The best part about sequels is that they have the opportunity to build upon the narrative, the characters, and the worlds established in the first movie.Smile 2proved that it was able to expand upon the events of the first movie, while adding a fresh take on its terror also. However,prequelsare able to expand upon the mythology, and backstory of the characters, and in some cases, improve the original movie considerably.
There are many sequels with ahigher Rotten Tomatoes scorethan the original, but when a good prequel gets everything just right,it brings a wonderful new perspective to the first movie. However, some of theworst prequels of all timeprove that the best intentions of even the greatest filmmakers can backfire. Therefore, it’s imperative for studios, and their creative teams, to think carefully about what made the first movie so successful, and plan accordingly for the backstory.
The First Purge
Cast
The First Purge is an action-horror film that takes place at the beginning of the Purge film franchise timeline, to the conception of the purge itself. To push the crime rate below one percent for the rest of the year, the New Founding Fathers of America (NFFA) test a sociological theory that vents aggression for one night in one isolated community. But when the violence of oppressors meets the rage of the marginalized, the contagion will explode from the trial-city borders and spread across the nation.
The premise forThePurge,which is set during a 12-hour period when any, and all crime is legal, is ridiculous. However, it makes for a hugely compelling horror movie that has managed to spawn five movies, withPurge 6recently getting an optimistic update.The First Purgedoesn’t just focus on the crazy central premise of the original,it also dives into the political landscape of the era.
What Happens To Every Member Of Dmitri’s Gang In The First Purge
The First Purge has an exceptionally high kill count, with few members of Dimitri’s gang potentially making it out alive.
The film improves on the original by revealing that the 12-hour time period is a plot by right-wing politicians to wipe out the lower classes. It does so in a remarkably serious way, and the ensuing action has a feral anger that resonates with the central concept of the first movie. The narrative switches toan alternate reality, set in 2016, where a trial run of the first purge is being carried outon Staten Island. The exploration of crime between warring classes enhances the experience of watching the original again.
Ouija: Origin of Evil
Ouija: Origin of Evil is a 2016 prequel to the 2014 Horror film Ouija. Written and directed by Mike Flanagan, the film sees a Medium and her family using a Ouija board to attempt to contact her deceased husband. She ends up making contact with another spirit that begins to possess one of her daughters.
When Universal released their board game adaptation, Ouija, in 2014, it was a smash hit, despite having little in the way of proper scares, plus under-written characters. However, that didn’t stop it from making a $103.6 million profit on a budget of just $8 million. Therefore, a sequel was inevitable, and instead of being a cheap cash-in of the first movie, 2016’sOuija: Origin of Evilmanages to improve the original considerably.
The movie expands upon the original by being more character-driven, and the strong cast, including Elizabeth Reaser, Henry Thomas, and Kate Siegel, elevates the material considerably.
The horror sequel isbetter than the original, and a large part of this is thanks to director Mike Flanagan, and writer Jeff Howard. The plot focuses on a girl who unwittingly unleashes a demon from a board game, resulting in some excellent scares.The movie expands upon the originalby being more character-driven, and the strong cast, including Elizabeth Reaser, Henry Thomas, and Kate Siegel, elevates the material considerably.
The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes
The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is a prequel movie set 64 years before the events of the original movie with Katniss Everdeen. The film centers on a young Coriolanus Snow (Tom Blyth) and shows his rise to power as the leader of Panem. Taking place during the 10th Hunger Games, Snow is tasked with mentoring Lucy Gray Baird (Rachel Zegler), the tribute from District 12.
It’s not uncommon for film studios to adapt much-loved books, and adapt them into two, or three-part epics, as a way of getting the most out of their existing IP. That’s what Lionsgate did with the financially successfulThe Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1andPart 2.When it was announced that Lionsgate were developing a prequel to the series, it was feared it may just be a way of cashing in on the series.
However,the resulting movie stands on its own as a very entertaining intro to the franchise, with cool world-building, and a key central romance between Lucy Gray Baird, and future dictator Coriolanus Snow.The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakesexpands upon the first movie by fleshing out the world, and introducing fun characters such as Viola Davis scenery-chewing Dr. Volumnia Gaul. Hopes for a sequel, to the prequel, may have taken a major hit, but Lawrence’s movie is a strong addition to the franchise.
Final Destination 5
Final Destination 5 follows a group of coworkers who narrowly escape a deadly suspension bridge collapse, thanks to one man’s premonition. Unbeknownst to them, they were never meant to survive, and they must confront their fate while attempting to outwit Death’s relentless pursuit.
Part five in movie franchises haven’t always been considered a major success in terms of reinvigorating, or fleshing out the mythology of a series.Fast Fivefrom 2011 is a highly entertaining exception, as is the horror sequel, Final Destination 5, that not only improves the original movie, it alsomanaged to surprise audiences with its twist ending.
The Final Destinationfrom 2009 is one of the weakest entries in the series, so to bring the excitement of the previous movies, something unique was needed. For the most part ofFinal Destination 5’sruntime, it doesn’t even feel like a prequel. It has one of themost underrated set-piecesin the series, plus some of the most disgusting death scenes in all the film movies. However,it elevates the first movie by linking directly to it at the end, as the surviving characters board the very same plane that exploded inFinal Destination.
Bumblebee
The sixth installment in the Transformers movie franchise, Bumblebee acts as both a spin-off and prequel to the series. Set in 1987, Bumblebee follows Charlie (Hailee Steinfeld) after she discovers the injured Autobot scout, B-127. Nicknaming him Bumblebee, Charlie helps the iconic yellow Transformer to evade both the evil Decepticons and the efforts of Colonel Jack Burns (John Cena) to capture him.
TheTransformersfranchise has been entertaining kids, and adults alike, ever since the Generation 1 cartoon aired in September 1984. The series is much loved, and one of the most cherished characters to have evolved from Michael Bay’s polarizing movies is Bumblebee. While Bay’s movies were visually fantastic, and featured some excellent CGI, they lacked heart. Set before 2007’s Transformers,Bumblebee is one of the best movies in the series.
Every Transformers Movie, Ranked Worst To Best
The Transformers movies offer a lot of CGI and explosions, but the best ones are full of heart. From Michael Bay’s films to Bumblebee, which is best?
Transformers Oneis a boost of energyfor the franchise, but Steven Knight’s prequel improves upon the series considerably by introducing great characters, especially Hailee Steinfeld’s Charlie, and John Cena’s ruthless Agent Burns. However, it alsoprovides a great deal more context for why Bumblebee is on earth, and why the other Transformers are also there. Bumblebee is one of the bestTransformersmovies, and has paved the way for theseries' upcoming movies. It also hugely improves Bay’s first entry from 2007.
Prey
Serving as a prequel to the entire Predator series, Prey is set in the world of the Comanche Nation 300 years ago. The action-thriller follows Naru, the skilled warrior who fiercely protects her tribe against a highly evolved alien predator. The film will also reveal the origin of the Predator warrior race’s descent to Earth for the first time. Naru will have to utilize the tools of her time to combat a threat with skills and weapons that exist far beyond her time.
The originalPredatorfrom 1987 is an all-time classic action-horror movie, with great kills, memorable one-liners, plus a megastar at the height of his powers. Unfortunately, many of the movies that have followed it, have been largely disappointing. That is, however, until a prequel arrived in 2022, thattook the franchise 300 years into the past to discover its roots, and re-invigorate the series.
Preyhas a 94% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Dan Trachtenberg’sPreyis thebest movie since Schwarzenegger’s, and follows a young woman called Naru, who must protect her tribe from an alien hunter, and its deadly weapons. The movie takes the franchise back to basics, and the gradually built tension works wonders, and the seemingly insurmountable task Naru has in outsmarting the predator pays off in explosive ways.Preynot only makesPredatoran even better film, it also proves that the franchise can still be hugely entertaining.
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story is a standalone film set in the Star Wars universe, where a group of resistance fighters, led by Jyn Erso, embarks on a mission to steal the Death Star plans. This pivotal event sets the stage for the iconic saga to follow.
The world ofStar Warsis so huge and has such great potential for interconnected stories to sit alongside any of the movies, that it was only a matter of time before a truly great prequel was made. That’s exactly what audiences got in 2016, when Gareth Edward’s excellentRogue Onehit screens, and managed to make Darth Vader even more ruthless, and threatening.
The best part ofRogue Oneis that it looks just like it fits into the world of the much-loved original trilogy, plus how it expands upon the established storyline fromStar Wars: A New Hopeby creating a compelling narrative of its own. It focuses on a group of rebels who mount a daring attack on an imperial base to steal the plans to the Death Star.The events are set just before the beginning ofA New Hope, and the two movies connect in a thrilling wayas Darth Vader unleashes his fury to get the plans back.
Pearl
Pearl, a prequel to the film X, follows the story of a young woman named Pearl residing on a secluded farm during the early 20th century. Directed by Ti West, this psychological horror explores Pearl’s descent into madness, delving into her troubled psyche and the haunting circumstances that surround her. Starring Mia Goth, the film provides a chilling backdrop and a character study of ambition and isolation gone awry.
Ti West’sXwas an excellent throwback to the underground horror movies from the 1970s, and it helped establish Mia Goth as the ultimate contemporary scream queen. It was the beginning of Ti West’s excellent trilogy, and Goth played the movie’s final girl, Maxine, as well as one of thebest female horror villains, Pearl. The second movie is a prequel, whichfocuses on why Pearl turned evil in the first place.
WhileXwas about a group of filmmakers making an adult film in a remote setting,Pearlis more of a character-driven thriller that focuses on the motivations behind why Pearl became so unhinged. The movie has a great opening monologue from the superb Goth, and it explains her character in great detail.Watching bothPearlandXback-to-back is highly rewarding, as the prequel gives greater impetus to Pearl and her twisted personality, making every scene she appears inXeven more powerful.
Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga
A prequel to Mad Max: Fury Road, Furiosa is an action-adventure film that tells the origin story of the headstrong and fearless Furiosa. Set shortly after the beginning of the “end of the world,” Furiosa is kidnapped and brought before a powerful warlord, now forced to work for him. To find her way back home, Furiosa will adapt to the new harsh and arid world as she grows into the Furiosa she becomes known to be.
The originalMad Maxmovies that spanned the late ’70s, to the mid-’80s were so iconic that they helped to make the apocalyptic action movie a hit, while also furthering the career of the great Mel Gibson.It’s a shame it took director, George Miller, so long to revisit the character. But when he finally releasedMad Max: Fury Roadin 2015, he created a character who would star in a prequel that makes the original movie even better.
Furiosa: A Mad Max Sagais a colorful, exuberant, and grotesque return to the Wasteland.
Furiosa: A Mad Max Sagais a colorful, exuberant, and grotesque return to the Wasteland. It elevatesFury Roadto greater heights by fleshing out the characters, and showing how their actions led to the events in the original movie.Anya Taylor Joy is excellent as the title character, and her heroic nature shows just why Charlize Theron’s take on the character was so intense. It also features thrilling set-pieces, plus a wonderfully over-the-top performance by Chris Hemsworth, as the sadistic Dementus.
The Godfather Part II
The Godfather Part II is a continuation of the Corleone crime family saga. The film explores Vito Corleone’s early life in Sicily and 1910s New York, while Michael Corleone navigates the 1950s, seeking to expand the family’s influence into Las Vegas, Hollywood, and Cuba. Released in 1974.
The Godfather: Part IIis widely considered to be the greatest sequel of all time, and rightly so. The original movie,The Godfather, features one of the most iconic shots in cinema history, as we see the door close on Michael Corleone and his rise to power. The fact that the sequel is also one of the greatest prequels of all time, isa testament to the writing skills of Coppola, and his partner Mario Puzo.
Where Was The Godfather Part II Filmed: All Filming Locations Explained
On the 50th anniversary of Francis Ford Coppola’s Oscar-winning The Godfather Part II, viewers may be wondering where the crime drama was filmed.
The original movie is such a powerful, well-constructed mafia family drama, andthe way in which the sequel manages to expand upon it with Vito’s story is fascinating and heartbreaking. Robert De Niro is superb as the young Vito, and instead of mimicking Marlon Brando’s famous take on the character, he adds his own unique layer to him. It’s a tragic, yet powerful story of crime, and why people become embroiled in it, andThe Godfather: Part IIis one ofthe best sequels, andprequels, ever made.
