While many franchises choose to rest on their laurels, 28 Years Later has been a series with an abundance of confidence. Able to change its narrative approach and style in practically every film, this is an example of a modern franchise that chooses originality over nostalgia. Directed by Nia DaCosta, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple continues this legacy as a thunderous dissection of mankind’s many faces.

Beginning in 1987 with the action film led by Arnold Schwarzenegger, the Predator franchise has had a few good movies and many poor ones. But beyond quality, one thing has remained consistent: the monster has almost always been the villain. Aiming to change that, director Dan Trachtenberg presents Predator: Badlands, a bombastic sci-fi adventure featuring the alien hunter as the protagonist for the very first time.

Creating an effective horror sequel is not an easy feat. Some directors choose to repeat the same narrative, others opt for a complete reimagining, and a few strike a middle ground that builds on the previous story in new and exciting ways. Black Phone 2 is a horror sequel that struggles to execute on a remarkable premise. Despite jaw-dropping imagery and an imposing villain, the film too often finds itself bogged down by mediocre dialogue and ineffective emotional arcs.

Co-written and directed by Ben Leonberg, Good Boy is a horror film from a dog’s perspective. Although it may struggle to be a fully-fledged feature, this refreshing exploration of fear is an admirable effort all the same.

While rarely regarded as a science-fiction classic, 2007’s Sunshine remains an underrated masterpiece of the genre. Combining the strengths of an epic thriller with a deep psychological throughline, director Danny Boyle and Alex Garland quietly made a powerful movie deserving of immense praise.