Top 10 Movie Franchises of All-Time

This March was, without a doubt, the month of movie franchises. From Creed III to Scream VI to Shazam! Fury of the Gods to John Wick: Chapter 4 to a potential franchise starter with Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, this year’s first month of spring seems to have been all about continuing the success (or in Shazam! Fury of the God’s case, the lack of success) of popular film series. Sequels are undoubtedly hard, but movie franchises are much harder. It’s not just one followup; it’s two, or three, or four or even five followups. It takes great effort and skill to continue critical and (or) financial success for that long of a run, but the reward is that while sequels make money… franchises make more money. So, to finish off Movie Franchise March 2023, let’s take a look back at some of the very best of the best franchises ever to hit the silver screen.

Before we begin, there are some guidelines I’ve set in order for a series to qualify…

• The franchise must be, at minimum, a trilogy.
• Reboots are counted as their own series, and will not be counted with any prior set. For example, the three recent Star Trek reboot films will not be counted with the Original Series/The Next Generation films (which are both connected through Star Trek Generations). Similarly, Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy will be considered separate from the original Batman film series by Tim Burton and Joel Schumacher.
• Going along with the last point, the films must exist within the same universe. For example, Creed is a spin-off series of Rocky, but it still exists within the Rocky universe. Lightyear, on the other hand, may be a spin-off of the Toy Story series, but it does not take place in the same universe as the Toy Story films.
• Unofficial trilogies and themed connections like Alejandro G. Innaritu’s Death Trilogy, Lars von Trier’s Depression Trilogy, Chan-wook Park’s Vengeance Trilogy or Edgar Wright’s Three Flavours Cornetto Trilogy will not count.

And, as always, let’s run through some honorable mentions that came close but didn’t quite make the cut…

The Bourne franchise, Die Hard, Dirty Harry, Eastrail 177 Trilogy, The Evil Dead, Firefly Trilogy, The Hunger Games, Indiana Jones, Lethal Weapon, Marvel Cinematic Universe, Mexico Trilogy, Middle-Earth Saga, Mission: Impossible, The Naked Gun, Planet of the Apes reboot, Scream, Star Wars Saga, Star Trek Original Series/Next Generation, View Askewniverse, and the Wizarding World franchise.

So, without further ado, as the Joker would say, “Annnnd… here… we… go.”

10) Night of the Living Dead Series (1968-2009)

• Night of the Living Dead (1968)
• Dawn of the Dead (1978)
• Day of the Dead (1985)
• Land of the Dead (2005)
• Diary of the Dead (2007)
• Survival of the Dead (2009)

Horror franchises, as a whole, don’t have the prettiest track record. One of the rare exceptions, though, belongs to the late, great horror auteur George A. Romero’s epic, six-part zombie odyssey, one whose first and sixth films are separated by a staggering 41 years. Oozing to the brim with pioneering zombie gore (thanks to legendary makeup artist Tom Savini’s wonderful effects), sharp social commentary and macabre wit, Romero’s films, particularly his first three, revolutionized a whole new sub-genre of horror that would serve as inspiration for filmmakers such as John Carpenter, Rob Zombie, Edgar Wright and Oscar winners Danny Boyle and Jordan Peele. The first two are absolute, all-time great masterpieces of the genre; the third, while not quite at that level, is still a great sequel with, arguably, the most oddly endearing zombie of the entire franchise; and even though the final three films are certainly not on par with the first three, I contend that they are still solid though imperfect followups that found Romero shaking things up for the franchise with fresh ideas and aesthetics (including his stab at the found-footage genre with Diary of the Dead).

You’re sure to have a morbid blast watching them, and if not, well… “CHOKE ON ‘EEEEEEEEMMMM!!!!”

9) Millennium Trilogy (2009)

• The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
• The Girl Who Played with Fire
• The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets’ Nest

All released within the same year, Niels Arden Oplev/Daniel Alfredson’s film trilogy (Oplev directed the first film, Alfredson directed the second and third) is understandably a series that’s not for everyone. Its graphic violence will be too much for some. For others, the runtime will be a patience tester. Nevertheless, Noomi Rapace’s fierce performance as the highly intelligent yet highly damaged Goth hacker Lisbeth Salander alone is worth visiting these films, which are based on late Swedish author Stieg Larsson’s acclaimed novel series. While the third entry doesn’t quite pack the punch brought by first two, overall, Rapace and her late co-star Michael Nyqvist make for compelling characters throughout this three-part disturbing crime thriller.

And if you think these films are disturbing, you should read up on what, allegedly, inspired Larsson to write his story.

This also won’t be the only franchise of Nyqvist’s to appear on this list, because…

8) John Wick Franchise (2014-present)

• John Wick (2014)
• John Wick: Chapter 2 (2017)
• John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum (2019)
• John Wick: Chapter 4 (2023)

It’s rare to see a franchise that continually gets better and better over the course of it’s run. Such is the case for the John Wick franchise, which began in 2014 as a little action thriller barely anyone was aware of and most studios dismissed. Almost a decade later, this much welcome comeback vehicle for Keanu Reeves is now deservedly hailed as one of the best action franchises of all-time. The word art gets thrown around maybe too liberally when talking about movies (though, to be fair, all movies are, by definition of the word, art), but John Wich earns such praise. Yes, franchise director Chad Stahelski (who co-directed the first film with David Leitch) has made art here. Between the exquisite color palettes, immaculate set designs and gracefully constructed “gun-fu” action sequences, Stahelski and his team, along with a very committed Reeves performing most of his own stunts, have created visually mesmerizing, action-packed magic. Additionally, franchise creator Derek Kolstad incrementally peels back more layers to his story, increasing the intrigue of his Wick universe with each subsequent film. Four films in, and this extreme thrill ride hasn’t lost even a slightest ounce of steam; in fact, it’s only gained more of it.

Never before has violence this brutal played out so elegantly.

7) Before Trilogy (1995-2013)

• Before Sunrise (1995)
• Before Sunset (2004)
• Before Midnight (2013)

Writer/director Richard Linklater may not have the name power of franchise giants like Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, Peter Jackson or Robert Zemeckis; however, his three “Before” films are still some of the strongest examinations of both the highs and lows that are par for the course for any committed relationship. Opening with a meet-cute in Before Sunrise and closing with an emotionally honest look at the trials of marriage in Before Midnight, these films are so strongly written and performed that just two people having a conversation is able to grab a compelling hold of you with effortless ease. No, it doesn’t have the pop and epic scale that moviegoers usually associate with trilogies, but thanks to Linklater’s incredibly poignant, insightful screenplays and the beautiful, heartfelt performances by Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy (both of whom shared screenwriting credits with their director), it’s still one of the smartest, most emotionally honest trifectas around.

6) Back to the Future Trilogy (1985-1990)

• Back to the Future (1985)
• Back to the Future Part II (1989)
• Back to the Future Part III (1990)

“Wait a minute. Wait a minute, Doc… Ah – are you telling me that you built a time machine… out of a DeLorean?”

Yes, he did Marty, and that’s an automatic win in my book. Oscar-winning director Robert Zemeckis’s sci-fi trilogy takes an overused genre device such as time travel and injects it with a heavy dose of high-concept originality. Not only does it work so amazingly well as a gripping, high-stakes sci-fi adventure, but thanks to pitch-perfect chemistry between Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd, it also works as a buddy comedy flick. Of course, Part II and Part III aren’t quite at the level of the first film, but they still benefit greatly from the Fox/Lloyd team-up, and Zemeckis’s exploring of alternative realities both in the future and the Old West earn bonus points for keeping the sequels fresh. More importantly, without Marty McFly, Chuck Berry would never get his greatest rock hit.

And don’t worry, the first film’s reverse Oedipus complex subplot isn’t as creepy as you might think it is.

I mean, if Lea Thompson was my mom… just saying.

5) The Dark Knight Trilogy (2005-2012)

• Batman Begins (2005)
• The Dark Knight (2008)
• The Dark Knight Rises (2012)

Much earned respect goes to Tim Burton’s first two Batman films, but boy, did Joel Schumacher’s two followups just yank that overall average score, as ELO once said, “Down, doooown, down, down, down, down!” However, Batman godsend Christopher Nolan’s trilogy took the Caped Crusader to cinematic heights yet to be seen, placing our eponymous crime-fighter inside a grounded and realistic Gotham City that plays more like a Michael Mann crime thriller than an escapist DC Comics spectacle. Nolan guides us from Batman’s tortured origins in Batman Begins to the riveting cat-and-mouse pursuit of the Joker in The Dark Knight, then brings it all to close with the anarchic terror and eventual end of a reign in The Dark Knight Rises. In addition to Nolan’s deft filmmaking touch, a fantastic, award worthy, all-star cast featuring Christian Bale as the Dark Knight, Michael Caine, Gary Oldman, Morgan Freeman and a deliciously demented turn from the late Heath Ledger as the Joker (who’d go on to win a posthumous Oscar for his performance here) help bring nuance and gravitas to the iconic superhero’s world. Exploring its deep themes of heroism, corruption, revenge, societal decay and regret to terrific effect, while also delivering on the action-packed thrills, Nolan’s trilogy is truly one for the ages.

4) Mad Max Franchise (1979-present)

• Mad Max (1979)
• The Road Warrior (1981)
• Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (1985)
• Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)

Much like Romero’s Night of the Living Dead series, the Mad Max franchise has been going on for over four decades, and is still as explosive and exciting now as when it first began. Fueled by some of the most exhilarating car chases you’ll ever see and one of the greatest action antiheroes in film, Oscar winner George Miller’s post-apocalyptic frenzy is a non-stop adrenaline rush that never lets up once it slams on the gas pedal. From the moment Max Rockatansky first arrived at the tail end of the ’70s, Miller would continue to raise the bar of what defines an action film with each and every pulse-pounding entry to this franchise. What’s even better is that even after 30 years since Beyond Thunderdome, Miller would go on to shatter expectations and prove he hasn’t lost a single step with 2015’s exciting Fury Road, which would see Oscar nominee Tom Hardy taking over the role that Academy Award winner Mel Gibson first made so memorable.

Today, the franchise is showing no signs of slowing down. A prequel/spin-off, Furiosa, is set for release next year and another sequel, Mad Max: The Wasteland, is, reportedly, in the works as well. With a franchise that’s been going this strong for this long, and with Miller returning to direct, I say bring on more of these insane, dystopian adventures.

3) Dollars Trilogy (1964-1966)

• A Fistful of Dollars (1964)
• For a Few Dollars More (1965)
• The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966)

Believe it or not, Sergio Leone’s Akira Kurosawa inspired Spaghetti Western series wasn’t as beloved back when it first reached American audiences as it is nowadays. Over time, though, its legacy has grown to become one of the most enduring, game-changing Westerns of all-time, turning Academy Award winner Clint Eastwood into a bona fide star and influencing filmmakers such as Quentin Tarantino, Robert Rodriguez, Sam Raimi and even Eastwood himself. Between the gorgeous, expansive photography, Ennio Morricone’s iconic score, Eastwood’s commanding presence and an all-time great villainous turn from Lee Van Cleef as the sadistic “Angel Eyes”, the exploits of the legendary “Man with No Name” combine to make a thrilling three-part tale that revels in getting its hands dirty. Not only does its third-act, The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, end on a strong note, many argue that it ends on the strongest note, a rarity for a trilogy. One thing’s for sure, by the time you’ve reached the climactic graveyard Mexican standoff, your breath will be taken away.

2) The Godfather Trilogy (1972-1990)

• The Godfather (1972)
• The Godfather Part II (1974)
• The Godfather Part III (1990)

Both The Godfather and The Godfather Part II are, rightfully, hailed as the masterpieces above all other masterpieces. After all, how many movies can say both it and its sequel have won the Best Picture Oscar? So, you’d think this would be #1, but Part III isn’t as strong as its predecessors. That said, despite its issues – namely, Sofia Coppola’s performance – Part III also gets a lot of overblown crap thrown at it simply ’cause its not as good as the first two.

For God’s sake, it’s The Godfather and The Godfather Part II. That’s a losing battle for any movie, no matter how good it is.

However, taken as a whole, Oscar-winning director Francis Ford Coppola has pieced together a stirring three-part adaptation of Mario Puzo’s crime saga that’s brought to life through Gordon Willis’s sepia-tinged cinematography, Nino Rota’s evocative score and the uniformly excellent performances by Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, Robert Duvall, Robert De Niro, Diane Keaton, James Caan, John Cazale, Andy Garcia – need I continue?

I mean, top that acting lineup.

To think I haven’t even yet mentioned the narrative’s thematic richness, which supplies the film with its heart and soul, or depending on the character, it’s utter lack of either. No matter how many times I watch this trilogy, a new layer and nuance is somehow always revealed to me with each and every re-watch. Truly, crime sagas don’t get any better than this.

Well, here we are, finally, at the highly coveted #1 spot. And the winner is… Resident Evil. Oh, my God, I think I stunned even the franchise itself there. Okay, let’s try this again.

Drum roll, please…

1) Toy Story Franchise (1995-present)

• Toy Story (1995)
• Toy Story 2 (1999)
• Toy Story 3 (2010)
• Toy Story 4 (2019)

Both The Godfather and Part II may be the better films, but we’re still talking about comparing two sets of masterpieces of their own respective genres. However, when we’re talking about a one-two-three-four punch of consistent top-shelf, supreme quality, Pixar’s Toy Story franchise wins the grand prize. Much like Disney’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs six decades before it, Pixar changed the game for animated films with 1995’s computer animated Toy Story. The cutting-edge animation here is so good even Stevie Wonder can’t help but praise its immaculate design, and the wonderful cast of actors, led by the endearing vocal talents of both Academy Award winner Tom Hanks and Tim Allen, have come to make these characters their own. What truly makes Toy Story such a classic, though, are its themes of friendship, loyalty and enough genuine heart-tugging moments to make even the most hard-boiled soul tear up.

Disney recently announced a fifth film, and while my knee-jerk reaction is always, “Stop! You ended it perfectly already!”, I then remind myself that I have said the same thing for each sequel that came before it, only to just be won over again and again… and again. For almost thirty years now, this franchise has continued to amaze with sequels that are every bit as cherished as the first film and it’s still showing no signs whatsoever of losing its charm and appeal. So, why stop now?

To infinity and beyond, indeed, Buzz.

Well, there you have it, readers! The best film franchises not named Step Up or Transformers that we viewers ever laid eyes on. Agree or disagree? As always, naysayers can feel free to send all hate mail and (or) death threats to the email provided in the contact section. For the rest of you, feel free to let me know what some of your all-time favorite movie franchises are in the comments.

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