Prequels are a divisive topic among movie-goers. All too often, prequels fall short of the audience’s expectations to the point that it's beyond obvious that they were only created to capitalize on an already popular money-making machine. For others, however, prequels offer insights into characters that were not explained to their fullest in the original franchise. Some have even gone on to surpass the originals, from Clint Eastwood's Western The Good, the Bad, and The Ugly to The Godfather Part II, both of which also just so happen to be some of the best films ever created.
Which prequels, however, are most worth the watch? From horror franchises like Alien to sci-fi ones like the Star Wars movies, the following all are great extensions to their respective franchises that expand on the story, add new context, and make for great entires on their own. Here are some of the best movie prequels ranked.
Update December 31, 2023: In honor of the end of the year, look to the past and be nostalgic with some more prequels that have been added to this list by Amanda Minchin as well as streaming information on the titles.
12 Prometheus (2012)
Prometheus is the prequel to the popular horror franchise Alien. Prometheus follows the story of archaeologists Elizabeth Shaw and Charlie Holloway as they try to discover the origins of humanity. Upon arriving in the distant world, the archaeologists find something that threatens to destroy the very race they've been studying. The film stars Naomi Rapace and Michael Fassbender as the main archaeologists. Fun fact - Ridley Scott directed both despite the fact that the movies were filmed 33 years apart.
Prometheus Is Controversial But Interesting
While Scott has said the film isn't necessarily a direct prequel to the Alien franchise, fans can connect the similarities, from the types of aliens to the mention of the Weyland Corporation and, of course, the same alien-bursting action we've come to expect from the series. It is clear the movie is an Alien prequel that, for some reason, they downplayed in the marketing. The finished film was certainly controversial, but when compared to the sequel Alien: Covenant, it is clear that Prometheus has a stronger sense of vision. There are some big questions on it's mind that while fans may not have wanted from an Alien film, are interesting to address and feel less more like the movie that Scott wanted to make than Alien: Covenant which felt like an apology for not having enough Xenomorphs. Stream on Netflix.
11 Red Dragon (2002)
Red Dragon
- Release Date
- September 29, 2002
- Rating
- R
One prequel of a popular horror franchise is Red Dragon. The story takes place before we meet Hannibal Lecter in Silence of the Lambs. Both this film and the original are based on a novel series written by Thomas Harris. Red Dragon's plot is similar to that of Silence of the Lambs, only this time Lecter is helping a different agent catch a different killer. Lecter has been sent to an asylum after pleading insanity to avoid the death penalty for his murders. FBI agent Will Graham comes out of retirement to convince him to help him capture a new serial killer.
What Makes It Great
The legendary Anthony Hopkins reprised his role as Lecter alongside the equally talented Edward Norton and Ralph Fiennes. Not allowing Hopkins to reprise his role would have been nothing short of a travesty, but thankfully, there he was. Red Dragon served as the lone prequel until 2006 with the release of Hannibal Rising. Of the two films, however, Red Dragon was far better received. This, of course, does not include the TV series Hannibal. Stream on Starz.
10 Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them (2016)
Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them is an interesting movie. While clearly meant to expand the Harry Potter franchise, it appeared to be more pitched as a spin-off movie that took place before the original series. So a prequel that is not really a prequel. Yet the finished film is much more a direct prequel to Harry Potter as it pulls in Grindelwald, the most famous dark wizard before Voldemort, into a story about Newt Scamander as he travels to New York City and get all of his magical creatures who have broken loose.
Fantastic Beasts Is A Different Type of Prequel
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them actually works best when it is less a direct Potter prequel and more a fun adventure in this world. It introduced a new batch of characters that audiences can get behind and featured plenty of fun creatures that make the movie play out like Pokemon meets Harry Potter. As a standalone spin-off prequel, it is a fun time, yet sadly, the filmmakers doubled down on the direct prequel nature in the sequels, which hurt the franchise more. That having been said Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them can be enjoyed as a fun entry in the Wizarding World that enhances the original films as a hint at the life and history outside the main series. Stream on Max.
9 Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)
Perhaps one of the least well-known prequels of all time is Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. Few know that the film works as a prequel to Raiders of the Lost Ark. The events in Temple of Doom take place just one year prior to that in Raiders of the Lost Ark. In this film, Indiana Jones and his partner, Short Round, are looking for a stolen sacred stone and a bunch of missing village children. The stolen stone is one of five that can rule the world if brought together again.
What Makes It Great
Temple of Doom is often regarded as one of the darker films in the Indiana Jones franchise. Some of its character and plot choices have not stood the test of time as well as the others in the series. It is, however, a great romp into 80s action-adventure flicks that features plenty of impressive stunts, action, and iconic lines. It really goes to show that even the weakest Indiana Jones movie is still better than most other franchises. Stream on Disney+
8 Monsters University (2013)
In 2013, Pixarwent back to school... literally. Monsters University served as a prequel to the hilarious Monsters, Inc., and featured the characters in their earlier years in a college setting. Fan favorites Mike Wazowski and James P. Sullivan start out as fraternity rivals, but before long, they're able to cement their legacy as professional scarers to come. The film featured the directorial debut of Dan Scanlon and was written by Scanlon alongside Dan Gerson and Robert L. Baird. The legendary Randy Newman was enticed to come back for a 7th collaboration with Pixar, and many of the cast, including John Goodman, Billy Crystal, Steve Buscemi, Bob Peterson, and John Ratzenberger, reprised their original roles. As one of Pixar's lone prequels, it sure had some big shoes to fill.
What Makes It Great
Anyone who's ever had the pleasure of sitting down to the original Monster's Inc. has likely been impressed by the chemistry between its two leading scarers, Mike Wazowski and James P. Sulivan. Making this film in the style of classic back-to-school bottle programs was a smart way to reintroduce them and their burgeoning relationship in a brand-new setting. This also served to fill in a few story gaps from the original, including the training involved in becoming a professional scarer. While it was not the first follow-up planned for the franchise, it still played a major role in developing the backstory between its two main characters. Stream on Disney+
7 Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)
Rogue One
- Release Date
- December 14, 2016
- Rating
- PG-13
Rogue One is one of a few standalone films within the ever-expanding Star Wars franchise. The events in Rogue One take place immediately before A New Hope. The film centers around the mission to steal the plans for the Death Star. Starring Felicity Jones as Jyn Erso, the main character, Jyn must work with unlikely allies to prevent the Death Star from becoming the ultimate destruction weapon for the Empire. When Jyn learns from her father, who was forced to help work on the plans for the Death Star, she joins with the Rebel Alliance in trying to help.
Rogue One Is the Best Star Wars Prequel
While Star Wars and prequels tend to get a bad rap, Rogue One is the one most fans can agree on as the good Star Wars prequel. This is a perfect example of just how a prequel can expand upon what would otherwise have been a glossed-over note in the original franchise. The stolen plans play a huge part in the beginning of the next film (chronologically), Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope. It also went on to produce its own Disney+ series, Andor which many consider to be one of the best Star Wars entries. Stream on Disney+
6 Wonka (2023)
Wonka
- Release Date
- December 15, 2023
- Director
- Paul King
Wonka is the third live-action film adaptation based on Roald Dahl's classic novel Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Timothée Chalamet is absolutely delightful as the acclaimed Willy Wonka, a man on the verge of opening his own confectionary business. He faces brutal opposition, however, in the form of some dreaded rival chocolatiers. Director Paul King took inspiration from the original story, reenvisioning Willy Wonka's early life, inspirations, and motivations in this phenomenal musical fantasy.
Why Wonka Delights
Suspending disbelief for Hugh Grant as an Oompa Loompa aside, Wonka succeeds for the titular Willy where Tim Burton's revival attempts failed. Allowing Wonka's backstory room to breathe in the form of a full-length feature film (instead of a gloomy afterthought) strikes just the right balance without overly explaining. Of course, adding a bit of whimsy to the tale helped matters a lot. Though it may just be a tad bit early to add this film to the list, the impact it's made in such a short time on the story behind the Wonkaverse has raised the bar for future prequel attempts. In Theaters Now
5 Bumblebee (2018)
Bumblebee
- Release Date
- December 15, 2018
- Rating
- PG-13
Bumblebee mostly flew under the radar in the Transformers franchise succession as it followed the disappointing box office and critical dud Transformers: The Last Knight, which opened the year prior. Featuring Hailee Steinfeld, John Cena, and Jorge Lendeborg Jr, the story follows Charlie (Steinfeld), a young woman in 1987 who stumbles across a broken and battle-scarred Bumblebee in a junkyard. The two form an unlikely bond. Meanwhile, Bumblebee is being hunted down by Decepticons, and with no memory of who he is or ability to speak, he must now fight for the new home he has found for himself.
Why Bumblebee Is The Best Transformers Film
Bumblebee is a more character-driven approach to the franchise. With Steinfeld in the lead role and Travis Knight as director, the film came across as more coming of age than the previous entries, with just enough action to satisfy the die-hards. Reaching back to the franchise's 80s roots was a smart choice, considering that's when it first originated. Bumblebee occupies an odd role as it is both a prequel to 2007's Michael Bay directed Transformers but also a slight reboot of the franchise. The filmmakers themselves have been unclear about this as the follow-up to Bumblebee, 2023's Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, is still referenced as a prequel to the original films, even though it does not seem to line up. Either way, Bumblebee remains not only a great prequel but the best Transformers movie yet. Stream on Paramount+.
4 X-Men: First Class (2011)
X-Men: First Class serves as a prequel to the popular X: Men franchise. This film takes a look at some of the original characters and their origin and how they came to find themselves fighting alongside Professor X. Kevin Bacon, who plays the villain in this film, tries to start a nuclear war by pitting two countries against each other. Ironically, he ends up bringing Magneto and Professor X together along with a few of the other mutants instead. The film serves as the origin for how Professor X and Magneto became rivals, how the world discovered mutants, and the key elements of the Xavier Institute.
How X-Men: First Class Got X-Men Back On Track
X-Men: First Class is a prequel that truly enhances the original X-Men trilogy. The new content is added for various character relationships that not only include Professor X and Magneto but also make Mystique Xavier's adopted sister and the early romance between Beast and Mystique. The film pulls the few details audiences knew about the characters that were hinted at in the first film and expands on them in a way that allows the story to unfold to both honor the film's continuity and the history of the comic. The bright, colorful 60s aesthetic serves as a nice contrast to the bleak future that fans will know in the later X-Men films. X-Men: First Class was the film that got the X-Men films back on track. Stream on Starz
3 Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011)
Rise of the Planet of the Apes is both a prequel to the original series while also serving as a reboot of the franchise that sets up its own continuity. This film follows Will Rodman, played by James Franco, the scientist behind a drug that enhances his pet chimp's intelligence. This enhancement allows the chimp, the infamous Caesar, to become self-aware. He winds up helping his fellow chimps with the very same drug. With this newfound power, the chimps attempt to overthrow the humans on the planet.
What Makes It Great
This intimate portrayal of the origins of the ape shows the uprising is born from very meager means. What starts as an aid in memory research leads to a cataclysmic event no human will ever soon forget. It also shifts the audience's sympathy, as the original film was focused on the humans, but now the audience is meant to cheer for the apes that will eventually take over the world. Between Serkis' incredible performance and the much-appreciated enhanced use of digital effects, this film proudly extended the lineage of this long-beloved series of films. Stream on Hulu
2 The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly (1966)
The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly is not only one of the best prequel movies ever remade, but it is also arguably one of the best films ever, period. The film precedes the other two movies in The Dollars Trilogy, A Fistful of Dollars, and For a Few Dollars More. In the movie, Blondie (The Good), Angel Eyes (The Bad), and Tuco (The Ugly) come across a dying man who tells them about some buried gold. With each given a different clue, they must work together to get to the treasure before everyone else does.
What Makes It Great
In spite of its American West setting, this Clint Eastwood staple has the distinction of a multicultural history. A classic of the spaghetti Western genre (its original name was Il buono, il brutto, il cattivo, after all), the film took obvious inspiration from the Japanese film Yojimbo. Between the quick draw lines, compelling landscapes, and gruff dialogue, this film proves to be a delight for more than just the average Western film moviegoer. Rent on AppleTV+
1 The Godfather Part II (1974)
The Godfather Part II is both a sequel and a prequel to the highly acclaimed The Godfather. Similar to a few other films on this list, this famous prequel is based on a novel series written by Mario Puzo. While most of the film focuses on Pacino in the role of Michael Corleone, Part II has a split narrative, with the other half of the movie following a young Vito as he gradually enters the vicious crime mafia before making its way back to the present day. Robert De Niro put in a stunning performance as a young Vito, perfectly playing a young Marlon Brando.
Why The Godfather Part II is The Best Prequel
A beloved classic by many, this film has been cited by the likes of Martin Scorsese and Roger Ebert as a favorite (and even they're in good company). The film uses the dual narrative and prequel timeline to draw a comparison between Michael and his father Vito. The audience sees how Michael is becoming like his father and how, through time, family will mirror one another. When it comes to prequels, The Godfather Part II is still the golden template that many films follow, including Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again which also features a dual storyline of past and present where a child journey is mirrored by their parents. Stream on Paramount+
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