Movies That Feel Like They're in the Same Universe

MOVIES

2 min read

Introduction

Some movies don’t need direct sequels or crossover events to feel cosmically linked. Whether it’s a shared tone, visual aesthetic, world-building approach, or a certain character type echoing across stories, some films just feel like they exist in the same cinematic multiverse—even if they technically don’t. From gritty assassins and chaotic sci-fi futures to Tarantino Westerns and chaotic family comedies, these movies practically beg to be connected.

John Wick & Atomic Blonde & Nobody

Hyper-stylized violence, shadowy underground networks, and unstoppable loner assassins? These three films share more than slick choreography and neon-drenched visuals—they feel like different chapters in the same deadly dossier. You could easily imagine Charlize Theron’s Lorraine or Bob Odenkirk’s Hutch brushing shoulders with Keanu’s Wick in a shady Berlin club.

The Substance & Infinity Pool

Both films are drenched in grotesque body horror, sensory overload, and surreal meditations on identity and privilege. They feel like they came from the same twisted dream—or nightmare. If you told me “The Substance” was set in a side pocket of Infinity Pool’s world, I’d believe it without question.

Django Unchained & The Hateful Eight

These two Tarantino Westerns are cut from the same bloodstained cloth. From the rich, period-specific dialogue to the claustrophobic tension and brutal character dynamics, it’s easy to imagine Django riding off into a landscape that eventually leads to the snowy cabin from The Hateful Eight. Maybe he even crossed paths with Major Marquis Warren.

Chappie & Elysium

Neill Blomkamp’s vision of the future is gritty, tech-heavy, and unapologetically raw. Both Chappie and Elysium feel like part of the same dystopia, where class divides, corporate greed, and sentient AI dominate the landscape. It’s all part of a larger, bleak timeline where survival is earned through metal and grit.

Inception & Tenet

Christopher Nolan’s brain-bending mind games may not officially connect, but Inception and Tenet are cut from the same sleek, time-warped cloth. Their shared obsession with time manipulation, dream logic, and coldly stylish espionage makes them spiritual sequels. Cobb and the Protagonist could easily work for the same secretive organization.

Pacific Rim & The Godzilla Monsterverse

Gigantic beasts, global military organizations, and city-flattening battles? Yep—Pacific Rim and Godzilla: King of the Monsters feel like they’re just different branches of the same global crisis. Swap out the Jaegers for Titans or vice versa, and the world still makes sense. Monarch and the Pan Pacific Defense Corps probably have a shared Slack channel.

Uncle Buck & Home Alone & Planes, Trains and Automobiles

John Hughes created a warm, chaotic, often slapstick version of Americana where lovable oddballs, absentminded parents, and heartwarming holiday mishaps are the norm. Uncle Buck, Home Alone, and Planes, Trains and Automobiles are comfort food cinema—and they all feel like they exist in a shared Chicago-adjacent universe where kindness always wins, eventually.

Conclusion

You don’t need a multiverse to feel connected—sometimes all it takes is consistent vibes, overlapping aesthetics, or a director’s signature touch. These films, whether intentionally or not, feel like they’re different windows into the same world. It’s what makes rewatching them even more fun—you can imagine threads that tie them all together, weaving a cinematic universe born entirely of tone, style, and imagination.