The John Wick world recently expanded withBallerina, showcasing another side of this action franchise fueled by fights and assassins. The spin-off film made that world feel more expansive and fun to explore its bloodier, more carnage-filled corners. There’s a satisfaction in watching a movie that answers the lingering question of, “What else is out there?”
After watchingBallerina, it got me thinking that it’s not the only stellar movie spin-off. Numerous franchise offshoots are just as exciting as their predecessors, some even more so. So if the appeal ofBallerinahas you curious about other film series detours, here are the movie spin-offs you need to check out on streaming.
2017
Runtime
1 hour and 44 minutes
Will Arnett’s gravely goofiness as Batman inThe Lego Moviewas so funny that it made sense to give a toy iteration of the superhero his film.The Lego Batman Moviepresents Batman with a sillier story for his feud with the Joker and the training of an eager Robin. In addition to an onslaught of DC Comics characters gracing the screen in Lego form, the movie embraces more iconic characters from the likes ofDoctor WhoandHarry Potter.
Although this spin-off doesn’t focus as hard on the meta nature of the popular toy brand,The Lego Batman Moviehas the same amount of quick wit and zippy slapstick thrills. The film is extra-hilarious for not shying away from the goofier aspects of Batman, willing to cite his ridiculous 1960s TV show and his more absurd villains (Calendar Man, The Condiment King). With a solid theme about Batman’s loneliness, this is a film that knows how to play with Batman in Lego form while still making it entertaining for the parents (especially the parents more familiar with DC Comics).
MAX
The Lego Batman Movietakes the silly version of Batman fromThe Lego Movieand gives him an astute and absurd movie.
2023
1 hour 47 minutes
Thanksgivingstarted as a fake trailer for the double featureGrindhouse, but it was one of the best of the faux promos to grace the screen. The idea of a slasher film using the Thanksgiving holiday in the same manner as theHalloweenmovies was clever, and Eli Roth considered expanding the trailer into a whole film. The result was an extra-gory experience of trying to track down a serial killer spawned from the chaos of Black Friday.
For being fertile horror ground,Thanksgivingwould be admirable for the mere attempt, but the fact that it comes loaded with over-the-top gore and darkly comedic swings makes it a solid holiday horror feast. While the film might not have been presented in the same dated format asGrindhouse, it doesn’t let down with replicating the trailer’s kills of a stabbing through a trampoline and a turkey mascot getting decapitated. It’s a hearty dose of gruesome horror, but consider watching it after dinner so the climactic scene doesn’t gross you out.
Netflix
Thanksgivinggives the holiday the slasher movie treatment it has long been overdue.
2022
1 hour 42 minutes
The cute sword-wielding cat fromShrek 2was too adorable to ignore. While Puss did receive a spin-off film in 2011, his sequel film,The Last Wish, had a sharper wit. Terrified of the grim reaper, Puss in Boots sets out to attain a wish from a shooting star, but will have to contend with the greed of “Big” Jack Horner (John Mulaney). Thankfully, Puss will have some help from the cunning Kitty Softpaws (Salma Hayek Pinault) and the plucky Perrito (Harvey Guillén).
WhileThe Last Wishdeals with heavier material than previousShrekfilms, it also still has plenty of fun with the fairy tale setting. It’s a film that can feature such wild usage of Goldilocks as a crime lord while still making Puss’s journey one with stakes. John Mulaney is also perfectly cast as the villainous Horner, having too much fun as the wry antagonist with the right amount of sinister and snark.
Amazon Prime Video
Puss in Boots: The Last Wishgives the cat a clever and exciting fantasy adventure that tackles the nature of death while still featuring the amusing charms of an exaggerated fairy tale world.
2014
1 hour 32 minutes
The quick-witted penguins of theMadagascarmovies were such scene-stealers that they managed to steal their movie spin-off.Penguins of Madagascarfollows the foursome of Skipper, Kowalski, Rico, and Private as they contend with the criminal mastermind Dr. Octavius Brine (voiced by John Malkovich), an octopus masquerading as a human scientist. To stop his attempts at world domination, the penguins are enlisted by a secret task force, led by the straight-man wolf, Agent Classified (Benedict Cumberbatch).
Even with four penguins interacting with a new assortment of animals, they dominate the screen rather well, considering they are the central focus. There’s just enough backstory given to care about the runt Private and the parental leadership of Skipper to protect his crew. The devotion to making them more enduring characters makes their jobs of breaking into vaults all the more enticing, and the film is much different from the escape narratives of theMadagascarfranchise.
Penguins of Madagascartakes the zippy wit of the scheming penguins and places them in their own movie, where they must stop an evil octopus.
2016
2 hours 16 minutes
Set before the events ofStar Wars: A New Hope,Rogue Onefocuses on the rebellious ensemble tasked with uncovering the crucial plans for the Death Star. Jyn Erso is just the criminal for the job with her bitter history with the Empire, but she won’t be alone in her fight. She’s joined by an assortment of unique rebels, ranging from the risk-taking Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) to the wryly witty android K-2SO (voiced by Alan Tudyk).
Rogue Onewas a darker detour during Disney’sStar Warssequel trilogy for being lessFlash Gordonand moreThe Dirty Dozen. Without the baggage of adhering to centralStar Warscharacters, the film explores the human aspects of this intergalactic war. While it might not have the whiz-bang action and comedy inherent in mostStar Warsproductions, it does have plenty of action, real stakes, and characters worth following to the bittersweet finale,as well as the prequel series,Andor.
Disney+
Rogue One: A Star Wars Storydelves into the darker side of the Star Wars saga, exploring how a band of rebels stole the Death Star plans.
2020
1 hour 49 minutes
While David Ayer’sSuicide Squadwas considered a disappointment, Margot Robbie’s portrayal of Harley Quinn was a highlight. She continued to play the character inBirds of Prey, a DC Comics ensemble centered on the hammer-wielding villain. While trying to assert her independence after breaking up with the Joker, Harley finds herself unwittingly teamed up with some vigilante ladies to strike back at the vicious crime lord, Black Mask (Ewan McGregor).
Swapping out grimy for glammy,Birds of Preywas the fun movie that Harley deserved. There’s a biting sense of humor and real charm to how she bickers with the club singer Black Canary (Jurnee Smollett-Bell) and the hilariously ignored Huntress (Mary Elizabeth Winstead). With the added freedom of an R rating, the director Cathy Yan was able to successfully emancipate Harley from the small box Warner Bros had previously confined her within.
Birds of Preyis a giddy dose of DC Comics action and absurdity with Harley Quinn leading this ensemble piece.
2015
2 hours 13 minutes
When Rocky Balboa hung up his boxing gloves, the young Adonis Creed (Michael B. Jordan) put on his own in thisRockyspin-off. As the son of the late Apollo Creed, Adonis has a lot to prove by living in the shadow of such an accomplished boxer. While a bit of an underdog, he’ll rise to the occasion with the guidance of Rocky, reprised by Sylvester Stallone.
Directed by Ryan Coogler (Sinners),Creedsucceeds at being far more than aRockyretread or torch-passing sequel. Adonis becomes a more enduring boxer due to his background, and Rocky makes a perfect coach with his experience and association with Apollo. Coogler’s direction has a natural flow, while still embracing what made theRockymovies so inspiring and intense, paving the way for a new line of boxing sequels.
Creedfeatures Rocky training the underdog Adonis to become the next champion boxer.
2 hours 17 minutes
Hugh Jackman took the superhero character of Wolverine in a much different direction withLogan. He reprises the Marvel character in a grim future where most of his mutant brethren have been wiped out, leaving his mentor, Charles Xavier (Patrick Stewart), a bitter and disillusioned figure. The only hope for the future of mutants lies in the young X-23 (Dafne Keen), a mysterious girl with Wolverine’s powers.
WhileLoganis not the first Wolverine solo movie spinning off from theX-Menfilms, it is easily the best spin-off. With an R rating and a darker story, Wolverine’s claws were able to come out in this vicious tale of a dismal future. It’s the closest a superhero film has come to being a gritty Western, considering the film overtly references the Western classicShane.
Logantakes a darker and Western approach to the X-Men movies by giving Wolverine a strong finale.
2024
2 hours 28 minutes
Mad Max: Fury Roadwas a remarkable return to post-apocalyptic form for director George Miller, but also introduced the compelling hero of Furiosa.Furiosa: A Mad Max Sagaexplores the origins of the woman who would become the liberator of Immortan Joe’s concubines. Now portrayed by Anya Taylor-Joy, her story is framed as a tragic and bloody one, bound by revenge for the murderous warlord Dementus (Chris Hemsworth).
In addition to getting another invigorating dose of Miller’s intense world of car chases and fights,Furiosapresents a more engaging character arc than that of Mad Max, who usually wanders in and out of wasteland conflicts. Furiosa remains to confront her oppressors and it’s treated less like a rip-roaring chase, favoring a grand adventure of bloody satisfaction. That said, it does have more of those explosive battles that madeFury Roadso much fun.
Furiosa: A Mad Max Sagareveals the origins of the Mad Max character while still embracing the action-packed grit of the Mad Max world.
A spin-off doesn’t have to feel like a lesser iteration for not focusing on the main character. They can take stories in more intriguing directions, whether towards a new genre, alternate character arcs, or refreshing side-plots. It’s similar to how manygreat video games are actually spin-offs.
