Cinematic Universes: Concept, Creators, and How They Work

Contents:

• Defining the Concept of the Cinematic Universe
• Journey from Horror to Heroes: The Origins of the Genre
• The Marvel Period: Influence on the Commercial Perception of the Format
• Fascinating Cinematic Universes Worth Exploring

In modern movie posters, you can notice that every third film is a sequel, prequel, or spin-off. This assumes that viewers have the same level of understanding of the plot as the directors: who is this gray-haired character constantly appearing in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, why is a certain uncle always mentioned in the Spider-Man films, and what are the true motives of the Aliens in their hunt for people. In some cases, such interconnectedness can serve as an effective marketing ploy, but more and more often it begins to tire viewers, causing a loss of interest in the plot. Let's figure out why film studios create entire cinematic universes, who initiated this trend, and whether it is really necessary to watch all the previous parts of popular superhero films to enjoy the new ones.

Definition of the concept of a cinematic universe

A cinematic universe is a set of film and television works that are connected by a single universe, important events, and characters. Each of these projects has its own independent storyline.

Cinematic universes include:

• Franchises are series of projects where the same story develops across several films.
• Shared universes are many films and TV series that are connected by a single world, despite the lack of direct connections between them.
• Multiverses are a concept within which many different universes can exist.
• Media franchises are series of products released by the same company under a common brand.

What elements are needed to create a full-fledged cinematic universe?

• a single system that represents a world with established rules and standards;
• the starting point is the first film or main series;
• a single roster of characters;
• various storylines.

A Journey from Horror to Heroes: The Origins of a Genre

At the center of every cinematic universe is a specific product—be it a film or a TV series—that creators build new projects around. Cinematic universes themselves also have their own starting point. One such example is the Universal Monsters franchise, a series of classic horror films that emerged in the 1930s. It began with Dracula and Frankenstein, both released in 1931. They were followed by The Mummy in 1932, The Invisible Man in 1933, The Wolf Man in 1941, and Creature from the Black Lagoon in 1954, as well as crossovers like Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man in 1943.

Universal is no longer involved in the creation of such projects, but the universe Monsters remain relevant today. A prime example of this legacy is Marvel's Werewolf by Night, which is a clear homage to this theme. Science fiction has had a significant influence on the formation of cinematic universes. For sci-fi films, a well-developed lore is essential, allowing producers to utilize existing science fiction universes rather than create new worlds from scratch. In the 20th century, this concept was further developed by Japanese studios such as Toho, the creators of Godzilla (1954), as well as the creators of Star Wars (1977) and Star Trek (1966). Horror masters from Full Moon and directors like Quentin Tarantino, who connects his films through common motifs and references, also got involved.

The Marvel Period: Impact on Commercial Perception of the Format

In the early 2000s, comic book studios became active supporters of the concept of creating films in series. The first significant project in this direction was launched in 2000 with the release of the film about mutants "X-Men". 20th Century Fox acquired the rights to the comic book series and presented the first part of the trilogy to audiences. Two more films followed, as well as a trilogy dedicated to Wolverine, and several prequels. In 2017, Disney announced the acquisition of Fox, along with the rights to the characters, and in 2019, after the deal was completed, the integration of these franchises into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which had been developing in parallel since 2008, starting with the release of Iron Man, began.

Today, film universes are largely associated with comic book adaptations. For example, the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) includes over thirty films, and the studio shows no signs of stopping there. However, in recent years, a serious problem has emerged: information overload. Even dedicated fans often struggle to remember all the storylines, which sometimes deviate significantly from the original comics. And casual viewers are forced to do online research before going to the cinema to figure out what happened in previous films and who all the characters are.

Film production has become a mass process, reminiscent of television soap operas. Under these conditions, it's become natural to release entire series of films without a coherent plot simply to introduce new characters. As a result, the quality of film production has declined, and audience interest has become fickle: audiences eagerly attend films about familiar characters but respond less enthusiastically to newcomers.

As for Marvel, they've managed to attract new audiences by launching television series that are largely independent of the film plots. Such projects include, for example, "Agatha's All That," as well as more daring experiments like "The Thundermans" and "Fantastic Four."

However, prolonged stagnation is beginning to show, and as a result, a new term has emerged: "Marvelization."

Marvelization is the process by which filmmaking becomes a standard production mechanism, in which storylines and directorial decisions are focused on marketing strategies. The primary goal of this production approach is to generate profit through a large number of references and cameos that exploit the audience's emotional connection with the film universe.

Quentin Tarantino has also spoken out against the Marvelization of the film industry, arguing that it allows ordinary actors to become stars solely due to their participation in a certain universe. Behind the façade of commercial success lie serious plot flaws, meaningless metareferences, and a simple desire to profit from anything that can generate income. The result is vast cycles of entertainment content that function merely as attractions, which is exactly what Eisenstein predicted.

Fascinating Cinematic Universes Worth Exploring

• Disney+ announces a new series based on Rick Riordan's fantasy saga "Percy Jackson & the Olympians." The previous adaptation didn't win the approval of fans, but this time the studio decided to involve the original author in the creation process. This promises to make the project more exciting, aesthetically pleasing, and modern.
• The Conjuring cinematic universe is a series of films directed by James Wan that are based on the real events surrounding supernatural hunters Ed and Lorraine Warren.
• Re-Animator is a horror film trilogy created by Stuart Gordon and Brian Yuzna, based on the work of H. P. Lovecraft entitled Herbert West - Re-Animator.
• The Fast and the Furious is a media franchise that began its existence with the release of the film of the same name in 2001. This cult project attracted the attention of all fans of car racing and spectacular stunts that go beyond the laws of physics.
• ADAM is a world created by director Neill Blomkamp, ​​which tells the story of an android named Adam, who seeks to uncover the secrets of his origin. This project, presented in the form of several short films, is an experimental initiative by the independent studio Oats Studios. Despite its limited format, the work is noteworthy, primarily for its stunning graphics, created using the Unity game engine.
• "Planet of the Apes" is a media franchise that unfolds a plot highlighting the similarities between the destinies of humans and apes. This universe includes five films from the original series, a remake, and four films related to the reboot.
• The Poohverse is a horror world created by British director Rhys Frake-Waterfield, where familiar characters like Winnie the Pooh, Peter Pan, and Bambi are transformed into cruel monsters.

Read also:

• Unusual Superhero Stories: 20 Movies and TV Series That Will Amaze You
• The path of the DC Cinematic Universe has been full of ups and downs. Since its inception, the franchise has captured the attention of audiences, promising an in-depth dive into the world of superheroes. It all began with the film Man of Steel, which was released in 2013 and marked the beginning of a new era for DC. The film was a successful launch, but subsequent attempts to expand the universe encountered various difficulties.

  Following films, such as Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and Suicide Squad, received mixed reviews from both critics and audiences. Some appreciated the ambitious ideas and attempts to create a dark and complex atmosphere, while others expressed dissatisfaction with the scripts and character development.

  The situation was complicated by the release of Justice League, whose released version failed to live up to expectations. However, the version presented by Zack Snyder in 2021 brought new life to the project, demonstrating that the DC universe has untapped potential.

  Against this backdrop, the company's leadership decided on the need for a reboot and a rethinking of its filmmaking approaches. As a result, new projects have been announced that promise a fresh take on familiar heroes and their stories. Further steps are expected to be aimed at improving the quality and consistency of the product to regain audience trust.

  The future of the DC Cinematic Universe remains uncertain, but hopes for a revival and successful development remain. With new ideas, creative teams, and projects in development, the franchise continues to move forward, striving to reclaim its place in the hearts of fans.

• Superheroes are back on stage: how the Thunderbolts became the New Avengers