Back in 2015, when discussing a Power Rangers reboot we labelled the fan film as a tremendous vehicle for attracting attention. With the filmmaking industry always looking for new avenues to reinvent existing IP, it’s a claim we stand by almost ten years later.

While developments in technology have made it easy to reimagine cinematic universes in new styles (Wes Anderson Star Wars, Pixar Lord of the Rings, etc), fans have been paying homage to these worlds through fan films for years. Whether it’s actor Thomas Jane reprising his role as The Punisher or Morgan Cooper’s reinvention of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, which was so impressive it led to a series, these tribute shorts have garnered millions of admirers online.

With the internet recently abuzz with Warner Bros’ announcement of a new addition to its expanding Lord of the Rings franchise, The Hunt for Gollum, we were immediately reminded of the short film by the same name. Driven by this prompt plus a bevy of recent fan film submissions to our site, our curatorial instincts led us to compile a collection of notable Fan Films on Shortverse. 

We’ve opted for a blend of new and old—for S/W fans, some of these titles will be familiar, but there are also several entries from the past couple of years, including a barbaric take on the Wolverine universe, a live-action homage to Miyazaki and a stunt-filled Mad Max tribute. Watch and enjoy these original takes on beloved franchises just in time for the Summer movie season. 

VIEW THE 11 FILMS IN OUR SHORTVERSE FAN FILMS COLLECTION

🔗 Click on the image to visit Shortverse and watch the films.