Movie sequels that made more at the box office than the originals
Sequels can either make or break a franchise. Whether it’s a long-awaited installment that doesn’t exceed the expectations of its prequel or an unexpected addition that surprisingly fits with the predecessor, movie sequels are a gamble.
From Pixar’s “Inside Out 2” to Marvel’s “Iron Man 3,” here are 10 sequels that made more at the box office than their predecessors.
Avengers: Endgame
In the weeks leading up to the release of “Avengers: Endgame,” fandoms were losing their heads with their own fan theories and generations of Marvel fans were waiting for the epic culmination of the Avengers universe. Everyone wanted to see how the Russo brothers were going to handle one of entertainment’s biggest storylines of all time.
The result led to a $2.79 billion box office hit, $751 million more than its prequel “Avengers: Infinity War.” “Avengers: Endgame” ushered in a new generation of Marvel fans while nurturing long-time fans with the introduction of The Multiverse Saga; however, the movie is only the second-highest-grossing movie of all time, trailing behind James Cameron’s “Avatar.”
Dune: Part Two
Before “Dune: Part One” was released, the trailers and a star-studded cast, with seasoned director Denis Villeneuve taking the reins, made everyone want to see how the iconic sci-fi novel would be adapted, following the poorly received David Lynch’s “Dune.” “Dune: Part One” proved to be leaps and bounds ahead of the 1984 version, earning $410 million at the box office.
The popularity of “Dune: Part One” sets its sequel up for the same amount of commercial success; in fact, a lot more than its prequel. By focusing on more action sequences and enthralling visual effects, “Dune: Part Two” earned $714 million. And with “Dune: Part Three” releasing in December 2026, the third installment of the franchise might just be the biggest one yet, as the movie will close out the “Dune” trilogy.
The Dark Knight
Throughout his filmography, Christopher Nolan is known for going above and beyond: little CGI, visual effects and few practical effects. His box office performance mirrors his own filmmaking: big, bold and unrelenting.
The release of “The Dark Knight” paved the way for arguably the greatest antagonist of all time, Heath Ledger’s The Joker and the downfall of Harvey Dent into Two-Face. “The Dark Knight” is dark and gritty, a pivot away from the typical superhero/vigilante movie, reshaping what the genre can look like. The result was a $1 billion box office hit, $625 million more than its predecessor.
Inside Out 2
While many children’s movies and television shows are often geared toward the fantasy genre or tap into surface-level storylines, Pixar is known for diving into deep, emotional realities in animated children’s movies. Pixar doesn’t shy away from the complex world we grow up in, and the commercial success of “Inside Out” proved why.
“Inside Out” earned $859 million at the box office, the third-highest international-grossing Pixar movie at the time. The movie’s central theme of nurturing mental health in children proved to not only strike a chord with kids, but also with parents and adults.
Topping its $859 million box-office hit would be tough, but its sequel broke that record, earning $1.69 billion globally, making it the highest-grossing Pixar movie of all time. The sequel focuses on children’s mental health during puberty, when all sorts of new emotions flood in. It’s a hard journey we’ve all faced, and “Inside Out 2” accurately depicts this hardship.
Incredibles 2
Similarly, Pixar’s “The Incredibles” captivated Gen Z, who were only kids or newborns, millennials and Gen X. The straightforward plot, while hilariously capturing midlife crises and corporate burnout, made it a classic family-friendly animated movie.
“The Incredibles” earned $631 million at the global box office. However, “Incredibles 2,” which came out 14 years later, smashed its predecessor’s record with a $1.2 billion in global box office earnings. Bringing back the majority of its main cast, “Incredibles 2” was nostalgic and fun while reinvigorating its prequel’s storyline.
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
Peter Jackson’s “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy was an extraordinary feat. Across the three movies, “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy utilized New Zealand’s grand landscape and immersed audiences in an entirely fictional world with acting performances that made each character memorable.
The trilogy’s release from the late 1990s to the early 2000s is a testament to Jackson’s filmmaking prowess, and “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King” was the trilogy’s epic culmination and a key driver of its success.
“The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King” earned $1.1 billion at the global box office, the only installment out of the three to hit the billion benchmark. Despite its almost three-and-a-half-hour runtime, the movie’s pacing, inspiring character journeys, and engrossing world-building make it not only a box office hit but also the movie with the most Oscar wins of all time.
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest
“Pirates of the Caribbean” transformed pirate movies. What was once a “dead” genre was revived by the franchise for its over-the-top, swashbuckling characters, notably Johny Depp’s charming Jack Sparrow, state-of-the-art CGI and refreshed storylines. Pirate movies used to be predictable and dull, but “Pirates of the Caribbean” changed that, with its second installment proving that.
“Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest” follows Jack Sparrow as he tracks down Davy Jones’ heart before he’s sent to a century of servitude. The movie’s practical and CGI effects, followed by unforgettable characters and an epic cliffhanger, made “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest” the most successful movie in its trilogy, earning $1 billion at the global box office.
Top Gun: Maverick
Even when COVID-19 restrictions relaxed, Hollywood still suffered. The world was glued to its TVs, with streaming taking over as what people mainly watched. Bad reality TV and bingeable classic series were at the forefront of entertainment, that was, until “Top Gun: Maverick” was released.
When “Top Gun” was released in 1986, it earned $360 million at the box office and was already a commercial success, which makes it risky to create a sequel decades after its original release. However, Tom Cruise and Miles Teller’s realistic stunts (they literally flew real fighter jets!), killer soundtrack and emotional story plot proved “Top Gun: Maverick” to be a worldwide hit. The movie was inspiring to Gen Z while appealing to Gen X, who grew up with the original, and it earned $1.5 billion at the global box office.
Toy Story 3
While “Toy Story” and “Toy Story 2” are commercially successful on their own merits, “Toy Story 3” is in a league of its own.
Pixar’s “Toy Story 3” is most memorable for its bittersweet, poignant conclusion, which has left even grown adults sobbing. It follows Woody’s owner, Andy, off to college, saying goodbye to his best friend and the rest of his toys. The movie’s ending signals the end of Andy’s childhood and the beginning of a new adventure, which is probably why the movie earned over $1 billion at the global box office.
Iron Man 3
The Marvel Universe began with “Iron Man” with Robert Downey Jr. as the leading man. It was a gamble Marvel took — at the time, Robert Downey Jr. hadn’t recovered from his troubled past and Jon Favreau, who directed “Iron Man,” suffered a massive box office flop with “Zathura: A Space Adventure.”
The gamble was a massive payoff as “Iron Man” earned $585 million at the global box office, opening the doors to one of the biggest franchises of all time. However, “Iron Man 3” proved to be the most profitable, earning $1.2 billion at the global box office.
The movie’s rave earnings stemmed from the closing chapter of Tony Stark, who became one of the franchise’s most endearing characters. Even after the end of “Iron Man,” Tony Stark still became a pivotal character in the MCU in the following “Avengers” movies, with Robert Downey Jr. playing a new role in the upcoming “Avengers: Doomsday.”
Wrap Up
Sequels can be a financial risk — they have to appease demanding fan expectations while honoring their originals. As such, commercially successful sequels bring in a new generation of fans while also expanding storylines for years to come. If done right, sequels can be great and even outperform their originals.
Related:
- 10 Netflix TV shows people are watching right now
- Top 10 Taika Waititi projects to see before Klara and the Sun
Ask us! What questions do you have about content, strategy, pop culture, lifestyle, wellness, history or more? We may use your question in an upcoming article!
Like MediaFeed’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was syndicated by MediaFeed.co.
