Welcome to the blockbuster age, where movie franchises aren’t entertainment any longer. They’re billion-dollar franchises, cultural phenomena, and global events. Ever curious which movie universes reign supreme at the box office? Here’s a breakdown of the 10 top-grossing movie franchises of all time—and what makes them so formidable.
1. Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU)
North American Box Office: $11.7 billion+
The franchise king with no challengers, the Marvel Cinematic Universe, dominates the box office by a country mile, earning almost $12 billion on its home turf. Its strength is a tightly woven narrative interconnectivity—from Iron Man through Avengers: Endgame, alone worth $2.8 billion across the globe. Then there are the hugely popular Spider-Man movies (starring Tom Holland) and an ongoing series of solo outings and anthology blockbusters, and Marvel’s dominance becomes obvious.
2. Star Wars
North American Box Office: $5 billion+
From a galaxy far, far away emerges one of cinema’s most legendary sagas. With 11 feature films, untold spin-offs, and beloved series such as The Mandalorian and The Clone Wars, Star Wars is more than a franchise—more like a cultural institution. Blockbusters such as The Force Awakens rekindled enthusiasm for an even newer generation, keeping the Force strong and thriving.
3. Disney Live-Action Remakes
North American Box Office: $3.5 billion+
Reimagining animated classics into live-action extravaganzas has been the game plan of Disney, and it has been a box office windfall. Though The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, and Aladdin have received mixed reviews, the crowd’s love speaks for itself. Nostalgia blended with contemporary visual effects makes these reboots a money-making machine.
4. Spider-Man (Independent Franchise)
North American Box Office: $3.3 billion+
Spider-Man has woven a web across several generations and actors, from Tobey Maguire through Andrew Garfield to Tom Holland. Each reboot introduced something new, but the multiverse crossover event No Way Home solidified Spidey’s position as a force to be reckoned with. Factor in animated smashes such as Into the Spider-Verse, and it’s little wonder that he is one of the biggest heroes of cinema.
5. Wizarding World (Harry Potter + Fantastic Beasts)
North American Box Office: $2.9 billion+
From the corridors of Hogwarts to the darker reaches of the wizarding world, J.K. Rowling’s magical world keeps on fascinating. The original seven Harry Potter books bewitched a generation, with the Fantastic Beasts movies adding to the mythology. Aside from the cinematic universe, theme parks and merchandise have sustained this franchise, with a new TV reboot already in development.
6. Batman
North American Box Office: $2.8 billion+
The Caped Crusader has worn many masks—played by six actors across several distinct cinematic visions. From Tim Burton’s gothic take to Christopher Nolan’s grounded Dark Knight trilogy and Matt Reeves’ recent reboot, Batman remains one of DC’s most bankable heroes. His dark, brooding appeal continues to draw audiences worldwide.
7. DC Extended Universe (DCEU)
North American Box Office: $2.6 billion+
In spite of its rise and fall, the DCEU has etched a notable position for itself in the superhero genre. Movies such as Aquaman and Wonder Woman showed that DC was capable of matching Marvel, though movies such as The Flash and Blue Beetle did not fare so well. With reboots in the pipeline and James Gunn’s creative input in store, the DCEU could yet have its moment of glory ahead.
8. Avengers (Ensemble Films)
North American Box Office: $2.6 billion+
With only four movies, the Avengers franchise has been a runaway success. Each of them was a cultural phenomenon, leading up to Endgame, which broke worldwide records. Although no new Avengers movie is in the works, their status as the ultimate superhero team-up is written in cinematic history.
9. X-Men
North American Box Office: $2.5 billion+
Mutants have been box office gold for more than two decades. The X-Men franchise, with spin-offs such as Logan, Deadpool, and Dark Phoenix, has grown through different tones and timelines. With Deadpool now officially being welcomed to the MCU in a future film, expect mutant madness to keep going—and perhaps reach an all-time high.
10. James Bond
North American Box Office: $2.2 billion+
No list would be complete without 007. James Bond has been a fixture of film style, spying, and action since 1962’s Dr. No. With six Bonds and 26 films over the decades, the franchise just keeps going. While producers whisper about a new take on the iconic spy, everyone waits to see who will slip on the tux next.
Billion-Dollar Standouts and Surprises
Franchises might, but individual films are also reaching record-breaking heights. Recent releases such as Moana 2, Inside Out 2, and Deadpool & Wolverine have all joined the billion-dollar club. Barbie caused controversy for being one of the highest-grossing female-directed films, while The Super Mario Bros. Movie took everyone by surprise, showing that video game adaptations can conquer the box office as well.
Why These Franchises Last
So what sustains these film behemoths at the top? It’s an ideal combination of nostalgia, clever reimagining, worldwide appeal, and steady content. These franchises connect to what fans adore—be it superhero action, magical realms, or ageless characters—and evolve to remain topical for new generations.
The era of the mega-franchise shows no signs of slowing down, and with new sequels, reboots, and crossovers on their way, it’s safe to say that box office wars are far from over.