Top 10 Movie Spin-offs of All Time

Last Updated on August 5, 2021

PENGUINS OF MADAGASCAR opens today and represents the latest big screen spin-off for supporting characters from another film. While TV spin-offs are more common, the big screen has seen it’s fair share of them. Usually they are not very good (see SUPERGIRL or ELEKTRA for example), but they are becoming more and more common. Here is our ranking of the best film spin-offs of all time. If your favorite didn’t make the cut, feel free to add it to the talk backs below.

#1 – THE WOLVERINE

While X-MEN ORIGINS: WOLVERINE was a flopping pile of crap, THE WOLVERINE turned out to be the spin-off for Hugh Jackman’s character we had all been waiting for. Based off the character’s adventures in Japan, THE WOLVERINE gave us a dark look at Logan’s powers and Jackman’s ripped physique. Not as playful as some of the X-MEN movies, THE WOLVERINE remains the gold standard for movie spin-offs to date.

#2 – THE BOURNE LEGACY

While Matt Damon and Paul Greengrass took a sabbatical, Jeremy Renner jumped into a spin-off that exists within the Bourne universe but tells a distinct story about another character. Some complained it was not as good as the Damon/Greengrass movies, but THE BOURNE LEGACY was a competent thriller that teased a potential showdown for the two powerful protagonists. With both Grengrass/Damon and Renner set for their own follow-ups to the respective films, that possibility may come true in the near future.

#3 – PUSS IN BOOTS

The SHREK franchise remains one of the biggest animated hits of all time and introduced Antonio Banderas as Puss in Boots. With the Mike Myers franchise done after four films, the feline swordsman got his own film that serves as a prequel to the SHREK films and tells the hilarious story of how the orphaned cat found his trademark boots. A great cast and an original story made for a movie that was more creative and energetic than the final three SHREK movies and well deserving of it’s own sequel.

#4 – A SHOT IN THE DARK

Peter Sellers remains the best Inspector Clouseau in film history. His popularity in the PINK PANTHER films was so great, the character got his own film. Blake Edwards’ A SHOT IN THE DARK, technically a sequel and not a spin-off, was released within months of THE PINK PANTHER and based on a stage play unrelated to the main franchise. This is the film where Sellers truly developed his bungling detective and gave him the voice and mannerisms we remember to this day.

#5 – MACHETE

What started as a fake trailer in GRINDHOUSE ended up as a full film that lived up to the insanity that Robert Rodriguez shoved into 180 seconds of coming attractions. Bringing back Jeff Fahey from the trailer and adding huge stars like Robert De Niro helped make MACHETE a fun throwback action flick. The fact it grossed more at the box office than GRINDHOUSE did should speak volumes.

#6 – GET HIM TO THE GREEK

Russell Brand was the breakout star of FORGETTING SARAH MARSHALL, so why not give his character a solo movie? GET HIM TO THE GREEK does not reference the Jason Segel movie at all and even recasts Jonah Hill as a completely different character and still manages to feel fresh, funny, and original.

#7 – THE EWOK ADVENTURE

These TV movies were the only live action STAR WARS movies between RETURN OF THE JEDI and THE PHANTOM MENACE and give us some fantastical LORD OF THE RINGS-esque adventures featuring the tiny Endor natives. The special effects are dated and the dialogue is heavy handed, but this is still a fun exploration of the expanded STAR WARS universe.

#8 – THE CHRONICLES OF RIDDICK

PITCH BLACK was a great little scifi thriller that never truly needed a sequel, but telling more tales featuring Vin Diesel’s title character were on the horizon. We have had two live action films and some animated works featuring the further adventures of Riddick, all of which have a much different tone and style from the original movie.

#9 – U.S. MARSHALS

It is hard to make a sequel to THE FUGITIVE, especially after how good that movie was. But, Tommy Lee Jones Oscar-worthy role as Sam Gerard was worth bringing back to screens. Replace Harrison Ford with Wesley Snipes and bring back the supporting players plus Robert Downey Jr. and you have yourself a pretty good spin-off.

#10 – THIS IS 40

Judd Apatow’s semi-sequel to KNOCKED UP doesn’t follow either Seth Rogen or Katherine Heigl’s characters but instead focuses on the supporting players. Paul Rudd and Leslie Mann take center stage in a film about a different stage of marriage and parenthood, one that manages to be just as endearing and funny. Plus, you get Megan Fox in her bra.

Source: JoBlo.com

About the Author

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Alex Maidy has been a JoBlo.com editor, columnist, and critic since 2012. A Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic and a member of Chicago Indie Critics, Alex has been JoBlo.com's primary TV critic and ran columns including Top Ten and The UnPopular Opinion. When not riling up fans with his hot takes, Alex is an avid reader and aspiring novelist.