The 21 best movie sequels of the last 10 years

The only thing harder to make than a good original movie is its sequel. Some directors take the one-and-done approach when it comes to franchise followups (think Steven Spielberg with the Jaws series, or George Lucas with the original Star Wars trilogy). Others stick around for all future installments (Mad Max’s George Miller) or make some of them (see J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek and Star Wars movies). But all of them would likely agree that making a sequel (or several of them) is a daunting task that comes with great risk (what if the fans don’t like it?), but potentially even greater reward at the box office.

As the King of Sequels, James Cameron, watches his Avatar: The Way Of Water break box office records, The A.V. Club has revisited (in order of release) the best sequels of the last 10 years. These must-see movies either surpassed the original films or were just as effective in making their mark on pop culture. Here are our picks:

Fast & Furious 6 (2013)

features an exploding plane that sneezes a car out from its nose cone. Iconic. No notes. Director Justin Lin’s big-budget car porn epic is arguably Peak Fast & Furious-ing, taking all of the things audiences loved about Fast Five and going bigger and bolder with both the stunts and the “family” drama, especially with the return of the presumed dead Letty (Michelle Rodriguez). Lin and the franchise’s go-to screenwriter, Chris Morgan, saddle the character’s resurrection with some soap opera-grade amnesia that complicates the hell out of the already twisted, highly improbable plot involving shadowy government types that employ Dom (Vin Diesel) and his car-obsessed crew to save the day. They do so with the help of some of the series’ flashiest and most jaw-dropping stunts—like when Letty steals a tank at high-speeds. This Fast is a convoluted ride, sure, but it’s one worth taking.