10 Simple Ways To Build A Cinematic Universe

The key to a successful cinematic universe is to let it evolve over time, allowing the characters and overarching storylines to develop organically instead of forcing a rapid expansion upon an unsuspecting audience before they've had time to digest what's going on in front of them.

As the most successful practitioners of the concept, Marvel Studios have proven adept at playing the long game, introducing major characters in standalone features and giving people the chance to become acquainted with their superpowers and personalities before the Avengers are reassembled every three or four years.

Yet perhaps the best examples of a slow-burning shared universe happening over a number of movies comes from two unlikely sources; Kevin Smith and Quentin Tarantino.

Between 1994 and 2006, Smith's eight-film 'View Askewniverse' featured numerous recurring characters and plenty of direct references to the previous movies. Much like the MCU a decade later, this approach encouraged the director's fans to see his movies due to a sense of loyalty and familiarity with his work.

On a lesser scale, Tarantino's universe has existed ever since Reservoir Dogs. There are numerous subtle hints throughout his filmography (even the ones he didn't direct) that connect everything all together in yet another fan-pleasing feat of continuity.

That these examples were allowed to develop at their own pace over a number of years established a strong connection between the fans and the material, something that rushing through three movies worth of setup in two hours will always struggle to accomplish to the same effect.