Sometimes, you have to start at the beginning. Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re looking at movies that explored past events within established continuities. We’re including films that jointly served as prequels and sequels. However, we’re leaving out reboots and reimaginings that essentially started a new continuity like “Rise of the Planet of the Apes.”
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00:00Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're looking at movies that explored past events within
00:08established continuities.
00:09We're including films that jointly served as prequels and sequels, however we're leaving
00:14out reboots and reimaginings that essentially started a new continuity like Rise of the
00:18Planet of the Apes.
00:2720.
00:28A Quiet Place, Day One
00:34The opening of the second movie already revealed what happened to the Abbott family on day
00:38one of the alien invasion.
00:39This event was bigger than the Abbotts, however.
00:42If a prequel is going to go bigger, what better locale than New York?
00:45Watching A Quiet Place, Day One, we experience déjà vu.
00:48Not of the previous two films per se, although there are some familiar beats.
00:52Mainly though, we were reminded of various real-world tragedies.
00:56Early scenes are reminiscent of September 11, as a seemingly normal day spirals into
01:01panic.
01:02Seeing the urban streets abandoned later in the film is also reminiscent of New York at
01:05COVID's peak.
01:08These parallels add to the intensity, but Lupita Nyong'o and her cat see us through
01:12it.
01:1319.
01:14Twin Peaks, Fire Walk With Me
01:27Released a year after Twin Peaks was prematurely cancelled and 25 years before the revival,
01:31Fire Walk With Me chronicled the final week of Laura Palmer's life.
01:34If you were hoping this prequel would make sense of the series' more baffling elements,
01:38come on guys.
01:39It's David Lynch.
01:40The film is more in the vein of season two than season one, which might be why it initially
01:44split audiences.
01:45Since then though, it's been cited as one of Lynch's finest works, with organizations
01:49like the British Film Institute ranking it among the best movies of the 90s.
01:53Even if we don't entirely understand her journey, the film develops Laura from a deceased
01:57teenager to a fleshed-out character we identify with, making her inevitable fate all the more
02:01tragic.
02:0418.
02:09Red Dragon
02:15After… uh, whatever Hannibal was, Anthony Hopkins restored dignity to his career-defining
02:21role in Red Dragon.
02:22The second adaptation of Thomas Harris' novel, Edward Norton's Will Graham might
02:26not be Clary Starling, but he has his own intriguing connection to Dr. Lecter, being
02:30the one who captured him.
02:31As such, we're never sure if Lecter is helping Graham or setting up his downfall.
02:36But just as creepy, Francis Dollarhide is a much different beast than Lecter or Buffalo
02:40Bill.
02:41Dollarhide attempts to combat the voices in his head while falling in love with a woman
02:44who literally can't see the monster in front of her.
02:47Alas, he can't help himself.
02:49Although Lecter is the main course, the new characters season this prequel into a satisfying
02:53meal.
02:5417.
02:55Kong Skull Island
03:04Set before 2014's Godzilla, Kong Skull Island takes place during the final years
03:15of the Vietnam War.
03:16You can certainly see how Apocalypse Now influenced the filmmakers.
03:19Instead of Marlon Brando, though, King Kong lurks within the jungle.
03:22Honestly, we're not sure which sounds more horrifying.
03:25While the human characters aren't phenomenal, they are among the most likable in the Monsterverse.
03:30Especially John C. Reilly as a soldier who has been stranded on the island since World
03:33War II.
03:34Of course, we're primarily here for the monsters, and this version of Kong is established
03:38as an imposing foe who can convincingly hold his own against Godzilla someday.
03:42Despite being more focused on action-adventure, there's still room for the heart we'd
03:46expect from a Kong movie.
03:5316.
03:56The Hunger Games – The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes
04:09Generations before Katniss volunteered, Coriolanus Snow took his first steps towards seizing
04:13control of Panem.
04:14Unlike some other adaptations, the studio refreshingly didn't stretch out Suzanne
04:18Collins' prequel novel into a multi-part film.
04:21That's not to say we wouldn't mind seeing Tom Blyth reprise his role as a young Snow.
04:25As a standalone story, Songbird and Snakes provides more nuance than we ever expected
04:29to see from a character who, at the end of the day, is irredeemable.
04:33Equally integral to the film's success is Rachel Zegler as Lucy Greybeard, who brings
04:37out the best and worst in Snow.
04:39That said, there's far more bad than good in Snow, amounting to a villain origin story
04:44that doesn't cop out by making the villain too sympathetic.
04:5415.
04:56Bumblebee
05:05Bumblebee was the first modern Transformers movie that Michael Bay didn't helm, which
05:09is apparent in virtually every scene.
05:11Gone are the excessive fast cuts, offensive stereotypes, and objectification of women.
05:16While there's still plenty of action, and explosions, it's balanced with a thoughtful
05:20story about a young woman and her robot.
05:22Showing how Autobot Bumblebee arrived on Earth in 1987, the film possesses echoes of 80s
05:28classics like E.T., not to mention period pieces like The Iron Giant.
05:31Although not on the same level as those films, Bumblebee is a blockbuster with heart thanks
05:36to Travis Knight's kinetic direction and Hailee Steinfeld's lovable performance.
05:40It's among the few Transformers movies that make us care about the human characters, proving
05:44to be more than meets the eye.
05:4814.
05:51Rogue One A Star Wars Story
06:00On the surface, Rogue One might seem like the most extravagant retcon in cinematic history.
06:05To an extent, it is.
06:07Although by the time we arrive at the exhilarating climax, justifying the Death Star's fatal
06:11design flaw is an afterthought, we're more caught up in the experience of Rogue One,
06:15which emphasizes the war in Star Wars like few other films have.
06:19The final act doesn't just make the audience feel the intensity of combat, but the sacrifices
06:23inevitably attach to every war.
06:26The Disney era of Star Wars has been hit and miss, with some feeling the series has played
06:29it too safe.
06:31This prologue to A New Hope took chances that paid off, making for one of the franchise's
06:35most mature and unique outings.
06:4213.
06:46Fast Five
06:53The Fast and Furious timeline gets surprisingly convoluted.
06:56Movies 4 through 6 occur before Tokyo Drift, when Han died, we say with the heaviest of
07:00air quotes.
07:01Thus, we got a prequel trilogy in the middle of the Fast Saga.
07:05Aside from being a series high point, Fast Five marks a significant turning point.
07:09The film not only brought back several fan-favorite characters, but fans played a part in landing
07:13Dwayne Johnson the role of Luke Hobbs.
07:15New dynamics were introduced along with new directions.
07:18The franchise went all in on the heist angle, making street racing more of a side project
07:22for Dom's crew.
07:23It set a new standard for over-the-top action as well, with every entry since trying to
07:27outdo the vault set piece.
07:3412.
07:37Pearl
07:47It seemed like a traditional slasher flick, but there was something different about 2022's
07:51X.
07:52Part of that is thanks to Mia Goss' dual performance as aspiring adult film star Maxine
07:57and the elderly serial killer Pearl.
07:59To the surprise of viewers, Pearl's backstory would be the focus of another film released
08:03that same year.
08:04Goth returns as a youthful, wide-eyed Pearl with aspirations of stardom.
08:08Reflecting her technicolor dreams, the gritty 70s aesthetic is traded for something out
08:12of The Wizard of Oz, and no scarecrow is safe.
08:15No, we're totally serious.
08:17Few films have been this bloody while looking so beautiful, playing like a classic musical
08:21with more murder than music.
08:23Goth again brings that X-factor as a woman descending deeper into madness the further
08:27she drifts away from her life goals.
08:3311.
08:37Mall Rats
08:44Some prequels take place years, even decades before their predecessors.
08:48Mall Rats, meanwhile, occurs only a day before Clerks, establishing Kevin Smith's view
08:52askewniverse.
08:54In the opening scene, we learn more about how Dante's ex-girlfriend Julie died.
08:58With Julie's memorial a day away, the film follows our characters to the mall where they
09:01engage in misadventures with familiar faces like Jay and Silent Bob.
09:05Despite not being a success upon release, Mall Rats has deservingly etched out its status
09:10as a cult classic thanks to Smith's quotable dialogue, relatable observational humor, and
09:15the OG Stan Lee cameo.
09:17Although more colorful than Clerks, quite literally, Mall Rats also authentically captures
09:21the mindset of 20-somethings navigating through life as they waste time in an exceptionally
09:25ordinary environment.
09:3010.
09:34The Muppet Movie
09:35We're doing a prequel!
09:42Yes, this technically is one.
09:44Coming out at the height of The Muppet Show's popularity, Jim Henson and director James
09:48Frawley unveiled how this band of misfits became rich and famous, or at least approximately
09:53how it happened.
09:54This movie-within-a-movie is in the spirit of the show's offbeat comedy bits, celebrity
09:58encounters, and musical numbers, most notably Rainbow Connection.
10:02Unlike the show, the film follows a three-act structure that sends Kermit on a road trip,
10:07making new friends along the way.
10:08Henson's crew takes full advantage of the cinematic landscape, allowing Kermit to ride
10:12a bicycle and partake in other innovations.
10:15The effects don't overshadow the film's heart in a story about the magic of camaraderie
10:19and movie-making.
10:209.
10:21Batman Mask of the Phantasm
10:25Hitting the silver screen between the animated series' first and second seasons, much of
10:38Mask of the Phantasm takes place in the present.
10:40The heart of the story resides in the past, however.
10:43We know why Bruce Wayne became a vigilante.
10:45Through flashbacks, though, we're given a glimpse into a crucial turning point.
10:49Not long before donning the cape and cowl, Bruce finds true happiness with a woman named
10:53Andrea Beaumont.
10:54Torn between love and duty, Bruce tries putting his needs before Gotham, but destiny gets
10:58in the way.
10:59Drawing inspiration from Citizen Kane, the film is romantic, tragic, and driven by a
11:04gripping mystery.
11:05At the same time, this is superhero storytelling at its finest, complete with the ultimate
11:10Batman masking scene.
11:178.
11:22Prey
11:28Almost every Predator follow-up has struggled to reach the heights of the 1987 classic.
11:33Weirdly enough, the installment that came the closest to matching the original's impact
11:37is the one that deviated the most from what audiences anticipated.
11:40Sure, Prey has all the essential ingredients like a badass protagonist, an unforgiving
11:44outdoor environment, and an elusive enemy.
11:46Yet, few could have foreseen this franchise traveling back to the 18th century where a
11:51Native American tribe goes from hunters to hunted.
11:54Killing a Predator with assault rifles is challenging enough.
11:57Taking one on with axes and arrows sounds absurd, but weapons don't make the warrior.
12:01The warrior is the true weapon, which Amber Midthunder's Naru proves in a prequel that
12:06takes Predator back to its primal roots.
12:127.
12:16Star Wars Episode III – Revenge of the Sith
12:25Fans remain divided on the Star Wars prequel trilogy, but people share the most common
12:29ground when it comes to Revenge of the Sith.
12:31Even the prequel naysayers generally seem to agree that this third installment has some
12:35of the franchise's most creative action, emotional confrontations, and haunting imagery
12:39that sticks with us years later.
12:41Awkward dialogue and rushed moments aside, the film ultimately delivers on what we were
12:45promised six years earlier – Anakin Skywalker transforming into Darth Vader.
12:50We also see Ian McDiarmid go full Emperor while Ewan McGregor's Obi-Wan Kenobi grapples
12:54with his greatest failure.
12:56For a trilogy that started on a more kid-friendly note, we commend George Lucas for bringing
13:00the story to its appropriately grim yet hopeful conclusion.
13:056.
13:09X-Men First Class
13:19Just when you thought X-Men was beyond repair, director Matthew Vaughn restored our faith
13:23with a first-rate origin story.
13:25Filling Patrick Stewart's chair and Ian McKellen's helmet is no easy task, but James
13:29McAvoy and Michael Fassbender flawlessly stepped into the roles of Charles Xavier and
13:33Eric Lensherr.
13:34The plot effectively establishes the duo's friendship-turned-rivalry, as the gap between
13:38their worldviews grows wider and wider.
13:41For those who grew up watching the animated series, this prequel felt closer to classic
13:45X-Men, with brighter spandex and quippier humor, without skimping on the compelling
13:49real-world parallels.
13:51Continuity-wise, some inconsistencies are hard to overlook.
13:54Coming off the last stand in X-Men Origins Wolverine, though, going back in time was an
13:58enormous step forward.
14:055.
14:09Wonder Woman
14:10How ironic that in a film entitled Batman v Superman, Wonder Woman would steal every
14:20scene she was in, leaving the audience wanting more of her.
14:23Thankfully, we wouldn't have to wait long to get Diana Prince's origin story.
14:27Likewise, director Patty Jenkins found the ideal blend between William Moulton Marston's
14:31original creation and Mayard Interpretation's of the character.
14:34Jenkins also infused the film with a genuine World War I flair, calling all quiet on the
14:38Western front in mind.
14:40For all the supernatural elements, the film gets to the root of war, as well as the root
14:44of humanity, unearthing our capacity to hate, but also our capacity to love.
14:48Few superhero love stories are more heartbreaking yet uplifting than Diana and Steve Trevor's.
14:564.
15:04Furiosa a Mad Max Saga
15:13Sometimes the less we know, the better.
15:15We feared that by portraying Furiosa's backstory, George Miller would take away from her mysticism.
15:20Although this prequel reveals pretty much everything about Furiosa's past, including
15:24how she lost her arm, it doesn't hold our hand throughout.
15:27Rather, it thrusts us back into this post-apocalyptic world, relying on the audience to keep pace
15:32with Miller's wild vision.
15:34Staying true to Fury Road's visual storytelling, Furiosa gets more across through Anya Taylor
15:38Joy and Alilla Brown's expressions than dialogue.
15:41That said, the film is full of memorable lines, many courtesy of Chris Hemsworth's demented
15:46Dementis.
15:47While more meditative than Fury Road, Furiosa is another high-octane thrill ride that's
15:52miles ahead of most prequels and summer blockbusters in virtually every department.
15:593.
16:03Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
16:10If you asked someone to list the Indiana Jones movies in chronological order, chances are
16:14they'd say Raiders of the Lost Ark first.
16:17People often forget that Temple of Doom takes place in 1935, a year before Raiders.
16:22Not wanting Nazis to be the main antagonists again, George Lucas suggested a prequel set
16:27in India.
16:28This opened the franchise to new locales, threats, and possibilities for adventure.
16:32The film also introduced new themes that see Indy evolve as a character.
16:36This is a colder Indy who's more concerned with fortune and glory in the beginning, but
16:40fights for a greater cause by the end, which carries over in Raiders and Last Crusade.
16:45It's an old-school adventure, with more going on underneath the skin than you realize.
16:492.
16:57The Godfather Part II
17:04Considered by many to be the greatest sequel of all time, The Godfather Part II is just
17:08as much a prequel.
17:10As Michael establishes himself as the head of the family in the present, we see how Vito
17:13Corleone became the Don in the past.
17:16Through Robert De Niro's Oscar-winning performance, Vito rises from a poor Italian immigrant to
17:21a criminal who embodies the dark side of the American dream.
17:24Vito effortlessly transitions between mercilessly killing one minute and embracing his family
17:28the next.
17:29While both men are violent, Michael can't strike a balance like his father.
17:33The more powerful Michael becomes, the more he loses sight of his father's words.
17:41Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
17:441.
17:45Monsters University
17:46The G-rated frat-house comedy Monsters, Inc. fans didn't know they wanted.
18:01Mamma Mia!
18:02Here We Go Again
18:03A prequel-slash-sequel to the musical hit?
18:06How can we resist you?
18:20The Hobbit – An Unexpected Journey
18:22A solid start to an uneven yet worthwhile prequel trilogy.
18:39Prometheus
18:40Another reason Michael Fassbender should be in every prequel.
18:55Annabelle Creation
18:56A prequel to a prequel that's way better than the last prequel.
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19:27The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
19:32Even the best prequels tend to live in the shadows of their predecessors.
19:46The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, on the other hand, felt like the culmination of everything
19:49Sergio Leone was working toward following A Fistful of Dollars and For a Few Dollars
19:54More.
19:55Where those were set after the American Civil War, this film places Clint Eastwood's man-with-no-name
19:59smack dab in the middle of the conflict.
20:01The real war is the one brewing between the titular embodiments of the Good, the Bad,
20:05and the Ugly as all three race to claim $200,000 worth of Confederate gold.
20:10With iconic shots, riveting character dynamics, and a theme that epitomizes the entire spaghetti
20:15western genre, it's a triumphant finale that's truly just the beginning.
20:22What's your favorite movie prequel?
20:24What movies do you think deserve a prequel?
20:26Let us know in the comments!
20:45Transcribed by https://otter.ai