“Sequels suck! By definition alone they’re inferior films.” Truer words could not have been spoken. No film genre feels this more than horror fans (looking at you Exorcist 2, Jaws: The Revenge, every Hellraiser sequel past 2, and much…*sigh*...much more). Now in defense, most sequels have a mountain of expectations that come along with them. Sequels have to not only carry the momentum of its predecessor but build upon it in some kind of way, which alone is not an easy task to do. But every once and awhile we get a true diamond in a coal mine, an actual entertaining sequel. A sequel that not only entertains us but builds upon the previous entry and reinvigorates the series…just so we can be let down by the next bad sequel of course. Here is part 1 of 3 of our list of 20 sequels that don’t suck (and 3 controversial favorites)!

1. Dawn of the Dead (1978)

When Night of the Living Dead was released in 1968, one could assume that George A. Romero had no idea the legacy he was about to create. It single-handedly created a new subset of horror that still continues to dominate pop culture today. While Night of the Living Dead began the subgenre, it was the success of Dawn of the Dead that really solidified zombies as a force to be reckoned with. Dawn of the Dead builds on the concept of the previous film and adds so much more depth, really making this the fantastic sequel it is. Instead of a small house, the survivors are trapped in a (now iconic) mall setting where we get to see much more scale to the zombie outbreak. Dawn of the Dead also introduced the world to special FX master Tom Savini, who would go on to shape the special FX industry for years following. Dawn of the Dead is truly a masterclass in creating a successful sequel.

2. The Bride of Frankenstein (1935)

When Universal decided to make a sequel to Frankenstein, director James Whale initially refused believing that he had already squeezed the idea dry. Eventually Whale reconsidered and gave us the now iconic Bride of Frankenstein. Knowing that he would not top the original, Whale went with a different, more fun direction. Karloff returns as the Monster and we get to see much more character development of him. And who could forget the unveiling of the bride scene? Bride of Frankenstein set the precedent that sequels could be successful and paved the way for many more, even having some arguing that it surpasses the original.

3. Aliens (1986)

Taking over the mantle from Ridley Scott would be no small feat after the success of Alien, but lesser known director James Cameron would prove more than up for the task. Coming off the success of The Terminator, Cameron took a new direction with Aliens and swapped the horror elements for a more action packed thrill ride. The Xenomorphs are shown more and are now a force to be reckoned with, even for a well trained military force. Aliens also brings back Sigourney Weaver as Ripley and molds her into the badass icon that we know today. Aliens has frequently been noted as possibly surpassing the original and while all may not agree it still made the Alien franchise the force it is today and helped shape James Cameron’s career.

4. Evil Dead II (1987)

Anyone would find it hard to list the best cult classics and not mention Evil Dead II. Being a remake/sequel of the original, Evil Dead II trades the traditional horror aspects of the first cabin in the woods story and throws in comedy and absurdity that only Sam Raimi could do. Evil Dead II also introduces us to the force of nature that is Bruce Campbell in his entirety. It’s fun. It’s campy. It’s everything you want in a horror comedy. Need I say more?

5. Nightmare on Elm Street 3 (1987) / New Nightmare (1994)

After all the Nightmare on Elm Street sequels throughout the years, it’s hard to imagine that at one point they may not have existed. After the critical failure of A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge, the future of the series was really up in the air. Thankfully, Dream Warriors breathed fresh new life into the franchise. Having a group of kids fighting Freddy, and introducing the quick to quip Freddy proved to be the direction the franchise needed and paved the path for new entries. The same can also be said of New Nightmare after the failure of Freddy’s Dead. New Nightmare brought back a terrifying Freddy and introduced a metacentric storyline that would eventually pave the way for Wes Craven to create Scream.

6. The Devil’s Rejects (2005)

Rob Zombie really begins to find his gritty, visceral, exploitative style in this second installment of the Firefly family trilogy. Where The Devil’s Rejects steps above House of 1000 Corpses is its tone. Zombie tones down a bit of the campy humor and goes for a more earthly approach, ultimately giving this sequel the touch it needs. The Devil’s Rejects is brutal and unforgiving, and between the characters and their acts, just straight dirty.

7. Halloween II (1981) / Halloween III: Season of the Witch (1982)

Halloween II provides an uncommon trope for the time by being a straight sequel, a sequel that occurs directly after the first. This really is what makes Halloween II so successful. It carries the momentum of the first well and shapes the character of Michael Myers, making him more than just a man but an unstoppable force. Halloween III on the other hand, while technically a sequel, is more an anthological entry. While a commercial failure on first release mostly due to the absence of Michael Myers, Halloween III has gained a cult status over the years. When separated on its own, Halloween III is an underrated gem and deserving of a second look. It definitely is a Halloween night must watch.

Controversial: Gremlins 2: The New Batch

This Key & Peele sketch sums up exactly what the screenwriting process had to look like for Gremlins 2: The New Batch. While Gremlins was not exactly straight horror, Gremlins 2 takes it up a notch and creates just an absolutely absurd film. Embracing everything about late 80s consumerism and pop culture, Gremlins 2 is over the top and just pure campiness fun.