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 anticipated 2025 movie sequels will 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 Wars has controlled the charts to a large degree. George Lucas fabricated a universe with so much potential, and, unsurprisingly, there are multiple new Star Wars movies coming out over the next few years. However, many other films of this nature have put up strong numbers and are worth mentioning.

10 Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them (2016)

Worldwide Gross: $811,724,385

Given the fact that Harry Potter is 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 of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them connects to the Harry Potter universe. 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 released Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them in 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 turned Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them into 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 the Harry Potter franchise remains unclear, but there have been significant discussions.

9 Wonder Woman (2017)

Worldwide Gross: $817,691,766

DC doesn't have the greatest track record when it comes to making blockbuster superhero movies, but with Wonder Woman, they knocked it out of the park. Although it has the format of a standalone project, the plot is a prequel to Batman V. Superman and the later Justice League universe 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 Woman has an prequel series of its own, titled Paradise Lost.

8 Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge Of The Sith (2005)

Worldwide Gross: $848,998,877

The Star Wars prequels 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 , there wasn't any doubt that more Star Wars movies would result in crazy box office numbers.

In consideration of the prequels, Revenge of the Sith is 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.

7 Minions: The Rise Of Gru (2022)

Worldwide Gross: $937,427,564

After the release of Despicable Me in 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, with Despicable Me 4 being the most recent installment.

The events of the 2015 prequel Minions depict the hilarious origin of the beloved yellow creatures, and Minions: The Rise of Gru continues 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.

6 The Hobbit: The Battle Of The Five Armies (2014)

Worldwide Gross: $940,323,039

It's a daunting task to follow up on the masterful Lord of the Rings ​​​​​​film adaptations. However, J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit is 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 with The 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. The Hobbit ​​​​​​trilogy was ultimately completed after the release of The 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.

5 The Hobbit: The Desolation Of Smaug (2013)

Worldwide Gross: $959,358,436

The second installment in the franchise, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug is 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 Journey set 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 movies, also does a stellar job in his portrayal of the formidable dragon Smaug.

4 The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)

Worldwide Gross: $1,014,938,545

Peter Jackson's The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey kicked off the Lord of the Ring's prequel 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 Journey is 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 of The Hobbit which can be found on his YouTube channel.

The studio made the right choice in their decision to keep the 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 with The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt For Gollum.

3 Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999)

Worldwide Gross: $1,046,515,409

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 of Star Wars ​​​​​​are an important part of the franchise and contain many memorable moments.

Most of the backlash towards Episode I - The Phantom Menace stems 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 the Star Wars movies box office rankings.

2 Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)

Worldwide Gross: $1,055,083,596

When it comes to the vast Star Wars universe, the original films created enough potential outlets to keep the franchise busy for the next hundred years. Rogue One was the first attempt at introducing a standalone movie, and the results were much better than expected. Although The Force Awakens was a solid reboot endeavor packed with familiar faces, Rogue One took things in a new direction with style.

The prequel takes place in the weeks leading up to A 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 that Rogue One is the best Disney-era Star Wars movie, which is an understandable choice.

1 Minions (2015)

Worldwide Gross: $1,157,271,759

Minions represent 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, Minions wasn't nearly as good as its Despicable Me source 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 many types of Minions in the Despicable Me movies, and this film sheds light on how the comical creatures operate. While it could've been better in some areas, Minions was a beneficial addition to the series.