The 20 best legacy sequels

Almost forty years after the original Top Gun , Tom Cruise reprised his star-making role as Pete "Maverick" Mitchell in Top Gun: Maverick . The long-awaited sequel sees Maverick train a new group of young aviator pilots, including the son of his late friend Goose. The film pays tribute to the original with nods that include a moving cameo from Val Kilmer while leaving space for Maverick to move forward and build connections with the new Top Gun program recruits. 

Jurassic Park is one of the most iconic films of all time, and the franchise got a fresh revamp in 2015 with Jurassic World . Similar to the setup of the original, Jurassic Park has re-opened as Jurassic World, this time showcasing genetically engineered dinosaurs until, of course, one of them escapes and causes havoc. Viewers are introduced to Chris Pratt’s Owen Grady, with the original Jurassic Park characters eventually appearing in this new trilogy’s third installment.

After being acquired by Disney, the live-action Star Wars universe made its return to the big screen in 2015 with The Force Awakens. Following the structure of A New Hope , this first film in the sequel trilogy is a continuation of the Skywalker saga that introduces new heroes like Rey, Finn, and Poe. While much time is spent developing these new characters, the film also sees Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, and Mark Hamill back as Han, Leia, and Luke, along with other familiar faces.

The original Blade Runner is one of the most influential sci-fi movies ever, with its highly acclaimed sequel released 35 years later. The story follows Ryan Gosling’s Officer K, who goes on a mission to find the original blade runner, Harrison Ford’s Deckard. Director Denis Villeneuve takes all the elements from the original and improves upon them, building a rich, neon-drenched, and visually stunning futuristic world that arguably makes 2049 even better than Ridley Scott’s film. 

There have been countless sequels to John Carpenter’s masterpiece, but 2018’s Halloween disregards all of those to stand as a direct continuation of the 1978 classic. Just as she did all those years ago, an aged Laurie Strode faces Michael Myers once again, with OG scream queen Jamie Lee Curtis reprising her role. While a new generation of characters is introduced, including Laurie’s granddaughter, the film’s key focus is Laurie’s trauma and her mission to end the boogeyman’s reign of terror. 

Based on the novel Stephen King wrote as a sequel to The Shining, Doctor Sleep is quite different from Stanley Kubrick’s film but is just as unsettling. It follows an adult Danny Torrence, who is still haunted by the events at the Overlook Hotel. He meets a young girl who shares his shining gift and must protect her from a cult that feeds on children with powers. Danny is forced to return to the Overlook, where the film recreates some of the iconic sets from Kubrick’s masterpiece.

While 2015’s Terminator: Genisys unsuccessfully tried revitalizing the Terminator franchise, 2019’s Terminator: Dark Fate did a significantly better job. The film sees Linda Hamilton return as Sarah Connor for the first time since T2: Judgement Day , where she is tasked with saving a young woman from an advanced Terminator. Even though the years have passed, Hamilton is just as awesome as Connor, while Arnold Schwarzenegger is also back in a supporting role. 

As far as legacy sequels go, the Creed franchise is one of the best. The film sees Adonis, son of the late Apollo Creed, enter the boxing ring as he is trained by his father’s friend, the one and only Rocky Balboa. Sylvester Stallone’s portrayal of an aged Balboa brings new layers to the character, and Michael B. Jordan leads with charisma and confidence. Director Ryan Coogler breathes new life into this nearly 50-year-old franchise, proving there are still plenty of stories to be told.

While Ghostbusters was rebooted in 2016 with an all-female cast, the original story was officially continued in Ghostbusters: Afterlife. The plot follows Phoebe, a young scientific girl who discovers she is the granddaughter of Harold Ramis' Egon Spengler and continues his ghostbusting legacy. It introduces a whole new cast of characters but is deeply connected to the world of the first movie. The original Ghostbusters even return to help the new gang bust some ghosts.

In another excellent adventure, dim-witted teens Bill and Ted return as dim-witted adults in Bill & Ted Face the Music. The film sees Bill and Ted discover that they must write a hit song to save the future, so they decide to time travel and steal it from their older selves. Viewers are also introduced to Bill and Ted’s daughters, who are as equally entertaining as their dads. The movie captures the wacky and absurd spirit of the original and features another wild lineup of historical figures.

Scream 4 initially attempted to reboot the highly influential horror franchise, but 2022’s Scream ultimately revealed the next chapter for these movies. Ghostface returns to Woodsboro to target a new group of teenagers who enlist the help of returning fan favorites Sidney, Gale, and Dewey. These older characters take a step back to focus on the new "core four": Sam, Tara, Chad, and Mindy. The gang returned for 2023’s Scream VI and is set to appear in another film.

With legacy literally in the title, Tron: Legacy is a follow-up to the 1982 cult classic starring Jeff Bridges. This new chapter follows Sam, the son of Bridges’ Kevin, as the father and son duo embark on a dangerous virtual journey. Bridges returns to reprise his role in this flashier and more slick sequel, which features a techno soundtrack from Daft Punk. The film is directed by Joseph Kosinski, who also directed Top Gun: Maverick, proving the guy knows a thing or two about legacy sequels. 

The Bad Boys movies are known as a prime example of the buddy cop comedy genre, thanks to the chemistry between Will Smith and Martin Lawrence. Smith and Lawrence reunited for the long-awaited Bad Boys for Life , where Detectives Mike Lowery and Marcus Burnett are up against a mother and son drug lord duo. However, they are joined by a young new cast of characters to freshen things up, played by Vanessa Hudgens, Alexander Ludwig, and Charles Melton.

Thirty years after the third Mad Max movie, George Miller rebooted the franchise with Fury Road . Tom Hardy takes over the titular role of Max, and Charlize Theron is introduced as the heroine Furiosa. Miller returns to the post-apocalyptic wasteland of the world but with never-before-seen visual splendor. Fury Road’s action, set pieces, cinematography, and overall look brought something entirely new to the series, earning it several Oscar wins and nominations. 

Almost two decades after The Last Crusade, Harrison Ford reprised his defining role of Indiana Jones in 2008’s The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. The film sees Indy on a new adventure with his son and features the return of Karen Allen as Marion. While the film received mixed reviews, it’s undeniably great to see Ford back with his hat and whip, bringing his usual charm to the screen. It wouldn’t be the last time audiences saw him as Indy, with the Dial of Destiny releasing in 2023. 

Mary Poppins Returns sees the return of everyone’s favorite magical nanny over 50 years after the original Disney classic’s release. Jane and Michael Banks are now all grown up, with Michael having children of his own, and are once again visited by Mary. Emily Blunt is practically perfect in the role, matching the whimsy and elegance of Julie Andrews and making the film just as magical as the first. Dıck Van Dyke also cameos as Mr. Dawes Jr., whose father he played in the 1964 movie.

Trainspotting was one of the most highly acclaimed movies to come out of the ‘90s, and director Danny Boyle returned with the sequel T2: Trainspotting in 2017. With the original cast reprising their roles, the film sees Mark Renton return to Scotland and reunite with Sick Boy, Spud, and Begbie. The characters have aged and are craving their youth, making this a melancholy and reflective sequel. However, it maintains the chaotic energy and pitch-black humor that made the original such a hit. 

While it’s hard to compare anything to the comedy classic that is Coming to America, 2021’s long-awaited sequel is another hilarious trip to Zamunda. The film sees Prince Akeem return to New York to find his long-lost son and bring him back home to take the throne. Almost all of the actors from the original film are back in the roles they played over 30 years earlier, alongside a new cast of younger actors. Eddie Murphy and Arsenio Hall are still in form and once again bring their A-game.

Billed as a "spiritual sequel" to the 1992 horror hit, 2021’s Candyman continues the macabre legend of the supernatural hook-handed killer. The story returns to the now-gentrified neighborhood of Cabrini-Green from the first movie, where an artist’s obsession with the history of Candyman unleashes the monster once more. The film explores racial generational trauma, with Tony Todd back in his terrifying role and unknowing victims still repeating his name five times in front of the mirror. 

Trading board games for video games, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle makes a perfect modern companion to the Robin Williams classic. The story sees four teens sucked into a magical video game where they embody their chosen avatars and must finish the game to return to reality. While there is a reference to Williams’ Alan Parrish, the film stands strongly on its own, thanks to its hilarious star-studded cast, clever humor, and action-packed adventure.