The 9 best movie prequels you can stream right now

Not every prequel justifies its existence. These ones do — and some even outshine the movies that inspired them.

Unless you are reading The Book of Genesis, all stories begin in media res. A compelling narrative forces us to ask, “Gee, I wonder what happened before all of this?” Sometimes, authors and filmmakers will answer that question with a prequel. 

Let’s be honest: prequels aren’t always so hot. Hell, the much more traditional sequel is frequently a lazy cash grab, an attempt to recapture lighting in a bottle or simply milk a few additional bucks out of audiences looking for a risk-free night out. “Eh, we kinda know what we’re in for, and we liked the ones before, so two tickets to Police Academy 8, please!”

But when they work, they really work — functioning as their own story while also providing insight into characters and situations we already love. Don’t believe me? Well, guess what, we’ve got a list of some of the best movie prequels that you can stream right now, and, believe it or not, one or two of them are actually better than the film that came before it. Or, after it. You know what I mean. Let’s take a look. 

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (2024)

It’s not particularly easy to figure out when, exactly, any of the Mad Max movies take place. The first one, a low budget affair starring a young whippersnapper named Mel Gibson, is set after some atomic disaster, but you’d be forgiven for thinking it was regular 1970s Australia. (Zing.)

When director George Miller brought the franchise back with Mad Max: Fury Road, everyone was quickly blown away by Charlize Theron’s performance as the Wasteland’s fierce Imperator Furiosa. The prequel, in which Anya Taylor-Joy plays a younger version of the character, delves into her comic book-like origins, and the film has some of the grandest and most fantasy-driven set pieces in the entire series.  

The Godfather Part II (1974)

Technically, this is both a sequel and a prequel. The continuation of the Corleone Family saga expands until Michael (Al Pacino) commits the ultimate brotherly sin, but the story’s jump back in time — in which Robert De Niro plays a younger version of Marlon Brando’s Vito — features many of the most iconic sequences in 1970s cinema. Among the most memorable are the images of Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty, along with scenes of New York’s Little Italy during a feast parade.

The role won De Niro his first of two Oscars, and the film also won for Best Picture, Director, Adapted Screenplay, Art Direction, and Dramatic Score. 

Henry V (1944 and 1989)

No, this isn’t a joke. There’s a lot about William Shakespeare’s life that has been lost to the mists of time, but one thing is certain: when he wrote his history plays, Henry VI came before Henry V. And that’s a good thing, as Shakespeare only sharpened his craft in the interim, readying himself to deliver the myriad classic moments in this story, including the St. Crispin’s Day speech.

There have been two major film adaptations, the first starring and directed by Laurence Olivier and the second from Kenneth Branagh. That second one, Branagh’s big-screen debut, features a powerhouse supporting cast including Paul Scofield, Brian Blessed, Emma Thompson, Judi Dench, Ian Holm, and more.

Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)

The “prequel-ness” of Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom isn’t emphasized very much, but anyone paying close attention will realize that this adventure takes place before Raiders of the Lost Ark.

But even if you miss it: Holy smoke! Hold on to your potatoes! Harrison Ford, his smile, and his whip romp from one preposterous adventure scenario to the next, falling out of planes, venturing into an insect chamber, watching guys get their hearts ripped out, getting served eyeball soup, smooching Kate Capshaw, and playing cards with future Oscar winner Ke Huy Quan.

There isn’t quite the same emotional heft here as there is in Raiders of the Lost Ark, but Temple of Doom ups the silly quotient, and fans have been arguing ever since about which film is better.

Prey (2022)

Prey, a prequel to the Predator franchise, is one of the best because it doesn’t rely on any “ah, now I see!” fan service moments. Instead, it merely rhymes with the first film while unfolding amid entirely different circumstances.

Gone are the Reagan-era mercenaries in Latin America, as this story is set in early 18th-century North America. Amber Midthunder is spectacular as a young Comanche woman who uses her ingenuity and knowledge of the terrain to survive her plight. (There’s also a really cool scene with a bear, proving we don’t always need to import our dangerous beasts from outer space.)

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)

This could have been junk. You can picture the reborn Lucasfilm company taking pitches for more Star Wars content: “Hey, remember when Princess Leia had a diagram showing how to blow up the Death Star? This is how it happened!”

And yet, this yarn about determined Rebels who lay it all on the line to fight back against the Empire has its own story contours, narrative purpose, and remarkable characters. Indeed, it all worked so well that Andor, arguably the best Star Wars television series, is actually a prequel to Rogue One! Maybe they’ll go back even further next time.

Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me (1992)

Twin Peaks, like much of David Lynch’s work, exists outside of linear space and time, but if you want to get technical, this movie is a prequel to the hit series that debuted in 1990.

Fire Walk With Me represents a crucial turning point for Lynch (and American film art), as it was here that he returned to the complex, surreal, non-narrative instincts seen in Eraserhead and began fueling his work almost exclusively on vibes. (That he later reversed course for 1999’s very straight The Straight Story merely proved his bonafides.) At the time, this movie was pilloried by most critics. Now, it is recognized as a masterpiece. 

X-Men: First Class (2011)

Comic books regularly hit the reset button, which is how a title like X-Men can stay relevant for more than 60 years. With movies, though, it hits a little differently, especially since the original X-Men cast was still in theaters only five years earlier. (Luckily, this being comics, they all got a chance to meet up again in various multiverses.)

X-Men: First Class, however, turned back the clock to show how the good and evil factions of superpowered mutants got their acts together. The cast is absolutely packed with stars like James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence, Rose Byrne, and Nicholas Hoult, making this a great one for the Kevin Bacon game — especially since Kevin Bacon is in it, too.