6 Movie Spinoffs That Worked Out Really Well

4) This Is 40 (2012)

Knocked Up marked the sophomore directorial effort for Judd Apatow, and much like his debut work in The 40-Year-Old Virgin, the film has held up as that rare comedy that benefits from repeat viewing.

So, after the 2009 comedy/drama blend of Funny People failed to make much of a dent at the box office (and before making another splash at the helm of Amy Schumer’s Trainwreck last year), the director returned to familiar ground with This Is 40, a spinoff film that centers on the Knocked Up characters played by Leslie Mann and Paul Rudd.

Considering the scene-stealing nature of the pair and their undeniable comedic talent, a film based on Pete (Rudd) and Debbie (Mann) is a great idea in theory, and while the movie certainly has its fans, it didn’t receive nearly the universal acclaim that its predecessor did.

Regardless, This Is 40 deserves points for tackling some heady themes amid its many laughs and its winning lead performances. Plus, the film ultimately earned $88 million worldwide against a modest production budget of just $35 million, which isn’t too bad.