The Academy Awards aren’t always known for throwing love at sequels.
While, yes, some films have broken through the void and earned respect from the Oscars, the industry has typically preferred original and adapted works.
Well, now that we’re headed toward another Oscar show, it’s time to take a look back at all the sequels that have won and been nominated in the Best Picture category.
There are actually more than you think!
Especially since the Oscars expanded the Best Picture nomination field past just five nominees, there are a good handful of sequels that have gotten some Oscar love in the show’s top category.
The Bells of St. Mary's
The very first sequel to ever get recognized in the Best Picture category was 1945’s The Bells of St. Mary’s, which was a sequel to 1944’s Going My Way.
Bing Crosby reprised his role of Father Charles “Chuck” O’Malley in the sequel, which received a nomination in the top category.
The Godfather Part II
The Godfather Part II was the first film to win Best Picture at the Oscars, joining The Godfather to take home the prestigious honor at the 47th Academy Awards.
The film also won a plethora of other Oscars, including Best Director for Francis Ford Coppola and Best Supporting Actor for Robert De Niro.
The Godfather Part III
The Godfather Part III was the only Godfather film that was just nominated in the Best Picture category, but it did not win at the 63rd Academy Awards.
Best Picture went to Kevin Costner’s Dances with Wolves.
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
After The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring took the Oscars by storm, its sequel, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, also fared quite well at the 75th awards ceremony.
It earned a Best Picture slot along with a host of other nominations. Although it didn’t win (Chicago would best it), the franchise’s time would come a year later.
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
Oh yes, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King gave Peter Jackson’s Middle Earth trilogy its triumphant Oscar night at the 76th Academy Awards.
The film won all 11 categories it was nominated in, including Best Picture and Best Director for Jackson. It was a historic night for a historic film.
Toy Story 3
Toy Story 3 became the first sequel nominated in the Academy Awards’ expanded Best Picture field.
While Best Picture went to The King’s Speech at the 83rd Oscars, the Pixar sequel won Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song for Randy Newman’s “We Belong Together.”
Mad Max: Fury Road
Mad Max: Fury Road became an Oscar surprise during the 88th Academy Awards season, racking up 10 nominations. Of course, that included Best Picture.
While Spotlight won that year, Mad Max: Fury Road did win six awards in the craft categories.
Avatar: The Way of Water
Avatar: The Way of Water followed in the original Avatar by earning a Best Picture nomination for the 95th Academy Awards.
It also earned a handful of other nominations, like in the Best Visual Effects category.
Top Gun: Maverick
After earning rave reviews and making more than a billion dollars at the box office, Top Gun: Maverick made the 95th Academy Awards the first year where multiple sequels were nominated in the Best Picture category.
The film earned six nominations in total, including Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Editing.
