The Top 10 Horror Sequels in History Check out our list of the top 10 horror sequels in history, including 'Scream 2,' '10 Cloverfield Lane,' and 'Terrifier 2' They're baaaacckk. So gruesomely good, you had to come back for more. Yes, the highly polarizing horror sequel is here. Over the years, many scary movies have hit it big, resonating with audiences in profound ways. Some of these frightening flicks have inspired sequels, and an elite few have given rise to long-running franchises. Alas, many sequels have a hard time replicating the magic of the first successful film (in fact, most fall quite short). And then, there are the rare follow-up films that have equaled, and in some creepy cases, even improved upon the original. A sequel is considered not just a second film, but could be any subsequent movie after the first.Wes Cravens Scream Franchise ExplainedErgo, some franchises have stellar sequels that come long after several other films have been made (and, often, fell flat on their faces). From hilariously haunting horror-comedy to pure slasher savagery, these are the grandest sequels in the realm of scary film. The best parody film of slashers ever made is also a bona fide stand-alone horror film, too. That, of course, is Wes Craven's Scream.So, when the sequel was conceived (which began a 30-year-spanning franchise), audiences knew they were going to get a scathing satire that skewered the concept of sequels while also delivering genuine thrills and knife-based scares. Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell) survived Ghostface in the first film (the old two-killers trope, her bf, Billy Loomis (Skeet Ulrich) and his doofus buddy, Stuart (Matthew Lillard)), and wanted nothing more than to forget the whole ordeal.Unfortunately for her, the masked killer is back, only with a whole new identity. Basically, all the main (surviving) characters returned from the first film - namely, Dewey Riley (David Arquette) and Gale Weathers (Courteney Cox) - as Craven and his esteemed teen scream screenwriter Kevin Williamson leaned heavily into all the fun and deadly aspects of sequel-life. This is a sequel that masquerades as a stand-alone film for almost the entirety of its duration.Cloverfield 10 Found Footage TwistThat's the genius behind this claustrophobic hit; instead of focusing on a world where a giant sea monster wreaks havoc over New York City, the main characters are trapped in a confined space, as what appears to be a lunatic keeps them as prisoners. There's no immediate correlation to the first film, other than the similarity of the title. Also, Cloverfield is a found footage epic, whereas 10 Cloverfield Lane is an intimate, normal narrative film.Michelle (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) and Emmett (John Gallagher Jr.) are held hostage by Howard (John Goodman, in a rare, terrifying role), a burly man who believes that there is either a nuclear meltdown or alien invasion happening, and no one is safe aboveground. Naturally, Michelle and Emmett think he's nuts, and do everything they can to try to escape. When director Dan Trachtenberg finally reveals what's really going down in the film's finale, it's as shocking as it is satisfying.See, this was not really a sequel at all; this was a film that happened in an alternate dimension than Cloverfield, but still maintained the same otherworldly weirdness. Now, let's be real: the Terrifier films are not for everyone. But, for those who love gratuitous, cleverly devised gore and disgusting-mouthed, smiling clowns from hell, this splatter-fest trilogy is a winner. The primary film introduced the horror world to Art the Clown, for better or for worse.Terrifier 2 Splatterfest Outdoes OriginalAuteur writer-director Damien Leone used a special film technique to make the digital output look like grainy B-horror flicks of yore. It's a remarkably effective method that created the perfect mood for this revolting throwback to gorier times. The story is decent, and has a fun (if disturbing) ending. And now, the sequel…this is the prime example of a second film that outdoes (in terms of revolting kills, storyline, and character development) the first movie by quite a solid margin.Terrifier 2 finds Art (David Howard Thornton), and his brand-new gal pal, The Little Pale Girl (Amelie McLain), back again on Halloween, killing and thrilling with horrific, reckless abandon. Art's new main target is Sienna Shaw (Lauren LaVera) and her lil' bro Jonathan (Elliott Fullam). Sienna is a cosplayer who not only dresses up like a badass warrior woman, but also has a magic Game of Thrones-like sword that she uses to fend off Art and his special friend.Again, the kills are even more creative and disgusting in this film, brutal, really, and the characters are way more interesting