15 Worst Spinoffs in Movie History

Spinoffs take familiar worlds and shift the camera to side characters, earlier timelines, or new corners of a franchise. They can follow investigators spun from a courtroom drama, elevate a comic-book antihero to center stage, or trace an origin that feeds back into a blockbuster series.

Below are fifteen film spinoffs that stepped out from bigger hits. Each entry lays out the story basics and the creative teams—cast, directors, writers, and more—so you can see how they connect to the films that inspired them without needing anything beyond the essentials.

‘Catwoman’ (2004)

This DC offshoot follows Patience Phillips, a designer whose encounter with a corrupt cosmetics conglomerate leads to an awakening of cat-like abilities and a double life that pulls her into a corporate conspiracy. The plot threads together heists, investigation, and a detective romance while nodding to the broader Gotham milieu established in earlier ‘Batman’ stories.

Directed by Pitof, the film stars Halle Berry, Sharon Stone, Benjamin Bratt, Lambert Wilson, Frances Conroy, and Alex Borstein. John Rogers, John Brancato, and Michael Ferris are credited on the screenplay, Klaus Badelt provides the score, and Warner Bros. handled distribution, tying it to DC’s larger screen universe.

‘Son of the Mask’ (2005)

Spinning out of ‘The Mask’, the story centers on animator Tim Avery, whose family life turns surreal when the ancient mask resurfaces and amplifies the antics of his infant son. Norse myth is woven into suburban chaos as Loki searches for the artifact, pushing the family through a series of reality-bending set pieces.

Lawrence Guterman directs, with Jamie Kennedy leading a cast that includes Alan Cumming, Traylor Howard, Bob Hoskins, Kal Penn, and Ben Stein. New Line Cinema produced the film from a screenplay by Lance Khazei, with Randy Edelman composing the music and Greg Gardiner serving as cinematographer.

‘Evan Almighty’ (2007)

Branching off ‘Bruce Almighty’, newly elected congressman Evan Baxter is tasked by God with building an ark as unusual phenomena hint at an impending flood. The story balances family comedy with political workplace beats while Evan’s household and staff react to his sudden calling.

Tom Shadyac directs, reuniting with Morgan Freeman and introducing Steve Carell in the lead, joined by Lauren Graham, John Goodman, Wanda Sykes, and Jonah Hill. The screenplay is by Steve Oedekerk, Universal Pictures and Spyglass Entertainment produced, and John Debney composed the score with large-scale animal and water effects anchoring the set pieces.

‘U.S. Marshals’ (1998)

Spun off from ‘The Fugitive’, Deputy U.S. Marshal Samuel Gerard leads his team on a cross-country manhunt for Mark Sheridan, a suspect linked to a complex web of espionage. The plot blends procedural chases, decoy identities, and agency turf frictions while maintaining the franchise’s cat-and-mouse structure.

Stuart Baird directs, with Tommy Lee Jones returning alongside Wesley Snipes, Robert Downey Jr., Joe Pantoliano, Tom Wood, and Irène Jacob. John Pogue wrote the screenplay with characters by Roy Huggins, Jerry Goldsmith scored the film, and Warner Bros. released it as a direct offshoot of the earlier hit.

‘Supergirl’ (1984)

Expanding the ‘Superman’ film universe, the story follows Kara Zor-El as she travels from Argo City to Earth to retrieve the Omegahedron, a powerful device that lands in human hands. Her search brings her into conflict with a would-be sorceress who exploits the artifact, setting up a duel of abilities that parallels Kryptonian power with occult ambition.

Jeannot Szwarc directs, with Helen Slater in the title role alongside Faye Dunaway, Peter O’Toole, Mia Farrow, Hart Bochner, and Brenda Vaccaro. David Odell wrote the screenplay, Alexander and Ilya Salkind produced, and Jerry Goldsmith provided the score, continuing the orchestral identity associated with earlier ‘Superman’ entries.

‘The Bourne Legacy’ (2012)

Set parallel to events surrounding Jason Bourne, this spinoff follows operative Aaron Cross as a government shutdown targets members of covert programs. The narrative keys on survival, fieldcraft, and biomedical threads as Cross teams with a scientist to evade a lethal cleanup.

Tony Gilroy directs and co-writes with Dan Gilroy, with Jeremy Renner starring opposite Rachel Weisz and Edward Norton, joined by Stacy Keach, Joan Allen, and Oscar Isaac. Universal Pictures released the film, James Newton Howard composed the score, and Robert Elswit’s cinematography and John Gilroy’s editing extend the franchise’s grounded action style.

‘Hannibal Rising’ (2007)

Serving as a prequel to the ‘Hannibal’ films, this entry traces Hannibal Lecter’s childhood loss and his early path across Europe, leading to the methods and identity seen later in the series. The plot links wartime trauma with a revenge arc, introducing connections that fold into the character’s established canon.

Peter Webber directs, with Gaspard Ulliel as Hannibal and supporting roles for Gong Li, Rhys Ifans, Dominic West, and Kevin McKidd. Thomas Harris adapts his novel for the screenplay, Dino and Martha De Laurentiis produced, Ilan Eshkeri composed the score, and Ben Davis handled cinematography.

‘The Huntsman: Winter’s War’ (2016)

A companion to ‘Snow White and the Huntsman’, the story follows Eric the Huntsman and warrior Sara amid a feud between sisters Ravenna and Freya. The plot spans forbidden training, enchanted armies, and shifting allegiances while filling in events that bracket the earlier tale.

Cedric Nicolas-Troyan directs, with Chris Hemsworth, Charlize Theron, Emily Blunt, Jessica Chastain, and Nick Frost. The screenplay is by Evan Spiliotopoulos and Craig Mazin, Universal Pictures produced, and James Newton Howard returned with a sweeping score alongside extensive visual-effects work.

‘Morbius’ (2022)

Drawn from characters connected to ‘Spider-Man’, the film follows Dr. Michael Morbius, a hematologist whose experimental cure triggers a powerful, vampiric transformation. The story tracks his struggle to control new abilities while a rival’s descent forces confrontations across labs, rooftops, and city streets.

Daniel Espinosa directs, with Jared Leto in the lead and a cast featuring Matt Smith, Adria Arjona, Jared Harris, Tyrese Gibson, and Al Madrigal. Matt Sazama and Burk Sharpless wrote the screenplay, Columbia Pictures and Marvel co-produced for Sony, Jon Ekstrand composed the score, and Oliver Wood served as cinematographer.

‘Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins’ (2021)

A character-focused offshoot of the ‘G.I. Joe’ franchise, this origin story follows a lone fighter who rescues the heir of the Arashikage clan and enters rigorous training. Clan politics, covert tests, and shifting loyalties chart the path toward alliances and rivalries seen elsewhere in the series.

Robert Schwentke directs, with Henry Golding as Snake Eyes and supporting turns from Andrew Koji, Úrsula Corberó, Samara Weaving, Haruka Abe, and Iko Uwais. The screenplay is by Evan Spiliotopoulos, Joe Shrapnel, and Anna Waterhouse, Paramount Pictures and Skydance produced with Hasbro, and the production emphasizes stunt-driven swordplay.

‘The Nun’ (2018)

Spun out of ‘The Conjuring’ universe, the plot sends a priest and a novitiate to investigate a death at a remote Romanian abbey, where they encounter the demonic entity Valak. The story unfolds through catacombs, sealed relics, and monastery rituals that link back to cases introduced in earlier entries.

Corin Hardy directs, with Taissa Farmiga, Demián Bichir, Jonas Bloquet, and Bonnie Aarons. Gary Dauberman wrote the screenplay from a story developed with James Wan, New Line Cinema produced with Atomic Monster, and Abel Korzeniowski scored the film with Maxime Alexandre as cinematographer.

‘Annabelle’ (2014)

This ‘The Conjuring’ spinoff centers on a vintage doll tied to an occult incident that leaves a young couple targeted by a malevolent presence. The narrative follows the artifact’s passage through their home and the safeguards they seek as events connect to the wider paranormal case files.

John R. Leonetti directs, with Annabelle Wallis and Ward Horton, supported by Alfre Woodard and Tony Amendola. Gary Dauberman wrote the screenplay, Peter Safran and James Wan produced for New Line Cinema, and Joseph Bishara composed the score, extending the franchise’s sonic motifs.

‘The Scorpion King’ (2002)

Emerging from ‘The Mummy Returns’, the story follows Mathayus, an Akkadian assassin who challenges a sorcerer-backed tyrant ruling a desert realm. Battles, alliances, and arena trials chart the character’s rise from mercenary to ruler, linking to the mythic backstory glimpsed in the parent series.

Chuck Russell directs, with Dwayne Johnson starring alongside Kelly Hu, Steven Brand, and Michael Clarke Duncan. The screenplay credits include Stephen Sommers, William Osborne, and David Hayter, Universal Pictures released the film, and John Debney provided a robust action score.

‘Solo: A Star Wars Story’ (2018)

Set prior to the original saga, this ‘Star Wars’ spinoff follows Han Solo through a heist that intersects with smugglers, syndicates, and an early partnership with Chewbacca. The plot features the Kessel Run, the Millennium Falcon under Lando Calrissian, and criminal networks that reverberate through later adventures.

Ron Howard directs from a screenplay by Jonathan Kasdan and Lawrence Kasdan, with Alden Ehrenreich, Woody Harrelson, Emilia Clarke, Donald Glover, Thandiwe Newton, Joonas Suotamo, Paul Bettany, and Phoebe Waller-Bridge. Lucasfilm produced, John Powell composed with themes by John Williams, and large-scale practical sets paired with digital effects define the look.

‘Lightyear’ (2022)

Framed as the in-universe sci-fi adventure that inspired the toy seen in ‘Toy Story’, this film follows Space Ranger Buzz Lightyear after a mission mishap strands his crew on a distant world. Time-dilation consequences shape his attempts to set things right as a small team forms to confront Zurg.

Angus MacLane directs and co-writes with Jason Headley, featuring voice performances by Chris Evans, Keke Palmer, Taika Waititi, Uzo Aduba, Peter Sohn, and James Brolin. Pixar Animation Studios produced, Michael Giacchino composed the score, and the film blends stylized spaceflight with character-driven humor.

Share the franchise spinoffs you’d include or swap out in the comments so everyone can compare notes.