Note: This piece was originally published at The Comeback in July 2016.

With the weak, disappointing sequels that we’ve seen so far this year at the movies — including Batman v Superman, X-Men: Apocalypse and the abysmal Independence Day: Resurgence — it’s getting difficult to remember (or believe) that a follow-up to a successful film can actually be an improvement on the original.

Yes, I realize some of you will counter that assertion with citing The Empire Strikes Back or The Godfather: Part II as great sequels. But I would argue that those movies and other strong sequels like The Road Warrior or Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan were continuations of a larger story, rather than another standalone film that came after a breakout hit.

(This continuation caveat applies to nearly every superhero sequel, doesn’t it? It’s essentially understood that those properties are intended to be multi-film franchises. So movies like Spider-Man 2, X2: X-Men United, The Dark Knight, and Captain America: The Winter Soldier weren’t necessarily created when their predecessors were breakout hits. Sequels were already part of the larger plan.)

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