5 Franchises That Would Be Better With Other Studios

When Universal Pictures released the Mummy, it was intended to be the first in a series of interconnected films dubbed The Dark Universe. This all seems inconsequential now, as The Mummy performed well under expectations both critically and financially, driving a steak in the heart of (no pun intended) Universal's expanded world plans.

There was plenty audiences didn't like about the Mummy, a film that lacked the frights any pseudo-horror film should have, nor provided the fun and adventure available in the 1999 iteration. The problem with the film was a familiar one: Too focused on setting up future movies while forgetting to create an enjoyable experience in the moment.

The lay of the land dictates all studios rummage through their intellectual property and find pieces with universe-building potential. However, a universe that would have eventually incorporated the likes of Dracula, the Invisible Man and Frankenstein was doomed to feel dated and susceptible to cynical ploys.

Still, there are cases of studios taking franchises that do not seem ideal for a 21st Century expanded universe that have performed well. Look no further than what Legendary Entertainment has done with their Monsterverse, featuring Godzilla and King Kong.

2014's Godzilla and 2017's Kong: Skull Island not only turned a profit but fared far better with critics than anyone anticipated. Both movies focused on building strong casts, creating impressive visual effects and grounding them with real world issues. There is also a more subtle approach to world-building with the involvement of the organization Monarch Sciences in both films.

There is no reason this couldn't be replicated to create The Dark Universe, but it would be in better hands with a studio like Legendary.