Many movie sequels are considered to be better than the original movie. But which sequels actually have higher scores on Rotten Tomatoes?
Though many movie sequels are deemed by fans to be better than the original, some are actually ranked as better with numerical proof. Regarded as one of the most popular movie ranking sites, Rotten Tomatoes gathers opinions from hundreds of film and television critics to create what they call the Tomatometer score. Any score over 60% is considered to be "fresh," or an overall well-received movie, while any score under 60% is considered "rotten," which is pretty self-explanatory.
These scores are highly trusted in the film community and thought to be a good representation of critical recommendation. Yet, this doesn't mean the numbers don't spark debate and disagreements. For example, many fans of The Terminator franchise will assert that Terminator 2: Judgment Day is even better than the original. However, while the first film has a whopping 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, the sequel only has a ranking of 73% on the Tomatometer. Although the numeric values might may it easy to compare one film to another, these critic reviews are still opinions at the end of the day, and are not the final say in determining which film is truly the best. But that doesn't mean it isn't still fun to take a look!
In the second installment of the beloved film franchise, Harry Potter and his friends navigate their second year at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry as a dark and mysterious presence plagues the school.
While Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, the original film in the series, boasts a high 81% on Rotten Tomatoes, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets manages to surpass this with a rating of 82%. This was a close one, but critics appear to favor the second over the first. The site even states that The Chamber of Secrets is "both darker and livelier than its predecessor," amounting to its 1% higher score on the Tomatometer. Nevertheless, the high percentages for both films- as well as for the rest of the series- shows how loved these movies are by critics and fans alike.
Spider-Man 2 follows up with Tobey Maguire's Peter Parker after two years of fighting crime as Spider-Man, to which he has since given up due to a series of personal and professional struggles. However, he is drawn back to the suit after scientist Dr. Otto Octavius becomes a dangerous villain that must be defeated.
With a 93% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, Spider-Man 2 outranks its predecessor, Spider-Man, which has a slightly lower rating of 90% on the Tomatometer. The higher mark may be attributed to what critics call a "deeper emotional focus" as well as the fact that it builds upon an already loved and well-received film. Some even attribute Spider-Man 2 to be the best and most iconic film centered on the Marvel superhero. Out of the many adaptations of the classic comic, these two films are among the highest-rated.
Often touted as one of the best of the series, Star Wars: Episode IV- The Empire Strikes Back follows Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Princess Leia, and Chewbacca as they face attack by Imperial forces. The film is perhaps best remembered for the iconic duel between Luke and his father, Darth Vader, AKA Anakin Skywalker.
Though the original film, Star Wars: Episode IV- A New Hope, earns its place on Rotten Tomatoes with a rating of 92%, The Empire Strikes Back wins this one with a 94% on the Tomatometer. It has the highest rating on the site out of all of the Star Wars films and spin-offs. Episode V may have initially received mixed reviews due to its dark and sinister nature, but ultimately it has withstood the test of time as being one of the most critically-acclaimed films ever made.
In this beloved sequel to Batman Begins, Christian Bale's Batman works alongside Lt. Jim Gordon and DA Harvey Dent to fight organized crime in Gotham City, ultimately facing the criminal mastermind known as "The Joker."
The Dark Knight is favored considerably on Rotten Tomatoes with a score of 94%, while the predecessor falls behind with a score of 84% on the Tomatometer. While the original is met with overall positive reviews, The Dark Knight outshines the first as one of the most influential superhero films of all time. It was also Heath Ledger's penultimate film role before his death, and one of his most highly acclaimed.
In the sequel to the animated classic, Fiona brings her new husband Shrek to meet her parents in the kingdom of Far Far Away while her Fairy Godmother plots to destroy the ogres' marriage.
Shrek 2 narrowly beats out the original film with a rating of 89% on Rotten Tomatoes, with Shrek falling behind with the slightly lower score of 88% on the Tomatometer. The original film was definitely a hard one to follow, but this sequel does a fantastic job of bringing new, exciting characters to life while also further delving into the characters everyone knows and loves. Nevertheless, the meager one percent difference between the two scores proves both films are just about equally loved by critics.
