Top Sequels Of The 2010s: The Best Follow-Up Film Each Year

The 2010s were a fantastic decade for sequels. Franchises of all kinds – from beloved animated films to surprising continuations of older stories and a huge wave of superhero movies – really flourished like never before.

Choosing the best sequel each year of the 2010s is tough because so many great ones came out. Several years featured multiple fantastic sequels that could have easily been number one if released in different circumstances. Just making the top spot for any year during that decade is a huge accomplishment, considering how many excellent sequels were released.

2010: Toy Story 3

As a movie fan, I remember 2010 being a bit of a rollercoaster when it came to sequels. We got some really solid entries like the first part of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Iron Man 2, Predators, and I was surprisingly into Tron: Legacy. But then there were some…less successful ones, like Shrek Forever After and Sex and the City 2 – those just didn’t quite hit the mark for me.

It would be hard for any sequel to surpass Toy Story 3. The film successfully wrapped up what was then a fantastic trilogy. Importantly, the story evolved alongside the audience who had grown up with the first Toy Story movies over the previous ten years.

The beloved toys in Toy Story 3 face the reality that their owner is growing up and they need to find new meaning in their lives. The film was a huge critical and commercial success, earning over $1 billion and winning the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. Many consider it one of the greatest conclusions to a movie trilogy ever made.

2011: Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows: Part 2

Looking back at 2011 sequels, a lot of them just didn’t hit the mark. I remember being pretty let down by installments like Breaking Dawn – Part 1, Cars 2, and On Stranger Tides – they really didn’t live up to the high points of those series. Thankfully, there were some bright spots! Fast Five was a standout, and I really enjoyed X-Men: First Class as a fresh take on the origins story.

Topping the list for 2011 is Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2. While the Harry Potter films didn’t include everything from the books, they were still enjoyable, and it was crucial that the final movie ended the series well. Thankfully, it delivered.

The final Harry Potter film, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, is packed with action from beginning to end, kicking off with a thrilling robbery at Gringotts bank and culminating in the massive Battle of Hogwarts. Many fans consider it the best movie in the entire eight-film series due to its grand scope and impressive scale.

2012: Skyfall

2012 was the year many popular movie franchises began, including Pitch Perfect and The Hunger Games. However, there weren’t many sequels released that year. The Dark Knight Rises was the biggest hit, and while Men in Black 3, Madagascar 3: Europe‘s Most Wanted, and Ice Age 4: Continental Drift came out, they were only moderately successful.

When considering the best movie sequel of 2012, a special case stands out. While James Bond films haven’t traditionally followed a strict timeline or connected narrative, the films starring Daniel Craig were different. They built upon each other, and Skyfall, his third Bond film, is widely considered the high point of his time as the character.

Skyfall was a huge success, earning over $1 billion worldwide and receiving rave reviews. Javier Bardem delivers a fantastic performance as the villain, Raoul Silva, Daniel Craig is at his peak, and Sam Mendes’ direction gives the film a unique and exciting edge.

2013: Before Midnight

2013 saw the release of many popular sequel films, including Iron Man 3, Star Trek Into Darkness, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, and Thor: The Dark World. But when it comes to finding the best sequel of that year, some of the strongest contenders are actually smaller, lesser-known films like Insidious: Chapter 2 and Before Midnight.

Let me tell you, this year’s standout sequel has to be Before Midnight. It’s the third and final film in what’s become a really special trilogy, starting back in 1995 and continuing in 2004. The whole series beautifully charts the relationship of Jesse and Céline, beginning with their first encounter and then revisiting them nine years later. Before Midnight brings their story to a remarkably honest and compelling conclusion.

As a long-time fan, I was really excited for this latest film, and it didn’t disappoint! It’s wonderful to see Jesse and Céline as a married couple, and the movie beautifully explores how their relationship has grown and changed over the years. What really makes it special, though, is the incredible chemistry between Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy – everything feels so genuine. And honestly, Richard Linklater’s direction is just fantastic. It’s no surprise it’s getting rave reviews – I saw it has a 98% rating on Rotten Tomatoes!

2014: Captain America: The Winter Soldier

2014 saw the beginnings of popular franchises like John Wick and Guardians of the Galaxy. The year also brought sequels such as Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, X-Men: Days of Future Past, and How to Train Your Dragon 2.

In 2014, Captain America: The Winter Soldier was the standout film. This movie moved the story to the present day, giving it a fresh feel compared to the original. Chris Evans delivers another strong performance as Steve Rogers, and the film features expanded roles for Scarlett Johansson, Sebastian Stan, and Samuel L. Jackson.

Captain America: The Winter Soldier is a superhero film with the feel of a 1970s political thriller. It was both a popular and critically acclaimed movie, and many fans still consider it the best film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, even after more than ten years. It’s also a movie that holds up really well on repeat viewings.

2015: Mad Max: Fury Road

Image made by Yailin Chacon

2015 saw the release of several big sequels. The year marked the end of The Hunger Games series with Mockingjay – Part 2, and brought back beloved franchises with Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Creed, and Jurassic World. Other popular sequels included Furious 7 and Pitch Perfect 2.

Few people predicted it, but Mad Max: Fury Road turned out to be the best sequel of 2015, and many consider it the best of the entire 2010s. After a long hiatus, the film unexpectedly revitalized the series, bringing it into the 21st century.

As a movie fan, I really appreciate how George Miller went old-school with the action in Mad Max: Fury Road, doing as much as possible with practical effects – it just gives everything a unique, tangible feel. And critics loved it too! It scored a massive 10 Academy Award nominations and is often talked about as one of the best films of the 2010s.

2016: Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

2016 didn’t see a huge number of sequels. While Captain America: Civil War was a massive success and is still considered one of the best Marvel movies, and Finding Dory earned a lot at the box office, films like Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and X-Men: Apocalypse didn’t perform well.

With Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, the franchise seemed to regain momentum. The previous Star Wars film had already been a hit, revitalizing the series, and Rogue One demonstrated its continued popularity. Despite featuring few characters from the main Skywalker storyline, the film still earned over $1 billion at the box office.

The movie Rogue One: A Star Wars Story tells the story of a group of rebels undertaking a risky mission that directly enables the success of Luke Skywalker and the heroes in the original 1977 Star Wars film. It was a great movie, and it also led to the excellent Andor TV series.

2017: Paddington 2

2017 was an incredibly competitive year for sequels. It saw the release of several highly anticipated films, including Blade Runner 2049, Thor: Ragnarok, Logan, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, War for the Planet of the Apes, and John Wick: Chapter 2, among others.

Ultimately, Paddington 2 stands out as the best movie sequel of the year. Continuing the story of the charming bear first introduced in 2014, it features a character who is arguably one of the kindest and most lovable ever created for the big screen. Its popularity is such that it even received a nod in the film The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent.

For a while, Paddington 2 held the record for the most-reviewed movie with a perfect 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes, though it now sits at a still-impressive 99%. The film was a critical and commercial success, and is widely considered one of the best movies of the 2010s.

2018: Avengers: Infinity War

Marvel/Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection

2018 was a great year for movie sequels. We saw highly anticipated films like Incredibles 2, the funny Deadpool 2, the imaginative Ralph Breaks the Internet, and Mission: Impossible – Fallout, which is considered the strongest film in the Mission: Impossible series.

Even with everything that’s come since, it’s hard to beat what Avengers: Infinity War achieved. It wasn’t just another Avengers film; it was the biggest Marvel movie up to that point, uniting all the major heroes – the original Avengers, the Guardians of the Galaxy, Black Panther, Spider-Man, and others – in a desperate attempt to stop Thanos from eliminating half of all life.

Avengers: Infinity War is an incredibly exciting movie that gives many characters a chance to stand out. It was a huge commercial success, earning over $2 billion worldwide, and its shocking ending is still a popular topic of discussion.

2019: John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum

I was so excited for Avengers: Endgame after Infinity War, and it definitely lived up to the hype! It felt even bigger and more epic than the first one. 2019 was a great year for movies overall, though. We also got Spider-Man: Far From Home, another Toy Story movie, Frozen 2, and How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World – so many good choices!

We think John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum is the best of the series because it delivers everything you’d hope for in a sequel. It builds on the strengths of the earlier films, with bigger action and a grander scope, solidifying its place as a major action franchise.

Keanu Reeves shines in the film’s incredible action scenes, and Halle Berry makes a fantastic cameo appearance. The gunfights are among the best you’ll find in any movie, making John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum a truly exceptional sequel.

2026-01-13 18:02