How HBO’s The Penguin Broke The Rules Of Cinematic Universes

From Marvel to Star Wars, cinematic universes are more popular than ever. Practically every major franchise has woven a web of interconnected films, TV shows, comic books, and more, which can make entering the fandom feel like a Herculean task for prospective fans. HBO’s The Penguin, however, is a prime example of how cinematic universes can remain inclusive and accessible.

Matt Reeves released his first entry into the DC Cinematic Universe in 2022 with The Batman, a gritty take on the familiar superhero that instantly earned icon status. While the wait drags on for The Batman‘s highly-anticipated sequel, Reeves’ version of Gotham has expanded beyond the big screen. Compared to typical cinematic universes, however, The Batman‘s Penguin spinoff is revolutionary.

HBO’s The Penguin Isn’t Just Supplemental To The Batman

The Crime Drama Can Successfully Stand On Its Own

Colin Farrell first appeared as Oswald “Oz” Cobb in The Batman, but his character was a mere footnote compared to Robert Pattinson’s Bruce Wayne (Batman) or Zoë Kravitz’s Selina Kyle (Catwoman). As such, when HBO released the first teaser for The Penguin, DC superfans and newbies alike were instantly hooked by what appeared to be a classic mafia crime drama.

Rather than simply feel like an add-on to The Batman, it was clear from the start that The Penguin was its own creative endeavor. Thankfully, that originality showed through beautifully in the final product. Oz had a minor yet pivotal role in the 2022 film, but most of his storyline was inextricable from his former boss, Carmine Falcone (John Turturro).

The film painted the outline of his character, but The Penguin is what truly introduced Oz to the audience. In an almost perfectly contained eight-episode narrative, the HBO miniseries masterfully explored every nuance of the character, earning The Penguin critical acclaim with seven well-deserved nominations for the 2025 Primetime Emmy Awards. The series extended far beyond longtime DC lovers, however.

The Penguin Doesn’t Only Appeal To Pre-Existing Fans

Even Superhero Haters Can Enjoy The Spinoff

Though the miniseries does take place after the events of the 2022 movie, they don’t necessarily have to go hand-in-hand. Without question, The Batman lays the groundwork for Oz’s character arc in the HBO hit series, but you can easily appreciate The Penguin without ever having seen a single title from the Batman franchise. Furthermore, The Penguin is the perfect entry point for new viewers.

If you have no interest in the superhero genre, The Penguin satisfies with flying colors as one of HBO’s best crime thrillers. Conversely, if you want to give the DC universe a try, The Penguin functions as a gateway series that introduces the audience to the criminal underbelly of Gotham City without bogging them down with lore dumps and complex powers.

How The Penguin Sets A Precedent For Future Spinoff Series

HBO Set The Bar Incredibly High For Cinematic Universes Moving Forward

More importantly, The Penguin‘s rousing success doesn’t have to be lightning in a bottle. There are plenty of reasons why the HBO miniseries became so massive, and examining them can help other cinematic universes follow suit with their own award-winning spinoffs. Even still, there’s one small catch for franchises that want to replicate The Penguin‘s meteoric rise to popularity.

As evidenced by its viewership alone, The Penguin‘s success never hinged upon its connection to The Batman— but Matt Reeves’ world-building was certainly a contributing factor. There have been numerous iterations of Gotham City, but none have been as realistic and grounded as the one crafted by Reeves. That setting is precisely what allowed The Penguin to be a believable mafioso.

Matt Reeves has teased another spinoff series to The Batman that would focus on Gotham City’s Arkham Asylum.

Regardless, The Penguin‘s distance from The Batman was also one of its greatest strengths. Some staunch DC defenders mourned Robert Pattinson’s absence from The Penguin, but opting to not include Batman was the key to making the audience care about the new characters. Vic’s (Rhenzy Feliz) ending fate would have always been harrowing, but Batman suddenly swooping in would have been a major distraction.

That may be the most invaluable lesson for other cinematic universes to learn: the allure isn’t always in the headliner. Spinoffs should act as an olive branch to invite new viewers, not alienate them with a laundry list of prerequisites. The Penguin was simply a story worth telling, but what took it from good to great was its universal appeal.