Sometimes the plot of a movie is so riveting (or confusing) that it makes you wonder how the character got to that point [enter prequel]. With the prequel, we get a backstory into the life of our favorite protagonists and antagonists. Just remember that prequels, rarely good, are usually left out for a reason in the original. Now enjoy some of the best known prequels that may or may not have been a good idea, based on our top-notch, tried and true methods of cinematic paneling. Don't worry, we're not including "Easy Rider: The Ride Back," whose title makes no sense as a prequel.
"Indiana Jones & The Temple of Doom" (Good Idea)
![Movie Prequels That May or May Not Have Been a Good Idea]()
Though it's no "Raiders of the Lost Ark," we quickly got a decent Indiana Jones prequel soon after, but it would still be awhile before the unnecessary sequels started rolling in decades later. Typically ranked as the worst of its trilogy, "Temple of Doom" is an exercise of solid '80s Spielberg/Lucas-style cinema. In an upbeat action adventure that prefaces "Raiders of the Lost Ark" by about a year, Jones teams up with a young boy and nightclub dancer, the then very sexy Kate Capshaw, to retrieve a rare gem.
"Final Destination 5" (Good Idea)
![Movie Prequels That May or May Not Have Been a Good Idea]()
Just like the "Saw" franchise, they got a little carried away with an already lacking series, but the fifth and likely final film of the "Final Destination" franchise did garner an interesting lead-up to the original film's plane crash premonition, along with better reviews than the rest of its sister films.
"X-Men: First Class" (Good Idea)
![Movie Prequels That May or May Not Have Been a Good Idea]()
Something had to make up for the horrible ending to the original trilogy, "X-Men: The Last Stand." Now with a new trilogy featuring the upbringing of everyone's favorite X-Men, we get Jennifer Lawrence instead of Rebecca Romijn in "First Class," "Days of Future Past" and soon, "X-Men: Apocalypse."
"The Hobbit" (Good Idea)
![Movie Prequels That May or May Not Have Been a Good Idea]()
One of the best-selling novels of all time (1937), which managed to get turned into an entire trilogy, prefaced another one of the greatest trilogies of all time: not bad. Peter Jackson quickly returned after "Lord of the Rings: Return of the King" to give us three quick, consecutive films at the end of each year from 2012 to 2014. With many of the same side characters and number of great cinematic landscapes, we get a prequel trilogy not quite as good as its origin, but one that nicely prefaces it and somehow made just as much money.
"Prometheus" (Good Idea)
![Movie Prequels That May or May Not Have Been a Good Idea]()
The general consensus is that "Prometheus" was a good movie, but nowhere near as good as "Alien" by comparison. But the idea of filming something else going on beneath the surface that isn't directly related to the original film is a great idea by Ridley Scott. The film centers around space travel in discovering clues to the origin of mankind, only to uncover something much worse. Though not as good of a film as a classic like "Alien," it stands on its own and has been offered a sequel, which is struggling to find an identity in the "Alien" franchise.
"Mallrats" (Good Idea)
![Movie Prequels That May or May Not Have Been a Good Idea]()
The 1995 film is the prequel to Kevin Smith's 1994 "Clarks." The film incorporates Jay and Silent Bob but features more on Jason Lee's Brodie character in amongst a mob of other '90s heartthrobs like Joey Lauren Adams, Shannon Doherty and Jeremy London. The film announced on its 20th anniversary that it would be getting a late sequel in 2018, "MallBrats."
"Hannibal Rising" (Bad Idea)
![Movie Prequels That May or May Not Have Been a Good Idea]()
"Red Dragon" was a good prequel, using Ed Norton to uncover the early beginnings of Anthony Hopkin's Hannibal character. But with "Hannibal Rising," they went way off the reservation with Gaspard Ulliel as a young Hannibal whose parents are brutally killed in front of him. The film, set around World War II, shows Hannibal on his way to medical school where he will master his craft. Surely it had to be done, but that doesn't make it a good idea.
"Dumb & Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd" (Bad Idea)
![Movie Prequels That May or May Not Have Been a Good Idea]()
Upon seeing Harry Dunn and Lloyd Christmas for the first (and best) time of our lives, we got to wondering how two individuals could wind up so screwed up, yet wind up finding each other. The prequel, not featuring either of the original stars, takes us down a playfully boring, pointless path that ultimately leads nowhere. Then again, so did the sequel last year. Jim Carrey is still the great man who ever lived though, just to clarify.
"Oz the Great And Powerful" (Bad Idea)
![Movie Prequels That May or May Not Have Been a Good Idea]()
A predecessor to "The Wizard of OZ," James Franco gives us a taste of magic when he's thrust into the world of Oz and brought to good fortune his wizard dreams as he becomes the great wizard they have been awaiting. However cinematic and blushing the babes Mila Kunis, Rachel Weisz, Michelle Williams, the film failed to gain much in the way of decent reviews. I blame Sam Raimi.
"Star Wars: Episode I-III" (Bad Idea)
![Movie Prequels That May or May Not Have Been a Good Idea]()
A prequel trilogy to the original "Star Wars" trilogy, we got a modernized look at the universe George Lucas created back in 1977. Having a prequel begin decades later and be lightyears (and sabers) ahead of its original work and have a subpar cast in comparison makes it hard to be a decent idea. That's why we think Abrams's "The Force Awakens" will be a smart, well-cast and relevant sequel to progress in the "Star Wars" realm.
"Indiana Jones & The Temple of Doom" (Good Idea)
Though it's no "Raiders of the Lost Ark," we quickly got a decent Indiana Jones prequel soon after, but it would still be awhile before the unnecessary sequels started rolling in decades later. Typically ranked as the worst of its trilogy, "Temple of Doom" is an exercise of solid '80s Spielberg/Lucas-style cinema. In an upbeat action adventure that prefaces "Raiders of the Lost Ark" by about a year, Jones teams up with a young boy and nightclub dancer, the then very sexy Kate Capshaw, to retrieve a rare gem.
"Final Destination 5" (Good Idea)
Just like the "Saw" franchise, they got a little carried away with an already lacking series, but the fifth and likely final film of the "Final Destination" franchise did garner an interesting lead-up to the original film's plane crash premonition, along with better reviews than the rest of its sister films.
"X-Men: First Class" (Good Idea)
Something had to make up for the horrible ending to the original trilogy, "X-Men: The Last Stand." Now with a new trilogy featuring the upbringing of everyone's favorite X-Men, we get Jennifer Lawrence instead of Rebecca Romijn in "First Class," "Days of Future Past" and soon, "X-Men: Apocalypse."
"The Hobbit" (Good Idea)
One of the best-selling novels of all time (1937), which managed to get turned into an entire trilogy, prefaced another one of the greatest trilogies of all time: not bad. Peter Jackson quickly returned after "Lord of the Rings: Return of the King" to give us three quick, consecutive films at the end of each year from 2012 to 2014. With many of the same side characters and number of great cinematic landscapes, we get a prequel trilogy not quite as good as its origin, but one that nicely prefaces it and somehow made just as much money.
"Prometheus" (Good Idea)
The general consensus is that "Prometheus" was a good movie, but nowhere near as good as "Alien" by comparison. But the idea of filming something else going on beneath the surface that isn't directly related to the original film is a great idea by Ridley Scott. The film centers around space travel in discovering clues to the origin of mankind, only to uncover something much worse. Though not as good of a film as a classic like "Alien," it stands on its own and has been offered a sequel, which is struggling to find an identity in the "Alien" franchise.
"Mallrats" (Good Idea)
The 1995 film is the prequel to Kevin Smith's 1994 "Clarks." The film incorporates Jay and Silent Bob but features more on Jason Lee's Brodie character in amongst a mob of other '90s heartthrobs like Joey Lauren Adams, Shannon Doherty and Jeremy London. The film announced on its 20th anniversary that it would be getting a late sequel in 2018, "MallBrats."
"Hannibal Rising" (Bad Idea)
"Red Dragon" was a good prequel, using Ed Norton to uncover the early beginnings of Anthony Hopkin's Hannibal character. But with "Hannibal Rising," they went way off the reservation with Gaspard Ulliel as a young Hannibal whose parents are brutally killed in front of him. The film, set around World War II, shows Hannibal on his way to medical school where he will master his craft. Surely it had to be done, but that doesn't make it a good idea.
"Dumb & Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd" (Bad Idea)
Upon seeing Harry Dunn and Lloyd Christmas for the first (and best) time of our lives, we got to wondering how two individuals could wind up so screwed up, yet wind up finding each other. The prequel, not featuring either of the original stars, takes us down a playfully boring, pointless path that ultimately leads nowhere. Then again, so did the sequel last year. Jim Carrey is still the great man who ever lived though, just to clarify.
"Oz the Great And Powerful" (Bad Idea)
A predecessor to "The Wizard of OZ," James Franco gives us a taste of magic when he's thrust into the world of Oz and brought to good fortune his wizard dreams as he becomes the great wizard they have been awaiting. However cinematic and blushing the babes Mila Kunis, Rachel Weisz, Michelle Williams, the film failed to gain much in the way of decent reviews. I blame Sam Raimi.
"Star Wars: Episode I-III" (Bad Idea)
A prequel trilogy to the original "Star Wars" trilogy, we got a modernized look at the universe George Lucas created back in 1977. Having a prequel begin decades later and be lightyears (and sabers) ahead of its original work and have a subpar cast in comparison makes it hard to be a decent idea. That's why we think Abrams's "The Force Awakens" will be a smart, well-cast and relevant sequel to progress in the "Star Wars" realm.