A truly great horror prequel can be a difficult thing to pull off, as audiences know where the story will end up, and this can often take away from the suspense of its narrative. However, some incredible prequels used these factors to their advantage to subvert viewers’ expectations and richly develop the lore of the franchise’s mythology. Occasionally, some horror prequels have even outdone their predecessor and become releases that can showcase a new direction for the series, adding new depth, characterization, and context to its cinematic world.
Like the best horror sequels, prequel movies were an opportunity to expand upon previously established events, but this time, looking back and answering questions that have long been on viewers’ minds. Horror prequels can act as origin stories for a franchise’s world, such as movies like A Quiet Place: Day One or The First Purge, while other prequels flesh out mysterious characters’ backstories like Rosemary Baby’s Terry Gionoffrio in Apartment 7A. Whatever the goal, when accomplished well, a horror prequel can be a worthy addition to its source material.
10 A Quiet Place: Day One (2024)
Directed by Michael Sarnoski
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8.2/10 A Quiet Place: Day One PG-13DramaHorror Sci-Fi
A Quiet Place: Day One is a spin-off of the A Quiet Place franchise conceived by John Krasinski. The film is set at the beginning of the invasion as humanity scrambles to survive, before the events of the original film, with Lupita Nyong’O leading the cast, directed by Michael Sarnoski.
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*Availability in US Director Michael Sarnoski Release Date June 28, 2024 Studio(s) Paramount Pictures , Platinum Dunes , Sunday Night Productions Distributor(s) Paramount Pictures Writers Michael Sarnoski Cast Lupita Nyong’o , Joseph Quinn , Alex Wolff , Djimon Hounsou , Eliane Umuhire Runtime 99 Minutes Franchise(s) A Quiet Place Main Genre Horror Expand
When audiences were first introduced to the apocalyptic existence humanity lived under in A Quiet Place, the world had already been ravaged by sharp-hearing, deadly aliens. With most of humanity already wiped out, it was only natural that viewers would be curious to see how it all started and what the initial invasion looked like. This was exactly what was delivered in A Quiet Place: Day One, a horror prequel that answers longstanding questions about the dystopian world’s origins.
With Lupita Nyong’o as the pessimistic and terminally ill cancer patient Sam, A Quiet Place: Day One tracked her experiences as a survivor after a meteor-like object hit Earth and kick-started the invasion. As a story grounded in its humanity, watching those who have survived the initial killings discover the hardships of their new world made for nail-biting viewing. While anyone who had seen the other A Quiet Place films knows there’s no happy ending for Sam or the rest of the population, it was still fascinating to see where it all began.
9 The First Omen (2024)
Directed by Arkasha Stevenson
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9/10 The First Omen RHorror
The First Omen is a horror film from director Arkasha Stevenson that acts as a prequel to the 1976 film The Omen. The film follows a young woman who goes to Rome to become a nun but begins to question her faith after encountering a terrifying darkness that aims to spawn an evil incarnate.
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*Availability in US Director Arkasha Stevenson Release Date April 5, 2024 Studio(s) Phantom Four Distributor(s) 20th Century Writers Ben Jacoby , Tim Smith , Arkasha Stevenson , Keith Thomas Cast Nell Tiger Free , Tawfeek Barhom , Sonia Braga , Ralph Ineson , Bill Nighy Runtime 119 Minutes Franchise(s) The Omen Sequel(s) The Omen Main Genre Horror Expand
Since the first movie was released in 1976, The Omen franchise has been a mixed bag packed with disposable sequels, forgettable television series, and a lackluster reboot. With this in mind, it’s not exactly over-the-top praise to say that The First Omen was the best release in this series since the original. This was a prequel that showcased there’s still some life in this demonic franchise, and although some aspects seemed to contradict previously established lore, it was a genuinely effective directional debut from Arkasha Stevenson.
With a 1970s Rome setting, The First Omen saw an American nun uncovering a sinister conspiracy to bring about the birth of the Antichrist in a Catholic orphanage. With a dark and sinister aesthetic, The First Omen paid homage to the original film through callbacks and referential shots that may only serve to remind viewers of better days. But, what made The First Omen worthy of audiences’ time was Nell Tiger Free as the suitably hysterical nun Margaret in a compelling performance that contrasted well with Bill Nighy and Charles Dance’s priestly characters.
8 Pearl (2022)
Mia Goth as Pearl
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8/10 Pearl RHorror
Pearl, a prequel to the film X, follows the story of a young woman named Pearl residing on a secluded farm during the early 20th century. Directed by Ti West, this psychological horror explores Pearl’s descent into madness, delving into her troubled psyche and the haunting circumstances that surround her. Starring Mia Goth, the film provides a chilling backdrop and a character study of ambition and isolation gone awry.
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*Availability in US Director Ti West Release Date September 16, 2022 Studio(s) A24 Distributor(s) A24 Writers Ti West , Mia Goth Cast Mia Goth , David Corenswet , Tandi Wright , Matthew Sunderland , Emma Jenkins-Purro Runtime 102 minutes Budget $1 million Expand
With the release of X in 2022, director Ti West started a brand new horror franchise that was quickly followed that same year with the prequel Pearl, an origin story that added to and improved upon the original’s premise. At the center of the first movie was Mia Goth, playing the dual roles of the teenage aspiring adult film star Maxine Minx and the elderly farm owner Pearl. While X showcased Pearl and her husband attempting to murder Maxine and her adult film crew, Pearl was an origin story for its homicidal villain.
Pearl showcased how Goth’s character’s desire to become a movie star led to violence at her family’s homestead in Texas in 1918. With an incredible, grandiose performance, Pearl’s success rested firmly on Goth’s commitment to the role, which doubled down on the gory chills that made X so effective. It’s clear that Pearl was made because the artistry of its story required it and not as an afterthought attempting to cash in a recognizable IP like so many other horror prequels.
7 The First Purge (2018)
Directed by Gerard McMurray
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4.5/10 The First Purge RHorrorThriller
The First Purge is an action-horror film that takes place at the beginning of the Purge film franchise timeline, to the conception of the purge itself. To push the crime rate below one percent for the rest of the year, the New Founding Fathers of America (NFFA) test a sociological theory that vents aggression for one night in one isolated community. But when the violence of oppressors meets the rage of the marginalized, the contagion will explode from the trial-city borders and spread across the nation.
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*Availability in US Director Gerard McMurray Release Date July 4, 2018 Studio(s) Universal Pictures Distributor(s) Universal Pictures Writers James DeMonaco Cast Melonie Diaz , Chyna Layne , Lex Scott Davis , Mo McRae , Y’Lan Noel , Luna Lauren Velez Runtime 98 Minutes Budget $13 million Expand
As the first movie in The Purge franchise not directed by James DeMonaco, there was a fear that the prequel series could lack the satirical bite of the previous installment. Set in a dystopian universe where once a year, every crime, including murder, becomes legal for 12 hours, since the original entry, audiences have been clamoring for more information about the political origins of this practice and how a society could become so barbaric. With plenty of similarities to real-life political issues, witnessing how rising unemployment, rising inflation, and a housing crisis led to The First Purge was fascinating.
McMurray had a tough task on his hands directing The First Purge, as it was up to him to answer questions viewers had been asking since 2013. As an interesting allegory related to U.S. politics and particularly the Trump administration, The First Purge could have delved further into its satirical political commentary yet still came out as a worthy prequel for the popular franchise. The First Purge became a warning about not straying too far from the social contract by showcasing how the New Founding Fathers of America tapped into contemporary economic, social, and political anxieties.
6 Psycho IV: The Beginning (1990)
Directed by Mick Garris
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Psycho IV: The Beginning RHorrorThrillerMystery
Psycho IV: The Beginning is a prequel and sequel to the original Psycho series, directed by Mick Garris. The film revisits Norman Bates, played by Anthony Perkins, as he recounts his troubled childhood and the events that led to his first killings. Olivia Hussey stars as Norma Bates, Norman’s tyrannical mother, whose tormented relationship with her son unfolds through a series of flashbacks, shedding light on the origins of his psychosis.
Director Mick Garris Release Date November 10, 1990 Studio(s) Smart Money Productions , Universal Television Writers Joseph Stefano , Robert Bloch Cast Anthony Perkins , Henry Thomas , Olivia Hussey , CCH Pounder , Warren Frost Runtime 96 Minutes Budget 800000.0 Main Genre Horror Expand
The made-for-TV fourth entry in the Psycho series may not live up to the lofty expectations set by Alfred Hitchcock’s original, but for those interested in the psychology of Norman Bates, it’s a fascinatingly underrated release. With Anthony Perkins reprising his role as Norman, Psycho IV: The Beginning was both a sequel and prequel that utilized flashbacks to showcase the future serial killer’s unconventional childhood during the 1940s and 1950s. Many of the same ideas explored in Psycho IV were later repurposed in the TV series Bates Motel, which similarly outlined how Norman became a killer.
While Psycho IV has gained a reputation as a disposable entry in a franchise that never needed any sequels, it’s far better than it’s ever given credit for as it explored the traumatizing effects of Norman’s mother’s schizophrenia and borderline personality disorder. By giving context to the strange, psychosexual relationship he had with his mother and the cross-dressing she subjected him to, the lonely, deranged, and tormented man Norman became even more tragic. It may not please everyone, but for lovers of Perkins’ performance and the extended Psycho universe, this was a hidden gem.
5 Final Destination 5 (2011)
Directed by Steven Quale
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Final Destination 5 RHorrorThriller
In the fifth installment of the Final Destination franchise, survivors of a suspension bridge collapse are killed in horrific ways after cheating death. Final Destination 5 recieved mixed reviews upon release but was praised for it’s inventive deaths and use of 3D technology. In 2019, it was confirmed that Final Destination 6 was in development.
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*Availability in US Director Steven Quale Release Date August 12, 2011 Studio(s) Warner Bros. Pictures Distributor(s) Warner Bros. Pictures Writers Eric Heisserer Cast Jacqueline MacInnes Wood , Tony Todd , Emma Bell , David Koechner , Nicholas D’Agosto Runtime 92 minutes Franchise(s) Final Destination Sequel(s) Final Destination 6 prequel(s) Final Destination , The Final Destination , final destination 2 , Final Destination 3 Budget $40 Million Expand
While Final Destination 5 at first seemed like any other sequel in the long-running series, it was slowly revealed throughout that it was actually a prequel to the first entry. As the final scene saw Sam (Nicholas D’Agosto) and Molly (Emma Bell) dying in the Flight 180 crash, it brought the timeline of the franchise full circle and back to where it all began. This clever twist retroactively adds new dimensions to the original and means viewers can go back to the first movie with a renewed sense of the crash’s original victims.
As a stealthy prequel, Final Destination 5 was unique, as audiences weren’t expecting it to connect to the original in any way. However, by showcasing that there were passengers present on the Flight 180 crash who had already escaped Death’s grasp, it added an extra frightening layer to the idea that, no matter what, once the victims have been marked for death, their demise was inevitable. Final Destination was a particularly bleak franchise as the existential nightmare of Death manifested made it even more terrifying.
4 Prey (2022)
Directed by Dan Trachtenberg
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8.4/10 Prey RHorrorDramaAction
Serving as a prequel to the entire Predator series, Prey is set in the world of the Comanche Nation 300 years ago. The action-thriller follows Naru, the skilled warrior who fiercely protects her tribe against a highly evolved alien predator. The film will also reveal the origin of the Predator warrior race’s descent to Earth for the first time. Naru will have to utilize the tools of her time to combat a threat with skills and weapons that exist far beyond her time.
Director Dan Trachtenberg Release Date August 5, 2022 Studio(s) 20th Century Studios , Davis Entertainment , Lawrence Gordon Productions Distributor(s) Hulu Writers Patrick Aison , Dan Trachtenberg Cast Dane DiLiegro , Michelle Thrush , Julian Black Antelope , Stormee Kipp , Amber Midthunder , Dakota Beavers Runtime 1h 40m Franchise(s) Predator prequel(s) The Predator , Predators , Predator 2 , Predator Budget $65 million Expand
The Predator franchise has blended action, horror, and science fiction concepts over the course of several sequels and even the spin-off series Alien vs. Predator. However, it seemed no matter how many times the Yautja were brought back, nothing could compare to the original Arnold Schwarzenegger film, and it appeared the franchise was doomed to mediocrity. That was until the release of Prey, a fascinating prequel set in the year 1719, which, for the first time since the original, felt like it had something truly unique to offer.
After so many false starts, director Dan Trachtenberg cracked the code of the Predator franchise and offered an adrenaline-pumping experience complete with characters viewers actually cared about. With Amber Midthunder as Naru, a young Comanche warrior who protects her tribe against a Predator, Prey brought to mind the heroism of Ellen Ripley from the Alien franchise. As a prequel that’s opened the door for a whole new era in the franchise, Prey was a must-watch entry for those who had lost faith in the Predator series a long time ago.
3 Apartment 7A (2024)
Directed by Natalie Erika James
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2/10 Apartment 7A RHorrorThriller
In this psychological thriller, a young woman is forced into a mysterious cult after moving into a seemingly ordinary apartment complex. As strange events occur there, she begins to question her sanity and the motives of her enigmatic neighbors.
Director Natalie Erika James Release Date September 20, 2024 Studio(s) Paramount Players , Sunday Night , Platinum Dunes Distributor(s) Paramount+ Writers Natalie Erika James , Christian White , Ira Levin , Skylar James Cast Julia Garner , Dianne Wiest , Kevin McNally , Jim Sturgess , Marli Siu , Rosy McEwen , Andrew Buchan , Kobna Holdbrook-Smith Character(s) Terry , Minnie Castevet , Roman Castevet , Alan Marchand , Annie Leung , Vera Clarke Runtime 104 Minutes Franchise(s) Rosemary’s Baby Main Genre Horror Expand
Upon first hearing that there was a prequel to Rosemary’s Baby, viewers would be forgiven for thinking it explored the origins of Rosemary and Guy Woodhouse’s relationship and how he got involved with a Santatic demon-worshipping cult. However, Apartment 7A went in a different direction and instead told the story of Terry Gionoffrio (Julie Garner), a minor character from early in the original story whom the Woodhouses found dead from an apparent suicide. Julie had jumped from the elderly Castevets’ seventh-floor apartment, and her story was one that was always shrouded in mystery.
Apartment 7A cleared up any confusion regarding her character and depicted Julie, and not Rosemary, as the initially planned mother of the spawn of Satan. Similar to Rosemary’s Baby, Apartment 7A explored themes of paranoia, women’s liberation, Catholicism, and the occult, as Garner recaptured much of the fearful innocence seen from Mia Farrow in the 1968 original. While Apartment 7A doesn’t quite manage to live up to the anxious paranoia of the original, it’s a worthy prequel that answered long-standing questions surrounding Terry Gionoffrio.
2 Annabelle: Creation (2017)
Directed by David F. Sandberg
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7.7/10 Annabelle: Creation RHorrorMysteryThriller
Annabelle: Creation is the sequel to the 2014 supernatural horror film centering around the demonic doll. Exploring the origins of Annabelle, Creation sees a family in mourning after their daughter dies tragically in an accident. Several years after the event, the family opens their doors to orphans, who become the targets of the mysterious doll – but the truth of Annabelle may be connected with their dearly departed daughter.
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*Availability in US Director David F. Sandberg Release Date August 11, 2017 Studio(s) New Line Cinema , Atomic Monster Distributor(s) Warner Bros. Pictures Writers Gary Dauberman Cast Anthony LaPaglia , Alicia Vela-Bailey , Stephanie Sigman , Adam Bartley , Miranda Otto , Philippa Coulthard Runtime 109 minutes prequel(s) Annabelle Budget $15million Expand
The Conjuring Universe began depicting the cases of the real-life paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren before exploring a spin-off prequel series focusing on the creepy porcelain doll Annabelle. This dreaded doll also originated from a real-life story of an allegedly haunted children’s toy. However, the first Annabelle film failed to horrify truly, and was mostly comprised of some cheap jump scares. This made the incredible accomplishment of Annabelle: Creation all the more impressive, as it vastly outdid its predecessor and sent the Conjuring Universe past the $1 billion mark at the box office (via Forbes.)
Annabelle: Creation was one of the rare prequels that was significantly better than the movie that inspired it, as it stayed closer to the old-school psychological scares that had made the original Conjuring work so well. The foreboding silence of Annabelle’s sinister stare mixed with the knowledge an attack was inevitably made Annabelle: Creation a heart-racing lesson in suspense. While it didn’t break down any boundaries when it came to this franchise, it showcased Annabelle’s viability as its own series.
1 Ouija: Origin of Evil (2016)
Directed by Mike Flanagan
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7/10 Ouija: Origin of Evil PG-13HorrorThriller
Ouija: Origin of Evil is a 2016 prequel to the 2014 Horror film Ouija. Written and directed by Mike Flanagan, the film sees a Medium and her family using a Ouija board to attempt to contact her deceased husband. She ends up making contact with another spirit that begins to possess one of her daughters.
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*Availability in US Director Mike Flanagan Release Date October 21, 2016 Studio(s) Universal Pictures Distributor(s) Universal Pictures Writers Mike Flanagan , Jeff Howard Cast Kate Siegel , Doug Jones , Parker Mack , Annalise Basso , Lincoln Melcher , Henry Thomas , Eve Gordon , Lin Shaye , Lulu Wilson , Elizabeth Reaser , Chelsea Gonzalez Runtime 99minutes Sequel(s) Ouija Budget $12 million Expand
The master of horror, Mike Flanagan, the man behind movies like Hush and Doctor Sleep, as well as Netflix horror series such as The Haunting of Hill House, showcased his skill for crafting the perfect prequel with Ouija: Origin of Evil. Set before the events of 2014’s Ouija, the story was moved to 1967 Los Angeles, where a widowed mother and her daughter’s seance scam turns real after they invite an evil presence into their home. With better pacing, more character development, and genuine scares, Ouija: Origin of Evil improved upon its predecessor in every conceivable way.
With elements of The Exorcist mixed with Ghost, Ouija: Origin of Evil was as heartfelt as it was frightening in its exploration of the supernatural. Beautiful cinematography paired with nail-biting suspense made this captivating horror far better than anyone expected it to be. With a resume as jam-packed with horror hits as Mike Flanagan’s, the only complaint is that he hasn’t made more prequels to existing franchises, as it takes a true visionary to pull them off at this level.
Source: Forbes