Sometimes when we watch movies, we get so engrossed and involved in them that we want more! That’s where movie franchises play the best role, as they allow us to watch not only one but many movies with the same actors and story. There are so many movie franchises that are a massive hit in the world! They have left their impression on millions; we cannot stop wanting more.
This blog will discuss the top 20 movie franchises and their impact on the box office, viewers, and popularity. These movie franchises will enchant you with their amazing plots and ever-charming actors! And we are sure that you will find at least one of your favorites in this list.
Top 20 Movie Franchises Of All Time:
So, check this list out and spot your favorite movie franchise! As for us? We can’t decide on one so we are giving you a list of the top 20 movie franchises! This list has a variety of genres for your preference. Happy Reading!
1. Marvel Cinematic Universe:
- Box Office Till now: $29.61 billion
- Number of Films: 32
MCU doesn’t need an introduction; they are so popular worldwide amongst kids and adults that their fan base knows no bounds or limits. With a collection of more than 26 Billion as of now, this movie franchise is amongst the top movie franchises in this world. With top-notch cast members, Marvel has made unprecedented progress over the years.
There are 32 films in its court, and looking at their numbers, they will not halt anytime soon. Started with Iron Man to the films it is producing now. Marvel Cinematic Universe is a champ in its league, with competitors not visible in the eyeline!
2. Spider-Man:
- Box Office Till now: $10.38 billion
- Number of Films: 10
Our friendly neighborhood Spider-Man has broken all the records and served as the ultimate here of the movie franchises list. The Spider-Man franchise, with the addition of the recent Spider-Man: Across the Verse series, has made it to the second number on the list, and what a sight it is! This recent movie added more than 500 Million Dollars worldwide to the franchise’s name, like a cherry on top of the cake.
There are 10 films, including 4 different Spider-Mans- Toby Maguire, Andrew Garfield, Tom Holland, and Shameik Moore. The interesting part is that all the different spider-men are loved equally amongst the audience, with their fan base increasing each day with their discovery!
3. Star Wars:
- Box Office Till now: $10.32 Billion
- Number of Films: 11
The star of the movie franchises list- The Star Wars franchise is a force to be reckoned with. All the movies have been nominated for the Academy Awards at some point, making it evident that they are so loved and popular amongst the audience and the critics. The 11 films host powerful stories, and the cast is the best part, according to the audience.
There are many other films that the Star Wars franchise is planning in their domain, making it safe to say that the spot this franchise has attained on the list will be fixed and may even move places ahead!
4. Harry Potter:
- Box Office Till now: $9.66 Billion
- Number of Films: 8
The world-famous movie franchise Harry Potter started with the most popular book series and turned into one of the best movie franchises today. With super-talented cast members like- Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson, this franchise is a treat to the eyes and the perfect series for binge-watching.
The movie franchise became so successful that Warner Bros. decided to adopt them and take accountability. The fans expect more spin-offs and movies from the makers, but the current collection of more than 9 Billion already speaks volumes about its impact on the people.
5. James Bond:
- Box Office Till now: $7.83 Billion
- Number of Films: 25
Name one James Bond you didn’t love, because even we cannot do such a thing! With 25 films and so many charming Bonds later, the movie franchise is a cult favorite in the action genre. James Bond movies are known for their incomparable class, charm, and how can we forget the cars? The movies have bonuses to the film’s box office collection from the start to the end.
The latest James Bond, Daniel Craig, made his mark with his last movie in the Franchise- No Time to Die. The goosebumps-inducing film will keep you on your toes like any other bond film in the franchise. The franchise is in a well-deserved position in the movie franchise list.
6. The Avengers:
- Box Office Till now: $7.76 Billion
- Number of Films: 4
With the thunderous clash of iron and the shield of justice, this movie franchise has etched its name into the minds of cinematic history and the people watching it.
This is one of the movie franchises that crosses the boundaries of time and space with its sequences; the Avengers have captivated the hearts of audiences worldwide, becoming a cult favorite series that is more emotional than just the movies.
Each installment is a power-packed narrative of heroism, sacrifice, camaraderie, and determination. As the box office was rocked under the weight of their impact of $7.7 Billion, The Avengers emerged not just as a franchise but as a cultural phenomenon that has united generations under the banner of blockbuster hits.
7. Fast and Furious:
- Box Office Till now: $7.33B Billion
- Number of Films: 12
The Fast and Furious movie franchise has had the same charm in the audience’s hearts since day 1. The box office collection showing more than 7 Billion numbers has made the Fast and Furious series enter the list of must-watch movies too. The Fast and Furious franchise also received a lot of love and support after the untimely demise of Paul Walker, one of the lead actors in the cast.
With 12 movies in its court, each movie’s average box office collection was $700 Million, making it an instant hit for the watchers. The most recent movie Fast X has collected $388 Million, adding to the ever-powerful landscape of these movies.
8. Batman:
- Box Office Till now: $6.84 Billion
- Number of Films: 13
Here we are talking about the first and old Batman series! Even if the series are old, they were a massive hit, and the collection they have made is off the charts! With a collection of more than 6 Billion and 13 films, the classic superhero tale has been etched in the hearts of all age groups, whether children or adults.
With an average of 300 million per movie, this movie franchise is undoubtedly one of the top movie franchises. The top-notch star cast, cinematography, storyline, and of course, the love from the audience are all the factors that have contributed to the growth of this movie series over the years.
9. DC Universe:
- Box Office Till now: $6.57 Billion
- Number of Films: 15
The DC universe hosts many movies ranging from the enigmatic Superman to the ever-fabulous Wonder Woman. These movies have exemplified the true meaning of superheroes and fantasy, all while maintaining a good plot and grabbing the audience’s attention. These movies have amassed a fortune, making them enter the list of the top 20 movie franchises in the world currently.
The average collection of each DC universe film is said to be approximately $527 million per film. No wonder the audiences show so much love to these movies! The current gem in the DC universe movies has to be Aquaman, with a collection of $808 Million. If you haven’t checked out the different genre movies in the DC universe, go check them out now!
10. X-Men:
- Box Office Till now: $6.08 Billion
- Number of Films: 13
These series have received critical acclaim and love from audiences worldwide. The movie has made around 6 billion dollars in the box office collection, and who knows that a re-run might even increase those numbers for it! X:Men: Days of Future Past and Logan are the most loved in this franchise and are considered some of the greatest superhero movies made in movie franchises.
The franchise’s highest-grossing film would be Deadpool 2, with its box office collection of more than 200 million, adding a lot of value to the franchise. These movies are still very popular amongst the crowd and are in high competition with the DC and MCU universes.
11. Jurassic Park:
- Box Office Till now: $6.00 Billion
- Number of Films: 7
The dinosaurs rule this series and our hearts too! Jurassic Park is a thrill ride to watch and is perfect for all age groups, whether in the theatres or even in the comfort of your house.
Jurassic Park has 7 movies making it the perfect binge-watch-worthy movie franchise in the domain of movie franchises. Jurassic Park has also earned a whopping collection for singular movies and collectively with all the movies.
Jurassic Park has made its mark on people which is evident in the numbers because each movie has earned approximately $200 Million. The total gross shows the figures being around 6 Billion, which explains the popularity of Jurassic Park in the world.
12. The Lord of the Rings:
- Box Office Till now: $5.95 billion
- Number of Films: 3
The Lord of the Rings has also made its mark out in the world with the three gems of movies and superb cinematography given to the audience. The Box Office collection nearly touched 3 Million, proving the success of the movies across the globe. The Lord of the Rings trilogy is an adaptation of the books, but they have their charm in the movies.
The movie has cult favourite characters and an engaging storyline which gave it a gross of nearly a billion dollars per film which is a whopping number. The Lord of the Rings trilogy continues to make a mark on the people as its popularity increases and people are getting to know more about it.
13. Avatar:
- Box Office Till now: $5.24 Billion
- Number of Films: 5
Who can forget the blue-blooded creatures out of the list? Avatar made a sensation amongst the crowd when it was first released and had the same effect on the audience to date. The first movie of Avatar that came out grossed around $2.92 billion worldwide and is also regarded as the highest-grossing film in the franchise. The rest is history, as they say, as the graph of the popularity of avatars only went up in the eyes of the people.
The recent movie Avatar which came out in December 2022- Way of Water, also had amazing box office numbers making $2 billion at the global box office! These numbers made the franchise gross around 5 Billion dollars in total. With only two movies, Avatar has made a record in being one of the best movie franchises.
14. Transformers:
- Box Office Till now: $5.19 Billion
- Number of Films: 7
Transformers did transform the dynamic of the box office landscape with over 5 Billion Dollars as their overall box office collection! These movies were an instant hit amongst all age groups, and their impressive CGI is something one cannot miss while watching these masterpieces! Though there have been no new transformer movie announcements, the existing ones have grossed approximately 1 billion.
The most famous movies out of the collection were Dark of the Moon and Age of Extinction, which became a cult favorite after release. If you’re thinking of a re-watch now, you will know the worth of your favorite Transformers characters. The Transformers merchandise was also a massive hit amongst the audience.
15. Despicable Me:
- Box Office Till now: $4.64 billion
- Number of Films: 4
Say BA-NA-NA as Despicable Me does make the list of the best movie franchises, and we are not surprised. With a collection of 4 movies, these tablet-like creatures took everyone’s heart up their sleeves! They were a favorite character for so many people when the movie was released; even now, they are the wallpaper of many people we know! But do you know these little creatures amassed a fortune of approximately 4.6 Billion? Yeah, now we are surprised!
Minions: The Rise of Gru movie had earned approximately 3 Billion itself! The whole world is hoping for another despicable me hit so that they can indulge in the madness that is Minions! Each movie had a fair share of their collection in the franchise and made it where it stands today.
16. Pirates of the Caribbean:
- Box Office Till now: $4.52 Billion
- Number of Films: 5
It is no secret that the Pirates of the Caribbean movie franchise is a top hit worldwide. Captain Jack Sparrow is known for his adventures and daring nature! In the same way, Pirates of the Caribbean movie is known for its blockbuster, collecting a total of 4.5 Billion worldwide with all its movies. All the 5itsms were a major hit in the crowd, leaving a mark on the audience who loves adventure.
The highest-grossing film out of all 5 was Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest, which added much weight to the gross of the overall franchise. The movies were also critically acclaimed and had a decent collection in other countries and their respective regions. These movies are a perfect addition to your watch list if you want to watch something funny yet adventurous.
17. Shrek:
- Box Office Till now: $4.01 Billion
- Number of Films: 6
There has been a time in all our lives when we were awed by Shrek and Fiona, and we guess our awe is what got this movie to be on the list of the top 20 movie franchises. Shrek is a cult favorite among all age groups and, over the years, has gained immense popularity worldwide.
Shrek has made a total of 4 Billion, with 6 of its films out for scrutiny. Well, our first guess would be that the first movie would have been the biggest hit! But that’s not the case.
Shrek 2 was given the title of the biggest hit with approximately $441,226,247 (400 million) given during and to date its run it is the highest-grossing Shrek movie. Shrek is the perfect watch if you’re looking for something animated and light-hearted yet fun at the same time, so don’t miss this movie franchise!
18. Indiana Jones:
- Box Office Till now: $2.3 Billion
- Number of Films: 5
In the heart of cinematic adventures, this iconic fedora-wearing archaeologist acts as a timeless symbol of daring activities and hidden treasures, and yes, we are talking about– Indiana Jones. From the heart-pounding chases across shifting desert dunes to the spine-tingling encounters with tombs, this movie has a place in the top 20 movie franchises.
Indiana Jones has become more than just a character; he’s a living embodiment of the human spirit’s quest for the unknown. It is shown in the overall box office collection of over 2 Billion. With bullwhip in hand and a glint of curiosity in his eye, Indiana Jones remains fixed in the collective imagination as a symbol of the explorer that resides within us all and is just waiting to get out.
19. Mission Impossible:
- Box Office Till now: $3.5 billion
- Number of Films: 8
In a world where secrets whisper, and danger lurks behind every shadow, the Mission: Impossible franchise emerges as a symbol of action and bravery. With the enigmatic Tom Cruise, this franchise has cemented itself as a pulse-pounding journey into the hearts of billions of people.
Each installment is a carefully crafted puzzle of suspense, where each movie has a collection so high that it has contributed greatly to the overall series.
From the iconic theme that signals the onset of breathtaking action to the web of betrayals, Mission: Impossible takes the spy genre to new heights. The Highest grossing Mission: Impossible movie record currently rests with Mission: Impossible Fallout, which ended its global run with nearly $800 million worldwide in 2018. But we are still unsure which movie would win the most loved title in our hearts!
20. Toy Story:
- Box Office Till now: $3.3 Billion
- Number of Films: 5
The “Toy Story” franchise comes out as a heartwarming tale that takes you between childhood nostalgia and boundless dreams. With a cast of characters led by Woody and Buzz Lightyear, these beloved toys have been woven into the fabric of generations. Each installment is a masterpiece with the best animations and storylines to simultaneously make you laugh and cry.
Themes of friendship, loyalty, and embracing bring emotions so common into this movie franchise that they resonate deeply. The franchise, much like the toys themselves, evolves, reflecting the journey of life with expertise and humor. The grossing movie in the Toy Story franchise is undoubtedly The Toy Story 4, with a collection of a whopping $434,038,008.
Conclusion:
These movie franchises are picked according to their grossing and popularity amongst people worldwide! We are sure you must’ve spotted one of your favorite movies on this list and now know much more about its collection and popularity.
These movie franchises have made a name for themselves with investment, promotions, and great storylines! After reading this blog, we are sure you must have many new movies to add to your bucket list and watch in your binge-watch session! Happy Viewing to you!
Hi! I am Nabieha Khusro, a content writer and voracious reader with a passion for creating compelling and engaging content. I have 3 years of experience writing for various industries, including fashion, education, and creative content writing. When I am not writing, I enjoy playing my ukulele and trying new cuisines.