7 Movies That Could Be Secret Spinoffs To Other Films

Fans often come up with intricate theories which link popular movies together, suggesting that seemingly unrelated movies could take part within the same universe. Sometimes, this is because an actor plays two similar roles, but it can also be a response to two movies which share similar concepts. While these fan theories aren’t supposed to be taken too seriously, it’s still interesting to see how much different movies can overlap.

Popular ideas about how unrelated moveis might secretly be linked also highlight how absurd some real spinoffs are. Looking back, it’s hard to believe some of the spinoffs that Hollywood has produced, and these bizarre fan theories aren’t much weirder than the industry standard. With all the cinematic universes dominating the box office today, it’s a fun exercise to imagine some unofficial franchises.

7

Dodgeball Could Be A Spinoff To Heavyweights

Ben Stiller’s Characters Seem To Have A Lot In Common

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Dodgeball is often regarded as one of Ben Stiller’s funniest movies. He manages to steal the show as the egotistical gym owner White Goodman, even though he isn’t the main character. Goodman is a fitness freak who ends the movie relapsing into his over-eating habits after a humiliating loss. Although Stiller’s character in Heavyweights has a different name, he seems like he could be White Goodman earlier in life.

Although Stiller’s character in Heavyweights has a different name, he seems like he could be White Goodman earlier in life.

Heavyweights doesn’t get as much attention as some of Stiller’s biggest hits, but it’s a cult classic in some circles. Stiller plays an eccentric fitness camp instructor who’s clearly more interested in his own personal brand than helping any of the children. After an ignominious ending, it’s feasible that Tony Perkis would want to change his name, only to re-emerge a decade later as the head of Globo Gym in Dodgeball.

6

E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial Could Be A Spinoff To Star Wars

An Easter Egg In The Phantom Menace Links To Steven Spielberg’s Classic

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The Star Wars franchise has developed a sprawling universe of sequels, spinoffs, TV shows and other forms of media. There are some projects within this universe that are only tangentially related to the original trilogy, and the slate of upcoming Star Wars movies promises some more exploration into uncharted territory. With all the minor characters who have made surprising reappearances, it’s hard to keep track of all the different alien species.

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Due to George Lucas and Steven Spielberg’s friendship, there’s an Easter egg in The Phantom Menace that nods to E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. The appearance of aliens in the galactic senate who look like E.T. suggests that Spielberg’s sci-fi classic might take place in the same universe as Star Wars. If this is true, then E.T.’s arrival on Earth could suggest that the galaxy of Star Wars isn’t so far, far away after all.

5

Galaxy Quest Could Be A Spinoff To Men In Black

The Sci-Fi Comedies Have Some Similarities

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Men in Black and Galaxy Quest are two of the funniest sci-fi comedies ever made, and the ’90s classics seem to have a lot in common. Men in Black explores the secret agency tasked with keeping the Earth’s alien population undetected and out of trouble, although there are plenty of examples of how the alien characters don’t exactly blend in seamlessly. The same can be said of the humanoid Thermians in Galaxy Quest.

Galaxy Quest could be a spinoff of Men in Black which shows a madcap adventure from the point of view of the aliens. Of course, both movies feature Tony Shalhoub, but this isn’t the only way that they’re linked. Galaxy Quest‘s juxtaposition of sci-fi concepts with mundane Earthbound drama aligns with the humor of Men in Black. The only thing missing is an agent trying to bring the actors in Galaxy Quest home before they inadvertently cause an interplanetary incident.

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The Aristocats Could Be A Spinoff To One Hundred And One Dalmatians

Disney’s Classics Share More Than A Similar Art Style

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There are countless theories grouping Disney’s animated movies in shared universes, some of which hold water, and many of which do not. The idea that The Aristocats could be a spinoff of One Hundred and One Dalmatians is one that stands up to scrutiny. A movie featuring cats on an adventure in Paris seems like a natural follow-up to a movie about dogs on an adventure in London.

Movies In The 101 Dalmatians Franchise

Movie

Rotten Tomatoes Score

Audience Score

One Hundred and One Dalmatians (1961)

98%

76%

101 Dalmatians (1996)

39%

40%

102 Dalmatians (2000)

30%

32%

101 Dalmatians II: Patch’s London Adventure (2003)

67%

41%

Cruella (2021)

75%

97%

Another thing that links The Aristocats and One Hundred and One Dalmatians is the presence of a human villain who wants to destroy the main characters for reasons of personal greed. If The Aristocats and One Hundred and One Dalmatians were in the same universe, it could have set up even more spinoffs about the lives of pets in iconic cities all over the world, with crossover potential and plenty of sequels.

3

Fast & Furious Could Be A Spinoff To Point Break

The Fast And Furious Franchise Started Out As A Police Story

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The Fast and Furious franchise has steadily progressed into an explosive action franchise which borders on science-fiction with the ludicrous nature of its stunts and storylines. However, it’s worth remembering that it started as a detective story about a man going undercover in a street racing gang, which is a strikingly similar concept to that of Point Break, albeit with racing replacing surfing.

2 Fast 2 Furious shows how the franchise initially tried to develop in line with this original idea. Brian was the star, not Dom, but this didn’t last too long. If things had continued in the same vein, the Fast and Furious franchise could have had even more in common with Point Break. With Fast 11 coming soon, it’s sometimes hard to remember the origins of the franchise, and how it seemed like a Point Break spinoff at the time.

2

Get Out Could Be A Spinoff To Being John Malkovich

Jordan Peele’s Debut Seems To Develop An Old Idea

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Get Out forced people to sit up and take notice of Jordan Peele as a horror director, not just a comedian. It was a breath of fresh air for the genre, even though some people were quick to point out that it seems like it could be a spinoff of Being John Malkovich. Both movies explore the idea of human bodies being used as vessels for other people to control from within.

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One key difference between Get Out and Being John Malkovich is that Get Out uses a sci-fi explanation for the same general concept. The Armitage family perform experimental brain surgery on their victims, implanting the consciousness of the highest bidder. This could be a revolutionary way to harness the strange, unexplained magic that’s seen in Being John Malkovich. Spike Jonze’s dark comedy delights in the absurd, impossible nature of its premise.

1

Matilda Could Be A Spinoff To Carrie

Matilda Could Show The Next Generation Of Telekinetic Girls

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Matilda and Carrie both follow girls who discover that they have telekinetic abilities, but they have completely different tones and styles. Matilda could be seen as an example of what might have happened to Carrie with a slightly less oppressive upbringing and a figure like Miss Honey in her life. Matilda has only a fraction of the darkness, and a lot more humor to keep things pleasant.

There isn’t much that links the works of Stephen King and Roald Dahl, but Carrie and Matilda‘s stories share some key similarities.

The ending of Carrie suggests an evil, demonic presence has been operating from behind the scenes, as if Carrie’s powers are a curse rather than a blessing. If Matilda were a spinoff, it would show how these powers are still present in later generations, but with a more optimistic view of how things might pan out. There isn’t much that links the works of Stephen King and Roald Dahl, but Carrie and Matilda‘s stories share some key similarities.

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