Greetings, intrepid readers! M. H. Barton here with another blog post for you. Today, I’ll be ranking my ten best spinoff films. This isn’t a huge category, as spinoffs are largely a modern concept, particularly as trilogies expanded into whole cinematic universes. Additionally, many spinoffs are, to be polite, steaming piles of garbage meant solely as quick cash grabs. (Looking at you, Minions!) A select few, however, rise to the top in quality, managing to revive or expand franchises many had long since written off. These films are quite deserving of their places in today’s list. As a qualifier, I’ve defined a spinoff as a film that focuses on a secondary character or setting from a previous film, rather than something like a direct-to-video sequel that elevates a background character to sidekick status but with the same hero, for example. Bear in mind, as usual, that this ranking is merely my opinion. You are free to disagree, and I encourage you to sound off in the comments if so. With that said, let’s get started!
Number Ten – Puss in Boots (2011)
After four films starring the big ogre Shrek, Antonio Banderas’ character Puss in Boots finally got his time in the limelight with his self-titled solo film. Where Shrek’s stories followed the typical adventure or hero’s journey formula, Puss in Boots blends the fairy tale characters with a heist story, which I’m always down for. This departure from the traditional adventure tropes allows the film to play into the idea of not taking itself seriously, which frequently works well in a heist story. Suspension of disbelief is far easier with heist tropes, hence why they rarely flop. Salma Hayek and Zach Galifianakis also make a strong supporting cast, which resulted in a critically successful film that kept up financially with the likes of Kung Fu Panda 2 and Cars 2. Ultimately, its success garnered it a nomination for Best Animated Feature at the Academy Awards, an animated series on Netflix that ran for 6 seasons, and a sequel set to be released in 2022. Not bad, not bad at all.
Number Nine – Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw (2019)
It almost never fails. Need to reinvigorate a franchise? Take two macho alpha males and force them to work together. Not that the Fast and Furious franchise needed any reinvigoration, mind you, but this film was just pure fun. Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham play off each other brilliantly, and it doesn’t matter what villainous role you have as long as Idris Elba plays him. A film like this will never win Academy Awards or anything, but that isn’t why this franchise is so successful. Nobody loves a film about action-packed car chases because it’s subtle. They love it because it’s unapologetic and unabashed in what it is. For that, this spinoff deserves a spot on this list.
Number Eight – Bumblebee (2018)
And then, there are unapologetic, over-the-top franchises that lose their identity the bigger they become. Few series embody this more than Michael Bay’s Transformers franchise. While the entries in this series have grown progressively worse and more mind-boggling, Bumblebee was a refreshing entry that took the focus away from Optimus Prime in favor of everyone’s favorite radio-loving transformer, Bumblebee. When paired with Hailee Steinfield, herself a fantastic young actress, the resulting story brings a surprising amount of heart and emotion. Yes, the typical threats from the military and the Decepticons show up, but the crux of the story is in Steinfield’s character, Charlie, as she comes of age and eventually reconciles with her estranged family. This is far more compelling than anything the main series managed to offer up, and audiences agreed emphatically, as it’s far and away the best-reviewed entry in the series on both Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic. Bumblebee remembered what the other Transformers films had forgotten: it’s not just about the giant robot battles, it’s also about the humans who struggle with their own lives in addition to how these robots impact their world. This is a wonderful film in its own right and a worthy entry.
Number Seven – Ocean’s 8 (2018)
Remember how I said heist films rarely flop due to how easily the audience can suspend disbelief? Here we have yet another prime example. All three of the Ocean’s films represent the gold standard in heist films, and this all-female spinoff proves its worth with ease. Each role is wonderfully cast, and the sheer chemistry between the eight leading ladies is simply captivating. They play off each other effortlessly, and each has their own personality quirks that make them unique and likable as individuals. My personal favorite is Sara Paulson’s character, Tammy, a suburban soccer mom who fences stolen goods online right under her family’s nose yet is so neurotic about losing them as a result of her double life. And that’s not even mentioning the big three in Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett, and Anne Hathaway, all of whom command every scene they’re in. This film has everything it needs: the cast, the exciting crime, and the ingenious twist at the end bringing it all together. It’s classic Ocean’s magic.
Number Six – Deadpool (2016)
The X-Men franchise has hit inconsistent highs and lows over the years, but a spinoff starring Ryan Reynolds’ side character from X-Men Origins: Wolverine was just what the doctor ordered. Not only was the entry a needed jolt of humor into an otherwise serious franchise, but it allowed Reynolds to use his incredible acting chops to correct the previous mistakes made during his first appearance as Deadpool. The end result was almost exactly what Deadpool has become in the comics – a super violent, foul-mouthed, 4thwall breaking, wisecracking antihero. Though the brazen adult humor rubbed a few the wrong way, this approach was true to the character. It may have been a relatively formulaic origin plot, but Reynolds’ incredible performance and the quirky sense of humor used throughout make this one of the best spinoffs ever made. Now, if only the Green Lantern could be redeemed in the same way…
Number Five – Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018)
When I first heard the concept for this film, I was both excited and nervous. As a longtime fan of Spider-Man, I was excited about the bold concept they were trying. This was one of the first superhero films to do a full multiverse adventure and took a further risk in featuring Miles Morales as the protagonist instead of Peter Parker. Those same ideas also had me worried the film would flop, being too big a concept for general audiences. Man, was I ever wrong, and I’m glad I was. This new animated spinoff of the classic hero was so unique and well-made that it became a smash success, breaking the box office record for an animated film released in December and winning the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. To this day, I remain so impressed that such a heady concept could be done well enough that general non-nerdy audiences would latch onto it and turn the film into an instant classic. Not only did it succeed on its own, but this film paved the way for the multiverse-oriented stories we’re currently seeing in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Sony doesn’t always get Spider-Man right, but in this one, they nailed it.
Number Four – Joker (2019)
To be clear, I did not enjoy this film, largely because this isn’t the sort of film to be enjoyed. I do, however, respect the hell out of it. Joker isn’t meant so much as entertainment, but more as a thought experiment or a cautionary tale highlighting the increasing mental health issues in our world. It’s an intentionally uncomfortable story, and I do think this film also represents a growing problem with modern storytelling in which we’re starting to make villains too sympathetic. That said, I can’t deny Joaquin Phoenix’s transcendent performance as Arthur Fleck, the disturbed comedian who eventually becomes the Joker. Even if I wonder if this film was just an attempt to one-up Heath Ledger’s Joker from The Dark Knight, I am able to put my biases aside and admit that it was an incredible success at what it set out to do.
Number Three – Creed (2015)
Rocky was yet another franchise that kept getting more over-the-top as the series went on, but this poignant film brought it back to its humble roots. Director Ryan Coogler had an incredible vision for the film, envisioning it as a parallel to the underdog story of the original Rocky. There are differences, of course, such as Michael B. Jordan’s Adonis Creed grappling with his parentage to Apollo Creed, but this film has truly revitalized a franchise that was once lampooned for going on far too long. Seeing Sylvester Stallone now in the role of an older Rocky acting as a mentor is just so poetic, truly moving the franchise into a new generation. Where Rocky Balboa clung to the past as a lifeline, Creed pays homage to the foundation of its roots while also looking forward to the future. This is particularly evident in the amazing cinematography of the final fight, which is probably the most realistic boxing match ever filmed for a movie. Adonis Creed is very much Apollo’s son, but he’s got a lot of Rocky Balboa in him, too, which is what makes him the perfect protagonist going forward. Thanks to the combined efforts of Coogler, Jordan, and Stallone, the Rocky franchise is alive, fresh, and still relevant.
Number Two – Logan (2017)
Good lord, what a fitting farewell to Hugh Jackman’s most iconic character. Just as X-Men Origins: Wolverine did no favors to Ryan Reynolds’ Deadpool, neither did it do any favors to everyone’s favorite mutant. Thankfully, Jackman’s adamantium claws haven’t dulled over time, allowing him to tackle a deeply emotional story as an elderly Logan in this beautiful film. The western themes and settings, combined with the astounding performances of Hugh Jackman and Patrick Stewart, create a film most fans consider the true ending to the X-Men franchise. It’s quiet at moments, chaotic and super violent at others, but always moving and deep. Logan has fought all his life, for survival, for his friends, and even for revenge, but this time, he truly feels like he’s found a family worth fighting and dying for. What more can I say? This isn’t just one of the greatest spinoff films of all time. This is one of the greatest superhero films of all time, full stop.
Number One – Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)
It was such a tough call between this film and Logan for the top spot, but anyone who knows me knows I usually default to Star Wars. As my regular readers will remember, I have this film ranked as the third-best film in the entire franchise. I absolutely love it to death for the fresh perspective it brings to a Galaxy Far, Far Away. Rather than focus on the good and evil struggle of the Jedi and the Sith, we finally get a glimpse at the ground-level war raging between the Rebel Alliance and the Galactic Empire. It’s a dark, gritty, and bloody experience, and this shows in each of the main characters. Jyn is wonderfully angsty and eager to beat up anything standing in her way. Cassian is a hardened, morally ambiguous spy fighting as best he can for a cause he believes in. K2 is possibly the best droid in the franchise. Chirrut and Baze are a perfect duo of optimist and cynic. Even Krennic, the villain, is fun and compelling with his massive inferiority complex. Some viewers didn’t enjoy the use of CGI to recreate the original actors for Tarkin and Princess Leia, but I honestly think this is the best spinoff film ever made even with its slight drawbacks. This is the film that proved that the Star Wars universe is bigger than the Skywalkers and holds compelling stories to be explored in every nook and cranny. Without this film, one of my favorite shows, The Mandalorian, probably isn’t made at all. Thank you, Rogue One, for helping usher in a wider breadth of storytelling in this incredible franchise.
Well, that’s going to do it for this ranking. What did you think? Did I hit the mark? Miss it completely? Am I a moron for hating on the Minions? Please let me know in the comments. Feel free to mention if you have any ideas or requests for future entries. I’ve got an active running list of ideas, but I’m always open to more. I’d appreciate it if you’d leave a like and share this post on social media. And to stay up to date on future blog posts, you can sign up for my monthly newsletter on my website. Until the next story!
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