Movie sequels that surpassed the original?

Mad max 2

Godfather II

Empire Strikes Back

I wouldn't say that surpassed but I have always liked the Empire Strikes Back better than Star Wars.

"The Godfather: Part II" is the obvious answer here.

r1 I'd agree on the second Mad Max; it gets show on TV much more than the others. "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation" is a contender, or at least it is the best of the "Vacation" sequels. I'm not including/excluding the reboot since I haven't seen it.

Godfather II

I liked Xanadu 2 but I missed Olivia.

I like "After the Thin Man" better than the first one.

Showgirls 2: Pennies from Heaven

The Silence of the Lambs.

Dawson's 100-Load Labor Day

Toy Story 2, Terminator 2: Judgement Day, X-Men 2

Many people say ALIENS, but I disagree. Both are great, but I prefer the claustrophobic horror of the first to the action of the second.

The Dark Knight

Not necessarily better but I always preferred The Jewel of the Nile. I think it has a lot to do with the music videos and I very much associated them with my childhood.

Grease 2

Lethal Weapon 2

Maybe not better, but just as good:

Damien: Omen II

ALIEN and ALIENS are two very different films (the latter is really a war movie), but I love them both.

"Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan"

Batman Returns is far more entertaining and interesting than Batman.

Michelle Pfieffer elevates everyone around her in it, including Michael Keaton.

People say Godfather II because sequels are notoriously horrid, however the two films are truly on equal standing and should be viewed as one big epic split in to two halves.

Aliens!

Can't think of a single one.

I know for years The Godfather Part II was one of the most common answers but for me, I find it a bit of a slog to get through. It's still a good film but I think the first film is still superior.

The Conners

Superman II

I notoriously love the second book in a trilogy or series so it’s no surprise that I might enjoy the sequels. It’s nice because the world building is foundational and your familiar with the characters so you can move plot along at a faster pace and have more twists since your dealing with a longer history. So I was excited to see the world presented for the first time in film for the Hunger Games, but the twists and turns of Catching Fire made it more exciting for me as a story and film.

Arthur II: On the Rocks

Kill Billl vol,2

I thought Beverly Hills Cop II was as good as the first movie.

I enjoyed Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade more than Raiders of the Lost Ark.

I enjoy Temple of Doom more than the other two. It's a darker, funnier, and more vibrant film.

Superman II.

Fuck. How old are you people?

Sister act 2

Kill Bill Vol ll

Superman ll

Star Trek ll: The Wrath of Kahn

Godfather ll

A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors.

This was the film that MADE Freddy.

Toy Story 3 was better than 1 & 2.

Shrek 2 .

Addams Family Values

A Very Brady Sequel

Has anyone seen The Godfather Part 2?

If the sequel is better, then why don't they just make that one the original and forget the original original?

Terminator 2

R42, all jokes aside, they’ve actually done this before. Missing in Action 2 was filmed after the first one was shot but before it was released. The studio Cannon thought the sequel was the better film, so they released that one first and marketed the original as a prequel.

SVU is way better than the original L&O

r3, that's what immediately came to mind

Terminator 2 Judgment Day.

Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior

Looks who’s talking 2