Sometimes one just isn’t enough. After watching a great movie, you might desire more from that particular fictional universe (or one based on reality). Thankfully, the “manufacturers” have always been willing to cater to this kind of demand. Risk-averse studios and directors like to invest more in proven creations — protagonists with pre-built prestige, worlds with lots of adherents.
However, success is rarely guaranteed in the film industry. Many sequels have been known to cheapen the predecessor rather than elevate it. While watching them, your mind mingles with the appreciation for a new serving while also mourning for what other fresh route could have been taken.
Thankfully, films with lots of wonderful sequels also exist, particularly in the action genre. Some improve what came before, others come off as better by correcting the previous flaws, while others simply stay in the same lane, giving fans more of what they signed up for in the first place.
Here are 10 great action movies with lots of butt-kicking sequels.
‘American Ninja’ (1985)
American Ninja was supposed to be Chuck Norris’ big franchise, but he reportedly didn’t want to cover his face (per Pax Holley), so Michael Dudikoff was cast instead. In the original film, Dudikoff’s character Joe Armstrong, a young Marine, faces off against the Black Star Order of ninjas while stationed in the Philippines. The actor was replaced in the lead role by David Bradley in the third installment, but returned for the fourth and final film.
This Marine Hates Guns
A major concern about Dudikoff is that he has always been so self-involved that asking him to demonstrate some range and swivel outward would be the same as asking for genetic modification. But in the American Ninja movies, he does extremely well, proving himself as one of the best ‘80s and ‘90s action stars. And his character is likable, the kind that throws a gun away for a fair fight. Even though director Sam Firstenberg moved on after the second film, all the sequels are brilliant, exploring relevant topics like the drug trade, biological warfare, and terrorism, while presenting some of the most unforgettable action sequences.
‘Dirty Harry’ (1971)
After the ‘60s, Clint Eastwood was eager to prove he was more than just a Western star, so he signed up to play the SFPD’s Inspector “Dirty” Harry Callahan in Dirty Harry. In the initial events, the protagonist is chasing after a psychopathic sniper, inspired by the infamous real-life Northern Californian serial killer known as The Zodiac Killer. Eastwood would return for all four sequels, the most committed he has ever been to any franchise.
Criminals Beware!
The Dirty Harry movies get better and better, with the third (Sudden Impact) giving us one of the most iconic movie quotes, “Go ahead, make my day.” This isn’t just a shoot-and-go film series either. Issues such as police welfare and gender balance in the workplace are explored across the five films. Many other action flicks would later draw inspiration from the world of Harry Callahan, including The Rookie and The Protector. Hopefully, we’ll get a legacy sequel someday.
‘Ip Man’ (2008)
Younger audiences recognize Donnie Yen from John Wick more than anything else, but the tai chi expert has been active for a long time. In Ip Man, his titular character, a Wing Chun master, uses his skills to defend his people when the Japanese invade during the Second Sino-Japanese War. The character is based on a real-world figure, and Yen reprises the role in all three sequels.
Donnie the Great
The beauty of the Ip Man film series lies in the fact that, from the outside, it all appears the same, yet each installment has a unique theme. The first is about survival, the second is about adaptation, the third is about contentment, and the fourth is about the end of the road. A fifth installment is reported to be in development, and it would be interesting to see how that goes. Meanwhile, watch all the movies, not just for a slice of history, but for important lessons on morality and honor.
‘Lethal Weapon’ (1987)
After being denied a chance to continue his work on the Superman flicks, director Richard Donner found solace in the buddy cop action movie, Lethal Weapon. Here, Martin Riggs (Mel Gibson), a suicidal, daredevil LAPD detective struggling to get over his wife’s death, is partnered with Roger Murtaugh (Danny Glover), a calm, family man close to retirement. Together, they investigate a heroin-smuggling ring. The two lead actors returned for all three sequels.
Ying and Yang
The Lethal Weapon plots are anchored by darker topics like PTSD, racism (there is an Apartheid storyline), suicide, and drug abuse, but audiences are never forced to sit in class. You’ll still enjoy yourself if you are in it only for the action. Don’t expect any outstanding martial arts sequences. It’s just the usual chase and shoot stuff, but none of it is boring. A TV reboot was later made. Regrettably, it was ruined by behind-the-scenes issues. But if Hollywood rumors are anything to go by, a fifth movie might just be on the way.
‘Police Story’ (1985)
Police Story was born out of disappointment. In his autobiography, Jackie Chan reveals that he chose to make the movie following a frustrating experience working with James Glickenhaus on The Protector, a film intended to be his grand entry into Hollywood. Well, good things come out of messes sometimes, so we got to see Chan playing a Hong Kong officer who juggles between trying to clear his name and protecting a witness.
Chan’s Most Cherished Work
Here, you’ll find one of Jackie Chan’s greatest movie stunts, where the action star clings onto a getaway double-decker bus using an umbrella. Pure bliss! Police Story is basically a David versus Goliath, covering the peculiar bravery of a lawman going up against bigger, insidious forces. The sequels (a whopping six of them) pretty much adopt the same tone. In his autobiography, Chan also names the first film as the best thing he has ever done. That’s heavy, considering his catalog includes gems like Rush Hour, Rumble in the Bronx, and The Legend of the Drunken Master.
‘The Expendables’ (2010)
You aren’t alone if you thought many of the older action stars were too proud to work under one of their peers. Well, you were wrong. A few of them agreed to be directed and led by Sylvester Stallone in The Expendables: the story of an elite group of mercenaries tasked with overthrowing a Latin American dictator. More stars joined down the line.
An Avengers-Type Teamup
The Expendables isn’t a clever movie. Neither are any of its follow-ups. But if given the choice between an action film so smart it leaves you feeling like an idiot, and a film that is full of tough and likeable idiots, many viewers would have an easy choice. This franchise was made with genre fans in mind and to cater to those who were nostalgic about the 1980s and 1990s. Everyone might be a bit older, but they can still throw a punch.
‘Once Upon a Time in China’ (1991)
Once Upon a Time in China stars Jet Li as Wong Fei-hung, a legendary martial artist, trainer, and folk hero in late 19th-century Canton. Irked by the intrusion of Western imperial powers in China, he juggles between preserving and confronting new threats. Five sequels and a TV show followed this wuxia classic, all of them released within a span of six years.
The Greater the instability, the Greater the Action
If you are craving action, blended with history and politics, look no further. Once Upon a Time in China and its sequels do not disappoint. And was there ever a better actor to steer this than Jet Li? Let the star’s absence in the fourth and fifth films not deter you. There’s so much fun to be had in those two productions. You’ll also appreciate the sound and music. Each film has the same catchy theme song, based on the Ming Dynasty folk song “Under the General’s Orders.”
‘The Fast & the Furious’ (2001)
For gearheads and racing lovers, The Fast & the Furious is considered the best in the series. The first picture centers on LAPD officer Brian O’Conner (Paul Walker) as he investigates a street racing crew suspected of a series of highway hijackings. Things get bigger and over-the-top with each new film, so much so that recent plots have involved characters going to space and trying to prevent World War III.
It’s All About Cars, Money, and… Family
Many commentators believe that the franchise jumped the shark after Furious 7, but there is still a lot more to enjoy, even if we throw the last three releases in the bin. Fast Five is widely considered the peak, the point where the metamorphosis from racing movie to high-stakes global action thriller really happened. Much credit goes to Dwayne Johnson’s character, Luke Hobbs, for the turnaround. Hopefully, the final chapter will avoid all the elements that have been singled out for criticism.
‘John Wick’ (2014)
In John Wick, mobster Iosef Tarasov (Alfie Allen) gets more than he bargained for when he invades the home of a humble man named John Wick (Keanu Reeves), killing his dog and taking his car. It turns out the man is a former assassin, and he sure does get revenge. In the sequels, Wick finds himself enmeshed in a high-stakes game of cat-and-mouse, involving his former superiors, who want him dead.
No Stop Force
Anyone who ever wished for an action franchise that is both smart and breathless got their gift in John Wick. The first chapter is a simple revenge story. From there on, the theory gets deeper, all linked to the intrigues of the Higher Table (a global managing board that the world’s best assassins report to). Even better, big names have kept on joining along the way. From Scott Adkins to Donnie Yen, there is a star for everyone, whether you prefer the commercial punchers or the underrated ones.
‘Die Hard’ (1988)
After being a TV comedy star for much of the ‘80s, Bruce Willis made an easy transition into the world of action via Die Hard. In the movie, he portrays John McClane, a lawman who heads to his wife’s office Christmas party to try and win her back, only for the building to be taken over by terrorists. The stakes get even higher in the sequels, with terrorists taking over airports and even entire cities.
Yippee Ki-Yay
A repeat viewing of Die Hard can never be a waste of time. Given how perfect John McClane’s first adventure is, many assume things will only get boring from there on. How wrong they were. The franchise kept evolving, with the fourth installment, Live Free or Die Hard, hitting a new high with a cyber-related plot. Only the fifth film is a little weak, but for Bruce Willis fans and action lovers at large, it’s very watchable.