Hollywood is no stranger to producing one successful film franchise after another, and it stands to reason that some among the audience dream of having their favorite franchise characters face off or work together. Although the crossover format has been tried and tested since the release of Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man in 1943, there have been several memorable successes over the years.
Of course, mashing together different characters from different franchises is a hill to climb in and of itself, but these movies can pull it off and make it look natural. Without further ado, here are eight of the best movie crossovers to dip your toes into for some top-notch entertainment.
8
Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers
2022
A 2022 film that’s based on the 1989 animation show of the same name, Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers echoes 1988’s Who Framed Roger Rabbit with its visual style, taking place in a world where cartoon characters are a normal part of everyday life. The movie features Peter Pan (or Sweet Pete) as its main antagonist, with a brief appearance of Sonic the Hedgehog — or in this case, Ugly Sonic, a parody character of the rejected animation design for the 2020 Sonic movie.
The story follows our iconic chipmunk duo, Chip and Dale, as they reunite to investigate and stop Sweet Pete’s trafficking operation. The film is to be praised for its well-timed comedic elements, character progression, and a believable, immersive world where cartoons are integrated into human society.
7
The LEGO Movie
2014
An entertaining, thrilling ride from beginning to end, The Lego Movie outdid all expectations upon release. The first installment to a majorly successful franchise, the Lego Movie plays around with the trope of the ‘chosen one.’ It turns it on its head by showing how its main character, Emmet, can be molded into the hero that everyone needs.
This crossover film features iconic superheroes like Batman and Wonder Woman, Star Wars’ Hans Solo, and Lord of the Rings’ Gandalf, with amazing voice-acting performances by its star-studded cast. A smash hit with critics and the wider audience alike, The Lego Movie is a movie every one of any age can enjoy.
6
Spider-Man: No Way Home
2021
A movie that pleasantly surprised fans, 2021’s Spider-Man: No Way Home masterfully built up excitement throughout the story for its final, epic battle. And with the exploration of the multiverse in shows like Loki and WandaVision, the chickens have come to roost in No Way Home, when Doctor Strange’s spell accidentally brings back villains from the universes of alternate versions of Spider-Man.
Naturally, the biggest highlight of the movie is the appearance of Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield’s Spider-Man, and all three Spider-Mans working together to contain the villains. Not only does it deliver its surprises, but the emotional payoffs for various characters are excellently done, proving the film is another smash hit for Marvel.
5
Ready Player One
2018
A 2018 film directed by legendary filmmaker Steven Spielberg, Ready Player One dips its toes into the future, where humans escape a grim reality by entering into a virtual game world — not unlike the premise of Sword Art Online and Overlord. As a result, various games collide, and we encounter notable icons like the Iron Giant, King Kong, Harley Quinn, and even Overwatch’s Tracer.
The movie’s story follows Parzival and his adventures in obtaining the Easter Egg, which requires the players to hunt down three keys to access it. With fantastic performances from its talented cast, the movie treats you to an action-packed epic from start to finish, with a trip down memory lane in its masterful featuring of video game and film icons.
4
Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse
2023
Released last year, Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse is a sequel to 2018’s Into the Spider-Verse and proves another success for the Spider-Man franchise. An animated film with crisp visuals, the movie’s story explores the multiverse more in-depth than No Way Home did, as well as continues to chronicle Miles Morales’ journey after the events of the first movie.
In this film, Miles and Gwen find each other again before traveling through the Multiverse and meeting the Spider-People, a group tasked with guarding the canon events fated for each Spider-Man. The film explores what is right or wrong and hits the nail on the head with its compelling character development and unexpected twists.
3
Alien vs. Predator
2004
Despite being ill-received by critics and audiences when it first came out, Alien vs Predator has managed to become a cult classic nearly two decades on. As you can guess from the title alone, this movie is the first of a crossover series that fuses the Xenomorphs of the Alien franchise with those of the Yautja warriors of the Predator franchise.
The movie’s story follows a group of scientists that ends up being embroiled in a conflict between the Xenomorphs and the Predators, with humans teaming up with the last surviving Predator to stop the Xenomorphs from reaching the surface. Although the movie’s characterization could use some work, it doesn’t hold back on the gore that you’d expect from such a franchise fusion.
2
Wreck-It Ralph
2012
Disney’s Wreck-It Ralph takes you on a nostalgic ride with its blend of both original and iconic old-school video game characters, with cameos by Pac-Man and Super Mario’s Bowser. The movie takes place in the inner world of video games we play, where its main character, Ralph, is programmed to be the villain of the arcade game, Fix-It Felix.
Dissatisfied with his role, Ralph hops into another game, but his actions risk the Fix-It Felix game being deactivated, which prompts the game’s protagonist, Felix, to chase after him. Wreck-It Ralph’s simple, yet creative concept was a hit for audiences, paired with a cast of dynamic, likable characters and exploring themes of self-acceptance and perseverance that are sure to resonate.
1
Avengers: Infinity War
2018
Before the release of Infinity War, the hype had been growing to unimaginable heights. All the movies that had come before in the Avengers franchise had been building up to the final face-off against Thanos and his army, and that meant a crossover of epic proportions. Although you’d imagine that juggling all these different series and timelines may prove difficult, the Russo brothers make it look like a piece of cake.
From Ant-Man and Black Panther to the Guardians of the Galaxy and Iron Man, everyone bands together in this intergalactic action epic to stop Thanos from snapping his fingers and wiping out half the universe. As usual, Infinity War outdoes itself with its cinematic fight sequences, twists, and tear-jerking moments. The actors must be applauded as well since their camaraderie behind the scenes really makes for some top-notch performances.
