The old adage that sequels are never as good as the original is less of a rule and more of an outdated joke. Countless film franchises take a few tries at the same idea or build on a central concept with expert precision until they've created something more than the sum of its parts.
Horror movies have an unfortunate way of doing the same thing over and over with slight variation and determining the best option of the bunch can be difficult. Looking back at some classic franchises could leave a fan wondering exactly how they got where they're going from the starting point of the first film.
Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter
The first Friday the 13th film has almost none of the classic iconography of the overall franchise. Later films added Jason as the killer, his distinctive look, his fascination with the machete, his undead nature, and so on. The fourth film in the franchise, which was comically referred to as The Final Chapter despite the nine entries that have since followed it, is the first film that perfected the blend of horror and comedy. The early films weren't exactly true-crime documentaries in terms of tone or presentation, but the fourth added new layers of gags and new dimensions of violence. Other fans might debate exactly which Friday the 13th sequel represents the apotheosis of the slasher icon, but the fourth film has a ton of both of the best parts of the franchise.
Bride of Frankenstein
The first sequel to 1931's classic pre-code black and white sci-fi horror classic completely overshadows the original. Neither of these films is a direct adaptation of Mary Shelly's iconic classic tale, but this one hones in on the latter subplot and makes a meal of it. Director James Whale, who also helmed the 1931 original, outdid himself with the 1935 sequel. After a troubled production, the sequel came to the big screen with some of the best monster makeup of the era, some groundbreaking editing, and a far more powerful story. The depiction of the eponymous Bride is one of the most enduring depictions of any on-screen monster in the history of cinema, and even the traditional Frankenstein's monster is perfected here. The Universal monsters era of horror cinema has many legendary entries and hidden gems, but Bride of Frankenstein is one of the best horror sequels ever made.
Army of Darkness
Yes, The Evil Dead and Evil Dead II: Dead by Dawn are horror classics and integral pieces of one of the most important horror franchises ever made. But, when a fan or a newcomer drops one of the iconic quotes of Ash Williams, the line comes from the script of this capstone of the trilogy. Even though Evil Dead II is a ton of fun, it famously isn't exactly the sequel that Sam Raimi had in mind. Producer Dino de Laurentiis wanted something that aired closer to the original than Raimi's medieval horror-comedy idea. Army of Darkness is that sequel, and it's one of the best signifiers of Raimi's unique blend of oddball comedy, gripping action, and carnival spook-house horror. Army of Darkness is what Raimi had in mind for a sequel, and it's unquestionably the central anchor for the larger franchise. Without the excellent original, the entire franchise couldn't exist, but without Army of Darkness, it probably wouldn't have the impact it has today.
A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors
The first appearance of Freddy Krueger is one of the best horror films of all time. Wes Craven's first entry in the groundbreaking slasher franchise remains iconic and outstanding, almost 40 years later. Despite its excellence, A Nightmare on Elm Street isn't the best Nightmare film. Most of the sequels are either subpar attempts to recapture the magic or complete wastes of time, but Dream Warriors takes a story by Craven and turns it into the perfection of the format. This film expands upon the dream concept of the film in a brilliant way, features the best scares of the franchise, and comes with a killer theme song. The original is a masterpiece, but it's still bested by the Dream Warriors.
Dawn of the Dead
Among George A. Romero's many iconic zombie films, the second is the unquestioned apex. Intelligent, haunting, well-written, and scary, this remains one of the best zombie horror films ever made. Set in a Philadelphia mall, Dawn of the Dead didn't invent the genre, but it did introduce a ton of the techniques that future entries stole. On top of that, it features some of the most memorable characters in the zombie horror genre. Dawn of the Dead isn't just one of the best sequels ever made, it's almost unquestionably the best zombie film ever made. Everyone knows George A. Romero was the one who perfected the form, but even he needed to take a second try to nail it.