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What Are The Best Horror Movie Sequels Ever Made?
Sometimes the second movies come out and scare you more than the original did.
Apr 23, 2025
Creating good original horror movies is a hard enough prospect, but following them up with sequels that are equally as good is a tall order.
Today, I wanted to go over some horror sequels I think are excellent and go over what I love about them.
Let's dive in.
1. Aliens
- Director: James Cameron
- Writers: James Cameron (Screenplay & Story), David Giler (Story), Walter Hill (Story). Based on characters created by Dan O'Bannon and Ronald Shusett.
- Cast: Sigourney Weaver, Michael Biehn, Paul Reiser, Lance Henriksen, Carrie Henn, Bill Paxton, William Hope, Jenette Goldstein, Al Matthews
Genuinely one of the best action movies of all time as well, it takes the horror genre mashup idea and brings the action in, instead of science fiction. It has an incredible script and builds out the terrifying moments.
2. Bride of Frankenstein
- Director: James Whale
- Writers: William Hurlbut (Screenplay & Story), John L. Balderston (Story). Based on the premise suggested by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley's novel, Frankenstein.
- Cast: Boris Karloff, Colin Clive, Valerie Hobson, Elsa Lanchester (in a dual role), Ernest Thesiger, O.P. Heggie, E. E. Clive.
I feel like the idea of giving a horror icon a wife is largely lampooned, but at the time this was revolutionary,. It was dark and macabre and brought in a new audience.
3. Dawn of the Dead
- Director: George A. Romero
- Writer: George A. Romero
- Cast: David Emge, Ken Foree, Scott H. Reiniger, Gaylen Ross.
A landmark zombie film that expands on the themes of Night of the Living Dead, mixing intense gore with sharp social commentary on consumerism. It's so fun to watch and feels like it never actually ages.
4. Evil Dead II
- Director: Sam Raimi
- Writers: Sam Raimi, Scott Spiegel
- Cast: Bruce Campbell, Sarah Berry, Dan Hicks, Kassie Wesley, Richard Domeier.
This functions as both a sequel and a remake/reimagining of the first film. It;s like they got more cash and decided to make the first one even scarier and more screwed up. There's also a ton of comedy here.
5. A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors
- Director: Chuck Russell
- Writers: Wes Craven, Bruce Wagner, Frank Darabont, Chuck Russell. (Based on characters created by Wes Craven).
- Cast: Heather Langenkamp, Robert Englund, Craig Wasson, Patricia Arquette, Ken Sagoes, Rodney Eastman, Jennifer Rubin, Laurence Fishburne, John Saxon.
The only third installment on my list, it goes back to the tone of the original movie and takes the kids into Freddy's world. You follow the rules but expand the universe, giving us some memorable scares.
Summing Up the Best Horror Movie Sequels
There has to be something liberating about making a horror sequel. You have the rules set, and all you have to do is come up with a new story using them.
To me, these are the best movies to do that, but I'm sure you have some favorites that I need to check out.
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