Let’s be honest—Hollywood has a serious thing for sequels. And audiences? We’re not exactly complaining. Whether it’s the comfort of familiar characters, the thrill of a new chapter in a beloved saga, or just the promise of blockbuster spectacle, movie franchises continue to draw massive crowds and deliver billion-dollar paydays. Even in a year where many high-budget films stumbled, these franchises proved their staying power.
Here are 10 of the most lucrative film franchises still dominating the box office—and why they continue to pull audiences back for more.
1. Star Trek’s Evolution: From Cult Classic to Cash Cow
What was once a cult-TV series in the 1960s has now become a movie franchise. With 14 movies and more than $2.26 billion in worldwide box office gross, Star Trek has consistently adapted, attracting new fans by the generation. The 2009 reboot directed by J.J. Abrams brought new life into the franchise, blending nostalgia with present-day action and visual effects, and it’s still boldly going.
2. Madagascar: Zoo Crew Turned Global Sensation
DreamWorks’ Madagascar franchise is not necessarily the awards darling, but at the box office, it’s a titan. With four entries raking in $2.27 billion, the franchise’s mix of comedy, pathos, and world-hopping adventure keeps families in the seats. Even spin-offs like Penguins of Madagascar kept the franchise simmering, though the fate of a mainline sequel remains in limbo.
3. Indiana Jones: Adventure Never Gets Old
Harrison Ford’s classic archaeologist has held five movies together that have grossed $2.34 billion altogether. Although Dial of Destiny fell short of the box office expectations of previous entries, Indiana Jones continues to embody cinematic adventure and nostalgia for old-school blockbuster storytelling. Even more polarizing installments attest to the character’s enduring popularity.
4. Kung Fu Panda: Action Animated with Heart
With $2.36 billion over four films (and growing), Kung Fu Panda has perfected the formula for box office success. Po and the Furious Five serve up a winning combination of martial arts action, emotional storytelling, and humor that endures, even with years in between sequels.
5. The Conjuring Series: Terror That Keeps on Giving
Horror movies don’t often give birth to box office behemoths, but The Conjuring Universe is an exception. With nine connected films and $2.38 billion made, it’s evidence that people enjoy a good fright, particularly when it’s accompanied by haunted houses, cursed dolls, and demonic nuns. With The Conjuring: Last Rites coming down the pike, the franchise has life (and afterlife) still left in it.
6. Iron Man: Marvel’s Billion-Dollar Beginning
Before the MCU was there, there was Iron Man. Robert Downey Jr.’s Tony Stark made three standalone movies into a $2.42 billion franchise—and introduced a cinematic universe that revolutionized the industry. Iron Man 3 alone crossed the billion-dollar threshold, sealing its place as a classic.
7. The Dark Knight Trilogy: Gotham’s Golden Standard
Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy brought in $2.44 billion at the box office—and changed what superhero movies could do. Earthy, realistic, and densely thematic, it set a new standard for comic book movies and provided us with one of the greatest villain performances in cinematic history.
8. Guardians of the Galaxy: Marvel’s Cosmic Underdogs
Once thought to be a risk, Guardians of the Galaxy has grown into a $ 2.48 billion franchise. With its combination of irreverent humor, sentimental character development, and killer soundtracks, James Gunn’s cosmic squad won over both critics and box office enthusiasts. The series concluded—for now—but the Guardians left a lasting legacy.
9. MonsterVerse: Titans of the Box Office
From Godzilla’s early days to the modern MonsterVerse, these towering titans have collectively earned $2.49 billion. The appeal is simple: massive creatures, high-stakes battles, and collapsing skyscrapers. The formula continues to work, with new entries keeping the momentum going strong.
10. Planet of the Apes: Sci-Fi’s Enduring Franchise
With 10 films to its name and $2.51 billion at the box office, Planet of the Apes is one of the franchise’s consistent earners. The newest, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, proved its commercial strength by becoming one of 2024’s actual hits.
It did so on the back of a whopping $160 million price tag, and almost hit the $300 million overall mark, which made it the highest May opening in an otherwise poor year. While other big-budget blockbusters were finding it difficult to recoup their expenses, Kingdom showed that good storytelling and franchise loyalty still pay.
So why did Kingdom succeed where others, including The Fall Guy and Furious, didn’t? It’s more than it having special effects. The film added a fresh twist in an established universe, helped along by great word-of-mouth and an established fan base. The franchise may not dominate pop culture like Marvel and Star Wars, but longevity and profit prove that it does.
What These Franchises Reveal About Hollywood Today
In an era when originality is a risk on investment, the studios have increasingly turned to established brands. These brands show that with a quality mix of characters, script, and the trust of the audiences, a film franchise can travel far, even years into its outset.
And just because not every remake or sequel will strike pay dirt, some movie universes are so well-thought-out they cannot wither away. Provided there are eyeballs in the seats, those franchises will just keep on producing the hits, one box office record at a time.