Video game prequelsare often big hits with fans, delivering the same beloved gameplay without rewriting the ending. But within the realm of filmmaking, the prequel carries with it a certain stigma. There’s a good reason for this: movie buffs have been burned by far too many prequels that felt like cash grabs on a successful IP. A poorly made prequel is filled with retcons and cheapens the original by virtue of its existence.
In the hands of the right production crew, however, prequels can be just as entertaining as sequels or standalone films. They can add stories to a universe fans wish to explore more of, and they provide the same flavour of entertainment that drew you to the original movie. Here are some recommendations that come easily.
8Saw 10
Prequel To Saw 2
Despite repeated promises that the current film will be the last one, the Saw series refuses to die: sometimes for better, and sometimes for worse. Saw 10 is for the better. This unexpected sequel understands its fanbase and does not waste time engaging with unnecessary characters or attempting highbrow social commentary.
Instead, Saw 10 vindicates fans' love for Tobin Bell and positions John Kramer - also known as Jigsaw - squarely as the hero. True, he commitssome despicable deeds, but in this iteration, he is working against people who aren’t exactly saints themselves. This was one of the most refreshing horror films in years. Due to Kramer’s eventual death, Saw 10 acts as a prequel set before the second movie.
7Indiana Jones And The Temple Of Doom
Prequel To Raiders Of The Lost Ark
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom is a good prequel because it is, in essence, a standalone film. The titular archaeologist is a larger-than-life hero: he can be part of any number of adventures, so Temple of Doom did not lose anything by opting for a settinga few yearsbeforeRaiders of the Lost Ark.
Though it drew mixed reactions for its darker tone, Temple of Doom became a fan favourite due to its entertaining story and unique setting. Its actors are having a blast, with Kate Capshaw’s masterful comedic timing and Amrish Puri’s villainous gusto.
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom is considered the impetus for the creation of the PG-13 rating due to its violent content.
6Puss In Boots
Prequel To Shrek 2
The breakout character of Shrek 2 was Puss in Boots, a Spanish swordsman (swordscat, to be precise), who could weaponize his cuteness at will. Almost immediately after the film’s premiere, an origin story for the wayward feline was greenlit, but it languished in pre-production for several years before finally coming out in 2011.
Puss In Boots works perfectly fine as a standalone film: its charming protagonist teams up with two new characters, a cat thief and Humpty Dumpty, for an adventure that feels like a fairy tale given a pop culture twist. It’s enjoyable whether you’re watching with young family members or friends your age.
5The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning
Prequel To The Texas Chainsaw Massacre
Slasher moviesthrive on bad taste: they are not meant to be viewed as anything but bloody good fun. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning is exactly that. While the 2003 remake of the 1974 original was a fairly decent film, it was surprisingly bloodless. This prequel, which largely rehashes the same story with a different set of unfortunate protagonists, makes up for it.
There are a lot of bad apples in this film: characters whom you love to hate. Leatherface gets upstaged in his movie by R. Lee Emery doing a horror-tinged interpretation of his drill sergeant role in Full Metal Jacket, while Jordana Brewster perfectly plays the hapless last survivor.
4The Scorpion King
Prequel To The Mummy Returns
For all his hype and top billing in The Mummy Returns, Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson’s appearance amounted to one meagre opening scene and a short CGI-inspired appearance at the climax that inspired more mirth than celebration. Few could have predicted back then that the charismatic wrestler, already a household name from his time in the WWE, would one day be the highest-paid actor in Hollywood.
If you’re disappointed by The Rock’s lack of presence in The Mummy Returns, give The Scorpion King a spin. This film is ostensibly a prequel to The Mummy Returns, but it works perfectly fine as a standalone feature. Even in this early role, The Rock displays the comedic talent and upbeat energy that would bring him his later success.
The Scorpion King would go on to become a longer-running series than The Mummy itself, though its sequels were direct-to-video.
3Final Destination 5
Prequel To Final Destination
It is an immensely satisfying and shocking moment when Final Destination 5 reveals itself as a stealth prequel to the original film in the series. The use of anachronistic technology like flip phones may tip off eagle-eyed viewers, but for the most part, Final Destination 5 keeps its cards close to its chest.
Once the big reveal happens, it brings the plot of the entire series full circle. Given it was 14 years before fans gota grisly sequelin 2025’s Final Destination Bloodlines, Final Destination 5 acted as a good closing point for the series.
2Fast Five
Prequel To The Fast And The Furious: Tokyo Drift
Though it originally got a critical mauling, Tokyo Drift was re-evaluated over time and ended up one of the best-loved entries in the Fast And Furious saga. Unfortunately for fans, the film’s dark horse Han meets an unfortunate demise halfway.
To give Sung Kang the chance to shine in his role again, Fast Five was made a prequel film. It completely overhauled the series, shifting the focus from street racing to heists. Fast Five may be the most important film in the saga, because it revived fan interest and turned the series into a billion-dollar property.
1Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me
Prequel To Twin Peaks
David Lynch was a master of his craft. Given that his craft was mind-bending visual storytelling, that made him one of a kind. After the mystery-horror TV series had aired two seasons, Lynch teamed up with Robert Engels to write a prequel film.
Though it drew backlash at the time of its premiere, Fire Walk With Me has been re-evaluated in recent years and is now considered Lynch’s magnum opus. This is the guy who made Eraserhead and Mulholland Drive, so that’s saying something.
While you can watch Fire Walk With Me as a standalone feature, it’s best to watch the first two seasons of Twin Peaks first.
