I’ve finally figured out what my favouite sequel naming convention is.

It’s an important issue. How do you figure out the right way to name your follow-up? If you’re making multiple films within a franchise, do you simply add a number to the first film’s title, like Superman II did? Or do you add a whole word to create an action like Batman Returns? Or do you add unwieldy subtitles to the film to ensure it looks ridiculous at first then perceptive when the sequels arrive, like Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl? Do you try the first approach, then switch to the second halfway through, like Mission: Impossible? Or go with both subtitles and numbers when individual films are split up, like The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part One?

They’re all fine options, but the best is easily the Aliens model: add a single, random letter to the original title and create a whole new word! Unless I’ve completely misunderstood the Aliens title. But I don’t think I have.

Inspired by the brilliance of James Cameron’s franchise nomenclature, I’ve curated a selection of other great films and their sequels that have taken Cameron’s lead. Clearly, it’s the only way to go.

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