The second successful animated franchise on the list (You will know which as you progress), but this time it isn’t Disney. In fact, it beats any other Disney property by being the highest grossing animated franchise ever. The only other animation house that has come closer to Pixar in terms of content is Dreamworks Animation, and some of their most successful films include Kung Fu Panda, ‘How to Train Your Dragon‘, and Madagascar. One such wildly successful franchise from Dreamworks came as the story of a mild mannered ogre and his cohorts.
Kicking off with ‘X-Men’ (2000) directed by Bryan Singer, the film did superhero ensembles before it was cool, and is arguably the film that sent the craze for superhero movies over the roof. With a newer, younger cast, and most of the better X-Men stories still waiting to be adapted, here’s hoping Fox makes the best out of it. Three years after the first movie, the cast would get things right with the follow-up effort, The Wrath of Khan. Featuring a memorable nemesis and a theme of vengeance, the second film proved to be a fan favorite, surpassing its predecessor in almost every way. Over time, more Star Trek films would make their way to the big screen, featuring the casts of the original series as well as The Next Generation.
All this makes The Final Reckoning an especially haunting reflection of the modern age of AI, cyberterrorism, and misinformation. The Final Reckoning, unfortunately, has gone farther afield. Right now, the film industry is in a weird place, with studios and financiers far more willing to return to the well of proven hits than take the risk on something original. But “Final Destination Bloodlines” proves that there is still gold to be mined as long as you have people at the helm who genuinely care about making the best movie possible. With her university grades suffering from a lack of sleep due to the nightmares, she travels back to her hometown to talk to her family and try to get to the bottom of what’s tormenting her. With George Lazenby and Timothy Dalton also having severely underrated turns as Bond, the saga invites viewers to revel in all the spectacle, from the camp and corny to the grounded and gritty, and discover their favorite 007.
Even if you haven’t been miraculously gifted several days of free time to binge-watch, these movie series are the ones to start catching up as soon as possible. These are for the movie lovers who enjoy a good story told over the course of a few films—and TBH, the stories may not even be that good all the time, but the characters and set pieces are fun, k? I will defend my love of movie trilogies and franchises to the death, y’all. It’s nice to get invested in characters and spend some time with them. As with Star Wars, we can thank George Lucas’ fascination with the classic movie serials of the 1930s and 1940s for this adventure series about a cocky, handsome, swashbuckling archaeologist. This time, though, Lucas handed the directorial reins over to Steven Spielberg, and together, they breathed life into three of the most iconic action-adventures to come out of the 1980s.
Who doesn’t wish they could slip through a closet and into a realm where the real world’s problems no longer exist. For more than a decade, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has built an expansive set of films while raising the commercial expectations for ongoing movie series. Batman has a long-standing history in cinema, with each iteration of the character being a unique take on the DC legend and his real-life identity Bruce Wayne. While the franchise has some low points, in the end Batman is still the Batman we know, follow, and adore. What’s movie guide impressive about this huge franchise is that its connections to other Marvel movies started as an in-joke. But after The Avengers in 2012, the crossover appeal proved to be a winning bet for eager audiences.
This time, he wasn’t the one winning races but stepping into Hudson’s shoes—or tires—to mentor someone else to win a race. It may not have the awards of some other Pixar titles, but it’s the movie that made a lot of little hearts beat with excitement when hearing engines roar. Explore iconic movie franchises that defined genres, from Bourne to Star Trek to Kill Bill—and where to stream them all now.
The Mission: Impossible Series
Borrowing fun details from the canon, putting together an outstanding ensemble of misfit characters, and executing a bonkers plot that crescendos with the reveal of Starro, it’s a delight that repeatedly rewards on rewatch. The Fast & Furious franchise didn’t have much of an identity in its early years, but everything changed with the arrival of Dwayne Johnson’s Luke Hobbs and the action insanity of Fast Five. The movies pivoted from being about street racing to high stakes heists/globe-trotting crime, and director Justin Lin assured us it was the right choice by executing what remains the high point of the run. Spanning three films and more than 11 hours total running time, it’s an epic franchise in more ways than one. Just be sure you buy enough popcorn to see you through to the end of your movie marathon.
The 27 greatest movie franchises of all time, according to critics
It links directly to connecting with new fans. It shows continued creative vision. This strategic renewal makes it one of the best movie franchises.
Working under the Impossible Missions Force (IMF), Ethan Hunt is an elite talent trained in hand-to-hand combat as well as many stealth tactics. Tasked with the most covert jobs imaginable, he and his crew face insurmountable odds as they deal with sensitive international missions on a daily basis. The beautiful ongoing story of a kid connecting with his father at an eccentric job, a statue of Teddy Roosevelt who becomes a mentor, and a little cowboy and Roman soldier in love. We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we love. And while The Hobbit prequel series might have some rewarding moments among its disappointing faults, we’re strictly focusing on Peter Jackson’s incredible adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s main novel.
This includes original films and newer ones. Plans exist for completely new periods. This reinvention supports its relevance. It helps connect with new generations. This strategic adaptability makes it one of the best movie franchises.
It also appears in the Fantastic Beasts movies. The Ministry of Magic is detailed. Films bring these places to life. Video games like Hogwarts Legacy increase immersion.
The Pirates of the Caribbean franchise
Oh, and Pacino, Brando, and De Niro are all incredible. Undoubtedly one of the best movie series of all time. One of the best setups for an action movie franchise in the last 25 or 30 years, indeed.
Its impact was felt across both the adventure and sci-fi genres, with cutting-edge CGI bringing dinosaurs to life in a way never seen before. Longevity also hinges on fostering a dedicated fanbase. Franchises that actively engage with their audiences—through conventions, social media, or interactive content—build a sense of community that ensures ongoing support. Whether through its iconic starships, diverse crew, or commitment to optimism, Star Trek continues to boldly go where no franchise has gone before.