Move Over Dune 2: These 4 Sequels Changed Cinema Forever

Denis Villeneuve's Dune ( especially the second part) took the world by storm. Arrakis has never looked so captivating, and the sequel to Paul Atreides' story has for sure set a new standard for modern sci-fi cinema, as well as for sequels in general.

But before we get too carried away, let's take a moment to appreciate some legendary second chapters that truly outdid the originals.

So while Dune: Part Two gets every bit of praise it's getting (very much deserved, by the way), it joins an elite club of follow-up films that dared to dream bigger and push boundaries further than anyone thought possible.

The Devil's Rejects (2005)

Rob Zombie took a wild turn with The Devil's Rejects, turning his psychedelic horror house into a blood-soaked road trip that nobody saw coming.

Following the notorious Firefly family on their desperate escape from an equally unhinged Sheriff Wydell, this film cranks up everything that made its predecessor interesting and adds a few more layers of grit and 70s feel to it.

Redditor Kreech fairly noted:

“I think Devil's Rejects is one of the few sequels to out do their predecessor. I like House just fine but I find the re-watch ability of it decreases over time. Devil's though is just a great film with one of the best genre cast of any horror movie.”

The dialogue has a decent amount of dark humor, and the violence hits you like a sledgehammer.

House of 1000 Corpses was wild, sure, but it felt like Zombie was still finding his footing. In Rejects, he just lets loose and creates this intense masterpiece. So yeah, The Devil's Rejects takes everything up a notch, and you definitely won't be disappointed.

If you're interested to see what makes this movie so great, you can watch it on Amazon Prime or Apple TV+.

The Godfather, Part II (1974)

If there's one film that proves sequels can surpass their origins, it's definitely The Godfather Part II.

This masterpiece blends together two timelines: Michael Corleone's struggle to maintain his empire in 1958 and his father Vito's rise to power in early 1900s New York. Through this dual narration, we become witnesses to the birth and eventual demise of this family.

As Gerardo Valero wrote:

“At the end of the day “The Godfather Part II” enhances our understanding and appreciation of the legendary characters presented in the original film. It surpasses it, in part, because it manages to make its predecessor even better.”

And that's so right. Seriously, watching Part II adds so much depth to the first movie that when you go back to rewatch The Godfather, you see everything in a new light.

The performances are absolutely insane too. De Niro and Pacino both nailed it. That's what living the role actually means. And don't even get us started on that final scene. Chills, every single time.

Definitely give this one a rewatch, or discover it for the first time (we won't pretend we're not jealous). Watch The Godfather, Part II now on Amazon Prime or Apple TV+.

22 Jump Street (2014)

When 21 Jump Street hit theaters, nobody really expected that much from a TV show adaptation. Then 22 Jump Street came along and proved that lightning can strike twice (and sometimes even harder).

The movie takes Schmidt and Jenko to college, where their partnership faces its biggest test yet. The film embraces its absurdity with open arms, which we love.

Emily Wright wrote:

“The writers and directors (the same collaborators at the helm of the first installment) accomplished the unthinkable: they made a film sequel not suck. In fact, they made their sequel better than its predecessor.”

The way this movie constantly pokes fun at itself and the whole concept of sequels is just chef's kiss.

Hill and Tatum's chemistry is off the charts in this one. They bounce off each other so naturally that you can't help but get sucked into their ridiculous adventures. And the whole college setting gives them so much more room to play around with different jokes and scenarios.

You can watch this action comedy on Fandango at Home, Amazon Prime or Apple TV+.

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014)

Rise of the Planet of the Apes was already amazing, but Dawn? It took everything to a whole new level. Matt Reeves came in and absolutely crushed it with this sequel. Andy Serkis is absolutely amazing, the emotion he brings to Caesar through motion capture is insane.

And fans think the same, Redditor HappyMike91 said:

“I think Dawn was probably the strongest out of the trilogy. It's more nuanced than Rise and it's not nearly as dark as War, plus there's a lot more light and shade in relation to the story and various plot themes.”

The visual effects are mind-blowing as well. There are moments when you totally forget you're watching CGI. That's how immersive the movie is.

And the whole post-apocalyptic San Francisco setting adds this amazing layer of atmosphere. Everything feels more raw, more desperate, and way more intense.

You can catch this masterpiece on Disney+, Amazon Prime and Apple TV+.