Precious Prequels
With the new animated Lord of the Rings prequel movie coming out at the end of 2024 and a new live action movie set for 2026, it got us thinking about other film prequels—especially the ones that, at least by their title, aren't obvious as prequels.
So, while we will probably throw in a few obvious ones—most of these films aren't commonly known to be set prior to a film that came out before it.
The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim (2024)
We mentioned it in the intro so let's get to it right away. The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim is an anime fantasy film set in the same world as the Peter Jackson films, but as far as the timeline goes, it begins 183 years before The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.
Warner Bros., The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim (2024)
The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt For Gollum (2026)
Not a lot is known about the next live-action movie in the LotR-verse—but we do know that, according to screenwriter Philippa Boyens, the story is set "after the birthday party of Bilbo and before the Mines Of Moria."
Both those events take place in The Fellowship of the Ring which would imply that The Hunt For Gollum will at least be a prequel to The Two Towers and The Return of the King.
New Line, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)
Oz the Great and Powerful (2013)
Sam Raimi directed this Oz origin story that takes place 20 years prior to the events in the classic 1939 film, The Wizard of Oz.
Walt Disney, Oz the Great and Powerful (2013)
Bambi II (2006)
64 years after the release of the first film, Disney dropped Bambi II, which is a prequel to MOST of the original film. We say most, because Bambi II takes place after Bambi's mother is shot—which we see in the first Bambi film. However, in the first film we then see Bambi's father for a brief moment and then, cut to, Bambi is now a young stag. Well, for Bambi II we see what happened during that "cut to" time—and watch his relationship with his father.
Psycho IV: The Beginning (1990)
Okay, so the "The Beginning" part of the title probably gives this one away as a sequel. But just in case this 1990 made-for-TV-movie wasn't on your radar—and you've been looking to see what happened during Norman Bates' early life prior to the events of Hitchcock's film...Psycho IV: The Beginning is just that.
Universal, Psycho IV: The Beginning (1990)
Fast & Furious (2009)
We could write a whole piece about the "Fast and Furious" chronology and such. But the main point here is that Sung Kang's character Han Lue dies in the third film, The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift—but is very much alive in the fourth film, Fast & Furious.
Universal, Fast & Furious (2009)
Fast Five (2011)
Han is also alive and well in Fast Five.
Fast & Furious 6 (2013)
There's Han, all good in the 6th film as well. Thus making the 4th, 5th and 6th films in the franchise sequels to the first two movies, but prequels to Tokyo Drift.
Note: Han's death is finally discussed, and is part of the plot of the 7th film—then in F9 his death is retconned and he’s back.
Universal, Fast & Furious 6 (2013)
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966)
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly was the third and final film in Sergio Leone's brilliant Dollars Trilogy. But, taking place during the Civil War means it was also a prequel to the previous two films (A Fistful of Dollars, For a Few Dollars More), both of which are set after the war.
United Artists, The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966)
Escape from the Planet of the Apes (1971)
Escape from the Planet of the Apes is the third film in the OG Apes series—following Planet of the Apes in 1968 and Beneath the Planet of the Apes in 1970. While both previous films were successful, the studio gave producers a much smaller budget to work with for the third movie.
In order to work with the smaller budget and the fact that Beneath the Planet of the Apes had a very definitive ending, this next sequel took a new approach by sending apes back in time to modern day earth. Which technically sets the film in a time prior to the events of the first two films—even though the ape characters are coming from the previous films.
It might be a technicality—depending on your definition of "prequel"—but we'll allow it. Which means...
Twentieth Century, Escape from the Planet of the Apes (1971)
Conquest of the Planet of the Apes (1972)
While a sequel to Escape from the Planet of the Apes—Conquest of the Planet of the Apes remains in a time prior to the first two films. And so you probably know what's coming next...
Twentieth Century, Conquest of the Planet of the Apes (1972)
Battle for the Planet of the Apes (1973)
The final film in the OG "Apes" franchise, Battle for the Planet of the Apes is a sequel to the previous two films but, like with those films—it is set in a time prequel to the first couple movies in the franchise.
Twentieth Century, Battle for the Planet of the Apes (1973)
The Godfather Part II (1974)
Who says you can't do two things at once? Not Francis Ford Coppola–who's masterpiece The Godfather Part II is both a sequel and a prequel to his previous masterpiece, The Godfather. Part II features two stories—the sequel part, which focuses on Michael Corleone's continuation as the new head of the family. And a flashback storyline following his father Vito growing up in Sicily, coming to America and founding the family business.
Paramount, The Godfather Part II (1974)
Prometheus (2012)
In his return to the franchise, director Ridley Scott made 2012's Prometheus—a film that takes place in a time previous to his 1979 Alien film, but isn't directly connected to it either. As he describes it: Prometheus takes place in the same universe and shares "strands of Alien's DNA"—but it is it's own film exploring its own ideas.
Twentieth Century, Prometheus (2012)
Alien: Covenant (2017)
5 years later Scott was back with Alien: Covenant—a sequel to Prometheus, but still in a prequel time frame to Alien.
And sticking to the Alien-verse...
Twentieth Century, Alien: Covenant (2017)
Alien: Romulus (2024)
The most recent addition to the franchise, Alien: Romulus takes place between the events of Ridley Scott's Alien, and James Cameron's Aliens—thus making it a sequel to the former and a prequel to the latter (and the ones that followed it: Alien 3 (1992) Alien Resurrection (1997))
Twentieth Century, Alien: Romulus (2024)
Leatherface (2017)
2017s Leatherface was the 8th film in the Texas Chain Saw Massacre franchise—dating back to the original 1974, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre. But while the previous 6 films were all sequels to that first film, Leatherface is a prequel origin story of the main character.
Prey (2022)
Set in the Northern Great Plains in 1719, Prey is a prequel film to all of the previous Predator films that came before it: Predator (1987), Predator 2 (1990), Predators (2010), and The Predator (2018).
Twentieth Century, Prey (2022)
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)
Yes, we know that some Indiana Jones fans are reading this and thinking, "Duh! We knew that"—but for the rest of the folks out there, allow us to inform/remind you that Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (which takes place in 1935) was actually a prequel to Raiders of the Lost Ark (set in 1936).
Paramount, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)
Red Dragon (2002)
The last film to feature the great Anthony Hopkins as Hannibal Lecter—Red Dragon takes place in a time prior to the events of The Silence of the Lambs (and therefore also prior to the "Lambs" sequel, Hannibal).
Hannibal Rising (2007)
Released 5 years after Red Dragon, Hannibal Rising tells the story of Lecter's youth and evolution into the person he would become—thus making the film a prequel to all of the previous "Hannibal" films.
The Thing (2011)
So, this is gonna sound weird but—The Thing is a prequel to The Thing. To clarify...The 2011 film, The Thing, is a direct prequel to the 1982 film, The Thing. You'd think they would've been able to come up with a different title for the second film—but that's a conversation for another time.
Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights (2004)
There are no watermelons and no Baby's in corners in this one. In fact, besides the "Dirty Dancing" in the title and a brief appearance by Patrick Swayze as a dance class instructor, Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights has nothing connecting it to the iconic 1987 Dirty Dancing. But it is part of the franchise and takes place 5 years previous to the 1987 film, so...it's a prequel. Or maybe better termed—a stand-alone prequel.
Miramax, Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights (2004)
Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me (1992)
Rather than a prequel to a previous film, David Lynch's Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me is a prequel to his cult classic television series. The film takes place during the last week of Laura Palmer's life.
New Line, Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me (1992)
Gods and Generals (2003)
Gods and Generals traces the story of Stonewall Jackson from the start of the American Civil War to his death at the Battle of Chancellorsville—which took place between April 30 and May 6, 1863.
The 1993 film, Gettysburg—also takes place during the Civil War. But its focus on Gettysburg and the battle that took place there sets it in the beginning of July, 1863.
Warner Bros., Gods and Generals (2003)
The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas (2000)
This 2000 Flintstones movie isn't just a prequel to the 1994 film. It's also a prequel to the classic television series—and tells the story of how Fred and Barney met Wilma and Betty.
Universal, The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas (2000)
Cruel Intentions 2 (2001)
Cruel Intentions 2 began its life as a television series called Manchester Prep. The show was going to be a prequel series to the 1999 Cruel Intentions movie—but it was canceled by Fox before airing even a single episode. Which is when the two episodes that had been filmed were edited together to make this direct-to-video prequel.
Columbia, Cruel Intentions 2: Manchester Prep (2002)
Paranormal Activity 2 (2010)
Paranormal Activity 2 begins as a prequel to the first Paranormal Activity—as it is set two months prior to the previous film. However, the second movie takes place over a longer period of time than does the first, and when the story ends, it is now past the time of the first movie.
Paramount, Paranormal Activity 2 (2010)
Paranormal Activity 3 (2011)
Paranormal Activity 3 is a prequel to both films, taking place mostly 18 years prior to those first two films.
Paramount, Paranormal Activity 3 (2011)
Saw X (2023)
It's the 10th film in the Saw franchise, but the story goes back to almost the beginning—and sets itself right between 2004's Saw and Saw II from 2005—making it a prequel to the second film and all the sequels that came afterwards.
Black Widow (2021)
Spoiler Alert: Given that the Black Widow character dies in 2019's Avengers: Endgame, it probably won't surprise MCU fans that 2021's Black Widow was a prequel. The story focuses on her time prior to her becoming an Avenger.
Final Destination 5 (2011)
Spoiler Alert: It isn't until the end of the movie—when the characters find themselves on the plane that began the first film—that we realize that Final Destination 5 is actually a prequel to all the previous Final Destination movies that had come before it.
