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It's difficult to think of a decade that was better for sequels than the 2010s. More than ever, franchises thrived in this decade, whether it was modern animated classics, legacy sequels that surpassed all expectations, or the many, many superhero follow-ups that we were treated to.
With so many sequels released during the 2010s, picking the best per year can be difficult. Many years had several fantastic sequels that could battle for the top spot and win if they were released at almost any other time. With some of the greatest sequels ever made, topping the list of any year in the 2010s is impressive.
2010: Toy Story 3
Toy Story 3 old Andy holding Buzz and Woody
The first year of the decade was a mixed bag for sequels. There were good ones like Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1, Iron Man 2, Predators, and Tron: Legacy, while others missed the mark like Shrek Forever After and Sex and the City 2.
Even the best of sequels would have a tough time topping Toy Story 3. This film had the tall task of concluding (at least for the time) an incredible trilogy. The movie did the smart thing by having the story grow with the kids who watched the original films over a decade prior.
The toys we've grown to love dealt with the fact that their owner has aged out of playing with them and they need to find a new purpose in life. Toy Story 3 was met with widespread acclaim, grossed over $1 billion, won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature, and is among the best cappers for a trilogy ever.
2011: Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows: Part 2
A lot of sequels from 2011 ended up disappointing audiences. The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1, Cars 2, and Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides were all nowhere near as good as the peaks of those franchises. Among the best sequels were Fast Five and the prequel X-Men: First Class.
However, the top of the list for 2011 is Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2. The Harry Potter movies left a lot out from the books but they were still great, so making sure the final entry stuck the landing was important. This film succeeded in doing just that.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 is basically all action, starting with a bang from an intense heist scene at Gringotts to the big Battle at Hogwarts. The movie is epic in scale and, in the eyes of some, is the best of the franchise's eight installments.
2012: Skyfall
Javier Bardem as Silva with Daniel Craig as James Bond in Skyfall
2012 saw a lot of franchises start, from Pitch Perfect to The Hunger Games but there weren't too many sequels. The Dark Knight Rises was the biggest, while Men in Black 3, Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted, and Ice Age 4: Continental Drift, were alright at best.
To find the best sequel of 2012, we have to look at a unique situation. The James Bond franchise hasn't always worked in a specific order or had stories that connect, but the Daniel Craig era was different. Each film connected and Skyfall, his third outing, is the peak of Craig's run as the character.
Skyfall was a massive hit that surpassed $1 billion at the box office and was met with widespread acclaim. Javier Bardem is spectacular as the villainous Raoul Silva, Craig is at his very best, and Sam Mendes directs the action with a flair that makes Skyfall something special.
2013: Before Midnight
Celine and Jesse walk through a Greek village in Before Midnight
2013 was big for blockbuster sequels like Iron Man 3, Star Trek Into Darkness, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, and Thor: The Dark World. However, discovering the best sequel from 2013 means you have to look at smaller films like Insidious: Chapter 2 and Before Midnight.
In fact, it's Before Midnight that ranks as the year's best sequel. The film marks the final leg in the Before trilogy, with previous entries released in 1995 and 2004. The series follows the initial meeting of Jesse and Céline, followed by them meeting up a decade later.
This final installment sees Jesse and Céline as a married couple, focusing on how their relationship has evolved over those years. Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy have a chemistry that makes every scene feel realistic, while Richard Linklater's work as director is stellar. The film sits at a 98% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
2014: Captain America: The Winter Soldier
Sebastian Stan's Bucky Barnes looks to the side in Captain America The Winter Soldier
2014 was another year where major franchises got started like John Wick and Guardians of the Galaxy. In terms of sequels, there was Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, X-Men: Days of Future Past, and How to Train Your Dragon 2.
That said, 2014 was topped by Captain America: The Winter Soldier. Unlike the first film, this story takes place in the modern day, which helps make it feel different. Chris Evans is again great as Steve Rogers, while bigger roles were given to Scarlett Johansson, Sebastian Stan, and Samuel L. Jackson.
Captain America: The Winter Soldier is a superhero movie that works a lot like a '70s political thriller. It was a commercial and critical success and many people still consider it to be the best MCU film ever made, even over a decade later. It has a fantastic level of rewatchability as well.
2015: Mad Max: Fury Road
Tom Hardy and Charlize Theron in Mad Max: Fury RoadImage made by Yailin Chacon
There were some massive sequels that hit theaters in 2015. The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2 ended that series while Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Creed, and Jurassic World reignited two iconic franchises. There was also Furious 7 and Pitch Perfect 2.
Nobody expected it but Mad Max: Fury Road ended up being the best sequel of 2015 and possibly of the entire 2010s. Released several decades after the most recent installment, Mad Max: Fury Road came from out of nowhere to bring the series into the modern age.
George Miller made sure the action scenes were done with practical effects, ensuring they had a special feel to them. Mad Max: Fury Road was a critical darling as well, racking up a whopping 10 Academy Award nominations and being widely considered one of the best films of its era.
2016: Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
Cassian and Jyn Erso standing next to each other in Rogue One
There weren't all that many sequels released in 2016. Captain America: Civil War was a monster hit that remains one of the top MCU movies and Finding Dory made a ton of money, while Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and X-Men: Apocalypse were misfires.
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story showed that the franchise had new legs, at least for a time. The previous year's movie was a success that breathed new life into Star Wars, while this spin-off prequel proved how popular it still was. Without most characters from the Skywalker Saga, Rogue One still grossed $1 billion.
The premise of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story centers on a group of rebels who go on a dangerous mission that ultimately leads to the victory of Luke Skywalker and the other heroes in 1977's original Star Wars. The film was fantastic and spawned the terrific Andor TV series.
2017: Paddington 2
The prison dance number in Paddington 2
There's likely not a tougher year for sequel competition than 2017. The year was home to Blade Runner 2049, Thor: Ragnarok, Logan, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, War for the Planet of the Apes, and John Wick: Chapter 2, just to name a few.
In the end, Paddington 2 is the year's best sequel. The follow-up to the first entry from 2014, this continues the adventures of the titular bear, who might be the most wholesome character in the history of cinema. In fact, the movie was even shown love in The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent.
Paddington 2 became the most-reviewed movie to sit at 100% on Rotten Tomatoes for a time, though it's currently at 99%. The film was both a box office hit and beloved by critics, becoming one of the best movies of the 2010s.
2018: Avengers: Infinity War
Thanos looking down in Avengers Infinity WarMarvel/Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection
The competition for sequels in 2018 was stiff. Incredibles 2 is the long-awaited follow-up to Pixar's classic superhero flick, Deadpool 2 is hilarious, Ralph Breaks the Internet is fantastic, and Mission: Impossible - Fallout is the best entry in that fantastic franchise.
Despite all that, you can't really top what Avengers: Infinity War pulled off. Not only the third Avengers movie, this was the biggest film in the MCU to that point, bringing the original team together with the Guardians of the Galaxy, Black Panther, Spider-Man, and more, as they worked to stop Thanos from wiping out half of humanity.
Avengers: Infinity War is a non-stop thrill ride where so many characters get a moment or two to shine. The film set box office records and grossed over $2 billion, while the cliffhanger ending still gets talked about to this day.
2019: John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum
Keanu Reeves as John Wick in John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum
The highly anticipated follow-up to Infinity War, Avengers: Endgame, has a strong case for taking the crown in 2019. For example, it was even bigger than its predecessor. The year also had Spider-Man: Far From Home, Toy Story 4, Frozen 2, How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World, and more.
Ultimately, John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum is our pick because it's everything you want in a sequel. The film takes what worked in the previous installments and raises the stakes while upping the scale, turning it into one of the biggest action franchises in history.
Keanu Reeves delivers in some jaw-dropping action sequences, Halle Berry pops up for a tremendous cameo, and there are gunfights that are almost unmatched in any other film. It makes John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum a top-tier sequel.