Filmmaking can be a ruthless business. If a movie underperforms at the box office, it's unlikely that a studio will greenlight a sequel. As a result, most bad or even mediocre movies vanish without getting a follow-up. On some rare occasions, however, a middling film can get a second chance.
Many sequels to underwhelming movies follow after them in quality or get even worse. More rarely, a film franchise might turn itself around with its sequel. A mediocre movie's follow-up can fix some or all of the flaws of the first film and cause audiences to reconsider the franchise. Excellent sequels like The Suicide Squad,Quantum of Solace, and Prey are evidence of that.
10 The Suicide Squad
The Suicide Squad is a standalone sequel to 2016's Suicide Squad. It features a similar premise and some returning characters but very few links beyond that. Critics panned Suicide Squad for its weak storytelling and rushed pacing, despite praising the DCEU movie for its performances and some action sequences.
The Suicide Squad includes everything that works about Suicide Squad, including Margot Robbie's Harley Quinn, grittier action than other DCEU projects, and dark comedy. However, it also vastly expands the roster of likable characters and adds a compelling, hard-hitting story into the mix. The result is one of the DCEU's most beloved movies.
9 Skyfall
The James Bond franchise has a reputation for inconsistency. The Daniel Craig era exemplifies this, as critics and fans panned almost half of its films. One of the biggest upswings in quality comes between Quantum of Solace and Skyfall. Fans consider Quantum of Solace to be one of Bond's most boring outings, due to its low-stakes plot and questionable action.
By contrast, Skyfall is one of the most applauded James Bond movies ever. It takes things on a deeply personal level as Bond has to revisit his past and protect M from a former MI6 agent. It combines an emotional story, shocking plot twists, impressive character work, and slick action that rivals any other film.
8 Star Trek II: The Wrath Of Khan
Star Trek is a household name the world over. However, its first film is regarded as a middling effort, even by most fans. Star Trek: The Motion Picture is a proposed pilot for a new Star Trek series extended to film length. As such, it's a more subdued affair that struggles with pacing because it's padded out.
Star Trek II: Wrath of Khan avoids these problems. It's a bombastic and action-packed science-fiction film that has gone down in history as one of Star Trek's best movies. This is the beginning of a trend for Star Trek, wherein odd-numbered films underwhelm audiences, only for their even-numbered follow-ups to prove more successful.
7 The Purge: Anarchy
No Purge movie has ever been a critical darling. However, The Purge is also a disappointment to audiences. The Purge is set in a fascinating and unique society where all crime becomes legal for twelve hours. However, the original film uses this for a fairly mundane home invasion thriller.
The Purge: Anarchy lives up to its premise far better than the original. The sequel takes place on the streets during the Purge, with innocent citizens having to survive off of their wits and the benevolence of strangers. In an unusual twist, many fans also believe that The Purge: Election Year, the franchise's third film, is a step up from The Purge: Anarchy.
6 Thor: Ragnarok
Few Marvel Cinematic Universe movies are ever outright panned. However, the Thor movies are well-known for being less impressive than other main characters' outings. In particular, Thor: The Dark World disappoints fans with its continued focus on its human cast, unambitious storytelling, and lack of character development for anyone besides Loki.
Thor: Ragnarok, however, is widely regarded as one of the MCU's best movies. It takes the Thor series in a bold new direction by forefronting comedy over anything else. It lands joke after joke while still giving the audience consistent character development and impressive action scenes.
5 The Hobbit: The Desolation Of Smaug
The Hobbit movies lack the universal praise of The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Fans and critics alike consider the trilogy to be less impressive, less ambitious, and less necessary than the beloved films they're a prequel to. However, many critics still consider The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug better than The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.
Some Tolkien fans take issue with The Desolation of Smaug's greater diversions from the source material. However, critics and general filmgoers like its improved action and more even pacing. In addition, Smaug has received praise as The Hobbit trilogy's most impressive villain, and the second film gives him the most prominence by far.
4 Annabelle: Creation
Many fans and critics hold Annabelle as the weakest link in The Conjuring cinematic universe. The film has received criticism for its lack of scares, atmosphere, and heavy reliance on common tropes. As a result, many were wary of Annabelle: Creation, a prequel.
However, Annabelle: Creation has become far more successful than the first film. Critics have praised its atmosphere and old-school horror stylings, with many comparing it to the very first The Conjuring in quality. Audiences consider it a much scarier experience that uses the uncanny fear of humanlike dolls to its full potential.
3 Prey
No film in the Predator franchise has reached the heights of the original Predator in critics' or viewers' eyes. However, few Predator movies have disappointed audiences more than The Predator. It's an attempted reinvention of the franchise that critics panned for its uninspired plot and underwhelming action.
Prey is the fifth installment in the Predator franchise. It abandons the present-day setting for a historical story focusing on Comanche healer and warrior Naru as she goes head-to-head with a Predator. Fans and critics have praised it as the best installment since the original, highlighting its impressive use of setting, sympathetic characters, and well-shot action.
2 Friday The 13th Part VI: Jason Lives
Slasher movies rarely do well with film critics. Outside of a few standouts, many see the genre as derivative and pointlessly violent. Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives is a rare exception. Aside from making horror movie history by resurrecting Jason Voorhees, Part VI is famous for its unusually deep characters, intelligent writing, and meta-humor regarding the horror genre.
Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives' warm response is all the more impressive considering the film it follows. Friday the 13th Part V: A New Beginning is one of the more divisive entries in the franchise, even among diehard fans. Its shallow plot and absence of Jason result in a boring and unnecessary film.
1 Godzilla Vs. Kong
Godzilla: King of the Monsters is the worst-reviewed movie in the Godzilla film series and one that many fans are ambivalent toward. It struggles beneath a convoluted plot that places far too much emphasis on human characters and not enough on the epic struggle between Godzilla and King Ghidorah.
By contrast, Godzilla vs. Kong is a crowd-pleaser that's also drawn appreciative reviews from critics. Its more straightforward plot and satisfying action have proven exactly what audiences go to see Godzilla and King Kong movies for. It's become the best-reviewed MonsterVerse movie, a sharp contrast to its predecessor.