10 Greatest Prequel Movies Of All-Time

Brett Ratner is just about the most inconsistent director in Hollywood, having produced films of widely varying qualities in all kinds of genres, from the comedy flick Rush Hour to superhero sequel X-Men: The Last Stand.

It's Red Dragon, though, a prequel to '90s classic Silence of the Lambs, that towers above the rest as his best work to date.

Anthony Hopkins, who returns to his most iconic role as Dr. Hannibal Lecter, does battle with Ed Norton's FBI agent Will Graham as they attempt to capture a serial killer going by the name of "The Tooth Fairy." Ever wondered how Lecter ended up in that underground prison cell? Well, here's the film to tell you! It even ends with Clarice Starling arriving to participate in their infamous chat...

As an adaptation of Thomas' Harris book of the same name, this flick is essentially a remake of Michael Mann's Manhunter, but one could certainly argue that Ratner produced a tighter and more gripping picture that Mann (who'd have thought?). It's stylish, atmospheric and contains not one, but two genuinely disturbing scenes that linger with you long after the credits have rolled (obvious hint: cannibalism).

Red Dragon is the forgotten film of the Hopkins Lecter trilogy, but it's a far better movie than Ridley Scott's Hannibal, which - save for Hopkins on top form - felt like a mess. And again, Hopkins is the reason to see this dark and anxiety-inducing prequel. He makes what could have easily felt contrived into a necessary portrait.