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Top 10 Best Comedy Sequels of All Time

More often than not, comedy sequels tend to fall short of recapturing what made the originals so great. So with this week's release of Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice; we've gathered a list of the 10 Best Comedy Sequels of All Time (even though there's really not a whole lot to choose from).


#10. Wayne's World 2

The pacing's a bit sloppy but overall, Wayne's quest to build his own music festival in Waynestock and the new batch of pop culture references we hit along the way make this a pretty worthy follow up. The chemistry of Mike Myers and Dana Carvey is as strong as ever, even though behind the scenes, Carvey allegedly resented Myers' top billing and considered himself the star of the sketch. Regardless, I could watch that scene with Myers impersonating the Leprechaun until the end of time and still laugh at Carvey's horrified reaction.

#9. Rush Hour 2

Sure, Rush Hour 2 is definitely guilty of taking a lot of the same jokes from the original and reusing them in a different setting (aka the Hangover Part 2 paradox) but there are still enough new elements tossed in with peak performances from both Chris Tucker and Jackie Chan to elevate this film to more than just your average buddy cop action comedy. The odd couple plays off of one another perfectly and both bring so much energy and charisma to an otherwise simplistic premise that even though they're not re-inventing the wheel, it's still unbelievably fun to hang out with this duo doing just about anything.


See where Rush Hour falls in our list of the Top 10 Buddy Cops of All Time HERE

#8. Home Alone 2: Lost in New York

While the original definitely has more heart, the sequel doubles down on the over the top laughs at the expense of cartoonishly violent traps set for the wet (now sticky) bandits. Which can be a bit much at times but honestly, who doesn't love seeing Daniel Stern get pegged in the face with a brick? It definitely requires A LOT of suspension of disbelief to get passed the ridiculous coincidences that align for the sequel to even take place in the first place (not entirely unlike Fox's other unconventional holiday classic, Die Hard 2) but if you can keep from picking at the plot holes and just enjoy the slapstick hilarity that ensues, it's definitely a fun successor.

#7. Borat: Subsequent Moviefilm

Obviously the film can't quite escape the looming shadow of it's predecessor, but Borat: Subsequent Moviefilm does string together some incredibly funny and memorable moments. Most of which are surprisingly delivered by new comer Maria Bakalova in a breakout performance as Borat's estranged daughter. The story line between Borat and his daughter is the backbone of the film and when it strays too far from that it begins to unravel a tad. But thankfully it never goes beyond repair and when it's all said and done, this is a fun follow up. Even if it never reaches the legendary status of the original.

#6. The Addams Family Values

The first Addams Family flick is fun, no doubt, but taking the family out of the iconic house and dropping them out into the modern world to interact with normie pedestrians was definitely the highlight for me. Well, outside of that MC Hammer track. Nevertheless, this sequel utilizes the morbid fish out of water angle with even greater success. Also, it gives breakout star Christina Ricci a much more central role, spotlighting her hilarious trip to summer camp in one of (if not) the most memorable moments from their live action 1990's run.

#5. Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me

The second entry in the Austin Powers series is certainly guilty of recycling some of the same material from the original flick, but this time without having to set up much of a plot or character backgrounds - we get way more time for Myers to riff with his existing cast of characters. Especially Dr. Evil, who absolutely steals the show this time around, while introducing some sensational new foes in Fat Bastard and Mini Me. The murderer's row of inept villains make for a far funnier focal point than Austin Powers himself does (even in his own franchise) and in The Spy Who Shagged Me, they're front and center where they belong.

#4. Jackass: Number Two

Without the pesky task of trying to tie in things like character development or a plot, it's no doubt that Jackass has an easier time overcoming the typical pitfalls a comedy sequel might face. The stunts are just as shocking and hilarious as the first go around with maybe their most memorable gimmick to date serving as the film's climax, which encapsulates why this series has been able to last as long as it has. Number Two shifts it's primary focus away from targeting unsuspecting civilians as the recipient of their pranks and instead - finds even more satisfying results when the Jackass crew dishes out the carnage to one another.


Check out our list ranking Every Stunt in the Jackass Cinematic Universe HERE

#3. Clerks II

After Kevin Smith claimed he was done with the View Askewniverse and moved onto more adult fare with Jersey Girl, he returned five years later and made this sequel to his seminal breakout hit. And while it's delinquent conversation pieces don't feel quite as authentic this time around, the film has a surprising heart at it's core that makes revisiting these characters an incredibly fun and insightful parable about growing up - even still in your 30's. These characters obviously mean a great deal not only to Smith himself but the entire cast and seeing them embrace revisiting these roots is pretty remarkable.


See where Clerks II ranks amongst our list of Every Kevin Smith Film Ranked from Best to Worst HERE

#2. Bill and Ted's Bogus Journey

Looking back at it, Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure seems like such a fluky success story that the fact that a sequel even exists in the first place is pretty stunning. But the way that the follow up extends it's scale so massively is pretty remarkable. Rather than rehashing the time traveling angle from the original, the sequel not only takes us into the future but also sends our heroes into the pits of hell for a game of Twister with the Grim Reaper and sneaks passed the gates of heaven for a game of charades with two martian geniuses. The absurd new characters added into the fold make this seemingly unnecessary sequel not only funnier than the original but much more distinct. Bogus Journey is one of the most unexpected and impressive continuations any series has ever recieved.

#1. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

Hands down, this is the best comedy sequel ever made. Not to take anything away from the Griswald's trip to Wally World, but this outing stands on its own so well that few even recognize it as a sequel whatsoever. But that may be in part due to how forgettable European Vacation was and the ever-changing rotation of actors portraying the Griswald kids. But in their third outing, John Hughes crafts the perfect holiday comedy while Chevy Chase and Randy Quaid deliver career best performances in this Christmas classic that's become a must watch tradition for many every December. Every single character has so many hilarious quirks and flaws it's like visiting a family function you don't actually have to suffer through attending, but get to watch unfold from afar without the inconvenience of having to leave the comfort of your own couch.


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