Today, the term "cinematic universe" no longer surprises anyone. Marvel, DC, MonsterVerse - studios are building entire franchises where heroes transition from film to film, and the events of one project influence others.
Disclaimer:In this article, we use the original English titles of the films. This helps avoid confusion, as Ukrainian translations are not always official and may vary depending on the edition or service.
But few remember that one of the first modern cinematic universes appeared back in 1994. It was created by independent director Kevin Smith, naming it View Askewniverse.
This is not about blockbusters with multi-million budgets. There are no superheroes, space battles, or special effects. Instead, there are ordinary people, shops, comics, strange dialogues, dark humor, and two iconic characters who are almost always nearby - Jay and Silent Bob.
That is why the View Askewniverse remains one of the most interesting examples of how to build an entire universe with almost no money.
What the name View Askewniverse means
The name consists of two parts.
View Askew is the name of Kevin Smith's production company (View Askew Productions).
The word Askew in English means "crooked," "at an angle," "not like everyone else." So it can literally be translated as:
View Askew Universe
Universe shown from a different angle
Universe of the View Askew company
The term View Askewniverse was not coined immediately. At first, viewers simply noticed that different films were interconnected. Over time, this name became established among fans and Kevin Smith himself.
How it all began
Marilyn Ghigliotti, Jeff Anderson, Kevin Smith, Brian O'Halloran та Lisa Spoonauer.
In 1994, Kevin Smith sold almost his entire comic book collection, took out a few loans, and shot the film Clerks for about $27,000.
The film was black-and-white, almost entirely shot in a small store where Smith himself worked as a clerk.
At first glance - nothing special.
But the film became a real sensation at the Sundance festival. It proved that interesting characters and a good script can be more important than expensive special effects.
It was from this moment that the View Askewniverse began to take shape.
The main feature of the universe
Almost all films are interconnected.
Sometimes it's obvious:
the same characters;
the same locations;
identical events.
Sometimes the connection is quite small:
a mention of a familiar hero;
a character's random appearance in the background;
news on the television;
a dialogue that refers to another film.
It is such little details that make watching particularly interesting.
Jay and Silent Bob - the symbols of the universe
If there is a face of the View Askewniverse, it is them.
Jay - talkative, loud, completely unpredictable.
Silent Bob hardly speaks. But when he does, he usually utters the wisest phrase of the entire film.
Interestingly, the role of Silent Bob is played by Kevin Smith himself.
They can be the main characters, secondary characters, or just stand by the store for a few seconds.
Without them, the View Askewniverse is hard to imagine.
Main films of the View Askewniverse
Clerks (1994)
The beginning of it all.
The story of one working day of two store clerks.
This is where Jay and Silent Bob first appear.
Mallrats (1995)
The events take place in a shopping mall.
The film initially flopped at the box office but later became a cult classic.
There is much more comedic madness here.
Chasing Amy (1997)
The most serious film in the entire series.
It's no longer just a comedy, but a story about love, friendship, growing up, and the complexities of human relationships.
Many critics consider it Kevin Smith's best work.
Dogma (1999)
Probably the most famous film by the director.
A comedy about two fallen angels trying to return to heaven.
The film sparked a huge amount of controversy due to its religious themes.
Kevin Smith even joked that he protested against his own film alongside demonstrators.
Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (2001)
Essentially, this is a big celebration for fans.
Almost all characters from previous films return here.
The film is literally filled with jokes about Hollywood, comics, and Kevin Smith himself.
Clerks II (2006)
More than ten years have passed.
The characters have aged, but their problems have hardly changed.
The film combines nostalgia, humor, and unexpectedly strong drama.
Jay and Silent Bob Reboot (2019)
A kind of reimagining of the 2001 film.
Smith openly mocks the modern trend of franchise reboots.
At the same time, the film is filled with cameos and references to the entire history of the universe.
Clerks III (2022)
The most emotional part of the entire series.
It is largely inspired by real events from Kevin Smith's life after he suffered a heart attack.
The film speaks a lot about growing up, friendship, creativity, and how quickly time passes.
Which films are NOT part of the View Askewniverse
Because they were also made by Kevin Smith, confusion often arises.
The official View Askewniverse does not include:
Red State
Tusk
Yoga Hosers
KillRoy Was Here
Cop Out
Zack and Miri Make a Porno
Jay and Silent Bob may be mentioned somewhere or exist as a cultural phenomenon, but these films are not part of the shared story.
In what order to watch
The best way is in order of release.
Clerks
Mallrats
Chasing Amy
Dogma
Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back
Clerks II
Jay and Silent Bob Reboot
Clerks III
This way, the development of the characters feels the best.
Why this universe still works
Unlike major franchises, the View Askewniverse was never built around a grand plot.
Its strength lies in the characters.
The heroes grow up alongside the viewers. They change jobs, get married, make mistakes, argue, reconcile, and experience midlife crises.
Kevin Smith is not afraid to show that time passes. His characters age just like the people who watched the first Clerks back in the nineties.
That is why the final scenes of Clerks III became so emotional for many fans.
Interesting facts
Most early films take place in New Jersey, where Kevin Smith himself grew up.
Dante and Randall became cult heroes of independent American cinema.
Jay almost always starts his monologues with the same famous phrase.
Silent Bob hardly speaks, but his lines often become the climax of the scene.
The View Askewniverse has been around for over 30 years, making it one of the longest-lasting auteur cinematic universes.
If you love cinematic universes only for the grand battles and special effects, this series may seem unusual. But that is its strength.
The View Askewniverse shows that a shared world can be built not only on a grand plot but also on living characters, recurring places, familiar faces, and easily recognizable dialogues. Kevin Smith's films are often crude, provocative, and filled with pop culture jokes, but at the same time, they are very human. They talk about friendship, growing up, loss, love, and how people change over the years.
Perhaps that is why the View Askewniverse remains beloved by many viewers even three decades after the release of the first Clerks. It is one of the few cases where independent cinema managed to create its own recognizable universe long before it became a major trend in Hollywood.
If you want more Kevin Smith after the films
If you enjoy Kevin Smith's work, it's worth paying attention not only to his films. Over the years, he has spoken at colleges and universities, where in his characteristic manner, he answered audience questions, shared stories from the set, about Hollywood, comics, and his own life.
These meetings became so popular that several collections of recordings were released, among which the most famous are An Evening with Kevin Smith, An Evening with Kevin Smith 2: Evening Harder, and Sold Out: A Threevening with Kevin Smith.
Even if you have already watched all the films of the View Askewniverse, these performances allow you to better understand the director himself, his sense of humor, and the stories that later influenced his work.
