Let’s get real—seeing a movie today is like entering a known universe. Superheroes, wizards, dinosaurs, and troublesome minions are just a few of the characters that drive Hollywood’s biggest franchises to the box office top. Some of these cinematic franchises produce hit after hit, while others hit gold with one unforgettable movie. Below is a closer look at the most profitable movie franchises and the billion-dollar movies that continue to define today’s cinema.
1. The Marvel Cinematic Universe: Still the Head of the Pack
It’s not even close to competition—Marvel’s Cinematic Universe stands alone. At more than $11.7 billion earned in North America alone, it’s the epitome of box office supremacy. From serialized storylines to larger-than-life superheroes and knockout action sequences, Marvel has broken the code. Avengers: Endgame raked in almost $2.8 billion worldwide, one of the highest-grossing films of all time. Their combination of solo movies, ensemble casts, and crossover events remains the benchmark for contemporary franchises.
2. Star Wars: A Galaxy of Profits
It began life in 1977, and today, four decades later, Star Wars remains a box office behemoth. With $5.09 billion in North American box office grosses and several films crossing the billion-dollar mark—The Force Awakens and Rogue One among them—Star Wars is still grabbing people’s imaginations. With its deep history and mix of old and new players, Star Wars is still a pop culture giant.
3. Disney’s Live-Action Remakes: Nostalgia That Sells
Disney has managed to monetize our childhood memories at the box office. Their live-action remakes of animated tales have made close to $3.5 billion in North America. Remakes such as The Lion King and Beauty and the Beast broke the billion-dollar mark, showing that people want to see their beloved stories reinvented, particularly when supported by state-of-the-art effects and A-list talent.
4. The Wizarding World: Spells and Box Office Magic
The Harry Potter universe remains spellbinding. At $2.88 billion at the North American box office, the magic remains potent. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 entered the billion-dollar category worldwide, and although the Fantastic Beasts spinoffs have garnered mixed responses, the overall allure of the franchise remains as potent as ever.
5. Spider-Man: The Friendly Neighborhood Box Office Hero
Spider-Man has been a box office champion in several reboots and iterations. At $3.3 billion in North America alone, he’s one of the most bankable superheroes in movies. Spider-Man: No Way Home almost reached $2. billion worldwide, propelled by its multiverse spin and nostalgia factor. In the meantime, animated successes like Into the Spider-Verse and its sequel have continued to grow the franchise’s footprint.
6. Batman and the DC Universe: The Caped Crusader Remains King
Batman himself has raked in $2.78 billion at North America’s box office, and if you include the rest of the DC universe—such as Aquaman, Wonder Woman, and Justice League—the franchise is still going strong. Bumps in critical reception notwithstanding, DC films continue to attract audiences, with Aquaman alone grossing over $1.1 billion worldwide.
7. James Bond: 007’s Box Office Legacy
James Bond has been a worldwide phenomenon since 1962. The franchise has grossed $2.27 billion in North America alone, with Skyfall standing as the top hit to date, having mademore than $1.1 billion worldwide. With the times changing on the horizon—increased discussion of making the Bond character more diverse—there is little doubt that the series will keep growing while maintaining its classic look.
8. Standalone Billion-Dollar Blockbusters: When One Film Is Enough
Some movies don’t require sequels or cinematic universes to have a gigantic impact. Titanic grossed more than $2.2 billion, and Avatar—and its sequel—each crossed $2 billion. Then come recent successes such as Barbie, Top Gun: Maverick, and Joker, which demonstrated that innovative ideas and unconventional storytelling still appeal to global viewers.
9. Animated Box Office Giants: Disney, Pixar, and Illumination
Animated movies are much more than children’s fare—they’re box office heavy hitters. Blockbusters such as Frozen II, Inside Out 2, The Super Mario Bros. Movie, and Minions all hit the billion-dollar threshold. Disney and Pixar dominate the genre, but Illumination’s mix of silliness and emotion has found its niche with the Despicable Me and Minions franchises.
10. Fast & Furious, Jurassic, and Transformers: Action That Never Slows Down
If there is one area where action franchises excel, it’s going big. Fast & Furious, Jurassic Park/World, and Transformers have all produced several billion-dollar smashes. Movies like Furious 7, Jurassic World, and Transformers: Dark of the Moon stoked their international popularity with excess action, high-stakes drama, and buckets of spectacle.
In the constantly changing landscape of the movies, familiar faces and massive universes continue to entice audiences to the cinema. Whether superheroes, magical realms, or high-speed car chases are your thing, or you simply have a passion for movies, there’s never been a more exciting time to be a cinemagoer. And so long as cash continues to pour into the box office, Hollywood will continue to produce the sequels, reboots, and spin-offs we can’t get enough of.