Rocky 2 (1979)
In 1976 a boxing match would go the distance when a raw up and coming fighter would take on the world champ in Rocky. An award winning, critical and financial hit with a behind the scenes story as awesome and the in-ring story. Three years later Balboa and Creed would lock up in the rematch of the century in Rocky II with Stallone taking over the directing duties.
Now Rocky II didn’t reach the same critical acclaim as the first but it was well received and there was still an intricacy in the emotional elements of the story in the hands of Stallone’s direction that made the film a solid follow-up in the underdog story of Rocky Balboa. Stallone would take the series to much more superficial and flashy levels in parts 3 and 4 but Rocky II still holds up as one of the better films in the franchise when relying on the dramatic layering of the character arcs. It delivers all the training montages and in-ring action you’d want from a boxing flick but to me Rocky II was a movie that thrived during the quiet moments between the action with Rocky navigating his life outside the ring with Adrian, Mickey, and a new baby. While Weather shines as Creed on the counter side of the plot hell bent on getting his redemption with a clean win. And to me Rocky II still holds up as one of the better films in the long-lasting franchise.
Aliens (1986)
Ridley Scott would deliver a sci-fi horror masterpiece with 1979’s Alien. In would come director James Cameron seven years later and like he would do with the Terminator franchise he would take a dark and gritty film and use it to create a blockbuster action sequel with Aliens in 1986. A movie that, like Terminator 2, would raise the cinematic spectacle to awesome levels.
The first two Alien and Terminator movies almost mirror one another. If you want a gritty, claustrophobic sci-fi horror thriller then Alien is a go-to. If you want that same atmosphere but instead served as a big macho action adventure then Aliens is the film to see because Cameron took this small concept and turned it into a massive, large scale action thriller with endless memorable moments and a buffet of unnerving suspense and high-octane action. I love the cast in this sequel. I love the practical effects, the grimy production design and the immaculate direction from Cameron. Plus, this sequel sticks the landing perfectly. I think the closing to this 2hr plus long spectacle ride is delightfully satisfying with Ripley in the exosuit battling the xenomorph one on one. Many people consider this to be a better film and while that is up for debate, I certainly think it’s an incredible film that succeeds on every level as a sequel.
Superman II (1980)
The Man of Steel would make his big screen debut in 1978’s Superman and it was extremely well received. Now there was always intended to be a sequel for the caped hero since they were shot simultaneously. After some director issues Richard Donner, with 75% of his sequel shot would be fired, Richard Lester would come in and Superman II would come in 1980.
Growing up I was definitely a Superman II kid. I watched this movie so many times. I loved the humor as a kid and the villainous trio of Zod, Ursa and Non were a perfect counter to Superman. This sequel was shot with the first film, there was a highly publicized change in directors, but it doesn’t hurt the finished product. I think both Donner and Lester’s directorial vision blends well enough to keep the continuity. As an adult the humor does get a bit too slapstick but overall, I still love the comic book world this movie captures. The pace is tighter, the action is more imposing and more harrowing. It’s cliche but Superman II does feel like the pages of a comic book playing out on the big screen with just enough camp to complement the melodrama and when the finale kicks in and Superman battles Zod in Metropolis the result still can put a smile on my face and hearken back to the kid inside me who loved the Man of Steel.
Halloween II (1981)
John Carpenter’s Halloween would introduce a new icon to the horror genre while also giving the genre what many people consider to be a horror masterpiece. It was natural a sequel would come. Carpenter essentially refused to direct and appointed the duties to Rick Rosenthal and in 1981 Halloween II would be released continuing the story of Laurie Strode and Michael Myers.
This was another sequel growing up that I actually preferred over the original. I know the first is a horror classic and its slow plotting and methodical pacing is intentional. But personally, I just slightly prefer this sequel. I like its tighter pacing, the increased body count and elevated slasher vibe. I like the hospital settings and all the confined tension that comes from the shadows. Plus, Myers has much more to do, and I always loved it. This movie naturally wasn’t as favorable with the critics but when looking at all the terrible Halloween sequels that would come over the years Halloween II may not be as traditionally good as the first, but is a worthy contender of it that would have held up much better over time had the series died at the end of this film with Strode and Myers closing out their battle. But when going back to revisit this franchise each season, I always watch the first, simply to set up the enjoyable terror of this sequel.
Empire Strikes Back (1980)
To say 1977’s Star Wars was a revolutionary cinematic experience would be an understatement. Years would slowly tick by paving the way for the most anticipated sequel of all time. The pressure and expectations were through the roof and when The Empire Strikes Back would be released in 1980 it would end up being one of the greatest sequels of all time.
I love all three of the original Star Wars films, but The Empire Strikes Back was hands down, my favorite as a kid. I had this movie on VHS and would watch it every Saturday and Sunday morning with my cereal before going out to play for years. There was so much pressure on this sequel to success and not only did it live up to the high bar set from the original it knocks it out of the park with bigger, more adrenaline pumping action, higher stakes, more awesome characters, incredible worldbuilding and all the same old charm form the core characters to make for a sequel that went bigger and better in all the ways you could hope for. Now I’ve always felt the Star Wars movies were a bit too talky, even as an adult but what I love about Empire Strikes Back is that it’s more engaging, a bit higher energy with a great balance between the heroes and the villains. This sequel didn’t ride the coattails of the first. It built its own legitimacy and would end up being in my opinion the best sequel ever.
Shaft’s Big Score! (1972)
In 1971 Shaft would be released starring Richard Rountree as a private detective men wanted to be, and women wanted to be with. It was a modest hit pulling in $13k on a half a million budget so a sequel would come one year later in 1972’s Shaft’s Big Score, a follow-up that ramped up the action, elevated the energy, and dialed up the style.
I remember growing up I had this friend whose parents had great jobs. They had a nice house. They had the new release snacks you could eat while watching commercials for them. They also had that massive textbook 80s entertainment system, and they were movie geeks with quite the little VCR bootlegging racket going on. Their home collection of movies in the converted hall closet was a treasure trove and in their collection was the Shaft movies and my favorite of them all was Shaft’s Big Score. The original was ok, I appreciate its slow burn crime procedural much more as an adult but as a kid Shaft Big Score had it all. It had cool music, big action, style, and sex appeal that made it feel like an action movie we shouldn’t have been watching as a kid. Then, front-and-center was Richard Roundtree as Shaft a smooth talker that was never in over his head. And I still think this sequel is my favorite in the Roundtree Shaft era.
Magnum Force (1973)
Clint Eastwood would step into an iconic character when he would play the grizzled cop Harry Callahan in 1971’s Dirty Harry. The film was a hit so a couple years later in 1973 Eastwood grabbed his famous Smith & Wesson revolver once again to take on vigilante cops in the follow-up sequel Magnum Force.
I never watched this movie completely until my college years, but it was one I remember seeing on the TV when I was a kid. What stood out to “little me” was the motorcycle cops as the villains, and how Post’s direction would often frame the character without their face in view which really hit me with an eerie vibe as a kid. Watching it later I wouldn’t say I like it better than Dirty Harry, but I do appreciate the added style to Magnum Force. You get all the tough-as-nails, anti-authority gusto from Eastwood. But you also get elevated stunt work, more elaborate camera angles, and action sequences that hit a little harder than in Dirty Harry. The group of vigilante cops in action are menacing enough, they’re a little thin on the writing side but they work for a sequel that repeats what was successful from the first while really only elevating the polish. It’s the same Cadillac but this time with a great wax job that makes driving the car feel new again.
The Road Warrior (1981)
This was one of those cases where a sequel would turn a franchise into a global success. When Mad Max was released in 1979 it would find success as a gritty, independent film out of Australia. But when Mad Max 2, known to many as The Road Warrior, would be released in 1981 it would turn the character of Mad Max into an action icon for years to come.
Mad Max is an iconic flick, but I think most would agree The Road Warrior is a masterclass in practical action and thrilling stunt work that took the character to legendary levels. This sequel took a small indie film and turned it into a global franchise. It’s filled with wildly eccentric characters and bold performances led by Mel Gibson who is a complete badass. Lord Humungus and Wez lead a delightfully sadistic crew of villains, and the pace is dialed up to breakneck speed. But what sets this movie apart is the massive action set pieces that still look as visually exciting here in 2025 as they did back in 1981. I watched this movie so many times when I was a kid. I loved the amusement park ride of carnage that it delivered. It was and still is able to thrive on its foreboding tension and an ominous atmosphere. And where many sequels hope to simply succeed, The Road Warrior with its nonstop action and suspense was a sequel that turned the character of Mad Max into an action legend in cinema.
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982)
Now Star Trek had long been a staple for TV audiences by the time Star Trek: The Motion Picture would be released in 1979. It was a critical and financial success so there was no doubt a sequel would come. But when Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan was released, its popularity would quickly surpass the original to go down as the most well-known film in this franchise.
Now I’ve never been a huge sci-fan. I liked Star Wars but was never really a Star Trek guy despite watching the series so many times on TV. With that said, I did really enjoy this follow up sequel that audiences and critics seemed to enjoy more than the original. The Wrath of Kahn was the movie I remembered watching many times growing up. Those creatures that went into your ear creeped me out as a kid, and Ricardo Montalban’s performance was imposingly menacing as a kid and has morphed into being comically menacing as an adult. Overall, I just enjoyed this adventure and the stakes on the line give the plot hard hitting ramifications that completely locked me in as a kid. The Wrath of Kahn has all the familiar faces in place and counters this with a world class villain in Kahn and it makes this sci-fi adventure the complete package. This movie never turned me into a Trekkie, but it is my favorite movie in the Shatner/Nimoy feature film series.
Cheech and Chong’s Next Movie (1980)
I think everyone would agree that Cheech & Chong are the godfathers of the buddy stoner comedy and their rolling out film Up in Smoke from 1978 was a relative success. So, the fun-loving duo would hit the silver screen again in 1980 with Cheech and Chong’s Next Movie. A sequel that may not have been as good as Up in Smoke but one that still delivers some laughs.
I remember an older brother of a buddy of mine had a few Cheech & Chong movies on VHS. This was one of them and as a kid I loved it even though I had no idea what I was really watching. I knew it was crude and edgy, and it made me laugh even though most of the jokes went over my head until I was in high school. I wouldn’t say I prefer this sequel over Up in Smoke, but I still love the comical absurdity of this story. This movie is like a comical carnival sideshow and it’s a blast. The jokes are firing much quicker in this movie and the over-the-top silliness of it all still cracks me up as an adult. I love Cheech & Chong; their chemistry is so natural as is their comedic timing. And sure, this sequel kept the same themes but it certainly does its own thing. It’s wild, it’s absurd, it’s raunchy in splashes, yet it’s all lined with a quick witted and clever sensor of humor that makes it dumb fun at its finest.
Anthony J. Digioia II © 2025 SilverScreen Analysis & Movies Never Say Die
