As a kid I was floored by crossover movies, those gimmicky attempts to unite characters from one film franchise with characters from a different one. I was glued to the screen each time the late-night TV movie was “House of Dracula” (1945), a Universal creature feature with not only the black-caped bloodsucker but also Frankenstein’s monster and the Wolf Man. The meeting of horrors and powers and transformations made for a thrilling collision. The franchise crossover makes a high-profile return with Adam Wingard’s “Godzilla vs. Kong,” the long-awaited megamovie with the mutant brutes from “Godzilla: King of the Monsters” and “Kong: Skull Island.” The film, in theaters and streaming on HBO Max, reunites two creatures who have long and rich histories onscreen, and who dueled way back in “King Kong vs. Godzilla” (1962). Here are other movie franchise crossovers that, while not always spectacular entertainment, set aside improbability and took a chance with matches that (mostly) clicked.

Source: New York Times March 31, 2021 13:00 UTC