When it comes to blockbuster movies, sequels always tend to dominate the competition. From a broad perspective, this idea makes perfect sense.If a big-budget film is successful in theaters, studios will stop at nothing to build a franchise around it.Consequently, the popular source material is expanded into a larger story that only grows with each release. Several highly anticipated2025 movie sequelswill surely reinforce this trend.
Prequel films are a different game because they usually require a unique approach. It’s generally easier to come up with new content as opposed to creating old stories within a preexisting context.In consideration of the most successful works of this genre,Star Warshas controlled the charts to a large degree.George Lucas fabricated a universe with so much potential, and, unsurprisingly, there are multiplenewStar Warsmoviescoming out over the next few years. However, many other films of this nature have put up strong numbers and are worth mentioning.
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
Cast
In 1926, British magizoologist Newt Scamander travels to New York City in his ongoing field research into magical creatures. Here, he finds himself caught up in some trouble involving a No-Maj, local wizarding law enforcement, and the Dark Wizard Grindelwald.
Given the fact thatHarry Potteris one of the biggest film and book franchises of all time, there was no doubt that a prequel would garner attention.There are a lot of misconceptions surrounding how the lore ofFantastic Beasts and Where to Find Themconnects to theHarry Potteruniverse.Although a quick Google search might suggest that the 2016 movie was based on a novel of the same name, this isn’t quite the case.
J.K. Rowling originally releasedFantastic Beasts and Where to Find Themin 2001 for the Comic Relief charity.
The prequel content is based on a fictional book that Potter acquired in the story world. After the fame of her first novel, J.K. Rowling turnedFantastic Beasts and Where to Find Theminto a textbook-style piece of reading, on which the film was based.Despite it not being a direct adaptation, the movie did a good job of capturing some of the magic presented in the original series.What’s next for theHarry Potterfranchiseremains unclear, but there have been significant discussions.
Wonder Woman
Released in 2017, Wonder Woman stars Gal Gadot as the titular Amazonian princess. Set during World War I, the film follows her journey from her sheltered island home to the world of Man as she seeks to combat malevolent forces and end human conflict alongside Steve Trevor, played by Chris Pine.
DC doesn’t have the greatest track record when it comes to making blockbuster superhero movies, but withWonder Woman, they knocked it out of the park.Although it has the format of a standalone project, the plot is a prequel toBatman V. Supermanand the laterJustice Leagueuniverse films where the hero is present.The movie put up strong numbers at the box office and brought a breath of fresh air to the genre.
Gal Gadot was the ideal actress for the role, and she embodied the character perfectly.Her chemistry with Steve Trevor (Chris Pine) offers a lighthearted tone that compliments the witty narrative. Instead of relying on the traditional superhero formula, the film focuses on the quality of the story over excessive visual effects.Wonder Womanhas an upcoming prequel series of its own, titledParadise Lost.
8Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge Of The Sith (2005)
Worldwide Gross: $848,998,877
TheStar Warsprequels tend to be a touchy subject for fans of the franchise. Most of the time, people either love them or are against the premise entirely.Their reception was negative for years, and they have only become widely popular recently.Despite the poor feedback, there wasn’t any doubt that moreStar Warsmovieswould result in crazy box office numbers.
Every Star Wars Story To Watch Before Revenge Of The Sith (That Makes The Movie Even Better)
The Star Wars prequel era has been greatly expanded through other mediums, meaning there are plenty of stories to watch before Revenge of the Sith.
In consideration of the prequels,Revenge of the Sithis often referenced as being the best. It doesn’t outshine its source material, but it surely stands out from the crowd.After the first two installments, fans were excited to see Anakin (Hayden Christensen) finally make his transformation into Darth Vader.Although the story could’ve been more thoughtfully crafted, the movie remains iconic. Criticisms aside, episode three gives an epic finish to the trilogy that ends in a legendary battle.
Minions: The Rise of Gru
Minions: The Rise of Gru is the second Minions film and the fifth movie overall in the Despicable Me franchise. The Minions sequel again stars Steve Carell as an eleven-year-old Gru who wants to become a supervillain. The only problem is that there’s a new group in town called the Vicious 6 that puts a wrench in his plans.
After the release ofDespicable Mein 2010, nobody expected the film to grow as much as it has.What started as a simple, lighthearted animation story has become a massive global sensation, inspiring theme park rides, merchandise, and spin-offs. As of today, there are six movies in the franchise, withDespicable Me 4being the most recent installment.
The events of the 2015 prequelMinionsdepict the hilarious origin of the beloved yellow creatures, andMinions: The Rise of Grucontinues the plot.Set in the 1970s, the story follows a young Gru (Steve Carell) as he tries to make his way into the supervillain lifestyle.When things go wrong for him, he’s forced to go on the run with his little companions. There were multiple directions the creators could’ve gone with, but overall, it’s a lighthearted movie that captures the essence of the original nicely.
The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies
The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies is the final installment in Peter Jackson’s trilogy, based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s novel. The film follows Bilbo Baggins and the Company of Dwarves as they face the catastrophic consequences of reclaiming the Lonely Mountain. The power struggle over the treasure leads to a climactic battle involving five armies, testing the characters' courage and alliances.
It’s a daunting task to follow up on the masterfulLord of the Ringsfilm adaptations. However, J.R.R. Tolkien’sThe Hobbitis so incredible that it would be a missed opportunity not to take a crack at it.Although there were talks about potential prequel plans for years, the story finally came to screens in 2012 withThe Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.With Peter Jackson at the helm of the ship, the project was definitely in good hands.
While the films don’t hold a candle to their shared franchise, they deserve a lot more credit.TheHobbittrilogywas ultimately completed after the release ofThe Battle of the Five Armies.In an epic showdown, the movie brings the events of the first two installments together in an enormous Middle Earth war.The fact that the great finale of the trilogy brought in the least money might be indicative of the poor reception, but the profits were still massive.
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, directed by Peter Jackson, continues the journey of Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman) alongside Thorin Oakenshield (Richard Armitage) and his company of dwarves. As they travel to reclaim Erebor from the dragon Smaug (voiced by Benedict Cumberbatch), they encounter new allies and dangers.
The second installment in the franchise,The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaugis arguably the best work in the series. Although the rankings are heavily opinionated, most generally agree that the first two movies reign supreme over the third.An Unexpected Journeyset up the framework for the second film perfectly.Unsurprisingly, the blockbuster follow-up created huge waves in the theaters, bringing in close to a billion dollars.
Smaug and the unlimited wealth behind Erebor’s sealed doors are easily some of the coolest features of Middle Earth, and that’s what this prequel is all about.While the pacing is on the slower side, the sets are incredible, and the story of Thorin and Company moves forward in an entertaining style.Benedict Cumberbatch,who has several upcoming movies, also does a stellar job in his portrayal of the formidable dragon Smaug.
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
As Bilbo Baggins celebrates his 111th birthday, he recounts the extraordinary journey that changed his life. Guided by the enigmatic wizard Gandalf, Bilbo joins a band of Dwarves on a perilous quest to reclaim their homeland from the fearsome dragon, Smaug. Along the way, they face treacherous foes, unearth long-buried secrets, and discover unexpected courage within themselves. With danger lurking at every turn, Bilbo’s adventure unfolds in a tale of friendship, sacrifice, and the enduring power of hope.
Peter Jackson’sThe Hobbit: An Unexpected Journeykicked off theLord of the Ring’sprequel franchise with a valiant effort. Before a teaser had even been announced, it was already clear that any film adaptation attempts were going to receive backlash. After all, how can anyone follow up a trilogy that received a total of 17 Academy Awards? Despite the high stakes, Jackson took up the gauntlet and delivered.An Unexpected Journeyis far from perfect, but it’s an objectively strong attempt at bringing the story to life.
Peter Jackson recorded a production diary about the making ofThe Hobbitwhich can be found on his YouTube channel.
The studio made the right choice in their decision to keep the members of the previous cast in their original roles. Martin Freeman was a smart pick for Bilbo Baggins, and his witty portrayal elevates the plot’s quality.The movie was a heavy hitter at the box office, grossing over a billion dollars worldwide, which was the most in the franchise.More Middle Earth content will be coming in the future withThe Lord of the Rings: The Hunt For Gollum.
Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace
Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace is set in a galaxy facing political turmoil, as Jedi Knights Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi seek peace while encountering Anakin Skywalker, a slave with great potential in the Force. Meanwhile, the Sith begin their resurgence, threatening the stability of the Republic.
After George Lucas created one of the most creative, iconic, and enthralling fictional universes, there was no doubt that a backstory would be in the works.Lucas originally wanted the epic saga to be portrayed across a generation, and the prequels allowed him to do so.Love them or hate them, the first three episodes ofStar Warsare an important part of the franchise and contain many memorable moments.
Most of the backlash towardsEpisode I - The Phantom Menacestems from issues surrounding the plot and pacing. Oftentimes, the political aspect of the narrative makes it feel like the story gets boringly stuck in its ways.Aside from these issues, the movie established important qualities of character development and world-building for future titles.Upon its release, the film was a massive hit in theaters and currently holds the #4 spot in theStar Warsmovies box office rankings.
2Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)
Worldwide Gross: $1,055,083,596
When it comes to the vastStar Warsuniverse, the original films created enough potential outlets to keep the franchise busy for the next hundred years.Rogue Onewas the first attempt at introducing a standalone movie, and the results were much better than expected.AlthoughTheForce Awakenswas a solid reboot endeavor packed with familiar faces,Rogue Onetook things in a new direction with style.
Star Wars' New TV Show Has A Hidden Rogue One Connection That’s Easy To Miss
Star Wars: Skeleton Crew brings viewers a fun, compelling, kid-centric adventure. So what’s the connection with Rogue One: A Star Wars Story?
The prequel takes place in the weeks leading up toA New Hope,following the story of Jyn Erso (Felicity Jones) and other resistance fighters as they attempt to steal the plans of the Death Star.From start to finish, the plot balances action with emotion to create a gripping, heartfelt tale.The story does a particularly good job of walking the line between nostalgic and fresh content. The events and characters are new, but they have their roots in the franchise’s history. Some claim thatRogue Oneis the best Disney-eraStar Warsmovie, which is an understandable choice.
Minions
Minions is a 2015 animated film set before the events of the Despicable Me series. The story follows Stuart, Kevin, and Bob as they are enlisted by the ambitious super-villain Scarlet Overkill and her inventive husband Herb in a scheme to achieve world domination.
Minionsrepresent an interesting example in the context of prequels.Instead of initially focusing on the life of Gru himself, the creators decided to present the origin of his adorable henchmen.When it comes to blockbuster movies, it doesn’t hurt to have a spectacle of some sort, and the Minions were a perfect choice. This lighthearted story tells the tale of how these tiny yellow servants came to be.
Truth be told,Minionswasn’t nearly as good as itsDespicable Mesource material, but it’s still a fun, laid-back comedy that plays off its absurdity.It currently holds the title of the highest-grossing prequel ever created and has inspired more franchise installments.There are manytypesof Minions in theDespicable Memovies, and this film sheds light on how the comical creatures operate. While it could’ve been better in some areas,Minionswas a beneficial addition to the series.
