While the success of 1979s The Black Stallion came as a surprise to many, it didn’t come as a surprise that a sequel was destined to follow or that there would be a renewed interest in the books the movie was based upon. People wanted another helping of “the Black” and the filmmakers obliged four years later with The Black Stallion Returns.

This time around, Alec is a teenager and still palling around with his faithful steed with remarkable speed. The Black’s fame catches the attention of the man that formally owned the horse, Abu Ben Ishak who decides he wants his horse back. Soon, a number of rival tribes are all trying to get their hands on the horse and it is up to Alec to make the trek to the Arabian Peninsula and retrieve his animal companion.

Kelly Reno (Alec) and Terri Garr (Alec’s mom) would both reprise their roles in the sequel, as would cinematographer Caleb Deschanel who had proven his talent in the first film, laden with stunningly gorgeous visuals. It was enough to satiate the desires of fans of the original movie who yearned to revisit the boy and the Black and would eventually lead to a series in the 90s on Lifetime called The Adventures of the Black Stallion, starring Mickey Rooney (who was noticeably absent from the sequel) once again in the role of Henry, the cantankerous but loving horse trainer.