Ever walk into a movie theater and feel like you’ve seen it all before? It’s not just your imagination. From caped crusaders to prehistoric predators, Hollywood’s obsession with franchises is more than just nostalgia—it’s a survival strategy. In an era where original ideas are seen as risky and IP is king, studios are doubling down on familiar faces, worlds, and logos. These are 10 of the most tenacious film franchises still ruling the box office—and what that reflects about the industry.
1. Star Trek – Still Boldly Going
What started as a low-cost television series back in the ’60s has become a multimedia behemoth. Star Trek spawned 14 movies, raking in more than $2.26 billion, and hundreds of spin-off television series. J.J. Abrams’ glossy 2009 retooling demonstrated that even old IPs can be rebooted with the proper blend of nostalgia and contemporary style. It’s a property that knows when to reimagine itself without alienating its existing base.
2. Madagascar – Animated Gold on Hold
It may have been a one-off children’s film, but Madagascar stormed into franchise territory with four films and $2.27 billion at the worldwide box office. Though a fourth mainline installment has been on the slow-burn for years, it still languishes in development purgatory. Even the spin-off (Penguins of Madagascar) was unable to sustain the momentum. Nevertheless, the franchise’s ongoing popularity makes it difficult to discount a return.
3. Indiana Jones – Adventure Never Dies (Even When It Should)
With five movies and $2.34 billion under its belt, Indiana Jones is one of the most iconic franchises in cinema. Harrison Ford’s whip-wielding archaeologist set the tone for the modern blockbuster. While subsequent entries have been polarizing—Kingdom of the Crystal Skull and Dial of Destiny, specifically—the cultural significance of the character keeps him going, even when the material weakens.
4. Kung Fu Panda – Punching Above Its Weight
A kung-fu panda with Jack Black’s voice sounds like a joke, but Kung Fu Panda has brought five movies and $2.36 billion worldwide. Even with split critical reviews for its sequels, the franchise continues to draw in fans with its blend of comedy, sentiment, and action-packed visuals. Kung Fu Panda 4 even surpassed its predecessor, demonstrating that brand devotion remains an enormous magnet.
5. The Conjuring – Horror’s Shared Universe Success
Few horror franchises become blockbusters, but The Conjuring has bucked the trend with nine linked films that have made $2.38 billion. James Wan’s haunted universe branched out into cursed dolls, demonic nuns, and so on. With the main saga concluding soon, Warner Bros. is still keen to continue the ghost stories—and profit from them.
6. Iron Man – The Superhero That Started It All
Tony Stark didn’t merely open up a trilogy—he opened up the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Iron Man reeled in $2.42 billion from only three movies, and Robert Downey Jr.’s charming performance set the model for the contemporary superhero. Even after his character’s departure, Iron Man’s influence still resonates throughout every aspect of the MCU.
7. The Dark Knight Trilogy – Grit and Greatness
Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy, which grossed $2.44 billion, revolutionized the genre by taking comic book content seriously for the first time in cinema. Heath Ledger’s iconic Joker, Christian Bale’s complex Bruce Wayne, and Nolan’s dark realism set the bar higher—and established a benchmark that future Batman movies still try to achieve.
8. Guardians of the Galaxy – Marvel’s Lovable Misfits
Before 2014, few people predicted that a chatty raccoon and a thinking tree would top a billion-dollar franchise. Yet in the hands of James Gunn, Guardians of the Galaxy became one of the MCU’s favorite subseries, grossing $2.48 billion over three movies. With Gunn now at the helm of DC’s reboot, fans are wondering if the Guardians’ cosmic odyssey is over—or merely on pause.
9. MonsterVerse – Giant Monsters, Giant Money
What started with Godzilla in 2014 has grown into a monster-mashing saga with $2.49 billion and counting. Kong: Skull Island, Godzilla vs. Kong, and Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire prove that audiences will always turn up to watch skyscraper-sized creatures throw punches. Another entry is already in the pipeline—because, of course, it is.
10. Planet of the Apes – Sci-Fi’s Longest-Running Franchise
Dating back to 1968, Planet of the Apes is the longest-lived series in sci-fi, with ten films that have earned more than $2.51 billion. Successfully rebooted in the 2010s, the franchise continues to grow thematically and visually. The newest installment, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, demonstrates there’s still a lot of gas in this post-apocalyptic tank.
So Why Won’t Hollywood Let Go?
The solution, as Walt Hickey astutely describes, is not merely about earning money—it’s about not losing it. Established franchises are safer bets than original concepts, and with record-high production budgets and investor scrutiny, studios will increasingly approve the next sequel rather than risk introducing something new.
Look at the summer slate of 1994 or 2004—when The Day After Tomorrow, I, Robot, and Forrest Gump were crowding the multiplexes—and compare it to release schedules today, and the contrast is striking. Even so-called “originals” are now based on video games, biopics, or retro brands. True originals are few and far between, and frequently independently funded.
That’s where awards season retains a little influence. The Oscars, with all their infamy and decreasing ratings, are still one of the few industry incentives for daring, innovative filmmaking. According to Hickey, without the lure of awards consideration, prestige passion films like Oppenheimer or Poor Things may never see the light of day at their present scope.
So next time you see yet another sequel or reboot in theaters, remember: Hollywood isn’t just chasing profits—it’s avoiding risk. And until that equation changes, franchises will keep dominating the market, for better or worse.