# Is Godfather Part II the only film that is both a prequel and a sequel? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 13, 2011, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-godfather-part-ii-the-only-film-that-is-both-a-prequel-and-a-sequel/599572 "2011-10-13T20:33:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2011, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-godfather-part-ii-the-only-film-that-is-both-a-prequel-and-a-sequel/599572/1 "2011-10-13T20:33:33Z")
Question self explanatory. I could google but I’ll be lazy. _Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade_ has a prequel preface. ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2011, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-godfather-part-ii-the-only-film-that-is-both-a-prequel-and-a-sequel/599572/2 "2011-10-13T20:35:12Z")
Oh, good question… What about the JJ Abrams _Star Trek_ reboot? It kind of works as both in relation to the original series and films. ---
**Author:** ![SpartanDC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b2d939/32.png) [@SpartanDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpartanDC)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2011, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-godfather-part-ii-the-only-film-that-is-both-a-prequel-and-a-sequel/599572/3 "2011-10-13T20:43:06Z")
> [@Bob Ducca](#): > > Oh, good question… > > What about the JJ Abrams _Star Trek_ reboot? It kind of works as both in relation to the original series and films. Unless you count the very short scene where Nimoy’s Spock shows how he wound up in the past, nothing in that movie takes place after the action of one of the prior films, so I would say no. I don’t think I’ve ever seen another movie that follows a preceding film and is basically telling two separate, but thematically-related stories that are occurring decades apart like you see in _The Godfather Part II_. Kind of amazing if you think about it - you’d think _someone_ would have stolen that concept by now. ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2011, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-godfather-part-ii-the-only-film-that-is-both-a-prequel-and-a-sequel/599572/4 "2011-10-13T21:06:01Z")
**X-Men: Origins**? ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2011, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-godfather-part-ii-the-only-film-that-is-both-a-prequel-and-a-sequel/599572/5 "2011-10-13T21:32:26Z")
I’m throwing out the suggestion of X-Men 2, though I’m uncertain how much of Wolverine’s story would qualify as prequel. Technically, Star Wars I, II, and III would all qualify for semantic reasons. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2011, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-godfather-part-ii-the-only-film-that-is-both-a-prequel-and-a-sequel/599572/6 "2011-10-13T21:36:19Z")
Actually, _Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom_ happens before _Raiders of the Lost Ark_ - the whole film. ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2011, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-godfather-part-ii-the-only-film-that-is-both-a-prequel-and-a-sequel/599572/7 "2011-10-13T21:44:19Z")
> [@Zsofia](#): > > Actually, _Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom_ happens before _Raiders of the Lost Ark_ - the whole film. I think the OP is looking for a movie that takes place both after _and_ before the original, such as with Godfather Part II and the young Vito story line. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2011, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-godfather-part-ii-the-only-film-that-is-both-a-prequel-and-a-sequel/599572/8 "2011-10-13T22:50:10Z")
Plenty of movies have flashbacks-- How extensive does it have to be to count? ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2011, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-godfather-part-ii-the-only-film-that-is-both-a-prequel-and-a-sequel/599572/9 "2011-10-13T23:01:46Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Plenty of movies have flashbacks-- How extensive does it have to be to count? No hard rule, but I’d say more than just a scene. _The Godfather II_ was, very roughly, about 1/3 prequel and 2/3 sequel. Some googling pulls up [Megiddo: The Omega Code 2](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Megiddo:_The_Omega_Code_2), which was apparently both a sequel and prequel to the [Paul and Jan Crouch](http://anxietyny.tripod.com/crouches.jpg)financed/produced Fundamentalist end of days movie _The Omega Code_, but I’ve no idea what the timeline division is there as I never saw either one. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2011, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-godfather-part-ii-the-only-film-that-is-both-a-prequel-and-a-sequel/599572/10 "2011-10-13T23:25:03Z")
> [@Zsofia](#): > > Actually, _Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom_ happens before _Raiders of the Lost Ark_ - the whole film. Actually, The Last Crusade has the introduction with the young Indy that takes place before Raiders, and the rest of the movie which takes place after. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2011, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-godfather-part-ii-the-only-film-that-is-both-a-prequel-and-a-sequel/599572/11 "2011-10-13T23:34:31Z")
I’m trying to recall if **X2** has any scenes of Magneto as a boy. But **X-Men: The Last Stand** has several flashbacks of what the characters did before the first **X-Men** movie. ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2011, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-godfather-part-ii-the-only-film-that-is-both-a-prequel-and-a-sequel/599572/12 "2011-10-13T23:57:11Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > I’m trying to recall if **X2** has any scenes of Magneto as a boy. But **X-Men: The Last Stand** has several flashbacks of what the characters did before the first **X-Men** movie. That’s the one I meant when I mentioned **X-Men: Origins**. Damnit. I was also going to mention one of the **Bourne** movies but I can’t remember which one had the flashback. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2011, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-godfather-part-ii-the-only-film-that-is-both-a-prequel-and-a-sequel/599572/13 "2011-10-14T00:07:56Z")
_Kill Bill: Part 2_ is both a prequel, a sequel and a whopping huge flashback inside a flashback. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2011, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-godfather-part-ii-the-only-film-that-is-both-a-prequel-and-a-sequel/599572/14 "2011-10-14T00:16:00Z")
> [@Zsofia](#): > > Actually, _Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom_ happens before _Raiders of the Lost Ark_ - the whole film. Doesn’t that make it a prequel only? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![x-ray\_vision](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/x-ray_vision/32/351_2.png) [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2011, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-godfather-part-ii-the-only-film-that-is-both-a-prequel-and-a-sequel/599572/15 "2011-10-14T00:37:52Z")
Terminator Salvation ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2011, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-godfather-part-ii-the-only-film-that-is-both-a-prequel-and-a-sequel/599572/16 "2011-10-14T00:41:51Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Doesn’t that make it a prequel only? 😕 It’s a sequel because it’s the next movie in a franchise. ---
**Author:** ![x-ray\_vision](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/x-ray_vision/32/351_2.png) [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2011, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-godfather-part-ii-the-only-film-that-is-both-a-prequel-and-a-sequel/599572/17 "2011-10-14T00:45:19Z")
^Then all prequels are sequels. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2011, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-godfather-part-ii-the-only-film-that-is-both-a-prequel-and-a-sequel/599572/18 "2011-10-14T00:48:24Z")
> [@x-ray\_vision](#): > > ^Then all prequels are sequels. Right. But all sequels are not prequels. That’s what I thought the op was getting at. Maybe I’m wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2011, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-godfather-part-ii-the-only-film-that-is-both-a-prequel-and-a-sequel/599572/19 "2011-10-14T00:52:19Z")
[Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prequel) shows a few sequels that were also prequels, including Psycho IV, Ginger Snaps Back: The Beginning, Missing in Action 2: The Beginning, Vacancy 2: The First Cut, Dumb and Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd, Tremors 4: The Legend Begins, Amityville II: The Possession, Cruel Intentions 2, Paranormal Activity 2, and Final Destination 5. Although, I suppose, if your definition of sequel and prequel means it has to have all the same characters, I’m not sure if any of the above count. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2011, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-godfather-part-ii-the-only-film-that-is-both-a-prequel-and-a-sequel/599572/20 "2011-10-14T00:56:29Z")
[QUOTE=Idle Thoughts] Although, I suppose, if your definition of sequel and prequel means it has to have all the same characters, I’m not sure if any of the above count. [/QUOTE] Not all, but at least some overlap. For example, Vito, Tessio, and Clemenza were all dead by Godfather 2 but were in the prequel portion; Mamma Corleone (played by 2 different actresses for the pre-1920s and late-1950s scenes) was the only character who had any real screentime and lines in both prequel and sequel portion, though Michael and Fredo were shown as little boys in the prequel. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-godfather-part-ii-the-only-film-that-is-both-a-prequel-and-a-sequel/599572.md?page=2)