10 Classic Film Sequels That Were Released 20 Years or More Later

      These iconic films had audiences eagerly anticipating sequels… yet it took a considerable amount of time for them to materialize.

      Here are 10 classic movie sequels that were released more than 20 years after the original, along with the titles of these long-awaited follow-ups and the duration it took for their release.

      **Independence Day and Independence Day: Resurgence: 20 Years**

      Was the two-decade wait for a sequel to the 1996 film Independence Day without Will Smith worth it?

      Despite bringing back original director Roland Emmerich and co-writer Dean Devlin in 2016 for Independence Day: Resurgence, along with stars Jeff Goldblum and Bill Pullman, the film was a disappointment both critically and at the box office, earning only $389.7 million globally against a budget of approximately $165 million.

      **Gladiator to Gladiator II: 24 Years**

      Ridley Scott’s sequel to his Academy Award-winning Gladiator occurs a generation after the original, both in real time and within the film's timeline.

      It reintroduces Lucilla, played by Connie Nielsen, who was one of the few surviving characters from the first film, revealing that her son is also the child of Maximus (Russell Crowe). Lucius has now grown into a man, portrayed by Paul Mescal.

      The sequel adds a villain named Macrinus, played by Denzel Washington, and a commendable new general named Acacius (Pedro Pascal), along with some CGI rhinos and sharks.

      **The Hustler and The Color of Money: 25 Years**

      Many are unaware that The Color of Money (1986) is a direct sequel to The Hustler (1961), featuring Paul Newman reprising his role as “Fast Eddie” Felson, for which he won an Academy Award for Best Actor. He had previously been nominated for this role in The Hustler.

      Directed by Martin Scorsese, the sequel was seen as inferior to the original at its release but has improved with time. It’s captivating to watch Tom Cruise perform opposite one of cinema’s greatest stars en route to achieving stardom himself.

      Both films are based on novels by Walter Tevis that share the same titles.

      **Tron and Tron Legacy: 28 Years**

      Is Tron a classic? Most would agree.

      While there was a memorable joke in The Simpsons in 1995 that highlighted the cast’s unfamiliarity with the 1982 film Tron, it was a modest success during the early '80s video game craze and has retained its allure—like an arcade frozen in time.

      The film garnered enough of a fan base over the years to warrant a sequel, 2010's Tron Legacy, directed by Joseph Kosinski. This sequel welcomed back original stars Jeff Bridges and Bruce Boxleitner, along with original writer-director Steven Lisberger, now serving as a producer.

      Tron Legacy paid tribute to the first film while intriguingly advancing the storyline, and it arguably looked even more visually stunning. Kosinski showcased his talent for modernizing ’80s cinema with this project, as will be evident in the next entry.

      **Twister and Twisters: 28 Years**

      The recent Twisters is an independent sequel that shares the main theme—tornadoes—with the original 1996 Twister.

      Joseph Kosinski, previously mentioned, developed the story and was slated to direct before Lee Isaac Chung took over.

      While Helen Hunt and Bill Paxton starred in the original, this sequel features Daisy Edgar-Jones, Glen Powell, and Anthony Ramos as storm chasers, some of whom are more cautious than others.

      **Coming to America and Coming 2 America: 33 Years**

      One reason Eddie Murphy might have felt confident in reviving his role in a recent sequel after a lengthy hiatus since Beverly Hills Cop III is due to his experience with Coming 2 America, which returns many cast members from the 1988 original, including Murphy as Prince (now King) Akeem.

      Although critics and audiences generally felt it did not measure up to its predecessor, it offered much-needed humor during the pandemic when it premiered on Amazon Prime Video.

      **Blade Runner and Blade Runner 2049: 35 Years**

      The initial 1982 Blade Runner, set in 2019, is a sci-fi masterpiece that seemed like a complete narrative, seemingly impossible to improve.

      However, for 2017’s Blade Runner 2049, Denis Villeneuve stepped in to follow original director Ridley Scott, delivering a worthy sequel featuring K (Ryan Gosling) seeking out replicants and ultimately encountering the original film’s hero, Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford).

      Ana de Armas, in one of her breakout roles, added a layer of mystery and poignancy as K's A.I. hologram girlfriend, Joi.

      Although Blade Runner 2049 underperformed at the box office, it serves as a foundational piece for Villeneuve