Whether it’s delving into a different character’s origins or exploring the whole world that a previous movie built, there are so many prequels that attempt to fill in gaps and answer questions. Most prequels are completely unnecessary, but there are others that are inventive and use the original movie as a jumping-off point to tell a much bigger, deeper, and more meaningful story.
Redditors have a ton of opinions about movie prequels, and there are some that they think are even better than the original movies. Between a superhero movie that hit the reset button, a spectacular-looking monster movie, and an adventure film that audiences didn’t even know was a prequel, these movies improved on their predecessors.
The Godfather Part II (1974)
Rent On Vudu
Redditor NOWiEATthem thinks The Godfather Part II is better than the original movie. The Redditor is playing fast and loose with the term “prequel,” as they even admit themselves that “it’s half a prequel, half a sequel.” The 1974 movie is very much a sequel to the gangster classic, as it follows Michael Corleone continuing to be the head of the Corleone family.
However, it’s also a prequel at the same time, as it regularly cuts back to the 1910s and follows Vito Corleone building his business. And between the incredible production design, the amazing performances, and the epic scope of the three-hour, 20-minute sequel/prequel, there are so many ways it’s better than The Godfather.
X-Men: First Class (2011)
Stream On Disney+
X-Men: First Class was exactly the movie the X-Men series needed, and if it wasn’t for the 2011 film, the superhero movie franchise might have been six feet under by now. First Class followed two consecutive critical disasters, X-Men: The Last Stand, and X-Men Origins: Wolverine, and looking backward was the perfect and necessary next step.
A deleted user puts it best by explaining that the film “was a visually more beautiful and more emotionally arresting movie” than the ones that came before it. Adding to the compelling narrative about the relationship breakdown between Magneto and Professor X was the spectacular looking 1960s, and few period movies are as immersive.
Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes (2011)
Stream On FXNow
Redditor Mizzourifan1 champions Rise of the Planet of the Apes and its two sequels, arguing that “the originals were good and all but the new ones are incredible.” The three prequels get better with each one, and they’re masterclasses in building suspense and having audiences somehow root against the human race.
However, while the very original The Planet of the Apes might be showing its age when it comes to the visual effects and especially its costume design, the 1968 film is timeless. Not to mention that it has one of the most iconic twists of all time. And while Rise of the Planet of the Apes does expand the world in inventive ways, it’s essentially a huge spoiler for the original and even makes the twist redundant.
Kong: Skull Island (2017)
Stream On HBO Max
2017’s Kong: Skull Island isn’t just a reboot of King Kong, but, as ditty_bopper05H puts it, it’s technically a prequel too, as it’s set in the same universe as 2014’s Godzilla and set in the 1970s. The Redditor believes that “Kong: Skull Island is head and shoulders above any of the current Monsterverse films.”
Kong is all about the tone and aesthetic as it is about the narrative and action set pieces, which makes it way more interesting than the 2014 monster movie. It’s an allegory of the terrors of war, it’s one big homage to Apocalypse Now, and the hazy sunsets of Skull Island make it unique from every other movie in the universe.
Army Of Thieves (2021)
Stream On Netflix
Last year’s Army of the Dead was director Zack Snyder’s passion project for a while, and being a heist movie in the middle of a zombie apocalypse, it had an interesting premise. And while it was mostly looked at as a disappointment, Army of Thieves balanced the books. VerbalAcrobatics is one of many to claim that “Army of Thieves was better than Army of the Dead.”
Army of Thieves is another heist movie, only it’s more of a comedy and set just as the zombie outbreak is starting to happen. Netflix clearly believes in the franchise, as Army of Thieves was well into production before Army of the Dead was even released. And if the leap in quality from Dead to Thieves is any indication, the future of the franchise looks promising.
Fast Five (2011)
Rent On Apple TV
The Fast and Furious timeline is almost as confusing as the X-Men’s. Technically, the fourth, fifth, and sixth movies are all prequels to The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift. Baconeggsandwich25 thinks that Fast Five, along with the others, are all “way better than Tokyo Drift, so technically they all count.”
In many ways, Fast Five changed the franchise for the better, as not only did it become more of a high-octane action movie, but it was a team-up heist flick too, bringing in the best characters from each of the previous films. However, Tokyo Drift still has a large fanbase, and its sole focus on street racing and Japanese culture is why it’s unique in the series.
Oz: The Great And Powerful (2013)
Stream On DirecTV
User LowCalligrapher thinks Oz: The Great and Powerful is better than the 1939 original, arguing that it’s “a very entertaining, visually stunning, and very clever background story.” The 2013 release is an underrated movie, and being from the mind of Evil Dead director Sam Raimi, it’s full of unexpectedly terrifying moments.
When the Wicked Witch of the West first shows up, it’ll send shivers down anyone’s spine. However, this is an unpopular opinion, as The Wizard of Oz is a classic in every way, whether it’s the sing-a-long songs, the advanced use of Technicolor, or the iconic costumes. And the Redditor would be hard-pressed to find somebody else who agrees with them.
Indiana Jones And The Temple Of Doom (1984)
Stream On Paramount+
Most fans probably don’t know that Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom is actually a prequel, but it’s set before Raiders of the Lost Ark. WiserStudent557 reckons the second movie in the series is better than Raiders, but they admit it’s “not by much.”
Though the general consensus is that Raiders is much better because the 1984 movie is too dark by comparison, there are ways in which Temple of Doom’s the best Indy movie. Between Short Round and the epic, musical, action-packed opening sequence, there’s still so much excitement in the tonally dark film.
Monsters University (2013)
Stream On Disney+
When considering what prequels are better than their predecessors, Apathicary states with a pun that Monsters University “jumped out at me.” Usually, unless it’s in the Toy Story series, Pixar movies sequels leave a lot to be desired, and while it would have been great to see the series continue with a sequel, Monsters University was a fun addition to the Monsters series.
Though the film doesn’t come close to the emotional heft of Monsters Inc., the 2013 prequel is still a fun movie that’s a hit with anybody whose gone through college. It’s as much of a college comedy as Road Trip or 22 Jump Street, and it’s one of the best follow-ups to a Pixar movie.
Prometheus (2012)
Stream On Amazon Prime
The original Alien is one of the most terrifying horror movies ever made, and it expertly mixes horror with sci-fi in a way that had never been done before. It’s one of the few movies that are just as terrifying today as when they were first released. However, TheRealProtozoid reckons that Prometheus is much better than the classic.
The Redditor argues that Alien’s scare tactics wear off in the second half, but Prometheus is intriguing from start to finish and “is thematically layered more like Blade Runner.” The 2012 movie does expand the world of Alien in interesting ways and fill in some of the gaps, but the mystery of Alien is what makes it so appealing.
