Most franchise films require you to watch every movie to understand what’s going on. However, there are some gems that work great as standalone films.
Check out these movies to enjoy a taste of a franchise without selling hours to it.
Prey (2022)
Even if you’ve never watched the Predator series, Prey is a great film on its own. While it’s a prequel to the Predator universe, it’s alright if you don’t know anything about the lore. The acting, action, and thrills make it fun to watch, even if you choose not to watch the other films in the franchise.
The Dark Knight (2008)
While it’d be a shame not to watch every movie in the Nolan Batman universe, you really can get away with just watching The Dark Knight. It’s easily the best of the series, and it stands on its own for the most part.
It brings in new characters, and the most important relationships from the previous film are easy to glean. If you can only stomach one Batman movie, then make sure it’s this one.
Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)
Mad Max is a franchise depicting a post-apoc world where gasoline and water are the rules of law. Even if you’ve never seen Mad Max, you can still enjoy Mad Max: Fury Road. There may be a few easter eggs that you’ll miss, but the plot and characters all stand on their own.
If anything, Mad Max: Fury Road may be a great jumping-off point for a franchise of its own.
Rogue One (2016)
Star Wars films are often hit-and-miss. Yet, Rogue One managed to stand out from the rest. It was a film that didn’t need to exist, technically, but most Star Wars fans are glad that it does.
It’s a film with its own story that begins and ends within it. Even if you never knew how the story connected to outside events, this is one Star Wars movie that is a phenomenal story all on its own.
Bumblebee (2018)
Even if you’re not familiar with Transformers or its various cartoon shows and movies, you’ll likely find Bumblebee enjoyable on its own. It’s a prequel movie to the Transformer films, starring Shia LaBeouf.
As a prequel, you don’t have to worry about missing out on important lore. The movie does a great job of explaining how everything works without the extra franchise knowledge.
The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift (2006)
One of the most successful franchises in film history is The Fast and the Furious. This particular film, however, expands on the scope of the universe. It introduces new characters, new plots, and new stunts.
Even if you’ve never watched another Fast and Furious film, you’ll be just fine watching this movie by itself.
Aliens (1986)
As an Alien fan, I can’t help but suggest watching all the movies in the franchise. But, technically, you can watch Aliens on its own. The movie does a great job of explaining some of the core events that occurred in the first film.
From there, the movie builds on its own plot and takes you for a wild ride.
Puss in Boots (2011)
While the character Puss in Boots makes his first appearance in Shrek 2 (2004), he has his own film, too. The film acts as a prequel telling his story. Even if you’ve never seen the Shrek films, you can still watch Puss in Boots and enjoy it.
It’s a standalone film in many ways despite being part of the Shrek franchise. Love kittens that kick butt? Watch Puss in Boots.
Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (2011)
Another big franchise is the Pirates of the Caribbean. While the first three movies garnered a lot of love from fans, things started to go off the wheel since. As such, you can totally watch Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides on its own.
While it helps to know who Captain Jack Sparrow is, the film largely does away with all the familiar characters from the previous films. The plot also doesn’t connect with the events of the earlier movies.
It works great as a film that you don’t have to watch the others to enjoy it.
Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017)
While Jumanji (1995) is a remarkable movie, it’s not something you have to watch to enjoy Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle. You can almost think of the movie as a reboot. While it does have a few easter eggs that nod to the original movie, you’re not missing too much if you don’t understand them.
The movie is hilarious, and the cast is a great pick for the sort of hijinks that occur in the film.
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