25 best movie sequels ever

Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982)
Having kickstarted the franchise back into hyperdrive, Wrath remains one of the best Star Treks to date. You'd never tell that Nicholas Meyer hadn't seen a single episode of the TV series before being asked to take director duties. As for the ending, you'd have to be a Vulcan to not shed a tear.

Aliens (1986)
James Cameron expanded Ridley Scott's Alien universe in a way that most directors would be afraid to, packing it out with more guns, more gore, and upping the alien count from one to about one hundred. "This Time It's War", states the tagline. More of a massacre really, and not in the humans' favour.

The Bourne Ultimatum (2007)
Picking the best Bourne sequel wasn't easy, but Ultimatum just scrapes top spot. While Supremacy ups the thrills, Ultimatum feels even tighter and finely-honed, tail-ending one of the most accomplished trilogies of all time. We still can't go into Waterloo station without feeling a little uneasy…

Addams Family Values (1993)
This sequel to 1991's Addams Family doesn't just continue the macabre humour of the original, it surpasses it brilliantly. Plenty of dead funny one-liners keep the laughs coming, as does the Addams kids' trip to Summer Camp. A twisted satire of the "typical" American family.

Before Sunset (2004)
Nine years after they spent an evening together on a train (in Before Sunrise) Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy meet again. Yes, it’s essentially 80 minutes of the pair walking and talking, but the dialogue – written by the two actors and director Richard Linklater – is enthralling, the Parisian backdrops beautiful.