5 movies proving sequels can be worth our time in theatres or at home

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From A Quiet Place: Day One to Alien: Romulus, sequels of your favourite franchises have been enjoying their summer in movie theatres. 

This trend obviously proves that new entries to film series are worth investing in when audiences still like their themes, characters, and stories. Of course, sequels can fail sometimes because they’re simply plain bad. However, here’s five movies to show that the sequel machine has still got some miles left.

Prey (2022)

Dan Trachtenberg’s Prey isn’t my favourite entry from the Predator franchise, as that honour belongs to Arnold Schwarzenegger’s movie. However, Prey is a worthwhile action thriller with suspenseful fight scenes and a talented Indigenous cast battling the alien hunter. 

Amber Midthunder as the young Naru incites you to root for her as she tries to overcome the Predator while proving herself as a hunter. She makes all the difference in this movie, bringing an unwavering tenacity to show her character’s courage against an other-worldly threat. Prey is available on Disney+.

Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)

The mean growls of a V8 engine greet you as production logos play out. Before you know it, it cuts to Tom Hardy as Max Rockatansky, standing with his car in a post-apocalyptic desert as his gruff voiceover settles us into his world. This opening is just a prologue to death-defying car chases and Charlize Theron playing the greatest role she’s ever done.

Anything else to praise about this movie has already been said, but if any film shows why sequels are still worth investing time and money, it’s this one. As a side note, thank you, George Miller, for Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, and more sequels for future summers, please. Mad Max: Fury Road is available on Crave.

Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol (2011)

It’s been 13 years since this film came out and it’s still my favourite sequel in Tom Cruise’s long-running Mission Impossible franchise. The story follows superspy Ethan Hunt and his team once again trying to stop a rogue villain’s evil plan.

I enjoyed this entry, not only for Cruise climbing the Burj Khalifa building, which alone was worth seeing in theatres. Hunt’s team must rely on their quick thinking to get their mission done, since their agency is gone, their gadgets malfunction, and they struggle with teamwork.

You get on board with old and new characters helping Hunt as they figure out how to solve these hurdles together. Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol is available on Amazon Prime Video via Paramount+.

Creed II (2018)

As part two of the newest film series in the Rocky franchise, Creed II continues the emotionally commanding performance of Michael B. Jordan as young boxing champion Adonis Creed. The movie follows Creed in his new fight with the son of Rocky IV’s main villain Ivan Drago. 

The sequel has incredible boxing matches, but it’s Creed’s endearing friendship with Sylvester Stallone’s Rocky that makes this film worth checking out. Both characters deal with their shared history with Creed’s late father Apollo, while grappling with Rocky’s old rivalry with Drago. The story turns into a compelling tale about how our pasts can both haunt and connect us. Creed II is available on Amazon Prime Video.

Hotel Transylvania: Transformania (2022) 

It surprises me to this day that a quirky animated movie about a monster resort managed to turn into a decent franchise. The fourth installment, Hotel Transylvania: Transformania, follows Dracula, his fellow monsters, and his human son-in-law Johnny as they try to fix a mishap that turned these creatures of the night into humans and Johnny into a monster. 

This sequel provides more zany performances from a wondrous voice cast led by Andy Samberg and Selena Gomez. Hotel Transylvania isn’t the biggest animated film series, but it makes up for it by growing its theme around what it takes to build a future for your family despite the fears that go with it. The movie is available on Amazon Prime Video.