Some of the most iconic prequel movies out there have been overlooked for far too long. Whether this is because of a disappointing performance at the box office or because they didn’t connect with audiences as well as the original, prequels have often struggled in theaters and in terms of critical reception. It’s easier forspinoffs or the best legacy movie sequelsto carve out their places within the franchise, but prequels often have a more difficult time standing out. However, this also means thatmany prequels have been reevaluated and hailed as great works of art on their own.
Thebest prequel movies of all timeoften feel less like origin stories and more like natural continuations of the adventures of the previous films.Prequels will often strike a different tone and even break out into another genreto distinguish themselves from the movies they’re based on. This ensures the original work doesn’t overshadow the story. Occasionally, even when a prequel performs well in all avenues, it’s quickly forgotten about when compared to more successful iterations of the franchise.
Young Sherlock Holmes (1985)
Young Sherlock Holmesis one of many screen adaptations of the iconic works of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle,but it’s rarely discussed alongside the most famous works. This is a shame, asYoung Sherlock Holmeshas the spirit of a classic 1980s adventure movie and gives a glimpse into the early relationship between Holmes and Watson. Additionally,Young Sherlock Holmesincludes some landmark visual effects and uses of CGI that were revolutionary for the mid-’80s.
While it’s not perfect, there’s plenty to recommendYoung Sherlock Holmes, and it serves as a great first exposure to Conan Doyle’s work.
The history of Sherlock’s backstory and early years is captivatingenough thatGuy Ritchie’sSherlock Holmesprequel showhas been confirmed. Though the series should stand apart from other iterations of the story, it would be smart to look back atYoung Sherlock Holmesand see how the film appealed to younger audiences, immersing them in the classic tales. While it’s not perfect, there’s plenty to recommendYoung Sherlock Holmes, and it serves as a great first exposure to Conan Doyle’s work.
68%
63%
Puss in Boots
Cast
Puss in Boots is an animated adventure film set before the events of the Shrek series. Released in 2011, it follows the daring exploits of Puss, alongside Kitty Softpaws and Humpty Dumpty, as they embark on a heroic quest to save their town from impending danger.
Puss in Boots: The Last Wishis the far more popular of thePuss in Bootsspinoff movies,but the 2011 prequel paved the way for the smash hit children’s film. The story is set before Puss gets entangled with Shrek and the kingdom of Far Far Away. Despite being a success in theaters and with critics, it has faded from memory in the years since and hasn’t maintained the same legacy as the originalShrekmovies. However, the charm and demeanor of Puss is an endearing element of the film that holds up well today.
Like theShrekfilms,Puss in Bootsplayfully combines and rewrites many of the most famous fairy tale characterslike Jack and Jill and Humpty Dumpty, but includes some fun new characters like Puss' love interest, Kitty Softpaws. One of the best parts ofPuss in Bootsis the strong vocal performances from the all-star cast, which includes Antonio Banderas reprising his role as Puss and Salma Hayek as Kitty. For an origin story about a secondary character who was introduced in a sequel,Puss in Bootsdoes a great job of captivating the audience.
Puss in Boots (2011)
86%
Oz the Great and Powerful
Oz the Great and Powerful follows Oscar Diggs, a circus magician and con artist, who is transported from Kansas to the mystical Land of Oz. There, the inhabitants believe he is the prophesied wizard destined to liberate them from evil forces.
Oz the Great and Powerfulchronicles a very different prequel story than the stage musicalWicked, focusing on the arrival of the Wizard of Oz before Dorothy arrives. Adding to the canon of such a beloved story is always controversial, and while audiences and critical reception were underwhelming at the time of its release, it’s fun to look back on the movie.The film boasts an all-star castfeaturing James Franco, Mila Kunis, Rachel Weisz, and Michelle Williams.
Wicked’s Timeline & When It Takes Place Compared To The Wizard Of Oz Explained
Wicked isn’t exactly a conventional prequel, which makes it difficult for fans to place the story within the original Wizard of Oz timeline.
The director, Sam Raimi, had previously worked on theEvil Deadfranchise and the early-2000sSpider-Manfilms, and Raimi brought his distinctive style and whimsy to the project.Oz the Great and Powerfulwas a darker, more adventurous take on Oz. It focuses on the fact that even if some of the magic in the world is an illusion, there’s still plenty in the character’s hearts. Its merit comes from beingan underrated fantasy prequel that pushes itself to be different from the original material.
Oz the Great and Powerful (2013)
57%
56%
X-Men: First Class
X-Men: First Class explores the origins of Charles Xavier and Erik Lensherr, who later become Professor X and Magneto. Set during the early days of their friendship, the film depicts their collaborative efforts with other mutants to avert a significant global threat.
BeforeX-Men: First Classpremiered, it was difficult to imagine anyone other than Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen as Professor X and Magneto. However, Matthew Vaughn’s take on the early relationship between the two proved to be a great addition to the franchise. Set during the early 1960s,X-Men: First Classsees Charles and Erik meet and develop a close friendship,which is exciting and tragic, as the audience knows it will end in betrayal and animosity.
The casting inX-Men: First Classis one of the most inspired parts of the film, as not only do the actors look and behave like their older counterparts, but they also manage to distinguish themselves and are just as compelling. James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender have become just as synonymous with their roles, andX-Men: First Classhelped spark an entirely new set of films for the franchise.Though later installments likeDays of Future PastandApocalypseare more explosive, the story at the heart ofFirst Classis the best.
87%
Red Dragon
Red Dragon is the third film starring Anthony Hopkins as Dr. Hannibal “The Cannibal” Lecter but acts as a prequel to the award-winning Silence of the Lambs and 2001’s Hannibal. The film is an adaptation of Thomas Harris' 1981 novel Red Dragon and centers on Will Graham (Edward Norton) as he hunts the unhinged serial killer Francis Dolarhyde (Ralph Fiennes).
Red Dragon’s story might be familiar to those who have watched theHannibalTV series, asevery Hannibal Lecter movie and TV showis in conversation with each other. ThoughThe Silence of the Lambswill likely always be the most famousand critically lauded film in the franchise,Red Dragonshouldn’t fly under the radar. The movie features Anthony Hopkins returning as the terrifying Lecter and sees Edward Norton take on the role of FBI agent Will Graham.
Norton and Hopkins have just as strong a chemistry as Hopkins and Jodie Foster in the earlier film.
Norton and Hopkins have just as strong a chemistry as Hopkins and Jodie Foster in the earlier film.Red Dragonwas better received than the 2001 filmHannibal, which was considered a disappointment after the success ofThe Silence of the Lambs.Framing the story as a prequel allowedRed Dragonto escape the legacy ofThe Silence of the Lambsand helped the movie stand on its own. Part of this is because Lecter isn’t an enormous part of the story, as Graham is primarily solving a different mystery throughout the story.
69%
74%
Prometheus
Prometheus, released in 2012, is a science fiction film directed by Ridley Scott. It follows a team of explorers as they uncover clues about humanity’s origins, embarking on a perilous interstellar expedition where they confront formidable challenges to secure the future of mankind.
Despite being anAlienmovie, the fully formed Xenomorph, as audiences have come to know it, doesn’t appear until the final moments ofPrometheus.Prometheuswas the firstAlienmovie that the director Ridley Scott had returned to helm since the first film in 1979. Much of the canon and lore surrounding how the Xenomorphs came to be andthe history of humanity in theAlienuniverse is established byPrometheus,which is more of a sci-fi drama rather than a horror movie.
Every Alien Prequel, Ranked Worst To Best
Alien is a difficult franchise, and with its complex universe creating room for film disasters, some of its prequel movies are better than others.
This shift in tone madePrometheusstand apart from the previous movies, in addition to the fact that the story doesn’t unfold within the confines of a spaceship. However, the grand sweeping scale of the film is impressive on its own and is elevated by how ambitious the story is. WhilePrometheusdoesn’t have much in common with the other installments besides its shared universe,this can be viewed as a positive attribute.Prometheuscan be watched as a standalone project and still be easily understood.
73%
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 box-office failure ofFuriosa: A Mad Max Sagais one of the most disappointing flops of 2024,as the film was well-crafted and could’ve been a hit. As time progresses, it seems likely thatFuriosawill come to be better remembered as one of the best prequels of the past few years and a worthy successor toMad Max: Fury Road. Unfortunately,Furiosa’s underperformance wasn’t a total surprise, as female-led action movies still struggle in theaters despite amazing performances, like Anya Taylor-Joy’s inFuriosa.
There doesn’t need to be a critical reevaluation ofFuriosa, as the response from those who saw the film was positive.
Despite being praised by fans and critics alike,Furiosanever found a foothold in theaters and went unseen by many audiences,including those who had enjoyedMad Max: Fury Road. There doesn’t need to be a critical reevaluation ofFuriosa, as the response from those who saw the film was positive. There are manyreasons whyFuriosaunderperformed at thebox office, but none of them have to do with the quality of the project, which will hopefully be hailed in the coming years.
90%
89%
The King’s Man
The third installment of the Kingman movie franchise, The King’s Man is a prequel set in 1914. It follows Orlando Oxford (Ralph Fiennes), a British aristocrat who forms a spy network in order to hunt a shadowy organization attempting to spark World War I. It details the origins of the Kingsman agency of spies, with Gemma Arterton, Djimon Hounsou, Rhys Ifans, Harris Dickinson, and Matthew Goode starring alongside Fiennes.
Matthew Vaughn’s prequel to his comedy-thriller spy film seriesKingsmanfailed to connect with audiences the way the first two films had. The original 2014 movie,Kingsman: The Secret Service, was an exciting start to the series, and the draw of stars like Colin Firth, Taron Egerton, and Samuel L. Jackson all worked in the film’s favor. WhileThe King’s Manhad Ralph Fiennes anchoring the project,this didn’t save the movie from being criticized for an unfocused script.
One of the biggest complaints surroundingThe King’s Manwas that it attempted to blend too many genres, but the heart of the movie is just as fun as its predecessors.The King’s Manstill delivers plenty of action sequences and intricate conspiraciesthat live up to the stakes and tension of the original. Additionally, it’s engaging to see the beginnings of a mysterious organization that feels as if it’s been around since the beginning of time.
41%
80%
Like all of David Lynch’s work,Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Mehas surrealist elements that make the story intricate and winding.Fans of the original series, which was canceled in 1991, were shocked by the violence and terror thatFire Walk With Meincorporated, as it chronicled Laura Palmer’s last days before being killed. Using a movie as a prequel to a TV series is challenging to pull off, but Lynch managed to craft one of the greatest features of his career inFire Walk With Me.
Its darker tone and intensity separate the film fromTwin Peaksand delve into the sadness and tragedy at the heart of Laura’s death, deeply affecting the audience.
The long history ofTwin Peakshas established an iconic legacy, andFire Walk With Mehas enjoyed a contemporary overhaul in terms of critical and audience opinion.Its darker tone and intensity separate the film fromTwin Peaksand delve into the sadness and tragedy at the heart of Laura’s death, deeply affecting the audience. After watching theTwin Peaksshow,Fire Walk With Meis a great follow-up to the series before ending the franchise withThe Return.
78%
Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace
Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace is set in a galaxy facing political turmoil, as Jedi Knights Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi seek peace while encountering Anakin Skywalker, a slave with great potential in the Force. Meanwhile, the Sith begin their resurgence, threatening the stability of the Republic.
Each of theStar Warsprequel movies deserves to be reevaluated,as they were considered the worst installments of the franchise for too long. Many of thebest moments in theStar Warsprequel trilogyhappen in the first movie,The Phantom Menace. Tackling the earliest moments in Anakin Skywalker’s life,The Phantom Menacereintroduces the audience to the world ofStar Warsand makes a case for the importance of building out the world of the universe.
There are few franchises that are picked apart as much asStar Wars, and the pressure of making follow-up movies that would reach the heights of the original series was enormous. Despite the dated visual effects and negative critical reception,The Phantom Menaceis a fun sci-fi adventure with a deeper message, paving the way for contemporary sequels.The Phantom Menacewas weighed down with expectations and outside ideas about what the film should be,but that doesn’t take away from what it achieved.
52%
59%
