With the upcoming release of Top Gun: Maverick, the Bitesize crew has put their brains together to compile Bitesize Breakdown's consensus Top Five Legacy Sequels.
Each writer ranks his or her top 15 films in the category. Those lists are then weighted on a reverse point system. After all the points are tallied up, the entries with the most total points make up the Bitesize Top Five.
5. BLADE RUNNER 2049
Blade Runner 2049, more than almost any other film in existence, is the definition of a perfect legacy sequel. Broader in scope but more intimate in its storytelling capacities, director Denis Villeneuve’s 2017 sequel to Blade Runner demonstrates its reverence for Ridley Scott’s foundational work whilst improving upon it in every fashion. From the tiniest whisper that expands the implications of its world to the largest and longest shots it has to offer, 2049 is an outright masterpiece. - Jacob
4. CREED
How many times is the seventh entry in a film series amongst the franchise’s best entries? Miraculously, director Ryan Coogler rejuvenates a somewhat tired character and genre through heart, emotion, nostalgia, and an out-of-nowhere, Oscar-nominated performance from Sylvester Stallone. It’s the sequel no one asked for, yet it’s a revelation with the perfect blend of paying homage to its predecessors and taking the series in new directions. - Quentin
3. TOY STORY 3
There’s rarely a time where a third film in the trilogy is considered the best. And being the best after waiting 11 years for the next entry? Well, Woody, Buzz, and the crew pull it off. Be honest, you still cry at the furnace scene. - Amarú
2. STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS
This film brought Star Wars back to life with instantly engaging new characters and the perfect amount of nostalgia. Where the prequels had their struggles, this brought fans back to a galaxy far, far away and picked up where the story left off in 1983. - Nick
1. MAD MAX: FURY ROAD
With 30 years between films, the Mad Max franchise returned…and, boy, did it not disappoint! Series creator George Miller’s return to this post-apocalyptic world is a badass and chaotic masterwork that is, without question, the best in the franchise. An absolute roaring film that brings the franchise back to its feet. - Adriano
HONORABLE MENTIONS
TERMINATOR 2: JUDGEMENT DAY
HALLOWEEN (2018)
SPLIT
JUMANJI: WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE
SCREAM 4
Photo Credits: Photo 1, 2, 5 - Warner Bros; Photo 3 - Disney/Pixar; Photo 4 - Disney/Lucasfilm