There are a number of film series that got better with each movie that they released; below are our top three picks of movies that achieved this feat.
Throughout the history of film, there have been a myriad of film series. It is widely understood that in most instances, film series are distinct in their releases as the first film is meant to establish the setting or the world of the narrative and introduce its lead characters to audiences. While the sequel is about growing the story and pushing it forward.
Other subsequent releases only further push the narrative forward. However, not every film series is able to do this well, that it gets better with each release.
A lot of the times, a well-established film does not require a sequel, but over the years, we have seen many popular franchises achieve the threaded sequel successfully.
As such, there are universally touted films that have done this, like the Harry Potter franchise and Toy Story.
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What is the longest film series in the world?
Throughout history, a number of film series have managed to have over 20 films released.
This includes the likes of notable films series like the James Bond franchise which has over 29 films, The Marvel Cinematic Universe, also with over 29 films, and Godzilla with over 40 films between 1954 and 2021.
However, the longest-running film series is the Japanese films Otoko wa Tsurai yo or It’s Tough Being a Man, which is a series with 50 films released between 1961 and 2019.
Interestingly, only the last film that was released as part of the fiftieth anniversary celebrations did not feature lead actor, Kiyoshi Atsumi, after his untimely death in the late 1990s.
What film series got better with each movie?
It is noteworthy that this list is composed of film series which got better with each movie released. This is as some film series have seen unfavourable to good reviews with the first film, but as the series progressed, the films seemingly received mixed reviews.
This includes notable film series like Star Trek, Fast and Furious, Die Hard, and the X-Men series of films, which means you can pick and choose critically and commercially acclaimed films from the series and miss other watches.
As such, the first is the Toy Story series.
1. Toy Story
There is a lot that makes the Toy Story film series the best to date. Firstly, the film was released in 1995. The film made history as the first animated film that was created entirely with computers and CGI technology.
However, besides the bright, distinctive world that the CGI technology achieved as its technological capabilities improved with the subsequent releases of Toy Story 2 and Toy Story 3, it is the ability of the actual film series storylines and plots improving and evolving that makes the Toy Story series a must-watch.
From the first film, which dealt with Woody’s jealousy of Buzz Lightyear, to the sequel, which was about the journey the toys took to adjusting to their owner ageing, to the third film, which focused on the toys’ transition to finding a new home with a different kid.
Each film not only highlighted the basic premise of friendship, but imbued a philosophical point of accepting and welcoming the ageing process.
2. Harry Potter
If you grew up watching the Harry Potter franchise in real time, it may be difficult to watch earlier films from the series. But the Harry Potter franchise is regarded as one of the greatest young adult franchises in the world.
It is widely agreed upon that the first two films, The Philosopher’s Stone and The Chamber of Secrets, may be the hardest to watch due to how young the actors were and how these films were less dark.
Therefore, The Prisoner of Azkaban is considered the first of the continually best rollouts of the film series.
The CGI technology of the overall franchise improved and the films took a darker tone as the lead actors had matured in the years since they started filming.
3. Jason Bourne
In addition to the fact that the film series featured Good Will Hunting’s Matt Damon as an action hero, it is director Doug Liman who is behind the first film, who is considered the reason for the film series success.
This is as he managed to tell an action-driven story that was carefully crafted, fast-paced, and that kept viewers on the edge of their seats from beginning to end.
Therefore, by the time Paul Greengrass took over the helm with Bourne Supremacy and The Bourne Ultimatum, the films still kept the same pace, tone, and aesthetic while advancing the narrative forward seamlessly.
Where can I watch the films?
Since each film series is produced by a different film studio, along with the growing competition in the saturated market of paid subscription video-on-demand platforms, navigating where to watch each film series may be difficult.
But here is where you can watch the film series shared above.
| Film series | Platform available |
| Toy Story | Available on Amazon Prime Video |
| Harry Potter | Available on Amazon Prime Video |
| Jason Bourne | Available on Amazon Prime Video |
