10 Best Prequel Shows of All Time, Ranked According to IMDb

The 10 Best TV Prequel Shows of All Time, Ranked According to IMDb Image via AMC, Everett Collection By  Diego Pineda Pacheco Published 8 minutes ago Diego Pineda has been a devout storyteller his whole life. He has self-published a fantasy novel and a book of short stories, and is actively working on publishing his second novel. A lifelong fan of watching movies and talking about them endlessly, he writes reviews and analyses on his Instagram page dedicated to cinema, and occasionally on his blog. His favorite filmmakers are Andrei Tarkovsky and Charlie Chaplin. He loves modern Mexican cinema and thinks it's tragically underappreciated. Other interests of Diego's include reading, gaming, roller coasters, writing reviews on his Letterboxd account (username: DPP_reviews), and going down rabbit holes of whatever topic he's interested in at any given point. Sign in to your Collider account Summary Generate a summary of this story follow Follow followed Followed Like Like Thread Log in Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents: Try something different: Show me the facts Explain it like I’m 5 Give me a lighthearted recap

The mere concept of a prequel is fascinating. The idea of getting a whole show just to explore the backstory of certain characters, events, or even locations sounds naturally entertaining, and remarkably often, it very much is. There are some truly exceptional TV shows that just so happen to be prequels, proving that a series can stand on its own two feet and still greatly expand on the world of another great show.

Whether it's a distinct take on the superhero genre, like Gotham, a prequel to a movie, like Bates Motel, or part of a much larger shared universe, like 1883. These excellent shows are all the proof anyone should need that television prequels can—and do—work. It doesn't really matter whether they're exactly as good as (or even better than) the original series: These deserved to be praised as shows entirely of their own (as proven by their high IMDb scores).

10 'Gotham' (2014–2019)

IMDb Rating: 7.8/10

Cory Michael Smith and Robin Lord Taylor as Riddler and Penguin in 'Gotham'.Image via FOX

Gotham is a special case in that there's not really any particular property that it's a prequel to. Instead, this enthralling network police procedural follows Detective James Gordon's rise to prominence in Gotham City during the years of Bruce Wayne's childhood. The series was never without its rough patches, but all in all, it's one of the greatest Batman shows that the small screen has ever seen.

For one, the series' unique take on characters like the Penguin, the Joker (who's not actually the Joker due to rights issues), and even Bruce himself is absolutely legendary. Dark, gritty, suspenseful, and full of all kinds of interesting twists on the Caped Crusader's iconic mythos, Gotham is a show that every fan of DC Comics should check out sometime.

9 'Bates Motel' (2014–2017)

IMDb Rating: 8.1/10

Freddie Highmore as Norman Bates holding a mug in Bates Motel Episode 4 Episode UnfaithfulImage via Universal Television

It's not often that a movie gets a television prequel—particularly not a movie as legendary and groundbreaking as Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho. If anything, though, that only makes Bates Motel all the more special. One of the most underrated horror shows in recent years, this chilling exploration of the youth of Norman Bates and his complicated relationship with his mother changes a few things from the world crafted by Hitchcock, but it also finds constant ways of paying homage to the Hollywood classic.

For one, Freddie Highmore and Vera Farmiga are both at the top of their games here, and they carry the show on their shoulders like masters of their craft. Aside from them, though, Bates Motel is a sharp character drama and a psychologically complex reinvention of the classic horror thriller, with more than enough jaw-dropping twists to live up to the Master of Suspense.

8 'Dexter: Original Sin' (2024–2025)

IMDb Rating: 8.2/10

Dexter and Harry Morgan standing in an elevator at Miami Metro in Dexter: Original SinImage via Paramount+

2006's Dexter became an instant hit when it started airing, eventually becoming one of the most influential and iconic crime shows of all time. Its finale, however, was infamously hated by fans. Things didn't get much better when a sequel series came out in 2021, and it also had a disappointing ending. So, if you can't quite figure out conclusions, why not go all the way back to the beginning? That's where Dexter: Original Sin comes in.

Revisiting Dexter's formative years to witness his transition into an avenging serial killer sounds like an interesting enough concept on paper, and Original Sin never squanders its potential. It's not exactly a revolutionary show in any way, but it never needed to be. All it needed to do was scratch that Dexter itch and find a way to stick the landing without an underwhelming finale. It achieved both things.

7 'Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' (2022–)

IMDb Rating: 8.2/10

Ethan Peck and Paul Wesley onboard a starship in Star Trek Strange New Worlds Season 3, Episode 6.Image via Paramount+

If there's any sci-fi universe that parallels Star Wars' in size and scale, that's definitely Star Trek's. The franchise's many shows all vary in quality, with some being among the genre's best and others being terribly underwhelming. Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, a spin-off of Star Trek: Discovery and prequel to Star Trek: The Original Series, thankfully falls into the former category.

Strange New Worlds is one of the best sci-fi shows of the 2020s, a delightful return to the franchise's roots with a fun episodic format and a great mixture of familiarity and freshness. Vibrant, colorful, and quintessentially Star Trek in every way that matters, this gem is both a treat for franchise veterans and a phenomenal introduction for Star Trek rookies.

6 '1923' (2022–2025)

IMDb Rating: 8.3/10

Harrison Ford as Jacob Dutton in 1923 Season 2 Episode 6Image via Paramount+

Taylor Sheridan's rise from screenwriter to one of the most successful creatives currently working on television deserves to be studied. Yellowstone, the first show he ever created, instantly became one of the biggest hits in the history of small-screen neo-Westerns, so it didn't take long for it to become a whole franchise. In comes 1923, which follows a former generation of the Dutton family.

It's one of the best shows on Paramount+, a phenomenal addition to the world of Yellowstone. Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren are as incredible as leads as one could expect from these two legends, making the excellent writing pop off while allowing the "period" part of this period piece to shine through tremendously. It's not quite as good as the series that originated it, but it's remarkably close.

5 'House of the Dragon' (2022–)

IMDb Rating: 8.3/10

Emma D'Arcy as Rhaenyra Targaryen in House of the DragonImage via HBO

Disappointing penultimate season and infamous final season notwithstanding, Game of Thrones is arguably the most acclaimed fantasy show in television history. It was only a matter of time before it spawned other shows set in the same universe. The first was House of the Dragon, which has proudly joined the ranks of series that prove that fantasy slow-burns are always worth it.

But House of the Dragon isn't slow-paced just for the sake of it; it rewards patience with some gorgeous visuals, breathtaking battle sequences, and enough emotional payoffs to satisfy any Game of Thrones fan. The character writing is fantastic, the story as a whole is thrilling, and the show also functions phenomenally as a prequel. The way it expands on the lore and world-building of Westeros makes GoT even better upon further re-watches.

4 'Star Wars: The Clone Wars' (2008–2020)

IMDb Rating: 8.5/10

A storm trooper, Fives from 'Star Wars: The Clone Wars' in full armor holding a weapon.Image via Cartoon Network

There really aren't very many fictional universes that can match the endless scale of George Lucas' Star Wars universe. No more proof is needed than the fact that this is probably the biggest and most successful multimedia franchise in history. This, of course, includes several TV shows, one of the best being the animated anthology series Star Wars: The Clone Wars.

If the prequel trilogy has seen a late bloom in popularity in recent years, that's in no small measure thanks to how much Clone Wars was able to expand on the lore and characters of that era of Star Wars. But that's not all that makes this essential viewing for fans of the galaxy far, far away. Expansive world-building, thrilling story arcs, thrilling action sequences, and some of the best Star Wars TV characters ever make this a must-see.

3 'Andor' (2022–2025)

IMDb Rating: 8.6/10

K-S2O (Alan Tudyk) walks over a bridge in a built-up city area in 'Andor' (2022-2025).Image via Disney+

For many years, animation was the only medium that gave audiences Star Wars shows. That all changed with The Mandalorian in 2019. Little did fans know, it would be live-action that would grant them what's not just the best Star Wars TV show ever, but one of the best pieces of media the franchise has ever seen: Andor, a prequel to Gareth Edwards' Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.

Gritty, politically nuanced, and delightfully complex, Andor takes Star Wars back to its thematic roots: Critiquing authoritarian power and celebrating rebellion in the face of oppression. Full of richly detailed characters, some fascinating world-building, enthralling slow-burn story arcs, and one of the most perfect endings of any sci-fi show, Andor is a masterpiece that even those who don't like Star Wars should be able to enjoy.

2 '1883' (2021–2022)

IMDb Rating: 8.7/10

Sam Elliott looking to the distance in 1883.Image via Paramount+

1923 wasn't the only prequel series that Yellowstone received, nor was it the best. That title would have to go to 1883, a Western so great that it's even better than Yellowstone itself. Bolstered by a commanding turn from genre legend Sam Elliott, this miniseries is grim, violent, and brutal, but so excellently made in every department that it's absolutely irresistible.

Gritty and solemn in tone, but without ever forgetting to have an emotionally resonant core, 1883 is a must-see for not just Yellowstone fans, but anyone who enjoys good small-screen period dramas. Its exploration of the Wild West and the idea of Manifest Destiny is as layered and nuanced as it is compelling, and the variety of cameos is also guaranteed to please all Western lovers.

1 'Better Call Saul' (2015–2022)

IMDb Rating: 9.0/10

Image via AMC

There's no way around it: Breaking Bad is the greatest television drama ever made, but there are a handful of crime shows that are almost as good. There is also no way around the fact that, when it comes to prequel shows, most people think of Better Call Saul first, and that's for good reason. This absolute masterclass in crime drama television-making is one of the greatest shows of all time, even better than its predecessor in some aspects.

Part legal drama, part pure crime show, Better Call Saul succeeds at both, greatly expanding the Breaking Bad universe and offering tons of fresh characters and stories. Some prequels struggle with balancing originality with further exploring the world of what follows, but not this one. When it comes to television prequels, it has never gotten any better than Better Call Saul.

Like Follow Followed Better Call Saul TV-MA Crime Drama Release Date 2015 - 2022-00-00 Network AMC Showrunner Peter Gould Directors Vince Gilligan, Thomas Schnauz, Peter Gould, Michael Morris, Adam Bernstein, Colin Bucksey, John Shiban, Michelle MacLaren, Melissa Bernstein, Larysa Kondracki, Terry McDonough, Gordon Smith, Minkie Spiro, Jim McKay, Daniel Sackheim, Andrew Stanton, Norberto Barba, Rhea Seehorn, Scott Winant, Michael Slovis, Keith Gordon, Deborah Chow, Giancarlo Esposito, Bronwen Hughes

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