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A Different Perspective: The Best Movie Spin-Offs of All time

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[dropcap class=”kp-dropcap”]S[/dropcap]olo: A Star Wars Story is now in theaters this weekend, and Deadpool 2 has already bumped Avengers: Infinity War from its number one spot, so it’s clear that spin-offs from larger film universes are big money makers. Have other spin-offs had similar success? CULTURE takes a look at the best film spin-offs.

 

Get Him to the Greek (2010)

Spun off from Forgetting Sarah Marshall

Forgetting Sarah Marshall introduced us to the fictional rock icon, Aldous Snow. If you haven’t seen the original film, check out his performance of Inside of You, you’ll be glad you did. In the original, Snow was a supporting character in the ongoing relationship problems of the titular Marshall (Kristen Bell) and her estranged boyfriend Peter (Jason Segal). Get Him to the Greek puts the spotlight on Snow’s attempt at a comeback. The film also features the amazing Rose Bynne, Jonah Hill and Sean Combs (Puff Daddy/Diddy) as the ambitious record exec putting the entire thing together. While not as heartwarming or enjoyable as the original, Greek is still a really good movie, worth checking out.

 

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016)

Spun off from Harry Potter

The world needs more Harry Potter stories in it. And while Fantastic Beasts may be devoid of the “The Boy Who Lived” and “He Who Must Not Be Named,” there are plenty of things tying this spinoff, set decades before, to the original. The film centers around Newt Scamander, another one of Dumbledore’s “gifted” students, traveling to America for the first time in the franchise. Along the way, he loses and has to re-collect the aforementioned beasts, and unwittingly uncovers a plot that will shake the wizarding world to its core.

 

Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (2001)

Spun off from Clerks

Everyone’s favorite stoner misfits finally got their own movie after playing second fiddle in three films in Kevin Smith’s View Askewniverse. Taking the show on the road as they attempt to sabotage a movie in Hollywood based on their lives. Whacky mayhem ensues, and the pair must come to terms with living life in the spotlight. They do this with all the grace and maturity you would expect . . . Who are we kidding? They handle it just like you would want them to, with hysterical antics and unrelenting fury.

 

Star Trek: First Contact (1996)

Spun off from Star Trek

I am well aware that First Contact is the second film based on The Next Generation characters, but it is terrible, so it doesn’t count. First Contact, however, manages to tie the events back to one of the greatest episodes of The Next Generation, while expanding the mythos and giving Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) the closure he needs to heal the wound left by the techno-baddies known as the Borg. The film accomplishes more character development for most of its characters in two hours, than in seven seasons of the series.

 

Deadpool (2016)

Spun off from X-Men

The “Merc with a Mouth” finally got a chance to redeem himself after his criminal treatment in X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Star and champion of the character’s resurrection, Ryan Reynolds, even manages to poke fun at the character’s tumultuous past on the silver screen. The fourth-wall-breaking character really shines as a true anti-hero. What makes the film special is the genuine heart it displays for the main love story between Deadpool and Vanessa (Morena Baccarin). Their relationship, which really breaks down several gender stereotypes, and power roles makes the story about a foul-mouthed, near immortal killer-for-hire seem like a sweet romantic comedy at times.  

 

Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)

Spun off from Star Wars

Oh boy, does the internet want to hate this film. The problem though, is that the film is pretty great. Fun from start to finish. The perfect antidote to the divisive The Last Jedi, which hit theaters last December. The biggest hurdle the film faces is whether or not audiences will accept Alden Ehrenreich as a replacement for one of the most iconic stars of the last 50 years, Harrison Ford. And while Ford, and Star Wars creator George Lucas have praised the film, it is up to us to decide if we want to give the film a chance. Take it from me though, you definitely should. The film boasts a stellar performance from Donald Glover as Lando, and a surprisingly woke droid in L3-37.

 

Creed (2015)

Spun off from Rocky

The Rocky franchise spanned six films. Four were good, one was okay and part five . . . we will not speak of. It cemented the underdog sports movie into the American conscious and made Sylvester Stallone a household name. However, with Stallone in his ’70s, a return to the ring seemed not only implausible, but borderline reckless. Enter Ryan Coogler, the most talented new director in Hollywood, and Michael B. Jordan, one of the hottest stars right now. The duo, along with Stallone, turned what could have easily been a forgettable cash grab into one of the best films of 2015. The film is so good that I would go so far as to put it as my second favorite Rocky film, behind only the original. I think a lot of the credit has to be placed at the feet of Coogler, whose vision and uncompromising view of the character made something truly special.

 

Logan (2017)

Spun off from X-Men

After playing the character of Wolverine for 17 years, Hugh Jackman decided to go out in a blaze of glory. He and director James Mangold decided to show us the final story for this incarnation of Wolverine by setting the film in the not-too-distant future. A future where there are no more X-Men and something terrible has happened. Mangold and Jackman took a fairly predictable character and did something truly special with him. The film is unlike any other film in the X-Men franchise and is more Western than the comic book. The visuals, pace and performances all make for a special film that not only elevates the comic book genre of film making, but shows us that you can do more with blockbuster film making.

Did we miss something? Let us know in the comments below.

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