The 10 Best Movie Prequels Of All Time

You know, I used to really dislike prequels. I always wondered, why revisit the past when we could be seeing what happens next? But after watching something like Better Call Saul, my mind completely changed. I’ve actually come to really appreciate what a good prequel can do.

I even revisited movies I’d already watched, wanting to experience them again – it felt like going back in time! And I ended up loving them even more.

As a film critic, I’ve always believed the real magic of a prequel lies in its ability to deepen our understanding of a character. It’s about seeing the formative experiences that shaped them into the person we know – or, in this case, will eventually know – in the original story. That’s why I’ve put together a list of what I consider to be the very best prequels ever made!

Indiana Jones And The Temple Of Doom (1984)

Even before I knew it was a backstory to the other films, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom has always been my favorite Indiana Jones movie – I just find it the most thrilling.

Set in 1935, a year before the events of Raiders of the Lost Ark, Temple of Doom introduces Indy alongside new companions: Short Round (Ke Huy Quan, known from Everything Everywhere All At Once) and Willie Scott (Kate Capshaw). They crash land in India and stumble upon a dangerous Thuggee cult.

The movie is packed with exciting, and sometimes quite violent, action – I can still vividly picture the bridge scene! It was so intense, it actually played a role in the creation of the PG-13 rating. But what really makes it a strong prequel is how it develops Indiana Jones as a character. We see him as a very self-assured hero in Raiders, and this movie explains why. Learning about his incredible survival of a plane crash – escaping down the Himalayas on an inflatable raft – makes you understand how he became so tough!

Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes (2011)

Most people seem to agree that Dawn of the Planet of the Apes is the strongest film in the reboot series. However, Rise of the Planet of the Apes is the better origin story, as it clearly shows how the apes began their path to dominance.

Featuring James Franco, John Lithgow, and an incredible performance by Andy Serkis as Caesar, Rise of the Planet of the Apes reveals that humanity’s eventual decline began with good intentions. The film centers on Will Rodman (Franco), a scientist determined to find a cure for his father’s (Lithgow) Alzheimer’s. His experimental treatment unexpectedly leads to a highly intelligent chimpanzee named Caesar.

After this point, the story takes a turn for the worse for humans, and we witness the beginning of the ape uprising as foretold in Planet of the Apes. It’s a grand and important film, just as a good prequel should be.

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)

I know this might be unpopular, but I don’t believe the Star Wars prequels are necessary to understand the original trilogy (though I actually enjoy them more than the sequels). However, I think Rogue One – which is my personal favorite Star Wars film – is essential for fully understanding the entire story.

This movie centers around a small team of rebels who risk everything to steal the blueprints for the Death Star, a key event in Episode IV: A New Hope. Their bravery highlights how essential ordinary fighters are to any conflict, even one involving the Jedi – the war couldn’t be won without those willing to sacrifice themselves for the cause.

With the addition of Andor, Rogue One is likely the strongest Star Wars content we’ve seen in decades – and that’s saying something, considering I generally defend the sequel trilogy.

Kong: Skull Island (2017)

As a big fan of the King Kong movies, I didn’t realize I was missing a key piece of the story – the history of the island Kong calls home. This enjoyable film finally reveals what makes his environment so treacherous.

Released in 2017, Kong: Skull Island actually tells the story of how Kong became the powerful creature we see in the 2021 film Godzilla vs. Kong. The movie follows a group of scientists and Vietnam War veterans as they explore a mysterious island and come face-to-face with enormous monsters, including Kong.

The real draw of this earlier story is the island setting, which would later play a key role throughout the entire MonsterVerse. It also spawned a somewhat interesting, though imperfect, animated series on Netflix, adding to its legacy.

X–Men: First Class (2011)

In 2011, it felt like you couldn’t make an X-Men movie without Wolverine. However, First Class, set in the 1960s, explained how the team began and made it all make sense.

The film shows how Charles Xavier (James McAvoy) and Erik Lehnsherr, also known as Magneto (Michael Fassbender), first became friends. It also reveals that, despite good intentions, Lehnsherr ultimately disagreed with fighting for the rights of non-mutants due to the difficult situations he faced.

What really stood out was how the earlier X-Men movies connected with the newer ones in Days of Future Past, and how that film ultimately brought Wolverine into the mix. It’s hard to keep a character as popular as him sidelined, honestly.

The Godfather, Part II (1974)

Winning Best Picture remains a unique achievement for The Godfather, Part II – it’s widely considered one of Francis Ford Coppola’s finest films. What makes it unusual is that it’s not entirely a prequel; while it includes flashbacks to the past, the main story focuses on Michael Corleone (Al Pacino) in the present.

One of the coolest things about the movie is that we get to see Vito Corleone (played by Robert De Niro) when he was younger. It shows us how he became the powerful man we know from the first Godfather film. What’s really neat is that this backstory actually comes from Mario Puzo’s novel, but it wasn’t shown in the original movie, so it’s like getting a little extra piece of the story!

This prequel really ties everything together, finally showing us what drove Vito in the beginning. It’s a must-watch!

The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly (1966)

You might be confused about how The Good, the Bad and the Ugly could be a prequel since the films aren’t directly linked, but let me explain. The story is set during the Civil War, whereas For a Few Dollars More happens after the war ended, and A Fistful of Dollars takes place even later.

Clint Eastwood plays the same character, known as Blondie, in all three The Man With No Name films. Interestingly, the movies are presented in reverse chronological order – the first film shown actually takes place last in the character’s story.

Okay, so the story is pretty straightforward: three guys chasing after some cash. It’s not about a complicated plot, though – it’s more about the feeling you get while watching it. And honestly, it nails that feeling better than almost any movie I’ve ever seen!

Prometheus (2012)

While not a straightforward prequel, Prometheus is still an important film for anyone who wants a complete understanding of the Alien story. It’s worth watching to get the full picture.

The story follows a team of explorers traveling to a far-off planet to search for clues about the beginnings of humanity, and potentially, the existence of a creator.

Unfortunately, the story takes a turn for the complicated, raising more problems than it solves. This makes it a thought-provoking entry into the Alien series.

Prey (2022)

This movie kicks off the Predator series, showing the very first time a Predator came to Earth to hunt – and it all happens in the 1700s.

A Predator arrives on Earth to hunt, but finds a worthy opponent in a skilled Comanche warrior, played by Amber Midthunder.

Prey creates new lore, expanding the setting and the antagonistic aliens.

Paranormal Activity 3 (2011)

I truly think this third movie is the best one yet! What I loved most is that it brought the story back to where it all began – the main character’s childhood. It felt like everything came full circle, and it made the haunting even more personal and impactful.

This movie delivers some truly intense scares and reveals that the haunting has been happening to our character for much longer than we knew. This expands the story’s background and makes it feel much bigger than the original films suggested.

Those are the ten best prequels ever made. What’s your favorite? I’d love to hear your thoughts.

2025-11-11 19:15