Summary
Movie franchises are growing more popular than ever, and spinoffs are under scrutiny, but some spinoff movies are good or even better than earlier films. While plenty still falls short of audience expectations, this makes it an even more welcome surprise when these films are better than viewers or critics anticipated.It helps when there are strong characters and well-known IPs to draw fromin the development of spinoffs. However, the best spinoffs decenter the original characters and elevate new narratives that expand upon early themes while delving into new territory.
It’s a high-risk-high-reward situation, as a great spinoff could even develop into its own unique franchise, creating opportunities for crossovers and high profits.
While sequels and spinoffs are different, they have much in common andface enormous pressure to perform after the success of a franchise’s first outing.However, there have been instances ofmovie sequels being nominated for Best Pictureat the Oscars, proving that they’re just as valuable. It’s a high-risk-high-reward situation, as a great spinoff could even develop into its own unique franchise, creating opportunities for crossovers and high profits. Studios like Marvel often come to mind when discussing spinoffs and franchise potential. However, there are plenty of spinoffs across genres that have gone down in history as fantastic.
10 Best Legacy Movie Sequels Of All Time, Ranked
Creed, Blade Runner 2049, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Mad Max: Fury Road, and other movies can be counted among the best legacy sequels of all time.
10Machete (2010)
After The Spy Kids Franchise and Grindhouse
For a spinoff that’s such a divergence in tone and genre,Macheteis surprisingly fun and easy to follow.
For many moviegoers, watching theSpy Kidsmovies was an essential part of childhood, butMacheteis a far cry from the family-friendly subject matter of those movies.The Machete character, played by Danny Trejo, can also be seen in a fictional trailer within the movieGrindhouse,which also features the work of Robert Rodriguez, who co-directedMachete. For a spinoff that’s such a divergence in tone and genre,Macheteis surprisingly fun and easy to follow. At its core,Macheteis an old-fashioned action movie made by people who love the gore and violence of the genre.
Looking atMacheteas a successor to both theSpy Kidsmovies andGrindhouseto a lesser extent, it’s interesting to see how much can be extrapolated from just one character. Similarly to films likeSpy Kids,Macheteis meant to be an enjoyable thrill ride but for an older audience.Its connection to film history is one ofMachete’s strongest points,as references to action and Western movies can be seen throughout the story. Additionally, the look and feel of the project are cohesive and intentional in a way that many movies fail to capture.
Machete
Cast
Machete tells the story of an ex-Federale named Machete, played by Danny Trejo, who is set up and left for dead by his corrupt employers. Directed by Robert Rodriguez and Ethan Maniquis, this action-packed film follows Machete as he embarks on a relentless quest for vengeance. The film features an ensemble cast including Robert De Niro, Jessica Alba, and Michelle Rodriguez.
9Bumblebee (2018)
After The Transformers Franchise
Hailee Steinfeld was the perfect choice to leadBumblebee,the origin story of the iconic Transformer who plays a pivotal role in the later movies. Many complaints lodged against theTransformersfranchise revolve around the sexualization of its female characters and male-centric narratives in general. It’s likely that casting Steinfeld in the lead role as Charlie, Bumblebee’s first human ally on Earth, was an intentional divergence so that theTransformersfranchise could enter a new era.
The upcomingG.I. JoeandTransformerscrossover moviewill be an exciting new iteration of the story and present an opportunity for the universe. WhileBumblebeewas set in the late 1980s and framed as a prequel, the next installment ofTransformerscan look toward the future.Bumblebeeplayed a role in saving the franchise and priming it to enter the 2020s. With Steinfeld’s performance and the strong visual effects,Bumblebeeshould be a better-remembered addition to theTransformerscanon.
Bumblebee
The sixth installment in the Transformers movie franchise, Bumblebee acts as both a spin-off and prequel to the series. Set in 1987, Bumblebee follows Charlie (Hailee Steinfeld) after she discovers the injured Autobot scout, B-127. Nicknaming him Bumblebee, Charlie helps the iconic yellow Transformer to evade both the evil Decepticons and the efforts of Colonel Jack Burns (John Cena) to capture him.
8The Lion King 1 1/2 (2004)
After The Lion King
The side characters, Timon and Pumbaa inThe Lion King,were the comic relief and had the funniest lines in the movie. Voiced by Nathan Lane and Ernie Sabella,The Lion King 1 1/2is almost a pure comedy, as none of the intense emotional beats that Simba experiences occurred from Timon and Pumbaa’s perspective. The movie begins with a backstory for both characters and encompasses some of their time together before Simba comes along. From there,it follows the story ofThe Lion Kingas Timon and Pumbaa provide commentary.
The movie is loosely based onRosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, the play by Tom Stoppard that tells the story ofHamletfrom the perspective of these characters.
Of all of Disney’s straight-to-video sequels,The Lion King 1 1/2is one of the best and easily the smartest. Part of this is because the movie is loosely based onRosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, the play by Tom Stoppard that tells the story ofHamletfrom the perspective of these characters.SinceThe Lion Kingis based onHamlet, this was a clever way to get additional contentout ofThe Lion Kingfranchise. This source material might seem like a high-minded conceit for a children’s film, butThe Lion King 1 1/2pulls it off.
7Deadpool (2016)
After The X-Men Franchise
The release ofDeadpoolin 2016 was the peak of superhero movies leaning into self-awarenessand winking at the audience.Deadpooldid this literally with fourth-wall breaks and dramatic voiceover, giving the audience a sense that Wade (Ryan Reynolds) was in complete control of the narrative. Deadpool has long been a part of theX-Mencomics, but he only appeared briefly inX-Men Origins: Wolverine. After that, a movie was developed that would be more true to the comic book character.
Audiences responded well to the style and characterization of Deadpool in the movie,and multiple sequels have been made following its premiere. It’s much more explicit and grotesquely violent than otherX-Menmovies and superhero films in general and was the first of its kind to do this in a mainstream release. AfterDeadpoolsoared at the box office and received warm reviews, plenty of other projects have tried to copy its formula, but few have succeeded.
Deadpool
The Merc With The Mouth gets his very own film in Deadpool, an action-adventure comedy movie starring Ryan Reynolds as the titular hero. When mercenary Wade Wilson discovers he has an aggressive type of cancer that threatens to cut his life short, he decides to take a shady offer from a businessman who promises to cure him. Tortured and left for dead, the treatment makes Wade immortal - and a little bit twisted - as he seeks out his tormentors for revenge.
6Hobbs & Shaw (2019)
After The Fast and the Furious Saga
In a fun spin on the buddy comedy,Hobbs & Shawshows the progression of theFastmovies.
It was only a matter of time beforeThe Fast and Furioussaga expanded even furtherto include even more action-packed adventures and ensure that the franchise will continue. Jason Statham plays Deckard Shaw, previously a villain in theFastmovies, and Dwayne Johnson plays Luke Hobbs, an ally of Dom (Vin Diesel) and his family and a former CIA agent. However, the pair, formerly at odds, are forced to work together for the greater good, even if they don’t like it. In a fun spin on the buddy comedy,Hobbs & Shawshows the progression of theFastmovies.
Though Diesel and the core characters of theFastmovies will always be iconic, some of the more recently added characters are just as interesting and deserve their own films. This concept was experimented with inHobbs & Shawto exciting results. As two heavy-weight action stars,it was a good bet that Johnson and Statham would draw audiences to the box officeand make the film a success. Witnessing them put aside their differences and work together in amazing action sequences is one of the best parts of the movie.
Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw
Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw marks a spin-off from the Fast & Furious franchise, uniting Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham as adversaries-turned-allies. They confront Brixton, a cyber-genetically enhanced anarchist, whose dangerous plans imperil the world, leading the unlikely duo to collaborate in thwarting this global threat.
5Puss In Boots (2011)
After The Shrek Franchise
First introduced inShrek 2as a foil to Donkey, Puss in Boots was the perfect character to pick to lead a spinoff of the universe, making something new and exciting. After the success ofPuss in Bootsand its eventual transformation into a franchise, there will be aDonkey spinoff fromShrekto continue capitalizing on the popularity of the IP.Few expectedShrekto take hold of the cultural conversation the way it did in 2001,but its legacy remains strong. It didn’t take much to convince audiences to flock to the theaters forPuss in Boots.
Puss in Boots: The Last Wishis proof of the strength of the storytelling and characters within the movie’s lore. The first spinoff from 2011 laid the groundwork for additional narratives within Puss' world, but it also saw the character grow and change from the one-dimensional cat from theShrekfilms.It was especially smart to set the events ofPuss in BootsbeforeShrek 2,allowing the movie to be an origin story and not disrupt the timeline of theShrekprojects. As time passes and moreShrekmovies are released,Puss in Bootswill still hold up.
4This Is 40 (2012)
After Knocked Up (2007)
With witty dialogue, charming performances, and a surprisingly deep premise,This is 40defies expectations.
Leslie Mann and Paul Rudd make a charming and compelling couple approaching a mid-life crisis inThis is 40, the spinoff/sequel to the 2007 movieKnocked Up. Both were directed by Judd Apatow andKnocked Upfeatures Debbie (Mann) and Pete (Rudd) as side characters who juxtapose the central couple of the film. Several years later,their characters and family are revisited inThis is 40, a movie about reigniting a fading spark in a long-term relationshipand finding a balance between being a parent and being an individual.
Though it has its flaws,This is 40was ahead of its time in depicting older couples reclaiming their sexuality. Recentmovies likeA Family AffairandThe Idea of Youfeature this reclamation with older women and have grown in popularity because of how relatable these topics are. However,This is 40is more deeply connected to how aging is taboo in so much of the mediaand how parents of children are often relegated to supporting roles. With witty dialogue, charming performances, and a surprisingly deep premise,This is 40defies expectations.
This is 40
Judd Apatow returns to the life-comedy drama style of films with This Is 40, a side-sequel to 2007’s Knocked up. The movie stars Paul Rudd and Leslie Mann as a married couple whose relationships are going through the motions as they approach forty years old and find themselves struggling to find time for each other. With the spark in their relationship seemingly flickering out, the two attempt to work on themselves – and each other – while dealing with their chaotic families.
3The LEGO Batman Movie (2017)
After The LEGO Movie
After the runaway success ofThe LEGO Movie, it was unlikely that the producers would let that project be the last that audiences saw of the LEGO universe.Movies about toys have far exceeded their IP and been transformed into moving pieces about lifethrough projects likeThe LEGO Movieand, more recently,Barbie. However,The LEGO Movietold a complete narrative with little room for a sequel, so the next best thing wasThe LEGO Batman Movie. The film isn’t as moving as its predecessor, but it’s just as funny and visually stunning, touching upon loneliness as a concept.
Batman, voiced by Will Arnett, was a small character inThe LEGO Moviebut was immediately signaled out by fans of the film as one of the funniest parts. This led to the conception ofThe LEGO Batman Movie, arguably one of the best movies about Batman as a character.Instead of painting him as a lone-wolf vigilante with few emotions, Batman inThe LEGO Batman Movieis sensitive and feels things deeply. He’s a more relatable character to audiences, elevating his rapport with the Joker.The LEGO Batman Moviewalks the line between parody and genuine adaptation brilliantly.
The Lego Batman Movie
The LEGO Batman Movie is a spin-off of 2014’s The LEGO Movie, which centers around the titular hero; where after another day in Gotham City goes wrong thanks to the Joker and other fellow DC villains, Batman tells the Joker he’s a pitiful villain, not worth his time and hurts his feelings. Wanting to prove himself to Batman and get his ultimate revenge, Joker concocts an idea that will require the Caped Crusader to learn how to give up the lone vigilante act and recruit the help of allies Robin and Batgirl.
10 The LEGO Movie Characters Who Still Need Their Own Spinoff, Over 10 Years Later
The LEGO Movie and its sequels set up all kinds of potential spinoffs, but these 10 characters sadly didn’t get their own movie sequel.
2Logan (2017)
Wolverine, played by Hugh Jackman, has always been a fan-favorite and a defacto protagonist of theX-Menmovies, and inLogan, he finally gets the chance to grow old and reckon with his legacy.
Darker and more introspective than many of the works that came before it,Loganmight be the most moving installment of theX-Menfranchise.Wolverine, played by Hugh Jackman, has always been a fan-favorite and a defacto protagonist of theX-Menmovies, and inLogan, he finally gets the chance to grow old and reckon with his legacy.Loganwould have been an amazing movie for Wolverine and his piece of the franchise to end on, but audiences will likely be glad to see him back inDeadpool & Wolverine. However,Loganfulfills a different niche than theDeadpoolmovies.
Logandifferentiates itself from the classic superhero genre by drawing on elements of the Western genre and traditional dramas. Jackman is at his best as the aging Wolverine who is saddled with the loss and baggage of his past. It’s a refreshing take on the comic-book movie, and when it was released in 2017, audiences were more than ready for a departure from the traditional formula.Nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay at the Academy Awards,Loganis easily one of the most critically acclaimed and highly regarded superhero movies of all time.
Logan
Logan is set in a near future where an aging Wolverine, played by Hugh Jackman, takes care of a frail Professor Xavier, portrayed by Patrick Stewart, at a secluded location near the Mexican border. Their secluded existence is disrupted by the arrival of a young mutant, pursued by malevolent forces.
1Creed (2015)
After The Rocky Franchise
TheRockymovies are classics in the sports genre, butCreeddidn’t rely on this legacy to propel itself to greatness. Additionally, it wasn’t just the story that setCreedapart from its predecessors, but the performances.It can’t be stressed enough how pivotal Michael B. Jordan’s portrayal of Adonis isto the heart of the film. Though Sylvester Stallone reprises his role as Rocky, he doesn’t overshadow Adonis or his development as a boxer. The parallels between the two fighters are drawn, but Adonis is definitively his own person.
Creedimmediately connected with audiences and translated the classic themes ofRockyto the present day, with more compelling underlying references. Its success was cemented by the following sequels,Creed IIandCreed III, which followed a similar trajectory to theRockymovies but remained distinct.One of the biggest problems that spinoff movies face is finding a way to justify their storyand the inclusion of characters from the past. Thanks to an amazing script and stunning performances,Creeddoesn’t have this problem.
Creed
Creed is a spin-off/continuation of the boxing drama franchise Rocky. Set years after the original Rocky series, Creed follows Adonis Johnson, the estranged son of Apollo Creed, on a journey to Philadelphia to find his father’s friend/rival, Rocky Balboa. Now training to follow in his father’s footsteps, Creed fights to become the best boxer in the world.
