchering Micheal Myers. Interesting point about Crystal Skull I'll have to give that movie another chance.

You are right again James. This has to be one of your best lists ever. The only movies that truly deserve to be reviewed better are Spider Man 3, Ghostbusters 2, Back to the Future 3 and Rocky 5.
Spider Man 3 was an awesome film. When I saw this film at midnight when it came out, people cheered at every scene like the action scenes and the jokes. The action scenes were incredible, the SFX was awesome, it was fast paced, it was even more funnier this time around and it was a nice cap to the series. People bash that film for reasons that are so small like his hairstyle, he dances and cries for a 1.5 seconds. It's sad to see a film as great as SM3 ruined all by nitpickers who have nothing better to do with their lives. Most people who bash it never saw SM3 or they go with the popluar opinon. People I know have ruined this film by shoving their "opinon" down my throat. They hate because everyone else does. It sucks because all three films had been ruined for me by those fools. But my best friend Sean who saw the midnight show with me loved it and my Dad loved it too. My best friend is a actor and it was my dad who got me into film. So that says alot for me. SpiderMan 3 is awesome, grow up "smart reviewers." Quit looking at the bad parts and look at the good. Thank you James!!!!!!!!

The Back to the Future films still remain one of my favourite trilogies since I first saw them in 2004, having seen the Indiana Jones films a year before.
With Indiana Jones 4, I was already expecting less; my personal safeguard against any disappointment.
Now it may not have been perfection unto itself, but what the hell. It was good, historically inaccurate nonsense, as it should be.

Now a few days after having seen that one, I noticed a newspaper article about some peeps from Russia complaining about the historical inaccuracy of the flick.
I thought they were supposed to be like that. Not sure what's up with that.

Now, I haven't been able to watch any Halloween films at all.
The only ones I can find in retail here are Rob Zombie's Halloween, and John Carpenter's Halloween II.
Why not number one? I mean, shouldn't it have gotten some extra publicity and/or sales when the remake was released? Sheesh.

I never knew people considered "Back To The Future: Part III" a bad movie. Everyone I knew liked it when it came out, but we were ten years old...maybe the adults had a very different opinion. Either way, I think the trilogy works from beginning to end, and I have no complaints other than Marty getting so angry at being called a "chicken". That came completely out of nowhere.

"Crystal Skull" had its problems, but it was fun enough. I thought Harrison Ford looked pretty good, and I actually liked the refrigerator scene (I know, I know).

I actually like a lot the movie of indiana jones and the kingdom of the crystal skull. I never said that aliens doesn't belong in a indiana jones movie.

I saw a picture of Clerks 2 and got excited. That movie really should have been on this list. Even though the movie took place 10 years later and didn't take place in quick stop it still had that sense of familiarness. It also went places that no other movie would do just like a normal Kevin Smith movie. Also, at the end where the movie goes back to black and white you feel the same feeling that you did when you watched the first Clerks for the very first time 10 years ago. Over all that movie is my favorite movie of all time. After all the laughs and the donkey show it still goes back to that place and makes you feel happy. I can watch this movie 10 times over and still laugh.

Oh James, James, James... there is nothing cool about Spider-Man 3 at all. It was rushed, it was terrible, and Peter going emo is far from nitpicking, sir. that's a very key part of who he is, and it doesn't fit at all with everything else going on. It's a giant distraction that detracts from the film. Also was the needless insertion of Gwen Stacy after she'd been written out, the alteration of who Flint Marko was... a common thug who got superpowers, nothing sympathetic about him, but not overtly threatening either.

And all of that is Venom aside, James. You can't dismiss it all so offhandedly, and to be honest, that movie alone makes me beyond glad it's rebooted now.

for instant OMG PIRANAH 3D is a ripoff of jaws no because theres no shark
and for instance parnormal activiy 1 and 2 i think suck donkeykong ****

OH my goodess... Back to the Future 3? That might be one of the worst movies of all time, James!!!

A rare miss...

The only parts I didn't like in the new Indiana Jones was the CGI. Every part without it was pretty good I though.

I actually liked many of these films as well and couldn't understand why they were so panned. Good list.

@Crowbar - Spiderman takes place in the USA. Peter Parker is American, and Spiderman is an American hero. Get over it. I don't remember people whining when Superman used to pose with the American flag, and he's not even human.

I can definitely see why audiences hate Spider Man 3 so much. I liked it, but there were several things that I didn't like either.

For example, Spider-Man posing in front of the American Flag. I'm German, and I don't think there's anything wrong with a little patriotism, but I believe you should treat it like your penis - don't show it off in public and don't shove it into other people's faces. As a Non-American, this scene just seemed out of place.
The other thing was Venom. The design was pretty cool and the last battle against Spider-Man was a spectacle, but what I really hate was the portrayal of Eddie Brock. The depiction of him as a villain was incredibly forced. To me, he just came across as a sympathetic jerk, and I never really bought his transformation into Venom.

Aside from that, it was a pretty damn good flick.

Crystal Skull - yeah, I totally agree. I still don't fully understand why people hate it so much, to me, it's still a million times better than Temple of Doom.

This list is great! I think I'm the only one out of all my friends who actually enjoyed the new Indiana Jones movie for what it was. I also really liked Spider-Man 3. I think that audiences don't enjoy fantasy anymore. If you look at the latest reboots for Batman and James Bond, they take a much more serious tone than the older ones. The Batman movies of the past were like comic book movies, and the James Bond films were over the top and, at times, utterly ridiculous (i.e. Die Another Day).

Now, the new Batman movies are more serious than anything I've seen in a while, and Daniel Craig has turned Bond from a martini drinking, womanizing, winking at the camera type secret agent into a serious, depressed man with no personality and obsessed with revenge..........and audiences LOVE IT!!