Summary

• Legacy sequels can succeed by alluding to the original while telling an original story, like in the case of Scream.
• Legacy sequels such as The Matrix Resurrections include nostalgia and meta-humor while itting to being unnecessary.
• Creating a successful legacy sequel might involve disconnecting it from the original story, like in Mad Max: Fury Road, to avoid continuity issues.

The best legacy movie sequels do not need to be better than the original to be good. However, the original movie or movies will still have a bearing on how the legacy sequel is received. All sequels are inherently built upon something else, oftentimes a beloved story that many people will believe should not be continued at the risk of creating continuity issues and maligning the material. However good a legacy sequel may be in its own right, it cannot escape the shadow of its predecessor.

However, some of the best legacy sequels allude to the original while still telling an original story. Legacy sequels can always benefit from a tasteful amount of nostalgia if their own stories have enough substance. Perhaps the easiest way to produce a successful legacy sequel is to create a story that is disconnected from the original, as is the case with the massively acclaimed Mad Max: Fury Road. It is always more challenging to try to extend the original story, especially when fans are likely to have mixed feelings about it.

10 Scream (2022)

The Scream "requel" makes the best of the old and the new.

The Scream sequels will never quite live up to the surprises of the first movie, as those plot points are now established tropes that need to be subverted again. A movie that can't decide if it is a reboot or a sequel and is the first in the franchise to not be directed by Wes Craven seems like it would be unremarkable. However, the fifth Scream installment is a welcome return to the referential humor of the first two movies that blends legacy and new elements seamlessly — and is generally much better than the worst movies of the Scream franchise.

Neve Campbell, Courtney Cox, and David Arquette all return, but the addition of Melissa Barerra and Jenna Ortega breathes new life into the franchise. The plot is somewhat predictable, but it is a solid foundation for plenty of nostalgia and dark humor. The new Scream is doubtlessly another case of studios trying to make the most of existing IP, but it is nonetheless enjoyable.

9 The Matrix Resurrections (2021)

The Matrix Resurrections is a self-deprecating sequel that still has heart.

The Matrix Resurrections is divisive, to say the least. It has its weaknesses: fix Trinity's death would have been better if she had been given more screen time as herself. However, Resurrections expands the setting organically and has some great moments of meta-humor that recognize that it is, in fact, an unnecessary legacy sequel. After itting to this, Resurrections can just enjoy itself in retconning the story to a happy ending.

Namely, Neo and Trinity are both resurrected and get the happy ending they didn't from The Matrix Revolutions' ending. The concept of the One is reinvented with Trinity gaining the same powers as Neo, making them the ultimate power couple of this world. With Jada Pinkett Smith also making an excellent return, and Jessica Henwick and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II proving to be worthy additions to the franchise, Resurrections is nowhere near as bad as some people make it out to be.

8 Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)

No Way Home serves as a legacy sequel to earlier Spider-Man movies.

While No Way Home is mostly (ittedly amazing) fan service, there are still some properly serious moments that facilitate Holland's Peter's character development, setting him up for future sequels.

Tom Holland's third Spider-Man movie is indulgent in a similar way to The Matrix's legacy sequel. The sheer number of returning actors, many of whom had not been established as being a part of the MCU, could have bogged down the plot of the movie. Additionally, the entire plot is contrived by Peter and Dr. Strange making objectively bad decisions. However, any plot holes in Spider-Man: Now Way Home are overshadowed by everyone, from the writers to the audience to the characters, having unapologetic fun.

The lead-up to No Way Home was dominated by the "secret" of Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield's cameos. The three Spider-Man actors have a great dynamic on screen, and plenty of jokes are derived from the circumstances. The returning villains are played by some incredible actors who only elevate the movie. While No Way Home is mostly (ittedly amazing) fan service, there are still some properly serious moments that facilitate Holland's Peter's character development, setting him up for future sequels.

7 Doctor Sleep (2019)

Doctor Sleep earned Stephen King's stamp of approval.

Stephen King's Doctor Sleep novel is a kind of literary legacy sequel, published in 2013 as a continuation of the story of 1977's The Shining. While it is considered to be one of the best horror movies of all time, the movie adaptation of The Shining is famously hated by King. Making movie adaptations of King's works is not inherently hazardous, but the Doctor Sleep movie faced the challenges of living up to The Shining's acclaim but avoiding the things that made King hate it.

Doctor Sleep found a strong lead in Ewan McGregor as an adult Danny Torrence, who helms a twisting and intensely creepy horror that avoids some of the pitfalls of its predecessor. Rebecca Ferguson and Jacob Trembley also give excellent performances, while the story and setting play with references to the original but are not dependent upon them. The movie achieved the one thing it certainly wanted: the creator's approval. King told Entertainment Weekly: "Everything that I ever disliked about the Kubrick version of The Shining is redeemed for me here [in Doctor Sleep's script]."

6 The Color Of Money (1986)

One of the first legacy sequels ever is also one of the best.

Granted, 1961's The Hustler is an incredibly well-reviewed movie and considered a classic. However, the surprise sequel that came more than 20 years later has even better longevity. The Color of Money picked out Tom Cruise early in his career, discovering his amazing on-screen dynamic with legacy actor Paul Newman. Martin Scorsese directed and turned the concept of a character study taking place in a pool hall into a new story.

Scorsese expands the story of Edward “Fast Eddie” Felson with a tried-and-true-plot device to push character development: having Eddie take on a protégé. The results were astounding, as Newman won the Oscar for Best Leading Actor. Additionally, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio was nominated for Best ing Actress while Richard Price was nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay. The drama and interpersonal relationships made The Color of Money the movie that proved the idea of legacy sequels could work.

5 Blade Runner 2049 (2017)

Blade Runner 2049 expands its predecessor's AI storyline and techno setting.

For the most part, Blade Runner 2049 hands the story over to new characters, namely Ryan Gosling's K. K's experiences as a replicant who briefly believes that he is the child of Rick Deckard and Rachael is an impactful way to expand the previous movie's discourse on artificial intelligence. The mystery builds tension gradually and subverts the most obvious tropes for an engaging new story.

Additionally, Blade Runner 2049 is one of the few sci-fi or fantasy legacy sequels that handles the advancement of CGI technology well. While some legacy sequels go overboard with the new tools available, Blade Runner 2049 features CGI at the moments when it will be most useful to the setting, while still showing other gritty and completely real locations. Blade Runner 2049 is evidence that new CGI can be enormously beneficial without overwhelming the movie.

4 Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015)

The Force Awakens returns to the origins of Star Wars.

The biggest criticism of Star Wars: The Force Awakens is that it essentially replicates the plot of the original Star Wars with some of the characters shuffled around. However, in doing this, Star Wars returns to the original story and aesthetics, making for one of the biggest movie events ever. Starting with the same basic plot of A New Hope and reimagining it from there does not make The Force Awakens a bad movie, as it emphasizes the legacy cast ing on the torch to the new characters.

However, The Force Awakens still adds new elements to the story that make the world of Star Wars bigger. With the creation of Finn, the movie gave a sense of what life is like for the Stormtroopers and presented the possibility that they could defect. Modern CGI is used to recreate the style of the original trilogy without being impeded by slower technology. Of course, the new cast have great interactions with the legacy characters. Overall, most Star Wars fans were satisfied with The Force Awakens, and it was only the following sequels that caused backlash.

3 Top Gun: Maverick (2022)

Top Gun: Maverick has more aerial action with new beloved characters.

Tom Cruise, famous for performing most of the stunts in the Mission Impossible movies, returned to Top Gun determined to do the same. The authentic aerial sequences won the movie attention and praise, while the story holds up just as well. While Cruise is still the headliner, Top Gun: Maverick includes several new characters who are instantly likable and fit into some familiar dynamics of the Top Gun franchise.

Miles Teller shines as Goose's son Rooster, while Glen Powell becomes a new Iceman-like character as Hangman. The overall story follows a typical legacy sequel formula of an original character becoming a mentor to the new generation but takes the less-seen approach of focusing on the mentor's perspective. With natural tensions between Maverick and Rooster fueling conflict and Val Kilmer's amazing cameo, Top Gun: Maverick is an emotional and thrilling legacy sequel.

2 Creed (2015)

Adonis Creed is a worthy successor to Rocky Balboa.

Donnie's and Rocky's stories are both about never giving in, but Donnie's is also about living up to his father's legacy.

Creed boasts many of the same elements that made Rocky successful: the underdog athlete story, triumphant training montages, and the conclusion of the protagonist not winning but winning. However, new narrative elements are incorporated into Donnie's story that make him a compelling character in his own right. Donnie's and Rocky's stories are both about never giving in, but Donnie's is also about living up to his father's legacy.

Michael B. Jordan was the perfect person to take on the role of the new protagonist, while Sylvester Stallone's return as Rocky completed the story. The actors have a great dynamic and Stallone's presence brings an additional element of legacy to the narrative. All of this is complemented by amazing cinematography and fight scenes, making Creed one of the best installments of all the Creed and Rocky movies — second only to the first Rocky.

1 Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)

Mad Max: Fury Road's action and settings are unparalleled.

The gritty yet vibrant setting of Mad Max: Fury Road is the perfect backdrop for an hours-long uninterrupted chase, with some amazing stunts and a simple but effective story. Tom Hardy and Charlize Theron are the perfect people to take over the franchise, starring as intensely focused and understated action heroes. Other noteworthy actors such as Nicholas Hoult and Zoë Kravitz fill up the ing roles, rounding out the world by showing a multitude of different life experiences within it.

George Miller's dystopia is also filled with subtle but powerful symbolism that makes the story more profound. While many movies like it claim the same, Mad Max: Fury Road is one of the few legacy sequels that can truly stand on its own. It is still affected by its predecessors but succeeds in telling a rich, self-contained story that stands out as the best legacy sequel ever seen.

Source: Entertainment Weekly