Let’s get real—there’s nothing that lights up Hollywood more than a film franchise that prints money quicker than Tony Stark can assemble a new suit. For decades, studios have competed with each other for box office supremacy, and a handful of cinematic universes have shot way up above the rest. So, which classic sagas have taken over the international box office?
Grab your popcorn—we’re counting down the 10 highest-grossing movie franchises of all time (as of March 2025).
1. Marvel Cinematic Universe
Total Gross: $31.4 billion
If superhero burnout is looming, someone forgot to inform Marvel. With 35 movies and counting, the MCU is still reigning supreme. The Avengers franchise alone has grossed $7.7 billion, topped by Avengers: Endgame, the second-best-grossing film of all time at $2.79 billion. From Iron Man’s makeshift workshop to multiverse madness, Marvel has constructed an empire—one post-credit sequence at a time.
2. Star Wars
Total Gross: $10.32 billion
In 1977, Star Wars reinvented blockbuster filmmaking—and almost half a century later, it remains a force to be reckoned with. With 12 movies out and several more on the way, the space-faring epic has no interest in cooling off. The Force Awakens paces the group at slightly more than $2 billion. Toss in toys, Disney theme parks, and Baby Yoda cuddle-toys, and Disney’s $4 billion acquisition of Lucasfilm seems like a steal.
3. Harry Potter (Wizarding World)
Total Gross: $9.6 billion
The Wizarding World, encompassing the Harry Potter franchise and Fantastic Beasts spin-offs, has bewitched its way into box office annals. Deathly Hallows: Part 2 brought the original series to a close with more than $1.3 billion. With theme parks, stage shows, and a forthcoming TV show, the magic will be far from dying.
4. Spider-Man
Total Gross: $8.9 billion
Whether Tobey, Andrew, or Tom in the suit—or even Miles Morales swinging through the Spider-Verse—the Spider-Man franchise keeps on climbing. With several reboots, animated successes, and MCU crossovers, the franchise has earned almost $9 billion. No Way Home almost reached $2 billion on its own, demonstrating that Spidey remains one of the biggest attractions in town.
5. James Bond
Total Gross: $7.9 billion
Few franchises have as much longevity as James Bond. With 27 films and eight different 007s since 1963, the spy franchise has evolved with the times while remaining faithful to its sophisticated, action-oriented roots. Skyfall tops the box office list at $1.1 billion. Under new ownership from Amazon MGM Studios, Bond’s next installment is bound to stir things up, perhaps even shake them as well.
6. The Lord of the Rings / The Hobbit
Total Gross: $5.9 billion
Peter Jackson’s productions of Tolkien’s classic stories made Middle-earth a box office behemoth. The Return of the King crossed $1.1 billion and received 11 Oscars. Even The Hobbit trilogy—despite being more controversial—added billion-dollar smashes. With streaming offshoots growing the mythology, this fantasy realm is hardly done.
7. Fast & Furious
Total Gross: $5.1 billion
What began as a street racing cult phenomenon turned into one of the unlikeliest global powerhouses in cinema. The Fast & Furious franchise has put the pedal to the metal, with Furious 7 and The Fate of the Furious both going over a billion dollars. It’s obnoxious, it’s outrageous, and obviously, the crowds just can’t get their fill.
8. Jurassic Park / Jurassic World
Total Gross: Almost $5 billion
Dinosaurs, drama, box office gold. The original Jurassic Park continues to thunder with more than $1 billion, and Jurassic World broke records with $1.67 billion. Whether nostalgia or a love of T. rexes, this franchise shows prehistoric excitement is always in style.
9. DC Extended Universe (DCEU)
Total Gross: $4.9 billion
Though normally lagging behind Marvel’s gigantic success, the DCEU has established its place. Aquaman takes the lead with $1.1 billion, and others such as Wonder Woman, Shazam, and The Flash continue to broaden the universe. As DC changes direction with new management and restarts, the next chapter might yet reach new levels.
10. Transformers
Gross Total: More than $4.8 billion
Explosions, huge robots, and international action—Michael Bay’s Transformers franchise has been filling movie theaters consistently. Dark of the Moon and Age of Extinction both raked in more than $1.1 billion. Even while the franchise is trying out smaller-scale narratives like Bumblebee, box office muscle is still intact.
There you have it—the box office titans of the moment. Whether you find yourself enamored of epic fantasy, high-stakes chases, or battles across the galaxy, one thing is certain: an excellent franchise isn’t merely a series of movies—it’s an experience fans keep coming back to.