If you think film series are dead, think once more. The box office is now a huge hit bash for known faces, dear tales, & old brands. In a weird—but-not-odd turn, each flick in this year’s top ten was a next part. No new ideas, just old good hits. If you love films for years or just like the known, here are the top sequels.
10. Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes – $397.37 Million
This old franchise keeps changing—literally. Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes came to theaters with great visual effects and deep, smart stories. Even after many years, these movies find new ways to show us about man’s fights, power, and staying alive, all seen through the eyes of smart apes.
9. Bad Boys: Ride or Die – $404.51 Million
Will Smith and Martin Lawrence came back to do what they know best: jokes, fast chases, and big action. Ride or Die shows that the buddy-cop setup is here to stay, and when it hits, it hits. Their bond hasn’t gone dull, and clearly, fans still love these bad boys.
8. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice – $451.07 Million
It took years, but the top ghost came back to the big screen. Tim Burton got his odd style back, with Michael Keaton’s big act. The sequel took in the weird feel of the first, and fans—old and new—turned up in big numbers to see the fun unfold again.
7. Venom: The Last Dance – $456.4 Million
Tom Hardy’s Venom keeps surprising us. Critics may doubt it, but viewers just love this sticky, smiling antihero. The Last Dance went full into the mess, mixing funny, crazy, and wild all together. It’s odd, wild, and just what fans want.
6. Kung Fu Panda 4 – $547.63 Million
After a long wait, Po came back to the big screen with his mix of kung fu and deep heart. While some fans missed the old group, Kung Fu Panda 4 still had a strong hit. The jokes, action, and charm are as sweet as ever, showing the Dragon Warrior hasn’t lost his step.
5. Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire – $571.75 Million
Big monsters. Big fights. Big money. The New Empire got Godzilla and Kong back together—not as foes, but as wary pals. The show was bigger than ever, and the series’s skill to keep upping the game made sure viewers filled theaters for another round of city-smashing fun.
4. Dune: Part Two – $714.44 Million
Denis Villeneuve’s big space story went on with even more fire. With a mix of great visuals and slow story build, Dune: Part Two showed that smart, person-centered sci-fi still has a big spot at the box office. Add in a deep Timothée Chalamet and some big sandworms, and you’ve got a space hit.
3. Despicable Me 4 – $968.24 Million
Love them or hate them, those banana-loving Minions are not leaving. Gru and his team came back with more funny falls and wild fun. It may be the same old, but it’s a trick that keeps making money. Families (and maybe a few shy grown-ups) came back big for more cartoon fun.
2. Deadpool & Wolverine – $1.33 Billion
This was the pair-up fans had hoped for. Ryan Reynolds’ Deadpool joined with Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine in a film that gave us all, from wall-breaking jokes to wild fights. It was rough, funny, and—most of all—super fun. The box office facts are clear: folks showed up in big numbers.
1. Inside Out 2 – $1.69 Billion
Pixar hit the heart again with Inside Out 2. Building on the love first film, this sequel brought in new feelings, deeper points, and that mix of laughs and tears. The film hit home with kids and grown-ups, and the huge box office cash shows how much people still want stories that touch both heart and mind.
Sequels may get hit, but folks still come when they’re good. Studios view them as safe plays with fans set and low need to push hard. Some fret this cuts out new thoughts, but the win of sequels turns the wheel. In the end, if folks keep on with the buys, Hollywood will stick to it. And when the tales yet have things to say, maybe that’s not so bad.