Film franchises have become the pulse of contemporary cinema, providing a combination of nostalgia, spectacle, and billion-dollar storytelling that brings people back to theaters (and streaming services) repeatedly. These cinematic behemoths don’t simply rule the box office; they influence pop culture, set eras, and forge entire worlds for people to get lost in. Below is a rundown of the greatest film franchises of all time—and why they continue to succeed.
Marvel Cinematic Universe: A Box Office Giant
No franchise has reshaped the film industry quite like the Marvel Cinematic Universe. With 35 films and counting, the MCU has raked in more than $31.4 billion globally, according to Investopedia, making it the most lucrative film series in history by a wide margin. The Avengers films alone have earned $7.7 billion, led by Avengers: Endgame, which remains the second-highest-grossing film of all time at $2.79 billion.
Disney’s 2009 Marvel Entertainment buy was a risk, particularly with so many character rights spread out among other studios. But with Marvel taking back control of its superheroes, the MCU exploded into a pop-culture juggernaut. Now, it’s not only a slate of movies—it’s an entire ecosystem of merchandise, theme parks, TV shows, and devoted fandom.
Star Wars: Generations of Galactic Loyalty
The Star Wars franchise has long been a part of cinematic history, and under the support of Disney since 2012, it’s only grown larger. The franchise has made $10.32 billion globally from 12 movies, ranking second only to Marvel. The Force Awakens alone in 2015 grossed over $2 billion and brought back the fandom to a new generation. Disney’s $4 billion acquisition of Lucasfilm has paid for itself many times over, particularly when you include the huge merchandise, licensing, and theme-park-attraction revenue. With an expanding lineup of streaming shows and new movies in the pipeline, Star Wars remains something greater than a franchise—it’s an institution.
Harry Potter (Wizarding World): Enchantment Throughout
The Wizarding World—the core Harry Potter films and Fantastic Beasts spinoffs—has cast a spell of $9.6 billion at the box office. Deathly Hallows: Part 2 alone made $1.3 billion, closing out the central saga on a high note. Outside of film, the franchise has taken its magic to the stage with Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, theme park rides across the globe, and a TV re-do already in production. Over 20 years after the first movie’s release, the world of magic continues to hold a strong enchantment for people of all ages.
Spider-Man: A Multiverse of Money
Spider-Man’s film run has traversed studios and universes, but one thing has stayed consistent: it’s a box office smash. The web-slinger’s movies have grossed $8.9 billion globally, with No Way Home closing in on $2 billion alone. Sony Pictures retains the film rights to the character, yet the collaboration with Disney’s Marvel Studios produced an uncommon and highly profitable cross-studio deal. With negotiations ongoing regarding future films and prospective spinoffs, Spider-Man is one of the most profitable heroes in cinema.
James Bond: Timeless Spycraft
James Bond has enthralled people for over six decades, with 27 movies and eighdifferentus actors portraying the 007 role. The franchise has grossed $7.9 billion worldwide, with Skyfall being the highest at $1.1 billion. The latest addition, No Time to Die, was pandemic-induced in its delays but still performed well at the box office. Under Amazon MGM Studios’ helm, the new generation of Bond is promised to be innovative and contemporary while still sticking to the old-school spy charm.
New Box Office Breakers: Lilo & Stitch and Mission: Impossible’s Holiday Duel
As old franchises rule, fresh and reimagined ones continue to break box office records. Disney’s live-action adaptation of Lilo & Stitch caught the industry by surprise with a $192.7 million opening domestically and $361.3 million internationally over the Memorial Day weekend, reports The Hollywood Reporter.
It topped that of Top Gun: Maverick to rank as the largest Memorial Day opening ever at the box office (unadjusted for inflation). What stands out is the demographics of the audience—56 percent of the ticket purchasers were not parents or children. Rather, it was Gen Z and millennials motivated by nostalgia for the 2002 animated original. That demographic connection, coupled with Disney’s refined live-action formula, worked to bring a breakout hit.
In the meantime, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning crossed $79 million at the domestic box office and $191 million worldwide, driven in large part by older filmgoers. With a whopping $400 million price tag, it is one of the most costly movies ever produced. But every new entry in the Mission: Impossible franchise contributes to long-term value in theatrical, digital, and streaming windows.
Franchises as Cultural Forces
Whether it’s a superhero franchise, a wizarding epic, a legendary spy, or an animated classic revivified, film franchises are not merely box office gambles. They are world-building engines that grow with their public, spark fan bases, and establish the template for cinematic narrative. Provided the stories continue to expand and the characters remain engaging, these franchises will keep shaping not only Hollywood but the very way we view movies.