10 Simple Ways To Build A Cinematic Universe

8. Not Everything Has To Be Connected

One of the major problems of the shared universe model is the need for everything to be explicitly tied together, which can end up causing all sorts of narrative problems if a movie spends too much time reminding audiences that it exists as part of a bigger world instead of focusing on telling a story strong enough to stand on its own merits.

Logan is without a doubt the best X-Men movie ever, partly because it distances itself from the rest of the franchise and is essentially a standalone feature that doesn't nod or wink to either previous or future instalments.

One of the main criticisms of the recent entries in the mutant-centric series is the incredibly confusing timeline, with the continuity having been tied in knots by sequels, spin-offs, prequels, reboots and time-travel. By ignoring this connective tissue completely, Logan is free to exist on its own terms yet the audience still knows that it is an X-Men movie.

The excessive amounts of information and exposition in Iron Man 2, Batman V Superman and The Mummy ultimately hurt the overall quality of those movies, as far too much time was spent explaining in excruciating detail how everything is part of a bigger universe that exists offscreen instead of focusing on what was happening in the movie people had actually paid to see.