10 Prequel Movies That Improved The Original
7. The Godfather Part II
While it's fair to say that only part of The Godfather Part II is a prequel, it set such a high bar for origin stories that it can't not be mentioned on this list.
This part-sequel, part-prequel focuses on both Michael Corleone (Al Pacino) as the Don of the Corleone family in the 1950s, and the journey of Michael's father Vito (Robert De Niro) from Italy to New York City, where he founded the family's criminal empire.
It cannot be understated how much Part II elevates the original film, so expertly contextualising Vito's life as it does, while so brilliantly performed by De Niro, who smartly refused to simply offer up an impersonation of Marlon Brando but made this younger version of Vito very much his own.
More than that, though, juxtaposing Vito's rise to power with Michael's personal turmoil as the new Don - especially with that kicker of an ending - is a sheer dramatic masterstroke.