The 20 worst sequels of all time

   We've gone over the best sequels and now it's time to look at the ugly flip side- when things go horribly wrong. A great sequel enhances the reputation of the original. The worst ones put a stain on it that never comes out. Now there are a million bad sequels out there, but you won't find "Police Academy 6" or "Friday the 13th Part VII" on this list because nobody cares about those horrid franchises. They were never good. Horror sequels were largely ignored because they could easily fill up the whole list. Every movie on this list is the sequel to a good or great film. A few of these films broke the hearts of moviegoers who are still trying to figure out how something so good went so bad. It's like when a romantic relationship goes sour. Please excuse the occasional profanity here but it's completely justified.

20. "Staying Alive"(1983)
If you ever wondered how John Travolta's career fell into such a huge slump in the '80s, this Sylvester Stallone directed sequel to "Saturday Night Fever" should help clear things up. Sly put JT through his Rocky workout regimen, but he must have left all of Tony Manero's charm and likability on the cutting room floor. He's now a boring jerk trying to make it as a dancer on Broadway. He finally lands a role in the appropriately titled "Satan's Alley", possibly the worst musical/dance number in the history of film.

19. "Beverly Hills Cop III"(1994)
In the mid '80s, Eddie Murphy was the hottest comedian alive and the first "Beverly Hills Cop" was the 5th highest grossing film of the decade. Ten years later, a visibly disinterested Murphy sleepwalks through this third installment with none of the wit or charm he displayed in the first two films. Instead, we got a series of dull gunfights, explosions and car chases. Watching "Cop III" felt like running into a long lost friend and realizing he's not that cool anymore.

18. "Little Fockers"(2010)
Robert De Niro and Ben Stiller got paid $20 million each for this. Owen Wilson got $15 million for three scenes that weren't funny. Barbara Streisand got $10 million and Dustin Hoffman banked $7 million for 7 days of work. Are you as angry as me yet?! The title is misleading- this is not a cute story about the Focker kids. In fact, there's no story at all. But there is lots of cheap humor and stupid slapstick. Halfway through, I had a hard time remembering what I ever liked about these characters. By the end credits, I had only three words- Fuck the Fockers.

17. "The Next Karate Kid"(1994)
Hillary Swank sure didn't look like a future two-time Oscar winner when she replaced Ralph Macchio in this wholly unnecessary and unwanted fourth film in the KK series. Pat Morita dispenses more tired fortune cookie wisdom to Swank's Julie-san in this desperate attempt to put a new spin on the well-worn formula. About as much fun as a kick in the nuts.

16. "Predator 2"(1990)
"Predator" fails as a franchise in general. Only the 1987 original has any merit. When Arnold Schwarzenegger and director John McTiernan passed on this first sequel, that should've been the end of it. Instead we got Danny Glover looking lost without Mel Gibson, lots of mindless violence, and little else. And that should have REALLY been the end of it. But Hollywood didn't learn it's lesson from this flick's poor reception and is inexplicably still trying to squeeze a few more bucks out of the dreadlocked alien creature. Talk about beating a dead horse.

15. "Live Free or Die Hard"(2007)
John McClane is suddenly indestructible in this belated, watered-down fourth installment in the DH franchise. A PG-13 Die Hard? Really?! A cyber terrorist plot? How exciting. Justin Long's hacker sidekick added insult to injury. Throw in Kevin Smith and half-dozen absurdly over the top action sequences, and you've got a total betrayal of everything that made this series great.

"Get me the fuck outta here!"

14. "Terminator Salvation"(2009)
How was that Michael Bay wannabe McG allowed to dismantle James Cameron's classic creation? There may have been a good movie to be made about the future war between mankind and the machines, but this is NOT that movie. It's a dreary "Transformers" ripoff from the man who gave us "Charlie"s Angels: Full Throttle", and Christian Bale's infamous off-camera rant was way more compelling than anything that happened onscreen. Consider this franchise terminated.

13. "Escape from L.A."(1996)
Kurt Russell and director John Carpenter greatly overestimated the public's affection for Snake Plissken when they waited 15 years to produce a sequel to 1981's "Escape from New York" which, let's face it, was just a cult movie at best. The lame story was a rehash of the first film and the cheesy action and effects just didn't cut it in 1996. Heck, this wouldn't have cut it IN 1986. Snake was back, though. Pity no one cared.

12. "Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde"(2003)
I admit that Reese Witherspoon won me over as lovable ditz Elle Woods and the 2001 original was a harmless and pleasant diversion. She graduated from Harvard Law yet she's even dumber in this insipid sequel than she was at the beginning of the first film. The character goes from cute to cloying very quickly and the insultingly stupid plot sends her to Capitol Hill and then on a search for her pet Chihuahua's birth mother. Seriously.

11. "Basic Instinct 2: Risk Addiction"(2006)
Sharon Stone really only made two good movies in her long film career. Despite a staggering amount of flops, she somehow remained a star. For several years, she clung to the hope of reprising the role that made her the hottest actress in the world for a very brief period in the early '90s. Michael Douglas and just about every leading man in Hollywood wisely passed on the opportunity to perform graphic sex scenes with the 48 year old in this pathetic sequel that finally put Ms. Stone out to pasture.

10. "The Bad News Bears Go to Japan"(1978)
The 1976 original is a comedy classic, the first sequel "Breaking Training" is barely passable, and this third installment is completely unwatchable. Nobody involved with this pitiful production was even trying anymore and Tony Curtis mailed in his performance as the new coach of the misfit Little Leaguers. The definition of a cash grab, yet it totally bombed at the box office. Bad news indeed.

9. "Caddyshack II"(1988)
You will never hear a kind word said about this dreadful sequel to the much loved golf comedy. Many have simply blocked it from their memory, but the stench still lingers. Chevy Chase showed up to collect his paycheck but the rest of the original cast had the good sense to stay away. Jackie Mason is not funny and Dan Aykroyd is beyond irritating in a woeful attempt to mimic Bill Murray's iconic groundskeeper. There's a price to pay for selling out. There's a reason why Murray still gets so much respect in the industry while Chase and Aykroyd... well, don't.

8. "Blues Brothers 2000"(1998)
"The Blues Brothers" may have been a popular comedy hit in 1980, but NOBODY was asking for a sequel 18 years later. I can get past the title and the fact that it was released in 1998, but not the terrible song and dance numbers that go on forever and the fact that a voodoo queen turns Dan Aykroyd(yeah, him again) and John Goodman into zombies. In the opening credits, the film was dedicated to the memory of John Belushi and John Candy. I heard they tried to have their names taken off it from beyond the grave.

7. "Superman IV: The Quest for Peace"(1987)
Two words- Nucleur Man. "Superman III" wasn't much better, but the cheap look, silly plot, and cartoonish performances in this lackluster fourth entry killed the Superman film franchise for 19 years. To make matters worse, the original cast is all present. Even Gene Hackman is rendered powerless in the face of such outright mediocrity. This was a depressing swan song for Christopher Reeve's once-great Man of Steel.

6. "Alien Resurrection"(1997)
The much maligned "Alien 3" is a masterpiece compared to this ugly mess. Intended to make up for David Fincher's sins in 1992, it did the opposite and made things worse. Much worse. French director Jean-Pierre Jeunet is a hack, bringing back Sigourney Weaver as a clone of Ripley was a dumb idea, and Winona Ryder looks like she got lost on her way to a romantic comedy and wondered on to the wrong film set. It's safe to say that Weaver nearly making love to the creature was one thing that fans of the series never wanted to see. This was no resurrection. The "Alien vs Predator" flicks may have pissed on the franchise's grave, but this was definitely the burial.

5. "Exorcist II: The Heretic"(1977)
The sequel to the scariest movie ever made wasn't the least bit scary. The original is a landmark in the horror genre. This was laughed off the screen four years later. A confused-looking Linda Blair is still troubled by the Devil and new cast members Richard Burton and Louise Fletcher are wasted in supporting roles. The finale is stuffed with bad special effects and is completely devoid of logic. The only reason this isn't higher on the list is because most people just pretend it doesn't even exist.

4. "Jaws: The Revenge"(1987)
Perhaps no sequel shits on the legacy of the original more this idiotic fourth "Jaws" film. This turd resurfaces on cable quite often and therein lies the danger. Some kid is gonna watch this because he heard that "Jaws" is a great movie and his only reaction will be, "WTF". I know because this was my introduction to the legendary Great White. Lorraine Gary reprises her role as the now widowed Ellen Brody who realizes the shark is stalking her family as she moves from Long Island to the Bahamas. That's right. Michael Caine and Mario Van Peebles appear in embarrassing roles and the absurd finale was shot on a Universal Studios backlot.

3. "Speed 2: Cruise Control"(1997)
There must have been something in the water in Hollywood in 1997 when every follow-up was being planned. Director Jan de Bont destroyed his action franchise before it even got started when he decided to do "Speed" on a cruise ship. Those things go slow, Jan. Very slow. A bland Jason Patric replaces the beloved Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock annoyingly reprises her role as Annie. Not even Willem Dafoe can salvage things as the obligatory psychotic madman. I'm not even sure what his evil plot was. This movie sank and stank.

2. "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull"(2008)
God, where do I begin? This one may hurt more than any other. We waited 19 years for THIS?! Forget about the "Star Wars" prequels. "Crystal Skull" is nothing short of tragic. Nothing about this film worked. I felt like I was watching an SNL spoof of Indiana Jones. First of all, 66 year old Harrison Ford was too fucking old to reprise the role that made him a superstar nearly three decades earlier. Karen Allen smiles for no reason and clearly hasn't acted in about 15 years. The story sucked. The villains were weak. There wasn't one good action sequence. There's CGI gophers, ants, and aliens to top it all off. Who would have ever thought that Shia LaBeouf would be the least offensive thing in this cinematic equivalent of grave digging? The real villains were Steven Spielberg and George Lucas.

1. "Batman & Robin"(1997)
This HAD to be no 1. It's awful-ness is epic. It may not be the worst movie on this list, but it does inspire the most venom and hatred and the fall-out was so massive and far-reaching that it put the breaks on the entire superhero genre for a few years. The textbook example of how to ruin a franchise, director Joel Schumacher turned Tim Burton's dark, intense Bat-flicks into a cartoonish, homoerotic camp-fest. George Clooney's Batman smirks a lot and doesn't seem to have an ounce of torment. Uma Thurman is ridiculously over the top as Poison Ivy and Arnold Schwarzenegger's terrible Mr. Freeze effectively removed him from the A-list. Chris O'Donnell and Alicia Silverstone's young careers never recovered. Hell, Coolio and the Smashing Pumpkins disappeared, too. Legend has it that an irate fan was ejected for yelling, "Death to Joel Schumacher" at a crowded screening on opening night. I couldn't have said it any better myself.


Dishonorable mentions

"Bad News Bears in Breaking Training"(1977)
"Jaws 2"(1978)
"Grease 2"(1982)
"Jaws 3-D"(1983)
"Superman III"(1983)
"National Lampoon's European Vacation"(1985)
"Arthur 2: On The Rocks"(1988)
"Robocop 2"(1990)
"The Two Jakes"(1990)
"Look Who's Talking Too"(1990)
 "Three Men and a Little Lady"(1990)
"Alien 3"(1992)
 "Robocop 3"(1993)
"Look Who's Talking Now"(1993)
"Batman Forever"(1995)
"The Evening Star"(1996)
 "Home Alone 3"(1997)
 "Vegas Vacation"(1997)
"Species II"(1998)
"Nutty Professor II: The Klumps"(2000)
 "Men in Black II"(2002)
"Matrix Revolutions"(2003)
 "Ocean's Twelve"(2004)
 "Be Cool"(2005)
 "Shrek the Third"(2007)
"Spider-Man 3"(2007)
"Ocean's Thirteen"(2007)
"Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps"(2010)
 "The Hangover Part II"(2011)

The Greatest Sequels of All Time Part II

"Shrek 2"(2004)
The public may be all Shreked out, but in 2004 we just couldn't get enough of this not-so-jolly green ogre. DreamWorks Animation's greatest asset became a box office juggernaut that summer, ultimately becoming the third highest grossing film of the decade(behind "Avatar" and "The Dark Knight"). His pop culture reference-laden trip to Far, Far Away may not be as timeless as the original, but there's still some big laughs to be had, thanks to the awesome vocals of Mike Meyers and Eddie Murphy, while Puss In Boots(hilariously voiced by Antonio Banderas) is a welcome addition to the line-up. It's a shame the subsequent installments only proved that old adage about having too much of a good thing.



"The Bourne Supremacy/Ultimatum"(2004, 2007)
I'll be cheating quite a bit here, but it's my blog and I'll do what I want. I'll admit that I was slow in embracing this series and this is my chance to make amends. Doug Liman's 2002 original was a serviceable spy flick, but Paul Greengrass ramped up the action in two kinetic sequels with fight scenes and car chases that were just too good to ignore. Jason Bourne is the Rambo of the '00s

"Before Sunset"(2004)
Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy did something remarkable when they reunited nine years after their refreshing yet largely forgotten 1995 romance "Before Sunrise". They talked. And talked. Then they talked some more. Richard Linklater's bittersweet stroll through Paris struck a nerve with hopeless romantics and such dazzling wordplay is the real special effect in today's marketplace. Like all good sequels do, it made the original even better and the critical groundswell meant we would meet up with Jesse and Celine for a third time in 2013's "Before Midnight". One of modern cinema's greatest couples was officially born.






"Rocky III, IV"(1982, 1985)
I should probably just come right out and say it- I'm a huge "Rocky" fan. The 1976 original won Best Picture, but there's no denying the entertainment value of these two particular sequels. Sylvester Stallone's ridiculously ripped physique, a snarling Mr. T, those bone-crunching boxing scenes, Hulk Hogan and "Eye of the Tiger" took the series in a whole new direction in the summer of '82. Sly then pressed all the right emotional buttons when he sent his dauntless heavyweight champ to Russia to face the massive and deadly Ivan Drago. If you don't feel like running through your living room wall to go train somewhere after the "Hearts of Fire" montage, I have to seriously question your masculinity. If you're not pumped before the final fight, you're probably dead.

"Die Hard with a Vengeance"(1995)

"Lord of the Rings: Return of the King"(2003)

"Spiderman 2"(2004)

"Lethal Weapon 2"(1989)
The last twenty minutes is an '80s action film lover's nirvana. Diplomatic immunity?! Aryan Rudd must have been joking.

"The Road Warrior"(1981)

"Batman Returns"(1992)
Tim Burton let his twisted imagination run wild in this arguably superior sequel to his game-changing blockbuster that set the template for all modern superhero movies.

"What do you mean, my acting career is over?"

10. "Return of the Jedi"(1983)
The thrilling conclusion of the original "Star Wars" trilogy had all the action, humor and creativity that one could hope for. It's not hyperbole to say that George Lucas' saga captured the imagination of an entire generation and there wasn't anybody in this galaxy that didn't line-up to see his beloved cast of characters take their final bow, making "Jedi" the second highest-grossing film of the decade(behind "E.T").

9. "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade"(1989)
Steven Spielberg crafted the perfect finale to his classic adventure series as his intrepid archaeologist searches for the ultimate artifact- the Holy Grail. Oh, if only this WAS the finale, but that's a discussion for another blog. Harrison Ford was born to play this role and casting Sean Connery as Indy's dad was an inspired stroke of genius. Watching these two bickering icons trapped in a Nazi castle hideout and a nose-diving plane is about as much fun as you can have at the movies. We get to see a teenage Indy, nicely played by River Phoenix, in the flashback opening and there's one memorable action set piece after another. With the most humor and heart in the franchise, if "Last Crusade" is you're favorite outing with Dr. Jones, you've chosen wisely.

 

 

8. "The Dark Knight"(2008)
What more needs to be said about the most revered superhero movie ever made? I can already hear the so-called Nolanites throwing a fit about it's 'low' placement on this list, but there's some damn fine follow-ups still to come. Heath Ledger's towering portrayal of the Clown Prince of Crime is one of those performances that becomes permanently engrained in the public consciousness like Brando's Vito Corleone and Pacino's Tony Montana. The Best Supporting Actor Oscar seems insufficient. You almost feel sorry for the rest of the cast because they never had a chance of making a huge impression, but Maggie G is a better actress than Katie Holmes and Aaron Eckhardt gives us a proper rendition of Gotham's tragic DA Harvey 'Two Face' Dent. Christian Bale's Batman has no limits and Chris Nolan refused to stay within the limits of a normal comic book movie when he made an epic tale of crime and corruption with real world drama and an unexpected level of darkness. The result was a staggering $533 million domestic box office total that Marvel/DC will spend the for-seeable future chasing, starting with 2012's ridiculously hyped "The Dark Knight Rises".





7(tie). "Toy Story 2, 3"(1999, 2010)
How do you choose between two sequels that are both just as hilarious and heartwarming as the original? I won't because that's such a rare and incredible feat. "TS2" almost went straight to video before it became clear that it was way better than most theatrical releases in 1998-99, and the magic was recreated more than a decade later in "TS3". The animation is ever improving but the solid story and sharp characterizations are always at the forefront as Woody, Buzz and the gang confront their mortality and struggle to escape Al's Toy Barn and the prison-like Sunnyside daycare center. Joan Cusack, Wayne Knight, Kelsey Grammar, Michael Keaton and Ned Beatty joined the stellar voice cast headed by Tom Hanks and Tim Allen. Tears were shed during "Jessie's Song" and when the toys nearly met their fate in an incinerator. The third film's final scene suggests a new beginning, but let's hope Pixar maintains their integrity and never produces a fourth. As it stands now, "Toy Story" has to be considered one of the greatest trilogies of all time.
 

6. "Silence of the Lambs"(1991)
Yes, this classy serial killer thriller technically IS a sequel and it completely obliterates 1986's "Manhunter", Michael Mann's intro to Thomas Harris' world of FBI profiling and grisly serial murders. Anthony Hopkins, then 53 yet largely unknown, only needed twenty minutes to turn Hannibal Lecter into one of the most iconic villains in history. Jodie Foster displays vulnerability and strength as FBI trainee Clarice Starling, and the duo's dynamic exchanges earned them both Academy Awards. Director Jonathan Demme piles one unnerving scene after another on the search for Buffalo Bill(Ted Levine), stunning audiences with a depiction of real horror after a decade of interminable slasher flicks. This film is wholly deserving of it's status as a modern masterpiece.




5. "Aliens"(1986)
 When James Cameron, hot off the heels of his instant classic "The Terminator", took the reigns from Ridley Scott for this sequel to 1979's already iconic "Alien", he didn't take things to the next level. He took it a couple levels above THAT. Sigourney Weaver cemented Ripley as one of pop culture's all time greatest heroines on her return trip to planet LV-426 with the rough and ready Colonial Marines which included Cameron regulars Michael Biehn, Bill Paxton, and Jennette Goldstein. Stan Winston's Oscar winning visual effects are still amazing 25 years later. The last hour is an exhilarating blast of balls to the wall action. All subsequent "Alien" films never had a chance of measuring up to this.

4(tie). "Back to the Future Part II, III"(1989, 1990)
 Here I'm faced with another pair of sequels where I found it impossible to choose one over the other. They were filmed back to back in trend-setting fashion and there's simply no discrepancy in the quality whatsoever as we're whisked from 2015 to a hellish alternate 1985 and then back to 1955 and finally to 1885. Oscar-nominated visual effects, a breakneck pace and brilliant labyrinth plotting makes Part II a dazzler. I love how director Robert Zemeckis and writer Bob Gale threw every crazy time travel concept they could think of at the audience and trusted that they'd be smart enough to hang on through every potential paradox and manic Doc Brown explanation. Part III wisely puts the complexity to rest for an affectionate spoof of the Western genre in which Michael J Fox makes like a pint-sized Clint Eastwood and Christopher Lloyd gets a love interest in the form of the lovely Mary Steenburgen. The train-pushing-the-Delorean finale may be the most exciting sequence in all three films and destroying the beloved time machine was a bold move. This was THE END and the filmmakers meant it. A delightful conclusion to an excellent trilogy.




"Aliens"(1986)

3. "Empire Strikes Back"(1980)
 There's a reason "Empire" has the least amount of changes and alterations in the seemingly endless re-releases of the OT. It's because there's only one thing that hardcore fans, casual observers and critics seem to agree on- this is the darkest and best of all six "Star Wars" movies. You've got a blistering opening on the ice planet Hoth, Han an Leia's budding romance, the marvelous training scenes between Luke and Yoda, and last but certainly not least, Vader's mind-blowing revelation that left audiences reeling in 1980. We thought we knew what Star Wars was about until this singular moment changed the complexion of the saga forever. Believe it or not, "Empire" was the least popular and financially successful film in the series at the time. That's proof that moviegoers don't always know what's best for them until some years pass.

2. "The Godfather Part II"(1974)
Francis Ford Coppola's epic continuation of the Corleone saga won Best Picture and is not only one of the greatest sequels but one of the greatest films period. Al Pacino is brilliant and was robbed of the Best Actor Oscar for his chilling portrayal of a ruthless Michael as he expands his criminal enterprise in 1959, slowly alienating himself from everyone he loves and everyone who ever loved him. Robert DeNiro takes his first step toward screen immortality in the equally riveting flashback story of a young Vito Corleone's rise to power as an immoral immigrant in the New York of the early 1900s. Everyone craves the American Dream and this is the violent underbelly of it. Or maybe it's the REAL version.

1. "Terminator 2: Judgment Day"(1991)
James Cameron is the greatest action director of all time and this relentless, juggernaut of a sci-fi thriller far surpassed the original "Terminator" in almost every respect. Take your pick between any one of the half-dozen breathtaking set pieces- they all could have been the finale of any other movie. Arnold Schwarzenegger was at the peak of his Hollywood powers and was never cooler or more badass than he was reprising his legendary role as a good guy cyborg in a clever reversal of the formula. Linda Hamilton's transformation was startling as Sarah Connor goes from timid waitress to a hardened, gun toting warrior to rival Ripley. The T-1000's groundbreaking morphing effects was the birth of CGI. As great as the first film was, it's unlikely that the Terminator would be so permanently ingrained in the public consciousness if it wasn't for this monstrous follow-up, the mother of all sequels.


Honorable mentions

"Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers"(2002)
 "Lord of The Rings: Return of the King"(2003)
 "Rocky II"(1979)
 "From Russia with Love"(1964)
 "Goldfinger"(1965)
 "Rambo: First Blood Part II"(1985)
"Die Hard 2: Die Harder"(1990)
 "Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith"(2005)
 "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation"(1989)
 "Lethal Weapon 3"(1992)
"Lethal Weapon 4"(1998)
 "Before Sunset"(2004)
"Rocky Balboa"(2006)

The Greatest Sequels of All Time

     Sequels have been around for as long as movies have been made and they're not going anywhere. The two biggest movies of the summer of 2011 were "Transformers 3" and the 8th Harry Potter film. It's clear that audiences don't mind. I never thought that "sequel" was a dirty word though- there are many good ones. A good sequel ups the ante, brings something new to the table, and continues the story instead of rehashing it. A great sequel makes the original even BETTER. Here are 20 sequels that got it right.

 

19. "The Road Warrior"(1981)
The Mad Max trilogy is more of a cult favorite than a mainstream success but the character became an icon that introduced the world to a 24 year old Australian actor named Mel Gibson in the gritty, low budget 1979 original. Director George Miller took things to the next level in this follow-up which is universally considered the best in the series. Dialogue and plot are kept to a bare minimum- this is an unapologetic B movie. But the costumes, make-up, and stunts in this grizzled spectacle are as good as anything that had been done up to that point and it certainly helped pave the way for the modern action film.

17,18. "Rocky III and IV"(1982,1985)
I might as well get this out of the way right now and just come right out and say it- I'm a huge "Rocky" fan. The 1976 original won Best Picture but there's no denying the entertainment value of these two sequels. Sylvester Stallone's ridiculously ripped physique, the bone crunching fight scenes, Hulk Hogan, a snarling Mr. T, and "Eye of the Tiger" took the series in a whole new direction.
Sly presses all the right emotional buttons as the dauntless Heavyweight Champ travels to Russia to face the massive and deadly Ivan Drago. If you don't feel like running through your living room wall to go train somewhere during the "Hearts on Fire" training montage, I have to seriously question your manhood. If you're not pumped before the final fight, you're probably dead.

16. "Die Hard with a Vengeance"(1995)
Director John McTiernan wisely opened things up in this explosive third entry in the seminal action franchise and let J McClane play on his home turf- New York City. The movie starts off with a bang and never lets up for two breathless hours. Bruce Willis slides very comfortably back into his dirty wifebeater and he gets solid support from a scene-stealing Sam Jackson and Jeremy Irons as Hans Gruber's brother. The massive break-in of the Federal Reserve Bank added a nice twist to the proceedings. Ignore any and all subsequent installments. This is the last REAL "Die Hard" movie.

15. "Superman II"(1981)
Christopher Reeve's Man of Steel soars in this glorious sequel that many prefer over the majestic 1978 original. After a touching courtship, Supes gives up his powers to finally bed Lois Lane while three supervillains from Krypton take over the Earth. Gene Hackman's Lex Luthor is still running around, Terence Stamp's General Zod was memorable to say the least, and the franchise peaked with that epic final battle above the skyscrapers of Metropolis. Forget about the Donner vs Lester directorial debate. Either way you slice it, "Superman II" is a winner.

14. "Lethal Weapon 2"(1989)
I'm just gonna run down all the reasons why this may be the best LW movie. It had the perfect mix of action and laughs which became the series' trademark. Joe Pesci is actually funny and figures into the plot. Those slimy South African villains were pure evil. One of them gets killed by a flying surfboard. There's the bomb under Murtaugh's toilet. A wild-eyed Riggs shoots a huge fish tank. Patsy Kensit drowns. The last 20 minutes is total carnage. Diplomatic Immunity?! Aryan Rudd must have been joking.

13. "Spiderman 2"(2004)
This spectacular sequel improved upon the 2002 original in almost every way. Tobey Maguire once again is just right as the angst ridden Peter Parker and Doc Ock is definitely the franchise's best villain. Director Sam Raimi expertly crafts the stunning action and effects- the elevated train sequence is the showstopping highlight. He never forgets the human touches though. Peter and Mary Jane finally get together in the end and the future looked bright. Pity about "Spiderman 3".

12. "The Dark Knight"(2008)
Director Chris Nolan easily tops his franchise starter "Batman Begins" with this monumental follow-up, this biggest movie event of the past decade not named "Avatar".  Nolan transcended the genre because he didn't set out to make a superhero movie. Instead he drew his inspiration from serious crime dramas like "Heat". Christian Bale's Bat must deal with escalating terror in the form of Heath Ledger's unforgettable Joker, unquestionably the best screen villain of the '00s. Gary Oldman, Michael Caine, and Morgan Freeman again provide stellar support and Aaron Eckhardt's Harvey Dent/Two Face achieves a tragic pathos.  It wouldn't surprise me one bit if "The Dark Knight Rises" made it's way unto this list next year.

"Batman Returns"(1992)
Tim Burton let his twisted imagination run wild in this arguably superior sequel to his game-changing blockbuster that set the template for all modern superhero movies. I know this is a controversial statement in a post-Nolan world, but you won't find more depth or psychological complexity in any other film in the genre. Michael Keaton was back in black, but there was no way he wasn't getting upstaged by the villainous double act. Danny DeVito is terrific as the Penguin, a deranged freak responsible for more than a few nightmares and his gruesomeness is countered by the sensual eruption that is Michelle Pfeiffer's Catwoman. Every appearance she makes in that skintight vinyl is a moment to treasure. With Christopher Walken thrown in for good measure and Danny's Elman's epic omnipresent score, the action and mayhem keeps spiraling further over the top. That's right where it belongs.

11. "Return of the Jedi"(1983)
The thrilling conclusion to the original Star Wars saga has all the action, humor, and creativity that one could hope for. The beloved cast of characters all came back to take their final bow and we're also introduced to Jabba the Hut and those cuddly Ewoks. The epic showdown between Luke Skywalker, Darth Vader, and the Emperor was beautifully done. The effects are still great and never needed Lucas's alterations. I urge everyone to get the original version on DVD before it gets buried forever in George's basement.


Next week- The greatest sequels of all time part II