20 Movie Sequels That Work As Their Own Film, Too
"Does it matter if I haven't seen the first one?"
It's a question we've all asked when moviegoing over the years, as summer blockbusters grind out new sequels and franchises at a speed where it can be damn hard to keep up with the originals. But once in a blue moon, audiences will get a franchise entry that anyone can jump into at any moment, such as these 20 stand-alone sequels.
1.Mad Max: Fury Road
This high-octane, pulse-pounding action epic may be the fourth entry into the Mad Max franchise, but with no recurring characters or explicit plot threads outside of the titular hero, Fury Road totally works as a one-off adventure within its particular post-apocalyptic universe.
2.10 Cloverfield Lane
This claustrophobic and twisty thriller about the alleged survivors of an alien invasion in a bunk is basically a sequel in name only, though its sequel, The Cloverfield Paradox, would tie this sci-fi anthology into the mythology set by the first film.
3.22 Jump Street
Outside of one scene in the film and needing to know the general premise of the franchise, 22 Jump Street is a hysterical film that can work without needing to see its predecessor, especially considering that the film is largely a send-up of unimaginative sequels in the first place.
4.V/H/S/2
Not only is V/H/S/2 a much stronger entry in the found footage horror franchise than the first V/H/S, but the film almost entirely exists outside of the first anthology's canon, with one small "Easter egg" within the wraparound segment to connect the two stories.
5.Jackass Number Two
Even though some characters and gags may recur throughout the series, the Jackass movies do not really connect to one another by the sheer framework of the stunts, which enables Number Two to go above and beyond to make viewers laugh, gasp, and cringe in equal measure.
6.Terminator 2: Judgment Day
Don't get me wrong: T2 is a much more fulfilling and exciting experience if you've seen the first Terminator film, but there's no denying that Judgment Day is a different beast entirely. With action-packed set pieces, groundbreaking special effects, and plenty of exposition to clear up any confusion for newcomers, Terminator 2 is just as great for franchise first-timers as it is for hardened Terminator fans on their hundredth viewing.
7.Ouija: Origin of Evil
Outside of the film's post-credit sequence, Ouija: Origin of Evil barely connects to its predecessor, as its timeline leaping and innovative direction from Mike Flanagan makes it a scary and largely unaffiliated entry into the Ouija series.
8.Bad Boys 2
Outside of the protagonists of the first film returning, there's no bleedover from Bad Boys to Bad Boys 2 in terms of integral story elements or plot mechanics, making this stylish, edge-of-your-seat action flick perfect to watch without needing to break out the original.
9.28 Weeks Later
Largely just sharing the "rage zombie" conceit and visual palette of 28 Days Later, 28 Weeks Later employs a new story, new ensemble, and new stakes that aptly operate entirely outside of the first film's timeline.
10.National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
Not only does Christmas Vacation exist in a bubble outside of the other films in the Vacation franchise, minus some shared general themes, but the seminal Christmas comedy is arguably the funniest and most well-known film in the series.
11.Blade II
Much like a great one-off comic book series, Blade II takes Blade and Whistler into another eerie, bold, and terrifying adventure in the established Blade universe without any narrative baggage overlapping from his inaugural cinematic outing.
12.Undisputed 2: Last Man Standing
While the first Undisputed film is enjoyable on its own merits, the Undisputed franchise hits second gear once it enters direct-to-video territory, with a charismatic new cast, incredibly exciting fight choreography, and badass interpersonal drama akin to the Rocky series at its finest.
13.The Conjuring 2
With the exception of Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson as The Warrens, The Conjuring 2 doesn't even share the same continent as the first film for the majority of their tale, with new villains, a fresh supporting cast, and a story completely outside of the horrors of its petrifying predecessor.
14.The Raid 2
After the film's shocking opening scene essentially puts a button on the narrative connection between The Raid films, this surprisingly Shakespearean sequel takes a hard turn into world-building punctuated with explosive gang warfare and unbelievable fight scenes, most of which are unrelated to the original film outside of its central hero.
15.Dawn of the Dead (1978)
Another sequel that mostly exists in name (and subject matter) only, Dawn of the Dead feels like a completely unique and singular experience despite sharing some of the sociopolitical themes of Night of the Living Dead.
16.Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
Set before Indy's adventures in Raiders of the Lost Ark, Temple of Doom is only connected to Raiders by the appearance of Jones and his trademark whip and hat, allowing the rest of the film to be enjoyed by those who may or may not be familiar with the first film.
17.Demons 2
Lamberto Bava's Demons 2 shares some select cast members (now in new roles) as well as its fantastic monster design, but almost entirely transports its central concept to a new environment, so those just looking for a good scare don't need to be caught up with complications of canon or continuity.
18.Fast Five
Prior to Fast Five, the Fast and Furious franchise operated as a cop drama for gearheads, even with its stellar production value and thrilling action. However, Fast Five swung for the fences by rebranding the series into a globetrotting, genre-bending film series, essentially reintroducing its ensemble of cast members from previous films and bringing in Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson as their foil in a heist story that welcomed a whole different (and largely unfamiliar) audience.
19.Halloween III: Season of the Witch
The only Halloween film to omit its iconic killer, Michael Myers, Season of the Witch is a distinct and devilish horror-mystery about an apocalyptic Halloween conspiracy headlined by the amazing Tom Atkins. A cult classic in its own right, Halloween III's main point of criticism has been among its best reasons to revisit it, as it can be enjoyed by those completely unaware of all things Halloween.
20.Split
A "secret" sequel, many did not even know the nail-biting horror flick Split was a follow-up to M. Night Shymalan's Unbreakable until the film's final moments, which brought back Bruce Willis as David Dunn and set the stage for the third film in the series, Glass.
