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After a few years of sub-par horror, 2023 delivered many long-awaited sequels to legacy franchises. Movies like Saw X, The Exorcist: Believer, and The Nun II turned the chapter of stories years in the making and even provided some elements of closure. As we look ahead to 2024, there’s no better opportunity to look back at some of the best horror sequels to date.
Even 2024 promises several exciting sequels, namely A Quiet Place: Day One, Return to Silent Hill, and Terrifier 3. But while we have to wait to decide whether or not these new sequels do justice to their predecessors, there are some follow-up movies that are undoubtedly among the best in show.
Scream 2
The sequel to 1996’s Scream continues the story of Sidney Prescott and the survivors of the Woodsboro massacre as a copycat Ghostface killer emerges to finish what was started a year prior. Like the rest of the franchise, Scream 2 unravels an intricate whodunnit storyline that forces Sidney to become mistrusting of those around her.
Courteney Cox and David Arquette additionally return as Gale Weathers and Dewey Riley, respectively, as they assist in uncovering the true identity of the killer. Scream 2 has often been ranked among the best in the whole franchise, even above the recent releases in Scream V and Scream VI.
The Conjuring 2
While The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It failed to strike a cord with audiences, the first two Conjuring movies have always held a place dear to the hearts of horror fans. While the first Conjuring was based on the Warrens’ famous Perron Family case, the sequel focused on an entity known as the Enfield poltergeist, which itself became the basis of the Warrens’ Enfield Haunting investigation.
Thanks to stand-out performances by Vera Farmiga, Patrick Wilson, and Madison Wolfe, The Conjuring 2 earned almost $300,000,000 more dollars than its original budget. Unsurprisingly, it was named the highest-grossing horror movie of 2016, overtaking the likes of Lights Out, Terrifier, and The Autopsy of Jane Doe.
Saw II
As the Saw franchise awaits its eleventh installment, there are some big shoes to fill following the global commercial and critical success of Saw X. Needless to say, the return of powerhouse duo Tobin Bell and Shawnee Smith gave audiences the rush of nostalgia that predecessor Spiral had severely lacked. Despite Saw making history as the most significant body horror movie ever made, its sequel stole the spotlight by properly introducing Amanda Young into the mix.
Bell and Smith’s on-screen chemistry then continued to blossom in Saw X, nurtured by the developments made between Saw and Saw III. James Wan and Leigh Whannell upped the ante for the sequel by budgeting for more locations, a bigger cast, and twice as much gore as the original. And it’s safe to say the few extra dollars were worth every cent.
Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives
One of the most popular characters in the Friday the 13th franchise besides Jason Voorhees would be his archenemy Tommy Jarvis. In Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives, Jarvis is suffering PTSD flashbacks of murdering Jason Voorhees in Part IV and decides to return to the Crystal Lake camp site to confront his fears. When visiting Jason’s gravesite with the intention to cremate him, Tommy accidentally resurrects Jason as a superhuman. He then spends the remainder of the movie hunting Jason down to finish what he started.
While it wasn’t the most profitable of the Friday the 13th movies, it became an ultimate cult-classic and fan-favorite to many horror enthusiasts. This was also the last sequel to ever feature Tommy Jarvis as the main protagonist, so it marks a turning point for the franchise going forward.
Doctor Sleep
While not as conventionally well-known as many other horror sequels, Doctor Sleep follows an adult Danny Torrance as he encounters a cult of psychic beings led by Rose the Hat. He finds himself back at the Overlook Hotel as he’s forced to relive the horrors that occurred there years prior. Although it did leave a lasting impression on audiences, Doctor Sleep proved to be a box office disappointment compared to the other two Stephen King adaptations of the year.
Despite this, Doctor Sleep kickstarted the careers of several child actors and provided both memorable heroes and villains in Danny, Abra, Rose the Hat, and Crow Daddy. Somehow, Mike Flanagan managed to honor the followers of both Stephen King fans and Stanley Kubrick to create a satisfying blend of prominent horror legacies.
