# Successful prequels in movies (or not) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 21, 2006, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/successful-prequels-in-movies-or-not/345507 "2006-02-21T18:42:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Nature\_s\_Call](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nature_s_call/32/19006_2.png) [@Nature\_s\_Call](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nature_s_Call)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2006, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/successful-prequels-in-movies-or-not/345507/1 "2006-02-21T18:42:33Z")
Lunchroom discussion today centered on the official declaration by [http://hanshootsfirst.org](http://hanshootsfirst.org) that Star Wars Ep.1, 2, and 3 all suck. Without getting into that debate too much (although please let’s get into it a bit if it hasn’t already been done to death), one question popped up that I wanted to run by Café Society: What movie prequels are there and how well do they work. During our discussion we came up with comic book prequels and novel prequels - but few prequels (IMDB not yet installed in our cafeteria 😃 ) ---
**Author:** ![Nature\_s\_Call](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nature_s_call/32/19006_2.png) [@Nature\_s\_Call](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nature_s_Call)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2006, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/successful-prequels-in-movies-or-not/345507/2 "2006-02-21T18:43:53Z")
> [@Nature's Call](#): > > …and novel prequels - but few prequels… should read: “…but few **movie** prequels…” ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2006, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/successful-prequels-in-movies-or-not/345507/3 "2006-02-21T18:50:35Z")
_Batman Returns_ springs to mind… You could maybe argue that some of the Star Trek movies were prequels, in that they were using TOS cast but were made about the same time STNG was being made, so they were “prequels” to the STNG series (references were made to the Khitomer Accords, which were shown in _Final Frontier_). ---
**Author:** ![Nature\_s\_Call](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nature_s_call/32/19006_2.png) [@Nature\_s\_Call](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nature_s_Call)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2006, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/successful-prequels-in-movies-or-not/345507/4 "2006-02-21T18:58:21Z")
It’s funny you mentioned Star Trek. We were considering some of the time travelling to be, in effect, prequels: esp. First Contact where we travel back and witness Cochrane’s first warp launch, etc. Batman Begins: good call - a sequel arguably better than any of its … okay, terminology jam. What do you call a movie that has a prequel - a postquel? Anyways Batman Begins is IMHO better than Tim Burton’s Batman and Adam West’s Batman Movie. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2006, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/successful-prequels-in-movies-or-not/345507/5 "2006-02-21T19:10:32Z")
_Indiana Jones & the Temple of Doom_ was a prequel to _Raiders of the Lost Ark_. I’ll let you decide if it was successful. ---
**Author:** ![cormac262](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f14d63/32.png) [@cormac262](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cormac262)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2006, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/successful-prequels-in-movies-or-not/345507/6 "2006-02-21T19:39:34Z")
I agree that Batman Begins was a great prequel (and FAR superior to the Burton et. al Batmans). But the one that immediately popped into my mind was the combined prequel and sequel of “The Godfather Part II”. Both storylines were awesome. ---
**Author:** ![wayward](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a87d85/32.png) [@wayward](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wayward)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2006, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/successful-prequels-in-movies-or-not/345507/7 "2006-02-21T21:23:37Z")
Just a nitpick, but the makers of _Batman Begins_ made it very clear that it’s not a prequel to the Burton movies, but the start of a completely separate franchise that happens to be based on the same source material. The best example I can think of is _Alien vs Predator_ as a prequel to the rest of the _Alien_ series, but fans of the films would probably prefer to forget it. ---
**Author:** ![FatBaldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecd19e/32.png) [@FatBaldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FatBaldGuy)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2006, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/successful-prequels-in-movies-or-not/345507/8 "2006-02-21T22:44:08Z")
Here’s a thought experiment. Is _Back to the Future III_ a prequel to the other films in the series? It takes place in the past on a chronological timeline, but from Marty’s perspective it’s the last of the events to happen. ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2006, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/successful-prequels-in-movies-or-not/345507/9 "2006-02-21T22:56:14Z")
> [@FatBaldGuy](#): > > Here’s a thought experiment. Is _Back to the Future III_ a prequel to the other films in the series? It takes place in the past on a chronological timeline, but from Marty’s perspective it’s the last of the events to happen. And from the Doc’s perspective. I’d say it’s pretty clearly not a prequel. How do we know that _Temple of Doom_ is a prequel? ---
**Author:** ![Scupper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Scupper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scupper)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2006, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/successful-prequels-in-movies-or-not/345507/10 "2006-02-21T23:03:30Z")
> [@iamthewalrus(:3=](#): > > And from the Doc’s perspective. I’d say it’s pretty clearly not a prequel. > > How do we know that _Temple of Doom_ is a prequel? Because the opening titles give it an earlier date than _Raiders_. 1936 vs. 1938, I believe. ---
**Author:** ![LiveOnAPlane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3d9bf3/32.png) [@LiveOnAPlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LiveOnAPlane)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2006, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/successful-prequels-in-movies-or-not/345507/11 "2006-02-21T23:17:01Z")
If we’re speaking strictly of movies, I’d nominate “Red Dragon.” I am not sure in the novel world if this preceeded “Silence of the Lambs” or not, but it looks like the movie arc made “Red Dragon” a prequell. ---
**Author:** ![LiveOnAPlane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3d9bf3/32.png) [@LiveOnAPlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LiveOnAPlane)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2006, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/successful-prequels-in-movies-or-not/345507/12 "2006-02-21T23:19:29Z")
Now that I think of it, wasn’t there another one predating even this? I’m thinking of a comic book, “Martian Manhunter,” but I know this is not it, obviously. Probably “Manhunter” or something. I am going by memory, not Google here, so please be gentle. ---
**Author:** ![Silentgoldfish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@Silentgoldfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silentgoldfish)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2006, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/successful-prequels-in-movies-or-not/345507/13 "2006-02-21T23:40:34Z")
Manhunter it is. Same plot, different cast. Red Dragon was made to cash in on Anthony Hopkins’ Lector. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2006, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/successful-prequels-in-movies-or-not/345507/14 "2006-02-21T23:45:07Z")
_Red Dragon_ was a prequel, _Manhunter_ was just the first movie. ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2006, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/successful-prequels-in-movies-or-not/345507/15 "2006-02-21T23:55:35Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > _Batman Returns_ springs to mind… > > You could maybe argue that some of the Star Trek movies were prequels, in that they were using TOS cast but were made about the same time STNG was being made, so they were “prequels” to the STNG series (references were made to the Khitomer Accords, which were shown in _Final Frontier_). To echo **wayward** , _Batman Begins_ is an adaptation of the comic book series, not a sequel to Burton and Schumaker’s movies and the Trek movie you are referencing is _The Undiscovered Country_, not _The Final Frontier_. ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2006, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/successful-prequels-in-movies-or-not/345507/16 "2006-02-21T23:59:24Z")
_Twin Peaks: Firewalk With Me_ was a prequel to a TV series, not a prior movie. Stylistically interesting; I’m not sure how well it stands as a move. Oh! How about _Young Sherlock Holmes_ and _Greystoke_? There were some regrettable prequels, like _Butch and Sundance: The Early Years_ and _Dumb & Dumberer_, but we should probably just not look and keep driving. ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2006, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/successful-prequels-in-movies-or-not/345507/17 "2006-02-22T02:42:23Z")
Disney’s straight-to-video \*Tarzan II[i/] was a prequel. Haven’t seen it, though. ---
**Author:** ![Nature\_s\_Call](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nature_s_call/32/19006_2.png) [@Nature\_s\_Call](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nature_s_Call)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2006, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/successful-prequels-in-movies-or-not/345507/18 "2006-02-22T03:10:02Z")
Although produced by a different creative team, I still think “Batman Begins” qualifies as a prequel. We threw out “Young Sherlock Holmes” but I guess by the same logic it does apply. “Manhunter”, IIRC, came out as a movie long before “Silence of the Lambs.” So it’s not a prequel. I remember the film vaguely - who was the guy who played Lector? Was “Magician’s Nephew” ever made into a movie - the BBC series perhaps? The novel, of course, is a prequel to “The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe.” **cormac262** good call on Godfather II! **Superdude** and **Scupper** - It’s been a long time since I’ve seen the Indy movies. Did Temple of Doom have any integral plot points or character developments that gave backfilled “Raiders”? I know the third one with Sean Connery explained through flashback why Indy hates snakes. * * * Damn, I can’t believe how bad my memory is on this topic! I usually pride myself on encyclopedic movie trivia… I suck today! ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2006, 8:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/successful-prequels-in-movies-or-not/345507/19 "2006-02-22T08:39:08Z")
> [@Nature's Call](#): > > **Superdude** and **Scupper** - It’s been a long time since I’ve seen the Indy movies. Did Temple of Doom have any integral plot points or character developments that gave backfilled “Raiders”? Not that I can recall at 3:37am. But it’s been a long time since I’ve watched it, also. Also in _Last Crusade_, which is the last in the series (and the one you mentioned, though not by name), you also find out how Indy got the scar, and the fedora, and the name “Indiana.” ---
**Author:** ![KGS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/90ced4/32.png) [@KGS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KGS)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2006, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/successful-prequels-in-movies-or-not/345507/20 "2006-02-22T13:30:28Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > _Red Dragon_ was a prequel, _Manhunter_ was just the first movie. **Red Dragon** and **Manhunter** are the exact same story. The Michael Mann version had its title changed to Manhunter for unknown reasons. This one’s an interesting case, because Anthony Hopkins is so deeply identified with Dr. Lecter, it’s natural to think of Red Dragon as a sequel. Manhunter is also so totally different in style, as well as actors, that it might as well exist in another universe. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/successful-prequels-in-movies-or-not/345507.md?page=2)