List of fictional works featuring parallel universes
Parallel universes (or the multiverse) are a common plot device in fiction.[1][2] This is a list of notable fictional works which feature parallel universes as a plot element.
Novels
[edit]| Year | Title | Author(s) | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1934 | Sidewise in Time | Murray Leinster | [2] |
Films
[edit]| Year | Title | Director(s) | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | The One | James Wong | A rogue interdimensional cop attempts to kill all 124 of his variants in parallel universes and absorb their power in order to become a god-like being known as the "One." |
| 2018 | Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse | Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsey, and Rodney Rothman | Several parallel-universe versions of Spider-Man from within the film's multiverse are depicted.[3] |
| 2022 | Everything Everywhere All at Once | Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert | [4] |
| 2024 | I Saw the TV Glow | Jane Schoenbrun | Main characters Owen and Maddy slowly realize that they are living false lives trapped in a pocket dimension within the world of their favorite TV show, The Pink Opaque, having been imprisoned there by the show's antagonist. |
| 2024 | Deadpool & Wolverine | Shawn Levy | Wade Wilson (Deadpool) and James "Logan" Howlett (Wolverine) team up to save the multiverse from Cassandra Nova. |
Television series
[edit]| Airdates | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Re:Creators | Features fictional characters from popular in-universe media traveling from their respective narrative universes to contemporary Japan.[5] |
| 2024 - present | Dark Matter | [6] |
Video games
[edit]| Year | Title | Developer(s) | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Sonic Rush | Dimps | A playable character, Blaze the Cat, and one of the game's antagonists, Eggman Nega, are depicted as having come from an alternate world known as the Sol Dimension.[7] |
| 2020 | Hatsune Miku: Colorful Stage! | Colorful Palette/Sega | Characters within the game visit alternate dimensions made from their emotions, called Sekai, where various alternate versions of Hatsune Miku and other virtual singers reside. |
| 2021 | Blue Archive | Nexon Games | Alternate universe versions of Sensei (the game's player character) and Shiroko appear as antagonists in "Volume Final". |
References
[edit]- ^ Burt, Stephanie (31 October 2022). "Is the Multiverse Where Originality Goes to Die?". The New Yorker – via www.newyorker.com.
- ^ a b Wolfe, Gary (2007-07-04). "Surfing the multiverse". Nature. 448 (7149): 25–26. doi:10.1038/448025a. ISSN 1476-4687.
- ^ Debruge, Peter (November 28, 2018). "Film Review: "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse"". Variety. Archived from the original on November 28, 2018. Retrieved November 28, 2018.
- ^ Lee, Chris (April 13, 2022). "Daniels Unpack the Everything Bagel of Influences Behind Everything Everywhere All at Once". Vulture. Archived from the original on April 16, 2022. Retrieved April 17, 2022.
- ^ "The Spring 2017 Anime Preview Guide - Re:Creators". Anime News Network. 2025-04-28. Retrieved 2025-04-28.
- ^ Lowry, Brian (2024-05-08). "'Dark Matter' becomes the latest show with a bad case of multiverse madness". CNN. Retrieved 2025-04-28.
- ^ Gerstmann, Jeff (November 14, 2005). "Sonic Rush for DS Review - DS Sonic Rush Review". GameSpot. Archived from the original on March 2, 2009. Retrieved February 20, 2009.