Collider has published a ranking of the ten best film sequels of all time, arguing that sequels are frequently unfairly dismissed and can in fact surpass, rather than merely follow, their original instalments. The list highlights films that redefined their franchises and left a lasting mark on popular culture, spanning genres from superhero blockbusters to horror classics and character-driven dramas.

Among the entries discussed are Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight (2008), praised for outdoing 2005's Batman Begins through sharper writing and Heath Ledger's acclaimed performance as the Joker; James Whale's The Bride of Frankenstein (1935), noted as an early example of a sequel eclipsing its 1931 predecessor; and Richard Linklater's Before Sunset (2004), which built on the romance of Before Sunrise (1995) with Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy reprising their roles nine years on.

– The Dark Knight (2008) tops comparisons with Batman Begins, led by Heath Ledger's Joker
– The Bride of Frankenstein (1935) is cited as an early sequel that outshone its 1931 original
– Before Sunset (2004) reunites Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy nine years after Before Sunrise