With so much source material and (oftentimes) a built-in fanbase to draw from, it’s no wonder that films based on comic books often end up sparking their own franchises or, in the case of recent efforts from Marvel Studios and DC Entertainment, an extensive shared universe of related stories. However, sometimes a single comic book film endeavors to translate an individual tale from the page to the big screen with little to no eye on necessarily sparking off a franchise. Here are five of the best “one-off” comic book films that have yet to spawn a series of releases.

V for Vendetta (2006)

Inspired by the 1988 graphic novel by Alan Moore and David Lloyd, this film centers on a masked revolutionary determined to ignite an uprising in a dystopian version of the United Kingdom. Hugo Weaving stars as the mysterious V, with Natalie Portman along for the ride as a young woman named Evey who gets swept up in his mission. The film marked the directorial debut of James McTeigue, but credit for its success "“ both at the box office and with fans "“ often goes to the Wachowskis (The Matrix). Thematically rich and strikingly visceral in nature, V for Vendetta features a standout script (by the Wachowskis, natch) and a lush score by Oscar-winning composer Dario Marianelli. It also stands as one of the best non-franchise comic book films ever made, despite Moore’s refusal to be credited on it or any other adaptations of his works following the disappointing 2003 release The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen.