We know Speed 2 was one of the worst sequel ever, and one of the reason is Keanu Reeves wasn't in it. But what other sequels that are actually decent even without having the main star returning?
Terminator 2 came to mind, but eventhough it had not the main protagonist the real star was Arnold anyway. Terminator 4 / Salvation was the one barely gets Arnold and it's actually not bad.
The Color of Money (1986) - No Jackie Gleason. But may not count as Paul Newman was top-billed star.
shareINTERESTING ONE...NEWMAN WAS THE STAR...BUT GLEASON WAS A VERY WORTHY SECOND BILLED CO STAR...HE WAS A HEAVY HITTER FOR SURE...SCORSESE WAS OBVIOUSLY A HUGE REASON THE FILM WAS/IS SO SUCCESSFUL...I WOULD SAY IT COUNTS AS A GOOD SEQUEL MINUS THE MAIN STAR BUT I WOULD COUNTER WITH THE FACT THAT THE HUSTLER IS IN MY TOP 10 ALL TIME...AND I FUCKING HATE THE COLOR OF MONEY...NEWMAN IS GREAT,AS ALWAYS...BUT TOM CRUISE IS DOING HIS FUCKING BEST TO DESTROY THE FILM IN EVERY FRAME HE APPEARS...THE FILM IS ALSO DRAB AND KIND OF BORING...I WOULD HAVE LIKED TO SEE NEWMAN DO A SEQUEL TO THE COLOR OF MONEY THAT HE DIRECTED AND STARRED IN...HE WAS AN EXCELLENT DIRECTOR WHO NEVER HAD CONFIDENCE IN HIS ABILITIES.
sharePredator 2
shareTREMORS 2:AFTERSHOCKS...AS A TREMORS FAN I WOULD SAY THE MAJORITY OF THE SEQUELS ARE GOOD...BUT AFTERSHOCKS IS EASILY THE BEST AND YOU GET NO BACON.
shareThe haunting in conneticut 2 : Ghost of Georgia.
Gets awful reviews but I really liked it. I liked how it was completely it's own story and not connected to the first one at all. Just another "true" ghost story.