A sequel continues a story after the events of the original, moving the timeline forward, while a prequel tells a story set before the original, moving the timeline backward. Both belong to the same continuity and expand the same world; the only difference is the direction they travel in time relative to the first installment.
What is a sequel?
A sequel is a follow-up work that picks up after the original and carries the story onward. It typically features returning characters, addresses what happened next, and builds on events the audience already knows. Because it moves forward, a sequel can raise the stakes, resolve lingering threads, or open new chapters that would not make sense without the first installment as a foundation.
Sequels are the most familiar way to extend a successful story. When you hear that a film is getting a “part two” or a numbered follow-up, you are almost always talking about a sequel. A direct sequel picks up soon after the original and follows the same central characters, while a looser sequel might jump ahead in time or shift focus to new figures in the same world, yet both move the overall timeline forward.
What is a prequel?
A prequel is a work set before the events of the original, showing what led up to the story you already know. It might reveal a character’s origins, explain how a situation came to be, or dramatize events that the first installment only referenced. Even though a prequel is usually released after the original, its story takes place earlier in the timeline.
The interesting tension in a prequel is that audiences often already know where the story is heading, so the appeal lies in discovering how and why things reached that point rather than in surprise about the destination. Good prequels use that foreknowledge to their advantage, letting small moments carry extra weight because viewers understand what those events will eventually lead to. The satisfaction comes from watching the pieces of a familiar future click into place.
Sequel vs prequel: the key differences
| Aspect | Sequel | Prequel |
|---|---|---|
| Timeline position | After the original | Before the original |
| Story direction | Moves the plot forward | Moves the plot backward |
| Typical focus | What happens next | How things began |
| Audience knowledge | Outcome is unknown | Outcome is often already known |
| Continuity | Same world, later events | Same world, earlier events |
Which comes first, the sequel or the prequel?
It depends on whether you mean release order or story order, and the two can differ. In story order, a prequel always comes before the original because its events happen earlier, while a sequel always comes after. In release order, however, both are usually made after the original, since a prequel is typically created once the original has proven popular. So a prequel can be the newest film to arrive yet the earliest point in the timeline. Keeping “release order” and “story order” separate in your mind clears up most of the confusion.
Are there other terms like sequel and prequel?
Yes. The pattern has produced several related words for extending a story in different directions:
- Interquel — a story set between two existing installments in the timeline.
- Midquel — a story set during the events of an existing installment, filling in gaps.
- Standalone or spin-off — a work that shifts focus to a different character or corner of the same world, which may sit anywhere on the timeline.
These are less common than “sequel” and “prequel,” but they show how flexible franchise storytelling has become. A spin-off in particular can travel forward, backward, or sideways from the original. You will not need most of these words often, but knowing they exist helps explain why some follow-ups do not fit neatly into either the sequel or the prequel box.
How do sequels and prequels differ from a reboot?
The difference comes down to continuity. Sequels and prequels both respect the original timeline and add to it, either later or earlier. A reboot, by contrast, restarts the franchise and often discards prior continuity so it can begin fresh. In other words, sequels and prequels build on what came before, while a reboot resets it. A helpful way to keep them straight is to ask what the new project does to the original timeline: a sequel and a prequel both preserve and extend it, whereas a reboot sets it aside and starts over. If you want the full picture, our explainer on reboot versus remake covers how restarting a franchise differs from simply retelling one story.
Why do studios make prequels as well as sequels?
Both extend a story audiences already care about, but they scratch different itches. A sequel answers “what happens next,” which is the natural question after a satisfying story and an easy way to keep momentum going. A prequel answers “how did we get here,” which lets creators deepen a world, explore beloved characters’ beginnings, and add meaning to events viewers already know. Prequels also free storytellers from having to top the original’s ending, since they are building toward a known point rather than beyond it. Together, the two directions let a franchise grow in both directions along its own timeline.
The takeaway on sequel vs prequel
Keep the arrow of time in mind. A sequel moves the story forward, after the original; a prequel moves it backward, before the original. Both stay inside the same continuity, which is exactly what separates them from a reboot. For more on how stories branch and extend, see our guides to anthology series and what a web series is.