Warning: This post contains spoilers for Split and the Cloverfield films.

Shyamalan and J.J.’s different approaches make for interesting creative comparisons. By naming his film 10 Cloverfield Lane, J.J. removes any confusion over the significance of the outside threat. While Mary Elizabeth Winstead’s character questions the existence of the danger, the audience knows better. The audience is robbed of the surprise when she inevitably ventures outside in the third act. Instead, we’re all just waiting for her defeat the metaphorical monster and fight the real ones. Similarly, Paradox’s Cloverfied ties eliminate suspense. Rather than waiting for the consequence of Shepard accelerator—namely, the ensuing kaiju chaos—the audience just waits for an explanation. Many are still waiting.

Shyamalan, on the other hand, leaves us in constant suspense. Through two-thirds of Split, we’re still mostly watching a kidnapping flick at the hands of a psychopath with dissociative identity disorder. The shocking “twist” thus comes as a complete surprise as Shyamalan reveals The Beast and the supernatural nature of the film. Had Split been advertised as an Unbreakable sequel, the audience might have expected McAvoy’s transformation.

“J.J. removes any confusion over the significance of the outside threat”.

On the box office side, Split also comes out ahead with nearly $280 M, easily topping the $110 M of 10 Cloverfied Lane. The Cloverfield Paradox, meanwhile, never even received a shot at the box office. What’s more, Cloverfield fans are too busy sorting through the paradox to even contemplate the possibilities of part 4. Conversely, Shyamalan fans are now clamoring for the third installment in the Unbreakable franchise: Glass. This anticipation is not unwarranted. Glass promises to bring together Bruce Willis, James McAvoy, Anya Taylor-Joy, and Samuel L. Jackson in early 2019.

Ultimately, both franchises have fans and detractors. As we’ve seen on the podcast, one man’s Open House is another man’s Ritual. Thus, the “correct” path for your cinematic universe likely depends on what expectations you want to set, if any, and how you want to set them. While we are always looking for something new and original, if tie-ins to existing universes draw a larger audience, so be it. Either way, we’ll always be pumped when our favorite creators sit down to put something creative to film!