Multiverse films are not new to Hollywood, as the genre has appeared in science fiction and fantasy films for decades. From The Matrix to Inception, the idea that this world is one version of many has been explored numerous times. Most notably, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has taken multiverse theory to the next level, creating multiple versions of characters whose choices create countless unique universes.
The multiverse was always in the background, however, until Everything Everywhere All At Once brought it front and center in its action-packed sci-fi epic about love and loss. Throughout the film, we see how one wrong choice can lead to disaster spanning countless universes – and how complicated it is to fix trauma that isn’t only generational, but multiversal. With the popularity of the multiverse growing, it seems this genre is here to stay. So let’s take a look at why and the future of multiverse films.
What Is the Multiverse?
While multiverse theory has been examined most prominently through superhero franchises, where separate comic artists and filmmakers dictate new universes, the multiverse theory itself is far from fictional. National Geographic perhaps explains the multiverse theory best:
“The multiverse is a term that scientists use to describe the idea that beyond the observable universe, other universes may exist as well. Multiverses are predicted by several scientific theories that describe different possible scenarios—from regions of space in different planes than our universe, to separate bubble universes that are constantly springing into existence.The one thing all these theories have in common is that they suggest the space and time we can observe is not the only reality.”
Scientists have explored the possibility of multiple universes, the “butterfly effect,” and more for decades. Filmmakers have likewise incorporated these theories into their work in exciting ways. Interstellar explored what might happen if time could be manipulated; The Matrix theorized that the world is merely a simulation; and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse shows what occurs when multiple versions of one hero are brought together. There are many ways to explore the multiverse, and we’ve only seen a few interpretations so far.
What Everything Everywhere All At Once’s success has shown is that people want more multiverse genre films exploring the many possibilities that alternate universes bring to the sci-fi fantasy world. So what new projects are coming up that use the multiverse theory?
The Future of Multiverse Films
Perhaps the most anticipated multiverse film coming soon is Marvel’s Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, due to release in February. The MCU has explored the multiverse for years, like most Marvel superhero films. Sony’s Spider-Verse franchise has likewise been doing great, with a second film due to release in June 2023.
Superhero films are the only multiverse content coming soon, however. The long-anticipated film Spaceless could be coming in 2023, which follows an assassin who wakes up in a spacesuit, tumbling through space with only a robot to aid him, as he tries to solve the mystery of his own murder. The film’s reality supposedly falls apart as it progresses, making this a film to anticipate for multiverse fans.
Sam Raimi’s anticipated sci-fi thriller 65 might also land in theaters in 2023. It could also be a film worth watching, as Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man series at Sony recently entered the MCU multiverse. 65 stars Adam Driver, and while few details have been released, the film’s summary is “An astronaut crash lands on a mysterious planet only to discover he's not alone.” Few films are currently advertising themselves as multiverse sci-fi, but we’re excited to see where the genre goes as more releases are announced for 2023.
Multiverse Films: What’s Available Now
The multiverse theory has been a popular inspiration for science fiction films for a long time now, so there are plenty of movies worth checking out. Everything Everywhere All At Once is a sci-fi family drama about generational trauma and what happens when universes collide. Starring Michelle Yeoh, Stephanie Hsu, and Ke Huy Quan, this film is worth watching and could even be up for awards this season.
The Butterfly Effect is another film that explores alternate realities – from the perspective of someone who can alter the past. It follows "college student Evan Treborn [who] is afflicted with headaches so painful that he frequently blacks out. While unconscious, Evan is able to travel back in time to difficult moments in his childhood. He can also alter the past for friends, like Kayleigh, who was molested by her father. But changing the past can drastically alter the present, and Evan finds himself in nightmarish alternate realities, including one where he's locked away in prison.”
Lastly, Erased is an animated series worth checking out if you enjoy multiverses – and mysteries. Netflix created a live-action version of this popular show in 2017, but we’re fans of the original anime for its witty humor and immersive storytelling. The story is about “Satoru Fujinuma, a struggling manga artist who has the ability to turn back time and prevent deaths. When his mother is killed, he turns back time to solve the mystery but ends up back in elementary school, just before the disappearance of his classmate Kayo.”
There are many more films and series worth watching for fans of the multiverse genre. Whether you’re a fan of superhero films and enjoy the MCU’s multiverse, or if your first introduction to the multiverse was through Everything Everywhere All At Once, there will be plenty more to enjoy as this genre gains popularity.