Superhero franchises are everywhere today, but there are some movies even ardent audiences may not have known spawned whole franchises. Marvel, DC, and numerous independents produced superhero projects that quietly spawned sequels, spin-offs, and ancillary media. What makes these examples so fascinating is how unlikely they are.
Several cult classics, experimental films, and even animated shows quietly expanded into full-blown franchises without most audiences realizing it. Some grew through direct-to-video sequels, others through spin-off series, multimedia tie-ins, or long-delayed revivals that kept their worlds alive long after their original runs ended. These projects proved that superhero storytelling doesn’t need blockbuster budgets to become enduring.
Darkman (1990)
Sam Raimi’s Darkman (1990) was a gritty, pulpy superhero experiment released long before he reinvented the genre with Spider-Man. The original film starred Liam Neeson as scientist Peyton Westlake, who is disfigured and left for dead before returning to seek his revenge. Its darker tone and practical-effects style helped it gain a passionate cult following.
What many casual viewers don’t know is that the movie didn’t end there – Universal quietly expanded it into a franchise. The superhero sequels, Darkman II: The Return of Durant (1995) and Darkman III: Die Darkman Die (1996), brought Arnold Vosloo into the role. Although the films were lower-budget, they continued exploring themes of identity, trauma, and Westlake’s mission for justice.
Their direct-to-video release meant they flew under the radar for mainstream audiences. Still, the Darkman trilogy stands as a surprising early example of superhero franchise-building. It spawned a comic book adaptation published by Marvel, several novels, and even a video game.
In 1992, Universal created a television pilot for Fox. Unfortunately, it went unaired and was not picked up. Even without theatrical prestige, Darkman was cemented as a recurring cinematic antihero long before superheroes dominated Hollywood.
Chronicle (2012)
Chronicle (2012) became a breakout hit thanks to its grounded found-footage angle and emotionally charged character drama. Directed by Josh Trank, the film focused on three teens who gain telekinetic abilities, leading to a slow buildup toward tragedy. Its grounded realism and character-driven tension made it a standout among superhero films of the early 2010s.
What many may not know is that Chronicle’s success quickly prompted talks of a sequel. Fox commissioned multiple drafts, though Trank has expressed his reluctance to produce a sequel. Despite the studio’s enthusiasm, creative differences ultimately stalled development for several years.
However, in August 2021, Fox officially announced an all-female Chronicle sequel. The movie will reportedly be set 10 years after the events of the first film and deal with topics like fake news and cover-ups. It promises to continue the stark realism of the original and push the superhero genre further into new, experimental areas.
The Crow (1994)
Alex Proyas’ The Crow (1994) remains an iconic cult classic, remembered for Brandon Lee’s tragic death and the film’s haunting gothic style. It depicted an undead vigilante named Eric Draven returning from the grave to avenge his partner’s brutal murder. The original movie masterfully combined horror, film noir, and superhero tropes to create something wholly unique.
It boasts pulp storytelling, gothic urban set design, and slick direction that influenced a generation of filmmakers. The Crow told a complete vengeance-driven story, so many viewers assume it wasn’t meant to continue. In reality, the studio kept the franchise alive long after the first film became a cultural landmark.
The original movie produced three sequels, The Crow: City of Angels (1996), The Crow: Salvation (2000), and The Crow: Wicked Prayer (2005). Each introduced new characters from the various comic runs, who each inherited the supernatural mantle. While none matched the acclaim of the original, they explored different interpretations of loss, resurrection, and justice.
The franchise also expanded into a short-lived TV series, The Crow: Stairway to Heaven. In 2024, the movie franchise was rebooted with Bill Skarsgård as Eric. There are also a multitude of novels and comic spin-offs based on the original comics. Even decades later, The Crow continues to re-emerge, proving its mythology was compelling enough to fuel an extended franchise.
The Toxic Avenger (1984)
The Toxic Avenger (1984) began as a small, outrageous Troma production filled with camp, gore, and deliberately absurd humor. The story of janitor-turned-mutant-hero Toxie didn’t seem destined for mainstream popularity, but the movie built a massive cult following. The bizarre mix of superhero tropes and grindhouse satire made it unlike anything else at the time.
Surprisingly, the film grew into a full-fledged franchise. It spawned three direct sequels: The Toxic Avenger Part II (1989), The Toxic Avenger Part III (1989), and Citizen Toxie: The Toxic Avenger IV (2000). Toxie even headlined an animated children’s show, Toxic Crusaders, along with video games and merchandise. The franchise’s absurdity became part of its charm.
The biggest twist came decades later when a high-profile remake was developed, starring Peter Dinklage and produced by Legendary. That modern revival proves The Toxic Avenger has remained unexpectedly resilient – a cult icon turned lasting franchise. There was even a rock musical written in 2008, which toured the world for nine years.
The Boys (2019-)
Amazon’s The Boys exploded in popularity for its brutal deconstruction of superhero culture, pushing boundaries in ways traditional franchises rarely do. Its shocking violence, political satire, and character depth made it a breakout hit almost immediately. It explores a world in which superheroes are corrupted and owned by corporations, while the eponymous team of vigilantes attempts to fight back.
What some casual viewers might not realize is that the series already exists at the center of a growing shared universe. Prime Video has expanded the world with multiple spin-offs, including The Boys Presents: Diabolical, an animated anthology exploring side stories and alternate tones. The franchise grew further with Gen V.
Gen V follows young superpowered students discovering the corruption behind Vought’s training programs. Additional spin-offs and tie-ins have been announced, including Vought Rising and The Boys: Mexico. There have also been several online series, including a current affairs show and an in-universe adult movie.
There is even a podcast produced from the perspective of two characters titled Deeper, Deeper. What began as a single adaptation became a thriving multimedia franchise. The Boys’ unexpected expansion proves that viewers crave darker, more subversive takes on superhero storytelling – and the universe is still rapidly growing.
Batman: The Animated Series (1992-1995)
Batman: The Animated Series (1992) is widely regarded as one of the greatest superhero shows ever made, shaping the character’s legacy for multiple generations. Batman: TAS‘s dark style, emotional depth, and iconic voice performances made it instantly influential. However, many casual viewers don’t realize just how much the series expanded beyond its original run.
Batman: The Animated Series spawned direct sequel series, including The New Batman Adventures and Batman Beyond, each continuing its shared continuity. This continuity was subsequently maintained in other DCAU projects. The show also spawned two movies, Batman: Mask of the Phantasm and Batman & Mr Freeze: Subzero, the former of which boasted a theatrical release.
Several video games, such as Batman: Vengeance and Batman: Rise of Sin Tzu were set in the distinctive Batman: TAS continuity across numerous early platforms. Modern video games have even included references and skins based on Batman: TAS, including the Lego Batman series and the Batman: Arkham games.
Meanwhile, several comic runs – most famously The Batman Adventures and Batman: The Adventures Continue – extended the universe further. The latter was released in 2020, demonstrating the show’s impressive longevity. This enormous multimedia expansion effectively turned the show into its own self-contained Batman franchise. Decades later, the legacy of Batman: TAS continues to grow, long after the original series ended.