Meaning and Purpose: Prequel, Sequel, Spin-Off, Remake, Reboot and More

For the audience, the film is a work of art that provides entertainment and its own meaning. But for a production house, movies can also mean money. Therefore, it is not surprising that the success of a film can continue with a franchise or franchise.

Then, came the terms sequel, prequel, spin off, and others. The terms listed are universal terms. Even so, many viewers are still confused and can't tell the difference. So what do these terms actually mean?

1. Sequel

The sequel is a continuation of the first film. Usually, a sequel film has the same title and is affixed with the numbers 2, 3, and so on which indicates that the film is a continuation. In terms of story, the sequel has the same characters and actors, the world is the same, sometimes the crew involved is also the same, the conflicts they face are different.

2. Prequel

A prequel is a film that is made after the first film, but tells a story that takes place before the first story or the backstory of the character. The main character is still the same. However, because the prequel is a story that takes place before the first story, usually some important characters are replaced by other characters.

An example of a prequel is Star Wars Episode 1, 2, 3 which was actually made after Star Wars Episode 4, 5, 6 (the original Star Wars trilogy).

3. Remake

Remake is a film that is remade with a storyline that is almost exactly the same as the previous film. Usually between the original film and the remake, there is a fairly long lag time. Usually, remake films have been successful in their era and filmmakers want to repeat that success. If the original film was successful, sometimes it is difficult for a remake to match its success.

4. Reboot

Reboot is a new version of the original movie. The difference is, if Remake follows almost the exact same storyline, Reboot makes a completely different story, even the world of storytelling can also change. The common thread between the original film and the reboot is often the characters. Reboot films throw away the old film identity and create a new world. Because of this, reboot films are more common between franchise films, such as SuperHero films.

5. Spin-off

In some films, supporting characters accidentally catch the attention of the audience. This interesting character was later pulled from the original film and made his own film where he became the main character. Spin-off films are usually set in the same world as the original film, only conflicts and other characters have no common thread except the Spin-off characters themselves.

6. Cross-Over

Cross-Over is a term used to describe a film that brings together several previously well-known characters who have appeared in other films. Cross-Over movie itself has become a trend in the last decade.

7. Duology

Films that end in only two stories / sequels, for example in the film The Amazing Spider-Man.

8. Trilogy

A film that only ends in three stories.

9. Quadriology

Films that get four stories and so on. Examples of continuity films such as the Maze Runner film trilogy, Hunger Games film trilogy and others. Continuous films become a chain of films or their own large universe, which can be referred to as a franchise.

While there is a term Saga, for a long story that leads to one big event in the story.