The Best Sequels of 2011

In many ways, 2011 can be seen as the year of the sequel; numerous films released this year have been built upon the success of franchises. Despite the fact that these films are not entirely original in their ideas, some have really stood out as being significant works of artistic and commercial achievement. Here, then, are the best sequels of 2011 (so far).

"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2"

This installment of the enormously popular franchise had some very high expectations to meet; it met and exceeded the expectations of almost everyone. With its superb mixture of action; introspection; and powerful, heartrending emotion, there can be no doubt that this film was not only the best film of the year but also the best installment to detail the adventures of Harry, Hermione, and Ron. If you haven't yet seen this superb fantasy film, then you should definitely do so before it runs out of theaters.

"Rise of the Planet of the Apes"

I'll be the first to admit I was a little nervous about this film, especially given the unfortunate mess that was the earlier Tim Burton version (which was an OK movie despite its flaws). However, the powerful narrative of this film combined with the truly amazing visual effects -- one cannot really tell where actor Andy Serkis ends and the ape character Caesar begins -- made this one of the most popular films of the year.

"Rise" currently has grossed over $400 million, an impressive achievement considering that it cost less than $100 million to make. It only remains to be seen whether its sequel (which has not yet been announced) will be able to measure up.

"The Hangover Part II"

If you enjoyed the drunken antics of the friends from the original film, then you will probably enjoy this follow-up, which really pushes the envelope when it comes to the adult-oriented jokes. Despite this, the film manages to recapture the absolute hilarity and camaraderie that made the first installment such a success. Will there be a third sequel? Time alone will tell.

Although sequels generally do not manage to recapture the spirit of the original films, 2011 has been an exception to that rule. With the great success of this year's sequels, we might just dare to hope that Hollywood can indeed breathe some new and very exciting life into stories we all know and love.

Sources
The box office figures cited in this article can be found at Box Office Mojo.

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