NOTE: Percent change is
used instead of just gross because the true measure of a sequel's success is
how well it did in relation to its predecessor. This chart goes back to 1960 and
only counts sequels that were released within a decade of each other. For
example, The Godfather Part III actually grossed more than The
Godfather Part II ($66,666,062 to $47,542,841), but the latter sold far more
tickets. Even being released only a few years apart can result in a significant
difference in tickets sold. For instance, The Empire Strikes Back
actually had more admissions than the higher grossing Return of the Jedi.
