There’s something special about getting to experience a favorite movie franchise back on the big screen. Whether superheroes are saving the day, magic is happening, or high-octane car chases are taking place, franchises have a knack for bringing us back for more. They create cinematic universes that can take years—sometimes decades—spanning and cross generations of fans.
1. Marvel Cinematic Universe
No surprises here—the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is the undisputed heavyweight champ of the box office. With 35 movies that have been released and eight in development, the MCU has made over $31.4 billion at the global box office. Alone, the Avengers movies have garnered a whopping $7.7 billion in four installments, with Avengers: Endgame comfortably holding the record as the second highest-grossing movie ever at $2.79 billion. Disney’s purchase of Marvel in 2009 was a risk that ultimately paid off in amazing fashion, particularly as the studio was able to recapture rights to most of its beloved characters and make them box office gold.
2. Star Wars
Years ago, Star Wars opened the door to what would be one of the film industry’s longest-lasting legacies. With 12 movies out and two in the works, the series has raked in $10.32 billion at the global box office. The Force Awakens (2015) takes the top spot, netting more than $2 billion and securing its place as the fifth-highest-grossing film in history. Disney’s $4 billion acquisition of Lucasfilm in 2012 has already paid itself numerous times over, particularly when merchandise, streaming, and theme park profits are factored in.
3. Harry Potter (Wizarding World)
The Wizarding World, encompassing the main Harry Potter movies and spin-off Fantastic Beasts movies, has bewitched its way to $9.6 billion at the global box office. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 was the highest-grossing box office hit of the series, taking more than $1.3 billion. From theme parks through to Broadway shows and new video games, the magic keeps on growing in and out of theaters.
4. Spider-Man
Spider-Man’s path at the box office is one of the most peculiar. Taking the Tobey Maguire, Andrew Garfield, Tom Holland movies, plus the Spider-Verse animated installments, this web-slinger franchise raked in $8.9 billion at the global box office. No Way Home was the undisputed leader, hauling in almost $2 billion. As Sony and Disney keep producing (and sometimes arguing) over rights, Spidey’s future in film continues to be one of the most monitored in Hollywood.
5. James Bond
The name is Bond—box office Bond. With 27 movies in its collection since 1963, the James Bond franchise has grossed $7.9 billion worldwide. Skyfall (2012) was the franchise’s highest-grossing grosser at $1.1 billion. In 2025, Amazon’s purchase of MGM ushered in a new era for the debonair superspy with new tales and new directions for 007.
6. The Lord of the Rings
J.R.R. Tolkien’s fantasy realm remains a huge attraction. When you tally the original Lord of the Rings trilogy with the subsequent Hobbit films, the franchise has drawn in $5.89 billion globally. The Return of the King and An Unexpected Journey each went over the billion-dollar threshold. Peter Jackson’s epic scope redefined what fantasy might be on the big screen.
7. Fast & Furious
From a street-racing epic in 2001 to an action extravaganza that takes us all around the world. With $5.14 billion in worldwide box office, the Fast & Furious franchise just keeps on pushing the boundaries of physics and box office returns. From family soap operas to blowing-up submarines, each installment attempts to outdo the previous one, and the fans keep riding along.
8. Jurassic Park
Thirty years on from the initial Jurassic Park to redefine blockbuster cinema, dinosaurs continue to draw enormous audiences. Adding the more recent Jurassic World films, the franchise has collectively made $4.98 billion worldwide. The original 1993 remains cult-classic, but the reinvigorated series has howled its way to enormous profits and much spectacle.
9. X-Men
Before the MCU’s takeover, the X-Men franchise spearheaded the contemporary superhero craze. Throughout 14 movies, including Deadpool and Logan, the franchise has made $5.8 billion. The R-rated Deadpool movies were particularly dominant box office, each making more than $780 million. With X-Men entering the MCU, the future looks mutant once more.
The MonsterVerse (including Godzilla and Kong) continues to grow, as do individual Batman films—most notably Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy—some of the most popular and lucrative in the superhero genre.
Franchise movies are not merely a collection of sequels—they’re pop culture landmarks that get our imaginations going for generations. They’re not merely about opening weekend profits—they’re about the stories that linger, the characters we come to know and love, and the thrill of what’s yet to come.