The history of movie franchises is vast and plentiful, but there are some film series that have truly stood the test of time, and can’t be replaced. Film is a unique artform in that it opens the door for ongoing storytelling as long as audiences are willing to show up and buy tickets.
Sequels have been a part of film history since the early days, and some of the best films only got better when they returned for another installment. While some sequels have been less-than-stellar, others have blossomed into franchises. Genre films tend to produce the most sequels, but even dramas have spawned their fair share of follow-ups.
A truly great film franchise not only has a lot of sequels, but the sequels themselves help to build the fictional world. Some ideas are just too big to fit into one movie, and sequels are expected to up the ante and deliver even more of what made the original so great.
Though franchise films run the risk of growing stale, there’s no denying that it’s what audiences want to see when they go to the movies. Many franchises have been around for decades, and yet viewers haven’t grown tired of the worlds they create. There are plenty of franchises out there, but only a few that fans can’t live without.
10
Jurᴀssic Park (1993-2025)
The Beloved Dinosaurs-Run-Amok Series
Jurᴀssic Park
- Movie(s)
-
Jurᴀssic Park (1993), The Lost World: Jurᴀssic Park (1997), Jurᴀssic Park 3 (2001), Jurᴀssic World (2015), Jurᴀssic World: Fallen Kingdom (2018), Jurᴀssic World Dominion (2022)
- Created by
-
Michael Crichton, Steven Spielberg
- First Film
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Jurᴀssic Park (1993)
- Latest Film
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Jurᴀssic World: Dominion
- Upcoming Films
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Jurᴀssic World Rebirth
- First TV Show
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Jurᴀssic World Camp Cretaceous
Based on Michael Crichton’s novel of the same name, 1993’s Jurᴀssic Park kicked off the ’90s era of blockbusters with its combination of impressive CGI and practical effects. Naturally, one movie wasn’t enough to satisfy the dinosaur-hungry audience, so a sequel arrived in 1997. Though the sequels failed to match the original, the Jurᴀssic Park universe was undeniably compelling.
The franchise got a reboot with 2015’s Jurᴀssic World, which spawned its own series of blockbuster sequels. Like the original Jurᴀssic Park, the World films declined in quality but never faded in popularity. The franchise is one of the rare examples of a series that remains exciting and dynamic, even if the actual films are lackluster.
9
Mission: Impossible (1996-2025)
Ethan Hunt’s Many Adventures Have Produced Box Office Gold
Mission: Impossible
- Created by
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Bruce Geller, David Koepp, Steven Zaillian, Robert Towne, Christopher McQuarrie, Tom Cruise
- First Film
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Mission: Impossible
- Latest Film
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Mission: Impossible – ᴅᴇᴀᴅ Reckoning
- Upcoming Films
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Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning
- First TV Show
-
Mission: Impossible
- Latest TV Show
-
Mission: Impossible
Tom Cruise headlined the 1996 film adaptation of Mission: Impossible, and the rest was history. The blockbuster first movie was followed by a slew of sequels, but Ethan Hunt’s various adventures only got more explosive with each additional installment. Mission: Impossible dipped in quality for only a single film before rebounding with consistent entries.
Ethan Hunt’s various adventures only got more explosive with each additional installment
Besides all the excellent spycraft that factors into the movies’ plots, it’s the impressive stunt work that sets Mission: Impossible apart. Tom Cruise himself is often on hand to perform many death-defying feats, and even in 2025 the film series is trying to top itself.
8
Star Wars (1977-2019)
A Franchise From A Galaxy Far, Far Away
Star Wars
- Created by
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George Lucas
- First Film
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Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope
- Cast
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Mark Hamill, James Earl Jones, David Prowse, Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford, Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, Ian McDiarmid, Ewan McGregor, Rosario Dawson, Lars Mikkelsen, Rupert Friend, Moses Ingram, Frank Oz, Pedro Pascal
- TV Show(s)
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The Mandalorian, Andor, Obi-Wan Kenobi, The Book of Boba Fett, Ahsoka, The Acolyte, Star Wars: Skeleton Crew, Lando, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars Rebels, Star Wars: The Bad Batch, Star Wars: Resistance, Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures, Star Wars: Visions
- Movie(s)
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Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones, Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith, Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope, Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back, Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi, Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens, Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi, Star Wars: Episode IX- The Rise of Skywalker, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Solo: A Star Wars Story, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars: Dawn of the Jedi, Star Wars: New Jedi Order
- Character(s)
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Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Rey Skywalker, Emperor Palpatine / Darth Sidious, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Ahsoka Tano, Grand Admiral Thrawn, Grand Inquisitor, Reva (The Third Sister), The Fifth Brother, The Seventh Sister, The Eighth Brother, Yoda, Din Djarin, Grogu, Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader, Leia Organa, Ben Solo/Kylo Ren
Perhaps the most famous science fiction franchise of all time, Star Wars is undeniably one of the highlights of blockbuster cinema. George Lucas’ original film from 1977 opened the door to a world beyond imagination, and it was already expanding into other media long before the first trilogy even wrapped up in the early 1980s.
The Skywalker Saga is composed of 9 Star Wars films.
Melding sci-fi and fantasy with a dose of classic serials, Star Wars reinvented what those genres could be. What started as three movies slowly blossomed into a trilogy of trilogies, with standalone films as well. Even though every era of Star Wars has its fans and detractors, the franchise has become one of the most recognizable brands in the world.
7
The Lord Of The Rings (2001-2024)
The Most Epic Of All The Epic Fantasy Series
The Lord of the Rings
- Movie(s)
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The Lord of the Rings (1978), The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies, The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim
- Created by
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J.R.R. Tolkien
- First Film
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The Lord of the Rings (1978)
- Cast
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Norman Bird, Anthony Daniels, Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Liv Tyler, Viggo Mortensen, Sean Astin, Cate Blanchett, John Rhys-Davies, Billy Boyd, Dominic Monaghan, Orlando Bloom, Christopher Lee, Hugo Weaving, Sean Bean, Ian Holm, Andy Serkis, Brad Dourif, Karl Urban, Martin Freeman, Richard Armitage, James Nesbitt, Ken Stott, Benedict Cumberbatch, Evangeline Lilly, Lee Pace, Luke Evans, Morfydd Clark, Mike Wood, Ismael Cruz Cordova, Charlie Vickers, Markella Kavenagh, Megan Richards, Sara Zwangobani, Daniel Weyman, Cynthia Addai-Robinson, Lenny Henry, Brian Cox, Shaun Dooley, Miranda Otto, Bilal Hasna, Benjamin Wainwright, Luke Pasqualino, Christopher Guard, William Squire, Michael Scholes, John Hurt
- TV Show(s)
-
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power
- Character(s)
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Frodo Baggins, Gandalf, Legolas, Boromir, Sauron, Gollum, Samwise Gamgee, Pippin Took, Celeborn, Aragorn, Galadriel, Bilbo Baggins, Saruman, Aldor, Wormtongue, Thorin Oakenshield, Balin Dwalin, Bifur, Bofur, Bombur, Fili, Kili, Oin, Gloin, Nori, Dori, Ori, Tauriel, King Thranduil, Smaug, Radagast, Arondir, Nori Brandyfoot, Poppy Proudfellow, Marigold Brandyfoot, Queen Regent Míriel, Sadoc Burrows
It was once thought to be impossible to adapt J.R.R. Tolkien’s groundbreaking Lord of the Rings trilogy into live-action films, but director Peter Jackson disagreed. Between 2001 and 2003, the trilogy elevated blockbuster cinema, and distilled Tolkien’s mᴀssive world into digestible and all-encompᴀssing feature films. What’s more, the trilogy won a slew of awards too.
Jackson’s trilogy preserved the core of the original fantasy world of Middle-earth
By mixing state-of-the-art technology with classic filmmaking techniques, Jackson’s trilogy preserved the core of the original fantasy world of Middle-earth. Even though the Hobbit trilogy was a bit disappointing, the magic was still there. The future of the franchise looks bright, and more films set in Middle-earth are planned.
6
The Marvel Cinematic Universe (2008-2025)
Cinema’s Most Ambitious Franchise
Marvel Cinematic Universe
- Created by
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Kevin Feige
- First Film
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Iron Man
- Upcoming Films
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ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine, Captain America: Brave New World, Thunderbolts*, Blade (2025), The Fantastic Four: First Steps, Avengers: Doomsday (2026), Avengers: Secret Wars
- First TV Show
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Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
- Upcoming TV Shows
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Agatha: Coven of Chaos, Ironheart, Daredevil: Born Again, Wakanda, Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, Marvel Zombies, Wonder Man, Vision Quest
- Cast
-
Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Samuel L. Jackson, Jeremy Renner, Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Edward Norton, Paul Rudd, Tom Holland, Tom Hiddleston, Anthony Mackie, Cobie Smulders, Brie Larson, Chadwick Boseman, Sebastian Stan, Chris Pratt, Dave Bautista, Zoe Saldana, Bradley Cooper, Vin Diesel, Pom Klementieff, Josh Brolin, Karen Gillan, Clark Gregg, Paul Bettany, Don Cheadle, Benedict Cumberbatch, Evangeline Lilly, Simu Liu, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Angelina Jolie, Kit Harington, Salma Hayek, Richard Madden, Barry Keoghan, Gemma Chan, Ma Dong-seok, Brian Tyree Henry, Kumail Nanjiani, Lauren Ridloff, Lia McHugh, Jonathan Majors
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As the Marvel Cinematic Universe approaches its 20th anniversary, it’s easy to forget just how ambitious the entire project was. Adapting Marvel Comics into live-action films had proven to be challenging before, but 2008’s Iron Man jump-started a new era of superhero movies. A slew of other standalone films followed, but they were all actually set in the same universe.
By linking events together, the MCU expected audiences to be invested in every movie. Though many of the films have been just okay, some of the MCU films are bona fide classics with strong writing and excellent visual effects. Nearly every modern franchise is trying to copy the MCU’s success, but none have been able to match it.
5
The Wizarding World (2001-2022)
The Great Fantasy Series Of The Modern Age
Harry Potter
- Created by
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J.K. Rowling
- First Film
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Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
- First TV Show
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Harry Potter
- Cast
-
Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Tom Felton, Alan Rickman, Matthew Lewis, Bonnie Wright, Evanna Lynch, Maggie Smith, Michael Gambon, Richard Harris, Ralph Fiennes, Helena Bonham Carter, Alfred Enoch, Harry Melling, Gary Oldman, Robert Pattinson, Warwick Davis, Oliver Phelps, James Phelps, David Bradley, David Thewlis, Katie Leung, Jason Isaacs, Imelda Staunton, David Tennant, Jamie Campbell Bower, Timothy Spall, Robbie Coltrane, Eddie Redmayne, Jude Law, Katherine Waterston, Ezra Miller, Dan Fogler, Alison Sudol, Johnny Depp, Mads Mikkelsen
- TV Show(s)
-
Harry Potter
- Movie(s)
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Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore
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In the same year that The Lord of the Rings made its live-action debut, a relatively new fantasy book series also made the jump to the big screen. The Harry Potter franchise got off to a H๏τ start, and a new film arrived every year or two for a full decade.
The series had a profound impact on 2000s popular culture, and it inspired a slew of imitators. Each movie was a cinematic event, and the finale of the 8-movie series was the end of an era. However, the Fantastic Beasts trilogy kicked off a few years later, proving that there was more magic to squeeze out of the Wizarding World.
4
Indiana Jones (1981-2023)
Harrison Ford’s Timeless Action Franchise
Indiana Jones
- Created by
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George Lucas
- First Film
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Raiders of the Lost Ark
- Cast
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Harrison Ford, Denholm Elliott, John Rhys-Davies, Karen Allen, Kate Capshaw, Ke Huy Quan, Amrish Puri, Sean Connery, Julian Glover, Alison Doody, Shia LaBeouf, Cate Blanchett, Ray Winstone, John Hurt, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Mads Mikkelsen
- Video Game(s)
-
Raiders of the Lost Ark, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Indiana Jones’ Greatest Adventures, LEGO Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures, Lego Indiana Jones 2: The Adventure Continues, Indiana Jones and the Infernal Machine, Indiana Jones and the Emperor’s Tomb, Indiana Jones and the Staff of Kings
- Movie(s)
-
Raiders of the Lost Ark, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny
- Character(s)
-
Indiana Jones, Marcus Brody, Sallah, Marion Ravenwood, Wilhelmina Scott, Wan Li, Mola Ram, Henry Jones, Sr., Walter Donovan, Elsa Schneider, Henry Jones III, Irina Spalko, George Michale, Harold Oxley, Helena Shaw, Jürgen Voller
Raiders of the Lost Ark was Steven Spielberg’s love-letter to the serials he grew up loving, but the adventures of archeologist Indiana Jones were only just getting started. Set at various points in the 1930s, the Indiana Jones films combine high adventure with pulse-pounding action, and they do so with Spielberg’s signature timeless charm.
|
Indiana Jones Movie |
Release Year |
Rotten Tomatoes Score |
|---|---|---|
|
Raiders of the Lost Ark |
1981 |
94% |
|
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom |
1984 |
77% |
|
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade |
1989 |
84% |
|
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull |
2008 |
77% |
|
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny |
2023 |
70% |
What was just a trilogy eventually became a quartet with 2008’s Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, and another sequel arrived in 2023. While the modern Indiana Jones films are only so-so, the original trilogy is so beloved that no amount of bad legacy sequels could tarnish their reputation.
3
Alien (1979-2024)
The Ultimate In Extraterrestrial Terror
Alien
- Movie(s)
-
Alien, Aliens (1986), Alien 3 (1992), Alien: Resurrection (1997), Prometheus (2012), Alien: Covenant (2017), Alien: Romulus (2024)
- Created by
-
Ridley Scott
- First Film
-
Alien
- Latest Film
-
Alien: Romulus
- Upcoming TV Shows
-
Alien: Earth
- Cast
-
Sigourney Weaver, Tom Skerritt, Veronica Cartwright, Harry Dean Stanton, John Hurt, Ian Holm, Yaphet Kotto, Michael Biehn, Paul Reiser, Lance Henriksen, Carrie Henn, Bill Paxton, Charles S. Dutton, Charles Dance, Pete Postlethwaite, Winona Ryder, Ron Perlman, Dan Hedaya, Noomi Rapace, Charlize Theron, Idris Elba, Guy Pearce, Michael Fᴀssbender, Katherine Waterston, Billy Crudup, Danny McBride, Demián Bichir
Ridley Scott’s Alien was something never before seen in the genres of science fiction or horror, and the 1979 film was a true blend of its disparate genres. With the ᴅᴇᴀᴅly Xenomorph as the franchise’s main villain, Alien would grow into a larger franchise with an action-packed sequel in 1986 that expanded the lore of the semi-dystopian future.
Though the franchise has jumped between action and horror with varying degrees of success, the fictional universe of Alien is still one of the most compelling in cinema history. The series explores ideas like metaphysics and philosophy, while also having a strong undercurrent of body horror. Alien: Romulus got back to basics, and more extraterrestrial terror is on the horizon.
2
James Bond (1962-2021)
The 007 Franchise Will Never Die
James Bond
- Created by
-
Ian Fleming, Albert R. Broccoli
- First Film
-
Dr. No
- Latest Film
-
No Time to Die
- Upcoming Films
-
James Bond 26
- Genres
-
Action
- First TV Show
-
Fleming: The Man Who Would be Bond
No film franchise has managed to go through so many changes in its history and still remain just as popular as ever, and the James Bond series is truly one-of-a-kind. Based on the eponymous book series by Ian Fleming, Bond debuted with Sean Connery in the role in 1962, but has periodically swapped actors ever since.
There have been 25 official James Bond films thus far, with a 26th currently in development.
Tonally, the spy series has also evolved in each new decade, with Daniel Craig’s era especially gritty and realistic compared to previous runs. No matter who is in the lead role, the James Bond series can be counted on to deliver intense action and plenty of clever gadgetry.
1
Mad Max (1979-2024)
A Truly Perfect Franchise From Start To Finish
Mad Max
- Movie(s)
-
Mad Max, Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior, Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome, Mad Max: Fury Road, Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, Mad Max: The Wasteland
- First Film
-
Mad Max
- Cast
-
Mel Gibson, Joanne Samuel, Hugh Keays-Byrne, Steve Bisley, Tim Burns, Roger Ward, Tom Hardy, Charlize Theron, Nicholas Hoult, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Riley Keough, Zoë Kravitz, Abbey Lee, Courtney Eaton, Anya Taylor-Joy, Chris Hemsworth, Tom Burke, Alyla Browne
- Video Game(s)
-
Mad Max (1990), Mad Max (2015)
- Character(s)
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Max Rockatansky, Immortan Joe, Furiosa, Rictus Erectus, Angharad, The People Eater, Corpus Colossus, Toecutter, Nux, Dr. Dementus
- Comic Release Date
-
213377,213380
George Miller’s Mad Max series started as an ultra-low-budget action flick, and has since become one of cinema’s most celebrated franchises. The Road Warrior established the post-apocalyptic tone of the series, and the episodic adventures of the тιтle character only got bigger and better with each sequel.
The practical nature of the action sequences gives the films a gritty feel, and the fictional universe of the apocalyptic wasteland has clever little touches that add to the story. Movie franchises are almost never perfect, but the Mad Max series is the closest any has come to getting it right every time.
