Prequels & Sequels Better Than The Original?

06:28 Online

Prequels & sequels better than the original?- Sometimes, the sequels or the prequels is even better than the original. As the fourth film in the "Spy Kids" franchise, "Spy Kids: All the Time in the World", comes out Aug. 19, we take a look at how that franchise and other movie series have fared at the box office. Whether the original, prequel or sequel reigns supreme will long be a subject of much debate among film fans. But let's see how the numbers shake out.

'Spy Kids'

This action-adventure film series follows the children of spy parents as they tackle various missions. It stars one of the leads from "Repo! the Genetic Opera" Run time: 1 hrs 38 min · Release date: 11/7/2008 ,Alexa Vega, and this former judge ,Daryl Sabara, of "America's Most Talented Kids," and "Spy Kids" fans can look forward to seeing the fourth installment in cinemas this month.

Spy Kids, $147,934,180  Spy Kids worldwide gross income 

Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams, $119,723,358 Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams worldwide gross income .

Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over, $197,011,982 Spy Kids 3D: Game Over worldwide gross income .

'Terminator'

This science fiction series follows a struggling human race as it fights against the artificial intelligence system Skynet. It stars this Austrian-born actor, bodybuilder and former governor of California. Arnold schwarzenegger.

The Terminator, $78,371,200 The Terminator worldwide gross income 

Terminator 2: Judgment Day, $519,843,345 terminator 2 judgment day worldwide gross income

Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines, $433,371,112 Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines worldwide gross income 

Terminator Salvation, $371,353,001 Terminator Salvation worldwide gross income 

"I'll come back" Terminator original script

'Star Wars' Prequel Trilogy

This trilogy of prequels follows the life of young Anakin Skywalker as he is trained by Jedi knight Obi-Wan Kenobi. 

Ewan McGregor

Real name: Ewan Gordon McGregor

Date of birth: March 31, 1971

Occupation: Actor

Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace, $924,317,558 Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace worldwide gross income 

Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones, $649,398,328 Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones worldwide gross income 

Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith, $848,754,768 Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith worldwide gross income 

'Star Wars' original trilogy

How do the prequels stack up against the original trilogy? It's good vs. evil in space as Luke Skywalker battles the masked Darth Vadar. With his performance as Han Solo, it marks one of two film franchises to propel this actor ,Harrison Ford, to fame the other film series ,Indiana Jones.  Another beneficiary was  this "General Hospital" alumnus, who plays hero Luke Skywalker.

Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope, $775,398,807 Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope worldwide gross income 

Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back, $538,375,067 Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back worldwide gross income 

Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi, $475,106,177 Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi worldwide gross income 

Francis Ford Coppola, Date of birth: April 7, 1939, Occupation: Director

'Harry Potter'

Boy wizard Harry Potter ,Daniel Radcliffe, tries to defeat the evil Lord Voldemort in this film series, a record breaker at the box office. This Ivy League student ,Emma Watson, and this English actor ,Rupert Grint, play Harry's helpful best friends.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, $974,755,371 Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone worldwide gross income
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, $878,979,634 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets worldwide gross income
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban , $796,688,549 Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban worldwide gross income
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire ,$896,911,078 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire worldwide gross income
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix , $939,885,929 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix worldwide gross income
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince , $934,416,487 Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince worldwide gross income 
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 1 , $955,417,476 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows- Part 1 worldwide gross income
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2 3D, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows- Part 2 worldwide gross income
$348 million grossed at the domestic box office, Deathly Hallows - Part 2 is now the top grossing film of 2011 here in the United States. It recently passed Transformers: Dark of the Moon which has made $345 million to date.

'Pirates of the Caribbean'

Captain Jack Sparrow's ,Johnny Depp, pirate escapades are documented as he tries to evade capture. The first three films also star this new dad ,Orlando Bloom,  his model wife ,Miranda Kerr, and this Oscar-nominated English actress ,Kiera Knightley. Movie ,Pride & Prejudice,

Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl , $654,264,015 Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl worldwide gross income 

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest , $1,066,179,725 Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest worldwide gross income  

Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End , $963,420,425 Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End worldwide gross income 

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides , $1,032,828,392 Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides worldwide gross income

'Alien'

Space lieutenant Ellen Ripley ,Sigourney Weaver, must fight against an unruly alien.

Alien , $104,931,801 Alien worldwide gross income 

Aliens , $131,060,248 Aliens worldwide gross income  

Alien ³ ,$159,814,498 Alien 3 worldwide gross income 

Alien Resurrection , $161,376,068 Alien Resurrection worldwide gross income

'The Matrix'

Computer hacker Neo ,Keanu Reeves, must battle a simulated reality called the Matrix.

The Matrix , $463,517,383 The Matrix worldwide gross income 

The Matrix Reloaded , $742,128,461 The Matrix Reloaded worldwide gross income 

The Matrix Revolutions , $427,343,298 The Matrix Revolutions worldwide gross income 

'Spider-Man'

Shy Peter Parker played by this actor, Tobey Maguire, currently involved in a poker scandal ,Tobey Maguire gambling, turns into comic book superhero Spider-Man who must fight against evil villains.

Spider-Man movie , $821,708,551 Spider-Man worldwide gross income
Spider-Man 2 , $783,766,341 Spider-Man 2 worldwide gross income 
Spider-Man 3 , $890,871,626 Spider-Man 3 worldwide gross income

'Austin Powers'

British spy Austin Powers seeks to defeat Dr. Evil in this comedic trilogy. Both characters are played by a Canadian-born actor ,Mike Myers, who was a "Saturday Night Live" alum.

Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery , $67,683,989 Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery worldwide gross income 

Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me , $312,016,858 Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me worldwide gross income

Austin Powers in Goldmember , $296,655,431 Austin Powers in Goldmember worldwide gross income

The Spy Who Shioked Me

'The Godfather'

This famous trilogy stars this celebrated actor ,Al Pacino, as Michael Corleone, a man whose family plays a prominent role in the Mafia.

The Godfather , $245,066,411 The Godfather worldwide gross income 

The Godfather: Part II , $193,000,000 The Godfather Part II worldwide gross income 

The Godfather: Part III , $136,766,062 The Godfather Part III worldwide gross income 

Sergio Leone, Date of birth: January 3, 1921, Date of death: April 30, 1989, Occupation: Director

'Back to the Future' trilogy

Teenage Marty McFly "Family Ties" star ,Michael J. Fox,  and inventor Doc Brown this actor ,Christopher Lloyd, time-travel through the decades in this beloved trilogy.

Back to the Future , $381,109,762 Back to the Future worldwide gross income 

Back to the Future: Part 2 , $331,950,002 Back to the Future Part II worldwide gross income 

Back to the Future III , $244,527,583 Back to the Future Part III worldwide gross income

'Jason Bourne' series

The Bourne series follows Jason Bourne good friend ,Matt Damon, of actor Ben Affleck, a former CIA assassin who becomes a target himself after breaking away from the agency. The fourth film in this series, "The Bourne Legacy," is due to be released in 2012.

The Bourne Identity , $214,034,224 The Bourne Identity worldwide gross income 

The Bourne Supremacy , $288,500,217 The Bourne Supremacy worldwide gross income 

The Bourne Ultimatum , $442,824,138 The Bourne Ultimatum worldwide gross income 

'Die Hard' franchise

Police detective John McClane this action star ,Bruce Willis, fights criminals and terrorists in this action-heavy film series.

Die Hard , $140,767,956 Die Hard worldwide gross income 

Die Hard 2 , $240,031,094 Die Hard 2 worldwide gross income 

Die Hard With a Vengeance , $366,101,666 Die Hard With A Vengeance worldwide gross income 

Live Free or Die Hard , $383,531,464 Live Free or Die Hard worldwide gross income 

'Jurassic Park' trilogy

An amusement park with cloned dinosaurs goes out of control when the dinosaurs take over. This English actor ,Richard Attenborough, Real name: Richard Samuel Attenborough, Date of birth: August 29, 1923, Occupation: Director, Actor played the role of park owner in the first two films in the series.

Jurassic Park , $914,691,118 Jurassic Park worldwide gross income 

The Lost World: Jurassic Park , $618,638,999 The Lost World: Jurassic Park worldwide gross income 

Jurassic Park III , $368,780,809 Jurassic Park III worldwide gross income 

In the film, these blood-sucking insects held the key to re-creating dino DNA.,mosquito,

'Mission: Impossible' series

Impossible Missions Force (IMF) agent Ethan Hunt this half of TomKat ,Tom Cruise, has to make the impossible possible in this action series. The fourth film, "Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol," is due to be released in December.

Mission: Impossible , $457,696,359 Mission Impossible worldwide gross income
Mission: Impossible II , $546,388,105 Mission Impossible II worldwide gross income
Mission: Impossible III , $397,850,012 Mission Impossible III worldwide gross income

'Shrek' series

The life and adventures of green ogre Shrek this "Wayne's World" funnyman, Mike Myers, are depicted in this animated series.

Shrek , $484,409,218 Shrek worldwide gross income

Shrek 2 , $919,838,758 Shrek 2 worldwide gross income 

Shrek the Third , $798,958,162 Shrek the Third worldwide gross income 

Shrek Forever After , $752,600,867 Shrek Forever After worldwide gross income 

'X-Men' series

The trials and tribulations of a group of superheroes, including Wolverine this Aussie actor,Hugh Jackman, are followed in this film series based on Marvel Comics characters. The next film in the series is "The Wolverine," due out in 2012.

X-Men movie , $296,339,527 X-Men worldwide gross income 

X2: X-Men United , $407,711,549 X2: X-Men United worldwide gross income 

X-Men: The Last Stand , $459,359,555 X-Men: The Last Stand worldwide gross income 

X-Men Origins: Wolverine , $373,062,864 X-Men Origins: Wolverine worldwide gross income 

X-Men: First Class , X-Men: First Class worldwide gross income $145,500,737

'Chronicles of Narnia' series

The adventures of a group of children in the mythical world of Narnia are chronicled in this set of fantasy films based on a book series ,Chronicles of Narnia books. This young English actor ,William Moseley, stars as eldest child Peter Pevensie.

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe , $745,013,115 The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe worldwide gross income 

The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian , $419,665,568 The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian worldwide gross income

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader , $415,686,217 The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader worldwide gross income

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe Oscar Best Achievement in Makeup

'Lord of the Rings' trilogy

The mission of hobbit Frodo Baggins this star ,Elijah Wood, of the new show "Wilfred" ,wilfred tv show, and a fellowship of his companions is the subject of this fantasy trilogy set in Middle-earth ,Middle-earth in The Lord of the Rings, and based on a book series ,lord of the rings books.

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring , $870,761,744 The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring worldwide gross income 

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers , $925,282,504 The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers worldwide gross income

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King , $1,119,110,941 The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King worldwide gross income 

'Indiana Jones' franchise

The adventures of archaeologist Dr. Henry Jones, played by Harrison Ford, are chronicled in this Steven Spielberg-directed series.

Raiders of the Lost Ark , $384,140,454 Raiders of the Lost Ark worldwide gross income 

Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom , $333,107,271 Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom worldwide gross income 

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade , $474,171,806 Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade worldwide gross income 

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull , $786,636,033 Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull worldwide gross income

chilled-monkey brains in Indiana Jones were made from custard and raspberry sauce

'Superman' series

The adventures of Superman, played by this Juilliard-trained actor ,Christopher Reeve, in four of the films, are chronicled in this series. Spinoff film "Supergirl" stars this singer-songwriter-actress ,Helen Slater, as Superman's cousin.

'Rocky' series

This series about boxer Rocky Balboa was written by the actor who also starred as the title character ,Sylvester Stallone, Real name: Sylvester Gardenzio Stallone, Date of birth: July 6, 1946,Occupation: Actor.

Rocky movie , 225,000,000 Rocky worldwide gross income 

Rocky II , $200,182,160 Rocky II worldwide gross income 

Rocky III , $125,049,125 Rocky III domestic gross income 

Rocky IV , $300,473,716 Rocky IV worldwide gross income 

Rocky V , $119,946,358 Rocky V worldwide gross income 

Rocky Balboa , $155,721,132 Rocky Balboa worldwide gross income

'Lethal Weapon' series

Lethal Weapon , $120,207,127 Lethal Weapon worldwide gross income 

Lethal Weapon 2 ,  $227,853,986 Lethal Weapon 2 worldwide gross income

Lethal Weapon 3 , $321,731,527 Lethal Weapon 3 worldwide gross income 

Lethal Weapon 4 , $285,444,603 Lethal Weapon 4 worldwide gross income 

'Beverly Hills Cop' series

Beverly Hills Cop , $316,360,478 Beverly Hills Cop worldwide gross income 

Beverly Hills Cop II , $299,965,036 Beverly Hills Cop II worldwide gross income 

Beverly Hills Cop III , $119,208,989 Beverly Hills Cop III worldwide gross income