"The idea that sequels always result in diminishing returns is widely assumed, but not entirely accurate. Sure, it's true sometimes and it's easy to point to notable examples. But it hardly accounts for all of the exceptions to this rule. There are countless instances where a film can surprise you, whether it's The Godfather Part II or a wonderfully inventive and incredibly violent tenth entry in a horror movie franchise. We can all agree that both of these examples are basically the same thing.
Typically, sequels and threequels get a lot of love. And indeed, there are plenty of impressive trilogies. But the fourth film is where things can really get weird. Naturally, this is where we want to start. The films on this list cover a wide range of entries in their respective franchises and perfectly dispute the notion that decline is inevitable."
