Prequels & sequels better than the original?
Prequels & sequels: Better than the original?
Is the original film in a series always the best? We're not so sure. 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"  and this former judge of "America's Most Talented Kids," and "Spy Kids" fans can look forward to seeing the fourth installment in cinemas this month.
'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.
'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 .
'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 to fame . Another beneficiary was this "General Hospital" alumnus, who plays hero Luke Skywalker.
'Harry Potter'
Boy wizard Harry Potter tries to defeat the evil Lord Voldemort in this film series, a record breaker at the box office. This Ivy League student and this English actor play Harry's helpful best friends .

"Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" | Worldwide gross
"Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets"| Worldwide gross
"Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" | Worldwide gross
"Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" | Worldwide gross
"Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" | Worldwide gross
"Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" | Worldwide gross
"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1" | Worldwide gross
"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 3D" | How much has it made so far?
'Pirates of the Caribbean'
Captain Jack Sparrow'spirate escapades are documented as he tries to evade capture. The first three films also star this new dad and this Oscar-nominated English actress .
"Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl" | Worldwide gross
"Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest" | Worldwide gross
"Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End" | Worldwide gross
"Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" | Worldwide gross
'Alien'
Space lieutenant Ellen Ripley  must fight against an unruly alien. Watch the eerie trailer for the original.

'The Matrix'
Computer hacker Neo must battle a simulated reality called the Matrix
'Spider-Man'
Shy Peter Parker turns into comic book superhero Spider-Man  who must fight against evil villains.
'Austin Powers'
British spy Austin Powers seeks to defeat Dr. Evil  in this comedic trilogy. Both characters are played by a Canadian-born actor who was a "Saturday Night Live" alum
'The Godfather'
This famous trilogy stars this celebrated actor as Michael Corleone , a man whose family plays a prominent role in the Mafia.
'Back to the Future' trilogy
Teenage Marty McFly  and inventor Doc Brown  time-travel through the decades in this beloved trilogy.
'Jason Bourne' series
The Bourne series follows Jason Bourne , 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.
'Die Hard' franchise
Police detective John McClane fights criminals and terrorists in this action-heavy film series
'Jurassic Park' trilogy
An amusement park with cloned dinosaurs goes out of control when the dinosaurs take over . This English actor played the role of park owner in the first two films in the series.
'Mission: Impossible' series
Impossible Missions Force (IMF) agent Ethan Hunt has to make the impossible possible in this action series. The fourth film, "Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol," is due to be released in December.
'Shrek' series
The life and adventures of green ogre Shrek are depicted in this animated series.
'X-Men' series
The trials and tribulations of a group of superheroes, including Wolverine, are followed in this film series based on Marvel Comics characters. The next film in the series is "The Wolverine," due out in 2012.
'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. This young English actor stars as eldest child Peter Pevensie.
'Lord of the Rings' trilogy
The mission of hobbit Frodo Baggins and a fellowship of his companions is the subject of this fantasy trilogy set in Middle-earth and based on a book series.
'Indiana Jones' franchise
The adventures of archaeologist Dr. Henry Jones, played by Harrison Ford, are chronicled in this Steven Spielberg-directed series.
'Superman' series
The adventures of Superman, played by this Juilliard-trained actor in four of the films, are chronicled in this series. Spinoff film "Supergirl"  stars this singer-songwriter-actress as Superman's cousin.
'Rocky' series
This series about boxer Rocky Balboa was written by the actor who also starred as the title character .
'Lethal Weapon' series
This set of action films follows police partners Roger Murtaugh and Martin Riggs .
'Beverly Hills Cop' series
This action-comedy series follows Detroit policeman Axel Foley , played by the actor who voices Donkey in the "Shrek" film series.
Source:msn