14 of the best legacy sequels — and 7 of the worst

As you might’ve heard, nostalgia is a powerful thing.

In Hollywood, legacy sequels are on the rise, especially after the successes of films like “Twisters,” “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” and “Top Gun: Maverick.” However, not all legacy sequels are created equal — for every boundary-pushing film like “The Matrix Resurrections,” there are abysmal films such as “Independence Day: Resurgence.” But what Hollywood is learning from these films is that sequels sell, sometimes regardless of quality. “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” has made nearly $2.5 billion and is now the highest-grossing film in the US ever, while “Top Gun: Maverick” became the highest-grossing film of Tom Cruise’s career, earning $1.5 billion, per Box Office Mojo data.

It could be argued that almost no one liked any of the “Jurassic World” films, yet they each made over $1 billion.

This year’s legacy sequels include “The Devil Wears Prada 2,” a movie that picks up 20 years after Miranda Priestly memorably schooled Andy Sachs (and us) on cerulean belts and florals for spring, and “Practical Magic 2,” which follows Sally and Gillian Owens and a next generation of Owens witches, cursed by love.

Here are some of the best and worst legacy sequels in recent history.