11 Cinematic Universes That Might Have Escaped Your Notice

During the 2010s, Marvel demonstrated the lucrative potential of building a cinematic universe across various films. The franchise has collectively garnered over $22.5 billion globally, securing its place as the top-grossing movie series ever. However, it wasn't the pioneer in this approach. Filmmakers have ingeniously linked their movies since cinema's inception. The following cinematic universes, while not as prominent or expansive as the MCU, offer fresh insights when you dive back into classic films.

1. The Film Collection by Quentin Tarantino

Image by Frederick M. Brown, provided by Getty Images for AFI

Quentin Tarantino’s unique storytelling and directorial flair aren’t the sole elements unifying his films. In 2016, the director revealed that all his movies exist within a shared universe. Some connections are clear: Pulp Fiction (1994) and Reservoir Dogs (1992) both include characters with the surname Vega, who are intended to be brothers. The links grow more intricate with From Dusk Till Dawn (1996) and Kill Bill Vols. 1 (2003) & 2 (2004). Tarantino explained that these exaggerated tales are films within his broader cinematic universe. He told The Project: “When characters from Reservoir Dogs or Pulp Fiction go to the movies, they watch Kill Bill or From Dusk Till Dawn."

2. The Universal Monster Franchise

Horror legends such as Frankenstein, Dracula, and The Wolf Man are deeply tied to the Universal brand, and their films arguably share a common universe. After years of monster movie triumphs, the studio launched crossovers, beginning with Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man in 1943. House of Frankenstein broadened the universe by introducing Dracula. Boris Karloff appeared again, this time as a mad scientist rather than the monster. Universal attempted to rejuvenate this universe with the 2017 reboot of The Mummy, but its new “dark universe” concept quickly faded.

3. The Connection Between E.T. & Star Wars

While Star Wars (1977) unfolds in a distant galaxy long ago, and

E.T. (1982) is rooted in 1980s suburban life, the two films share a subtle link. Hollywood legends and close friends Steven Spielberg and George Lucas subtly referenced each other’s sci-fi epics in their works. In E.T., the endearing alien identifies a child in a Yoda costume as a familiar face from its homeworld. Lucas later confirmed in Star Wars: The Phantom Menace (1999) that Yoda’s species and E.T.’s kind hail from the same region of the cosmos. A brief scene in the film even features E.T.-like aliens attending a senate meeting.

4. The Pixar Universe

Pixar is famous for embedding Easter eggs throughout its animated features. The iconic Pizza Planet truck from Toy Story (1995) has appeared in every Pixar film—even those without human characters or modern settings—and the toys from Toy Story pop up in Up (2009) and Monster’s Inc. (2001). These recurring elements have led some fans to theorize that all Pixar movies exist in a shared universe. Writer Jon Negroni proposed a popular theory suggesting that the magic in Brave (2009) enabled the existence of talking toys and animals in later films. This timeline culminates with the monsters in Monsters, Inc. evolving on the desolate Earth shown in WALL-E (2009). However, the theory doesn’t address Pixar’s newer releases, and the studio’s creators have downplayed its significance.

5. The Cinematic World of Stephen King

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The shared universe of Stephen King began with his novels, where characters often reference events from his earlier works. His The Dark Tower series expands this idea into a multiverse, connecting characters across various dimensions. This concept extends to film adaptations, with recurring elements like Randall Flagg, Castle Rock, and Derry appearing in multiple movies.

6. The Link Between Spy Kids & Machete

Despite targeting different audiences, Spy Kids (2001) and Machete (2013) share notable similarities. Both were directed by Robert Rodriguez and feature Danny Trejo as a character named Machete. In Machete, Trejo portrays a vengeful ex-federale, while in Spy Kids, he plays the gadget-savvy uncle of Juni and Carmen. Rodriguez describes the connection as loose, but Trejo humorously suggested that Machete reveals "what Uncle Machete does when he’s not babysitting."

7. The Crossover of Ghostbusters & Casper

The opening of Casper (1998) features a montage of characters attempting to cleanse Whipstaff Manor of its ghostly inhabitants. In one scene, Dan Aykroyd returns as Ray Stantz for a brief appearance. After fleeing the haunted manor, the frustrated Ghostbuster quips, “Who you gonna call? Someone else.” Fans are now hoping for Casper to appear in Ghostbusters: Afterlife (2021) to officially link the two cinematic worlds.

8. The Shared Universe of Trading Places & Coming to America

Five years after Trading Places (1983), Eddie Murphy and director John Landis reunited for Coming to America (1988). While Murphy transitions from a street-smart hustler to an African prince, a cameo by two familiar characters hints at a shared universe. In Coming to America, Prince Akeem generously hands cash to two homeless men, played by the same actors who portrayed wealthy brokers in Trading Places. Their dialogue confirms they’re the same characters, though the film leaves it unexplained why they don’t recognize the prince’s resemblance to the man who ruined them.

9. The Connection Between Piranha & Jaws

Originally inspired by Jaws (1975), the Piranha series paid homage to its roots in Piranha 3D (2010). The film features Richard Dreyfuss as an oceanographer named Matt, echoing his iconic role in Jaws. This cameo serves as both a playful nod to the franchise’s origins and a potential hint at a shared universe of aquatic horror.

10. The Link Between Scream & Kevin Smith’s Films

The tie between Scream and Kevin Smith’s movies began with the 1996 original Scream, which includes a scene showing Clerks (1994) on VHS. Not only does the film exist within the Scream universe, but its iconic duo, Jay and Silent Bob, also make an appearance. They have a short cameo in 2000’s Scream 3, hinting at a shared cinematic universe that connects Clerks, Scream, and all other Kevin Smith films featuring Jay and Silent Bob.

11. The Shared World of Alien & Blade Runner

Harrison Ford stars in Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner (1982). | Warner Home Video

Ridley Scott helmed two iconic science fiction masterpieces: Alien (1979) and Blade Runner (1982). A popular fan theory suggests these films share the same dystopian future, characterized by advanced AI and corrupt mega-corporations. While shared themes and visuals don’t confirm a cinematic universe, a compelling piece of evidence supports this idea. The 20th-anniversary DVD of Alien features a bonus segment titled “Nostromo Dossier,” which mentions Alien’s Dallas receiving payment from Blade Runner’s Tyrell Corporation.