Hardcore comic book fans would know that way before the Marvel gave us the MCU, DC had already set the groundwork for their own shared universe with Batman & Green Hornet back in the 1960’s. The idea of a shared universe is not new. Many other non-superhero genre shows and movies have tried their hand on creating a shared universe for their characters.
The X-Files & Millennium
The fourth episode of the seventh season of the X-Files saw Millennium’s Frank Black crossover to X-Files. Fictional novelist Jose Chung also appears in both the shows. To top it off, the X-Files series also gave birth to the Lone Gunmen show, a trio of characters originally hailing from the same universe.
Universal Monsters
The oldest entry on this list belongs to Universal’s monster universe – Universal Monsters. The shared universe began way back in 1931 and ended two decades later in 1951. Universal Monsters has names like Dracula, Frankenstein, The Wolf Man, and Invisible Man. Universal had created a shared universe without even realizing it.
Freddy vs. Jason
The 2003 movie saw the two iconic serial killers square off against each other. Freddy, in this movie, is losing the power he has over people’s dreams. So he frees Jason and sets him on a course to terrorize the residents. When Jason starts to trespass on Freddy’s territory, things take a turn for the worse.
Alien vs. Predator
Ridley Scott‘s Alien and John McTiernan’s Predator are not exactly a match made in heaven. While both have a similar genre of sci-fi, the story is miles apart. But somehow 20th Century Fox was inspired by a 1989 comic book series of the same name and gave fans what they had never asked for in 2004. Despite its low ratings, the AVP movies enjoy a loyal, cult-like fan following.
Lake Placid vs. Anaconda
Lake Placid is known for its killer crocodiles. the Anaconda movies are known for their….well its in the name. Lake Placid vs Anaconda was a 2015 movie that premiered on Syfy that pit the genetically modified anacondas and man-eating crocodiles against each other as an entire town faces almost certain doom.
Full Moon Features
The Full Moon Features universe is made up of various low budget horror movies. The most popular ones were Trancers, Puppet master, Dollman, and The Demonic Toys. Other movie projects like The Gingerdead Man, Subspecies, and Decadent Evil also fell within the same shared universe. The shared universe began way back in 1989.
Disney Channel Universe
The classic Disney sitcoms that aired a few years ago also had their own shared universe. Characters from that’s So Raven, Cory In The House, The Suite Life Of Zack & Cody, Lizzie McGuire, Hannah Montana, & Wizards Of Waverly Place frequently crossed over to appear in each other’s shows. The Disney animated shows also have their own shared universe
Fox Animated Universe
Disney’s not the only network that tried its hand on a shared universe. The Fox network also integrated its many animated shows like the Simpsons, King Of The Hill, Futurama, Family Guy, American dad!, Archer, and Bobv’s Burgers into one huge animated shared universe.
Two & A Half Men/CSI Franchise
The CSI shows are a dime a dozen. But how many did you know the popular Chuck Loree series – Two & A Half Men also had a crossover with the CSI shows. This effectively put the sitcome in a shared universe with the entire CSI universe. Characters from the CSI shows kept appearing in each other’s CSI shows too.
Hanna-Barbera Universe
Ever since the 1940’s, the Hanna-Barbera cartoons have been a staple of animated fiction. Shows like Tom & Jerry, The Jetsons, The Flintstones, Loopy de Loops, Ruff & Reddy, Quick Draw McGraw, Monster Tails, and Dog Wobnder may not exist at the same time period but they exist in the same shared universe.
Whoniverse
The Whoniverse is the shared universe of the Doctor Who show and its many spin-offs. Shows like Torchwood, K9, The Sarah Jane Adventures, and Class fall into this category. With a loyal fanbase, the Whoniverse will probably outlive the rest of the shared universe entries on this list.
