1. Shared Universes Just Weren't Really A Thing Until The Avengers (And Now They're Frickin' Huge)
Though there's no arguing with the fact that the MCU is the most successfully rendered "shared universe" to have ever graced the cinematic medium, it's also true that - before The Avengers - the notion didn't really exist in Hollywood at all. There had been a few "novelty" takes on the format, of course, what with movies such as Alien Vs. Predator - but even with that flick we felt that the movie didn't take itself all that seriously. As a result of Marvel's inspired success with shared universes, major Hollywood studios have come around to the idea in a big way. As of this year, we're getting a DC Cinematic Universe, a Spider-Man shared universe, and a potential X-Men/Deadpool shared universe - certified proof that there's a lot of money to be made if movie studios are willing to bring their characters together in motion pictures of the kindred variety. Like this article? Learn anything new? Got anything else to add? Let us know in the comments section below.
Sam Hill is an ardent cinephile and has been writing about film professionally since 2008. He harbours a particular fondness for western and sci-fi movies.
