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Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re looking at the most mind-blowing crossovers across all mediums, from film, to TV, to games, to comics.
Transcript
00:00Welcome to WatchMojo and today we're looking at the most mind-blowing crossovers across
00:12all mediums, from film to TV to games to comics.
00:30In November 1989, Dark Horse published the first Alien vs Predator comic.
00:35The idea of a cinematic crossover seemed more probable the following year, when a xenomorph
00:39skull appeared in Predator 2.
00:41After over a decade in development hell, the deadly extraterrestrials finally clashed
00:45on the big screen.
00:50Regarding the alien action, the film delivered a foreboding environment and gore that pushed
00:54the PG-13 rating to its absolute limits.
00:57While the humans are mostly collateral damage, we got at least one memorable heroine in Lex,
01:02whose unlikely alliance with the Predator makes for one of the most compelling elements.
01:06Whether you waited years for this crossover or this was your introduction to both franchises,
01:10it united all fans of creature features.
01:19Despite their long-standing rivalry, Marvel and DC have occasionally collided.
01:23Amalgam Comics briefly served as a middle ground, merging their characters into hybrids.
01:28On a storytelling level, nothing tops 1982's team-up between the X-Men and Teen Titans.
01:33Penned by Chris Claremont, this one-shot sees Darkseid revive the Dark Phoenix, with our
01:38young heroes caught in the middle.
01:40In DC Comics' A Visual History, historian Matthew K. Manning named this quote, one of
01:45the most well-received crossovers of its time, or of any time.
01:48Although a sequel was planned, conflicts between the comic companies led to its cancellation
01:52along with a JLA-Avengers crossover.
01:55Of course, the Justice League and Avengers finally assembled two decades later, and we
01:59can only hope the X-Men and Titans reunite someday.
02:08New Line and Paramount had been discussing a mash-up between Freddy Krueger and Jason
02:12Voorhees since the late 80s.
02:14Even after Freddy popped up in Jason Goes to Hell, we had to wait another ten years.
02:18For slasher fans, it was a dream, or nightmare, come true.
02:27Awake or asleep, nobody is safe, as the arena changes from Elm Street to Camp Crystal Lake,
02:32to the dream world, to reality.
02:34The story cleverly utilises its titular characters, as our teenage protagonist must rely on Jason
02:39to defeat Freddy, while trying not to get caught in the crossfire.
02:42Obviously, most of them do, but that's what we're here for, right?
02:45While we never got a theatrical sequel, Ash would eventually join the fight in the comics.
02:49Groovy.
02:50Of all the Nickelodeon properties, the Fairly Oddparents and Jimmy Neutron might seem like
03:00the most unusual pairing.
03:02One is 2D animated, while the other is 3D.
03:04One is grounded in magic, the other abides by the laws of science.
03:08Improbable science, but still science.
03:19For all their differences, these two shows fuse surprisingly well in a crossover that
03:22effectively uses their respective premises and ensembles.
03:25The special is full of inventive details, like changing the number of fingers Timmy
03:29and Jimmy have when they switch universes.
03:36The writing captures the spirit of each show, balancing the best of both worlds.
03:40The crossover was such a ratings hit that it inspired a trilogy, although the original
03:44packs the most power.
03:57For the Harlem Globetrotters to courage the Cowardly Dog, it'd take too long to list
04:01everybody the Scooby gang has encountered.
04:03Their best crossover is arguably with the Winchester Brothers.
04:06The addition of Sam and Dean adds a cynical edge to the Scooby-Doo formula, although this
04:10doesn't come off as out of place.
04:20For all the in-jokes and not-always-kid-friendly references, you get the sense that the people
04:25involved have a genuine affection for Scooby-Doo.
04:27This shines through in the animation, voice talent and a classic mystery with a few twists.
04:32The title, Scooby-Natural, alone epitomises why this was such a natural pairing.
04:36The real mystery is why it took 13 seasons for this to happen, but we're never too
04:40old for more Scooby-Doo.
04:52Deadpool and Wolverine was far from the MCU's first crossover, nor will it be the last on
04:56this list.
05:02Yet it stands out as one of the most unique.
05:05Not only did it unite the definitive, live-action versions of two comic icons, but the film
05:09also provided a proper farewell to the Fox era of X-Men.
05:12The team-ups aren't restricted to mutants, as Chris Evans' Johnny Storm, Jennifer Garner's
05:16Elektra and Wesley Snipes' Blade all make significant appearances.
05:20Although some cameos are played for laughs, others offer an unexpected sense of closure.
05:25As stacked as the cast is, the film doesn't lose sight of its titular duo.
05:28Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman are the key to this crossover's success, as both shine
05:32in their career-defining roles.
05:43The Muppets, Sesame Street and Fraggle Rock franchises have lasted generations.
05:48With the rights divided among different companies, though, we rarely see these three puppet powerhouses
05:52together anymore.
05:53Looking back, this crossover truly was a Christmas miracle.
05:57From Bert and Ernie making small talk with Doc, to the Swedish chef putting Big Bird
06:00on the menu, to home movies of the Muppet babies, it's a loving celebration of the
06:04characters we wouldn't have without the late Jim Henson.
06:14As Henson himself watches the gang sing Christmas carols towards the end, it feels like this
06:18special captured lightning in a bottle that can never be replicated.
06:22We'll just have to settle for re-watching it every year.
06:36Long before cinematic universes and Stan Lee cameos were Marvel's thing, Kevin Smith
06:40established the View-Escu-Niverse.
06:43Jay and Silent Bob provided a common link throughout Smith's first four films before
06:47taking centre stage here.
06:48On a mission to prevent a Bluntman and Chronic movie, the duo encounters several familiar
06:53faces from Clerks, Morats, Chasing Amy and even a few others.
07:03Remember when we said Scooby-Natural was the best Scooby-Doo crossover?
07:06Well, this film might have the second best.
07:09Beyond the numerous in-jokes, the film also takes shots at Hollywood and internet culture
07:13that aged quite well.
07:14Listening to Holden read from a comment section, it's clear that nothing has changed since
07:182001, except fandoms are even more toxic and superhero crossovers are mainstream.
07:41Universal monsters could be seen as the forerunners to the modern crossover boom.
07:45Of all the monster mashes, Abbott and Costello meet Frankenstein left the greatest impact.
07:49As strange as that sounds, this crossover works on multiple different levels.
07:53Abbott and Costello of course bring the laughs, but what's surprising is how seriously the
07:57actors behind the monsters take their roles.
08:05Outside of the 1931 classic, this is the only other time Bela Lugosi played Dracula, bringing
08:10the same gravitas to his iconic role.
08:12The same goes for Lon Chaney Jr as the Wolfman, while Glenn Strange again serves as a respectable
08:17replacement for Boris Karloff as Frankenstein's monster.
08:21This mix of comedy and horror shouldn't work, yet they go together like Jekyll and
08:25It's no secret that The Simpsons was an inspiration for Family Guy.
08:44In more recent years, you could argue that The Simpsons humour has grown more Family
08:47Guy-esque, so having the two animated families meet wasn't as far-fetched as one might
08:52expect.
08:53Bringing the Griffins to Springfield wasn't without challenges, but the team pulled it
08:56off in a TV event that feels cinematic.
09:07The animation seamlessly blends these two distinct styles, while the script juggles
09:11in jokes that honour and mock both shows.
09:14Along with The Simpsons and Griffins, the crossover finds room for Bob's Burgers,
09:17American Dad and The Flintstones.
09:19All that's missing is the Planet Express crew.
09:21Who would meet The Simpsons a few months later?
09:39With shows like Laugh Olympics, crossovers became a Hanna-Barbera staple.
09:44Yet it took almost 25 years for the modern Stone Age family to meet the family of the
09:48future.
09:49You'd think that they would have leaped at this opportunity much earlier, but The
09:52Jetsons initially struggled to reach the height of The Flintstones in the ratings, getting
09:56cancelled after just one season.
09:58With reruns finding success on Saturday morning, The Jetsons was revived in the 80s, making
10:02the ideal time for the future to cross with the past.
10:09The results were appropriately timeless, offering a mix of prehistoric and futuristic jokes
10:13that can appeal to contemporary viewers.
10:15That might be why, when audiences think of cartoon crossovers, this one still immediately
10:20comes to mind.
10:34The Ninja Turtles have met everybody from the Power Rangers to the Dark Knight.
10:37Turtles Forever remains the green standard, however.
10:40When TMNT first hit the scene, few could have predicted it'd still be around 25 years
10:44later.
10:45By 2009, though, it had already produced two animated series with different tones, but
10:49the same essential ingredients.
10:50The Turtle teams joined forces in this crossover, which ranges from hilarious to epic.
11:02Turtles Forever doesn't stop there, revisiting the franchise's comic roots.
11:06Multiverse crossovers are all the rage now, but in 2009, we rarely saw one on this scale,
11:12with such effort thrown into the production.
11:14It might be a stretch to say the film directly inspired the modern crossover boom, but it
11:18was well ahead of the curve.
11:28Mothra, King Ghidorah, Bambi, these are just some of the foes that have gone up against
11:32Godzilla.
11:33In the kaiju genre, though, Godzilla's stature is only matched by Kong.
11:37While 1962's Kong vs. Godzilla is enjoyable, the premise was overdue for an update by the
11:4221st century.
11:44The Monsterverse took its time building to the crossover fans wanted the most.
11:48Godzilla vs. Kong didn't disappoint, roaring onto the screen with vibrant visuals and action
11:53that makes you feel the weight of these characters.
12:02Not only the physical weight, but the emotional weight, as Kong embarks on a journey of discovery.
12:07Kong is something of an underdog here, but he holds his own against Godzilla and emerges
12:10as an essential ally when Mechagodzilla shows up.
12:24With so many properties under one corporate umbrella, wide-scale crossovers have become
12:28commonplace in projects like the Lego movie.
12:30The Imaginationland trilogy predated this trend, although Matt Stone and Trey Parker
12:35didn't care if their parent company owned the characters on display.
12:38From Jack Skellington to Ronald McDonald to Snarf, nothing the Imagination could conjure
12:42was off-limits.
12:43Good thing that parody falls under fair use.
12:50Although Imaginationland is a parody that subjects countless beloved figures to unspeakable
12:55torment, it also leaves us with a newfound appreciation for these characters.
12:58They may be imaginary, but they've influenced more lives than most real people.
13:03As adult-orientated as South Park is, the trilogy takes us back to our childhoods, when
13:07any crossover seemed possible in our imaginations.
13:30The Justice League has seen plenty of crossovers, from the DCAU to the long-awaited Snyder Cut.
13:35No DC title generates more excitement than Crisis on Infinite Earths.
13:40The legendary crossover comic received a three-part animated adaptation in 2024, but the Arrowverse's
13:46take might be the most ambitious version yet.
13:55This event spanned five of the CW shows airing at the time.
13:58It didn't stop there.
13:59The Arrowverse expanded its reach to include old favourites like Burt Ward as Dick Grayson,
14:04Tom Welling as Clark Kent, and the late Kevin Conroy as a live-action Bruce Wayne.
14:09The DCEU's Flash even meets Grant Gustin's Barry Allen.
14:12For all the cameos, the crossover keeps track of the core Arrowverse characters, defining
14:17this TV universe at its peak.
14:30In House of Mouse and Once Upon a Studio, Disney has no shortage of crossovers to choose
14:34from.
14:35None make fans part of the experience like the Kingdom Hearts games, however.
14:39Plus, how many Disney crossovers have Final Fantasy characters too?
14:42Kingdom Hearts 2 remains the most revered entry, taking players to worlds they had been
14:46eager to see like the Beast's Castle and the Pride Lands.
14:59Going a step further, the game introduces locales we didn't even think were on the
15:02table, such as Port Royal from Pirates of the Caribbean and the computerised realm of
15:06Tron.
15:08Even if you struggle to follow the increasingly complicated story, the player understands
15:12every emotion with protagonist Sora serving as an anchor, becoming an icon among icons.
15:26Following in the footsteps of Into the Spider-Verse, No Way Home united three generations of live-action
15:31Spider-Men.
15:32While it would have been easy to bank on nostalgia alone, it's remarkable how many character
15:36arcs are given satisfying pay-offs.
15:39After their respective tenures ended on underwhelming notes, Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield received
15:43the closure they deserved.
15:52Several fan-favourite villains came along for the ride, but No Way Home isn't merely
15:55about looking back.
15:57In his best performance as the character to date, Tom Holland's Peter Parker is pushed
16:01to darker, more adult places that put his power and responsibility to the test.
16:05The filmmakers cherry-picked the best elements of all the live-action Spider-Man movies,
16:09finding just the right balance of old and new.
16:19For years, Melee was seen as the definitive Smash Bros.
16:25Even Melee's most diehard fans have to admit that it's hard to outdo a game that gathers
16:29every character from the franchise's storied history, not to mention several newcomers.
16:34The opening cinematic in which the mysterious Galeem seemingly vaporises the characters
16:38marked a pivotal moment in gaming that had every player at a loss for words.
16:42Thankfully these characters aren't beyond saving, and this was just the original roster.
16:53Persona 5's Joker, Banjo-Kazooie and Sora are only a few other fighters who would later
16:58join.
16:59Living up to its title, we'd say this is the ultimate Nintendo crossover, but to call
17:03it anything less than the ultimate video game crossover would be a disservice.
17:10Remember when we thought the MCU would never be able to top having six Avengers in one
17:22movie?
17:23Not to undermine that film's massive achievement, but with Infinity War and especially Endgame,
17:26we saw just how far the MCU had come in several years.
17:30Unlike some other cinematic universes, the MCU understood the importance of fleshing
17:34out every major character, making it all the more impactful when they assemble.
17:46Few theatrical experiences are more exciting or crowd-pleasing than the opening of the
17:50portals, kicking off a finale with one emotionally gratifying moment after another.
17:55Telling an interlocking story with dozens of characters is harder than some artists
17:59give the MCU credit.
18:01Endgame is a testament to the MCU's endurance and how it changed crossovers forever.
18:10Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honourable mentions.
18:13The Day of the Doctor, The 10th and 11th Doctors, together at last.
18:19That's So Sweet Life of Hannah Montana.
18:26Props to the Disney Channel employee who came up with that title.
18:36X-Cops, The X-Files.
18:38Sci-fi and reality TV really aren't that different.
18:48G.I.
18:49Joe, Star Trek, Transformers and Ghostbusters all in one comic crossover.
18:53Ben 10, Generator Rex, Heroes United.
18:56A 10 out of 10 crossover that goes up to 11.
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19:26With all the crossovers we've gotten since 1988, you'd think Roger Rabbit would lose
19:30some of its magic.
19:31Over 35 years later though, this marriage of live-action and animation continues to
19:36wow us.
19:37Its longevity can be attributed to the well-crafted story and revolutionary effects that still
19:41hold up.
19:42But much of the film's charm does come from the world it creates, a world where toons
19:46from different Hollywood studios live together in harmony and loony anarchy.
19:59There may never be a sight more mind-boggling than Donald and Daffy Duck engaging in a piano
20:04duo or Mickey Mouse parachuting alongside Bugs Bunny.
20:07The film has inspired worthy spiritual successors like Chippendale Rescue Rangers, but crossovers
20:12like Roger Rabbit come once in a lifetime.
20:17So what do you think is the ultimate crossover?
20:20Let us know in the comments.