Sequels, prequels, reboots, remakes - all of these have become synonymous to “bad,” “disappointing,” and “disgraceful.” However, there is still some hope that great original movies will keep on being made in the near future as long as we, the audience, treat such films well.
Nevertheless, there are some examples of good prequels that are quite similar in quality to the originals, sometimes even surpassing them. From Harry Potter to Transformers, there are still some great movies in big franchises being made. Here are 10 Prequel Movies That Are Better Than The Originals.
Bumblebee (2018)
Original: Transformers (2007).
The freshest film on this list is Bumblebee, which got a mixed (though mostly positive) reception from audiences and critics. On one hand, it is completely different from your usual Transformers movie, but that also alienates the story from the main franchise despite Bumblebee being a solid prequel.
It is 1987 and Bumblebee has arrived on Earth. While on the run from soldiers and Decepticons, he hides in a Californian junkyard and meets Charlie, played by Hailee Steinfield, who is a teenager looking for her place in the world.
Kong: Skull Island (2017)
Original: Godzilla (2014).
Godzilla might not be the undeniably most powerful monster on the big screen, but it is probably the most popular one along with King Kong. Kong: Skull Island turned out to be an indirect prequel to 2014’s Godzilla, which led to the formation of a shared MonsterVerse. Then, Godzilla: King of the Monsters followed, and now we are expecting Godzilla vs. Kong to be no less impressive.
Following the Vietnam War’s ending, a group of scientists explores an uncharted island in the midst of the Pacific Ocean. There, they encounter a giant 100-foot ape that is King Kong himself. The cast includes such big names as Tom Hiddleston, Samuel L. Jackson, Brie Larson, John Goodman, and others.
Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011)
Original: Planet of the Apes (1968).
There has been much discussion as to whether or not Rise of the Planet of the Apes can be considered a prequel to the original Planet of the Apes film. The movie is more of a reboot, but it does have many prequel elements that indicate that it is set before the original. What is even more interesting is that the CGI team that worked on Avatar and Lord of the Rings also worked on this movie.
The story tells of the chimpanzee Caesar, played by Andy Serkis, who becomes intelligent thanks to a substance meant to help repair the brain. Despite caring for his human “father,” scientist Will Rodman, played by James Franco, Caesar decides to lead an ape uprising.
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016)
Original: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001).
J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World is not in its best form at the moment, but it can’t be denied that the first movie in the prequel Fantastic Beasts franchise turned out to be quite decent. Furthermore, The Sorcerer’s Stone is arguably the weakest Harry Potter entry.
The story begins with the wizard writer and “magizoologist” Newt Scamander, played by Eddie Redmayne, arriving in New York in 1926. Despite this seemingly being a usual trip, Newt is actually illegally transporting magical creatures to their homeland. However, being caught won’t be the biggest of his concerns as Grindelwald prepares to conquer the world.
X-Men: First Class (2011)
Original: X-Men (2000).
Mutants have suffered enough thanks to humans, but all of their hardships do not compare to what the X-Men Cinematic Universe had to go through. The constantly shifting timeline makes it very hard to follow, but you can still pinpoint which films are prequels, and X-Men: First Class is one of them.
The movie tells the hidden story of the Cold War and the beginning of the X-Men and the Brotherhood of Mutants. Charles Xavier (aka Professor X) is played by James McAvoy, Raven (aka Mystique) by Jennifer Lawrence, Magneto by Michael Fassbender, and Hank McCoy (aka Beast) is portrayed by Nicholas Hoult.
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)
Original: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001).
Fans have been divided on the matter of The Hobbit trilogy’s quality, but many people like it. Of course, it’s not as great as the original Lord of the Rings trilogy, but it is still quite well-made and entertaining.
An Unexpected Journey is a recounting of the events preceding those of the Lord of the Rings. Bilbo Baggins, played by Martin Freeman, sets out on an adventure with the wizard Gandalf, played by Ian McKellen, and the dwarfs led by the great Thorin Oakenshield, played by Richard Armitage. Putting aside the quality of the sequels and the trilogy as a whole, An Unexpected Journey fares well in comparison with The Fellowship of the Ring.
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)
Original: Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981).
A little-known fact is that Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom is actually set seven years before Raiders of the Lost Ark. It might not be the best prequel ever made, but it is a highly enjoyable movie that is just as fun to watch as the original. The prequel’s darker tone also sets it apart from Raiders of the Lost Ark and The Last Crusade.
Indiana Jones, played by Harrison Ford, arrives in India in 1935. At the time, it was still a part of the British Empire. He is looking for a mystic stone but finds himself in the midst of a secret cult based on enslavement and human sacrifices.
Red Dragon (2002)
Original: The Silence of the Lambs (1991).
Some aspects of The Silence of the Lambshave not aged that well, but the movie itself is still watchable years after its original release. Besides, you can also check out the book for an even more immersive experience. Nevertheless, the prequel that was released eleven years after the original film lives up to expectations.
Red Dragon focuses on a retired FBI agent Will Graham, acted by Edward Norton, looking for “The Tooth Fairy,” a mysterious serial killer. Helping Graham is the imprisoned forensic psychiatrist Dr. Hannibal Lecter, once again portrayed by Anthony Hopkins.
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966)
Original: A Fistful of Dollars (1964).
Perhaps the least obvious movie on this list is 1966’s The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. Director Sergio Leone has claimed that the three movies compromising The Dollars Trilogy (A Fistful of Dollars; For a Few Dollars More; The Good, the Bad and the Ugly) aren’t actually related and it was simply an American marketing ploy to package them together.
Yet, fans have found clues that the movies are connected and that the final installment - which predates its predecessors due to taking place during the Civil War - is actually a prequel. In any case, all three are considered classics and have taken their place in the “spaghetti western” genre.
The Godfather: Part II (1974)
Original: The Godfather (1972).
Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather: Part II is a sequel and a prequel at the same time, recounting the events of two separate storylines. Some consider the film to be as good as the original, while others believe the second entry is even better.
The story follows young Vito Corleone, played by Robert De Niro, as he flees his village, travels to America, and starts building his career in the criminal world. At the same time, we see Michael Corleone, played by Al Pacino, following in his father’s footsteps and trying to live up to his legacy.
