12 of the best legacy sequels — and 6 of the worst

Gabbi ShawJul 19, 2024, 22:25 IST

Daisy Edgar-Jones and Glen Powell starred in "Twisters."Melinda Sue Gordon/Universal Pictures, Warner Bros. Pictures, and Amblin Entertainment

"Twisters" is shaping up to be a big hit this summer.
Set 28 years after 1996's "Twister," the movie could be considered a legacy sequel.

Legacy sequels are on the rise, especially after the successes of films like "Jurassic World," "Star Rise: The Force Awakens," and "Top Gun: Maverick." However, not all legacy sequels are created equal — for every boundary-pushing film like "The Matrix Resurrections," there are abysmal films such as "Independence Day: Resurgence."

But what Hollywood is learning from these films is that nostalgia sells. "Spider-Man: No Way Home" made over $1 billion and was the highest-grossing film of 2021, while "Top Gun: Maverick" became the highest-grossing film of Tom Cruise's career, earning $1.49 billion, according to Box Office Mojo data.

Here are some of the best and worst legacy sequels in recent history.

"Twisters" is just as fun as the original.

"Twisters."Universal Pictures, Warner Bros. Pictures, and Amblin Entertainment

2022's "Top Gun: Maverick" was much better than it had any right to be.

"Top Gun: Maverick."Paramount Pictures

When "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" brought back Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher for the first time in 32 years, '70s and '80s kids were overjoyed.

"Star Wars: The Force Awakens."Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

The fifth installment of the "Scream" franchise, simply titled "Scream," successfully made us care about new characters while also paying homage to the OGs.

"Scream."Paramount

Another horror franchise that got a legacy sequel bump is "Halloween," which saw the eleventh installment in 2018 wipe the slate clean.

"Halloween."Universal

"The Matrix Resurrections" was polarizing when it was released in 2021, but we think it was lovely to see Neo and Trinity together.

"The Matrix Resurrections."Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures

"Creed" combined the powers of director Ryan Coogler and star Michael B. Jordan with our nostalgia for everyone's favorite boxer, Rocky Balboa, played by Sylvester Stallone.

"Creed."Warner Bros. Pictures

"Creed" combined the powers of director Ryan Coogler and star Michael B. Jordan with our nostalgia for everyone's favorite boxer, Rocky Balboa, played by Sylvester Stallone.

"Spider-Man: No Way Home" technically served as a legacy sequel for both 2007's "Spider-Man 3" and 2014's "The Amazing Spider-Man 2."

"Spider-Man: No Way Home."Sony Pictures

Fans returned to the Overlook Hotel after 39 years in the 2019 sequel to "The Shining," with "Doctor Sleep."

"Doctor Sleep."Warner Bros. Pictures

We shouldn't have been surprised that "Top Gun: Maverick" was good — director Joseph Kosinski's directorial debut, "Tron: Legacy," was also a solid legacy sequel.

"Tron: Legacy."Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

"The Color of Money" is arguably the first legacy sequel ever, released in 1986.

"The Color of Money."Buena Vista Distribution

"Blade Runner 2049" is another beautifully shot but polarizing legacy sequel.

"Blade Runner 2049."YouTube/Warner Bros.

Now, time for some of the worst legacy sequels. First up, "Jurassic World" and its two follow-ups.

"Jurassic World."Universal

Harrison Ford has participated in three legacy sequels; not all of them could be great. "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" is his miss.

"Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull."Paramount via YouTube

It's time we face facts: Neither 1996's "Space Jam" nor its 2021 sequel "Space Jam: A New Legacy" are very good.

"Space Jam: A New Legacy."Warner Bros.

"Independence Day: Resurgence" is missing one key ingredient from the original: Will Smith.

"Independence Day: Resurgence."20th Century Fox

"Zoolander 2" is the definition of a long-awaited sequel we really didn't need.

"Zoolander 2."Paramount

If "The Force Awakens" is a good example of a legacy sequel, "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker" is the epitome of a bad one.

"Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker."Disney/Lucasfilm

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12 of the best legacy sequels &mdash; and 6 of the worst

"Twisters" is just as fun as the original.

2022's "Top Gun: Maverick" was much better than it had any right to be.

When "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" brought back Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher for the first time in 32 years, '70s and '80s kids were overjoyed.

The fifth installment of the "Scream" franchise, simply titled "Scream," successfully made us care about new characters while also paying homage to the OGs.

Another horror franchise that got a legacy sequel bump is "Halloween," which saw the eleventh installment in 2018 wipe the slate clean.

"The Matrix Resurrections" was polarizing when it was released in 2021, but we think it was lovely to see Neo and Trinity together.

"Creed" combined the powers of director Ryan Coogler and star Michael B. Jordan with our nostalgia for everyone's favorite boxer, Rocky Balboa, played by Sylvester Stallone.

"Spider-Man: No Way Home" technically served as a legacy sequel for both 2007's "Spider-Man 3" and 2014's "The Amazing Spider-Man 2."

Fans returned to the Overlook Hotel after 39 years in the 2019 sequel to "The Shining," with "Doctor Sleep."

We shouldn't have been surprised that "Top Gun: Maverick" was good — director Joseph Kosinski's directorial debut, "Tron: Legacy," was also a solid legacy sequel.

"The Color of Money" is arguably the first legacy sequel ever, released in 1986.

"Blade Runner 2049" is another beautifully shot but polarizing legacy sequel.

Now, time for some of the worst legacy sequels. First up, "Jurassic World" and its two follow-ups.

Harrison Ford has participated in three legacy sequels; not all of them could be great. "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" is his miss.

It's time we face facts: Neither 1996's "Space Jam" nor its 2021 sequel "Space Jam: A New Legacy" are very good.

"Independence Day: Resurgence" is missing one key ingredient from the original: Will Smith.

"Zoolander 2" is the definition of a long-awaited sequel we really didn't need.

If "The Force Awakens" is a good example of a legacy sequel, "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker" is the epitome of a bad one.

12 of the best legacy sequels — and 6 of the worst