12 incredible sequels that were better than the originals, from Paddington 2 to The Dark Knight

Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter for all the latest entertainment news and reviews Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. open image in gallery Charlize Theron in ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’, Paddington in ‘Paddington 2’ and Heath Ledger in ‘The Dark Knight' Terminator 2: Judgement Day James Cameron’s 1984 sci-fi action hit The Terminator, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger as a terrifying time-traveling cyborg assassin was a near-perfect chase movie, but Terminator 2: Judgement Day took those same ideas and turned everything up a notch. open image in gallery Robert De Niro as the young Vito Corleone in ‘The Godfather Part II' Evil Dead II Sam Raimi’s debut independent horror Evil Dead became his calling card in 1981. The Independent’s Geoffrey McNab called it a “superior sequel so full of charm and good humour that it should delight audiences everywhere.” open image in gallery ‘Puss In Boots: The Last Wish’: Mortality, for kids Puss In Boots: The Last Wish There was hardly a clamor for a sequel to the serviceable Shrek spin-off Puss In Boots, so little wonder that the follow-up film languished in development hell for over a decade. The Chicago Tribune delivered one of many reviews that said the sequel “improves upon its predecessor in almost every way.” The Independent’s Al Horner went a step further, calling it “the definitive superhero movie.” open image in gallery Alfred Molina as the villainous Doctor Octopus in 2004’s ‘Spider-Man 2’ The Dark Knight The difference between a superhero movie soaring or taking a dive often hinges on the strength of the villain, and The Dark Knight had one for the ages.