Blockbuster movie franchises are the driving force of entertainment today. They’re not merely stories on the big screen—they’re worldwide spectacles, social media buzz, and the reason premiers have fans staying up all night. But which ones took over the world (and our money)? From superheroes and spies to wizards and dinosaurs, here are the ten largest film franchises of all time.
10. Pirates of the Caribbean
What started as an amusement park attraction became one of Disney’s biggest box office triumphs. Pirates of the Caribbean combined swashbuckling adventure with supernatural romance and offbeat wit, thanks largely to Johnny Depp’s scene-stealing turn as Jack Sparrow. With five movies and $1.45 billion in booty at the domestic box office, the franchise sailed to its high seas summit with Dead Man’s Chest, which grossed more than $1 billion. Despite its fluctuations, the franchise has always been popular with the fans.
9. Batman
Few characters have lived as many lives on the screen as Batman. From the campy humor of the old versions to the dark, realistic take of Christopher Nolan’s trilogy, The Dark Knight lives on with each new generation. In 25 movies, Gotham City’s gruff guardian has grossed $2.78 billion. The Dark Knight was a benchmark movie—not only financially, but for Heath Ledger’s unforgettable turn as the Joker and its influence on the superhero franchise.
8. DC Extended Universe (DCEU)
Although it has had its ups and downs, the DCEU has still made a major impact. Since Man of Steel, the franchise has assembled a roster of iconic characters such as Superman, Wonder Woman, and Aquaman, pulling in $4.9 billion globally. Aquaman’s billion-dollar splash showed that, no matter what the critics were saying, DC could still swim in blockbusters. With new leadership guiding its future, the DCEU is headed for a major reset.
7. X-Men
Before the MCU’s lift-off, X-Men was the trailblazer for contemporary superhero movies. With 14 installments—including Deadpool and Logan—this franchise grossed $5.8 billion and provided iconic performances (hello, Hugh Jackman). The franchise pushed boundaries with its mature subject matter and mutant metaphor, demonstrating superhero tales could be socially aware and utterly bonkers.
6. Jurassic Park / Jurassic World
Dinosaurs are timeless. From the blockbuster debut of Jurassic Park in 1993 to the latest Jurassic World trilogy, this franchise has never run out of steam. Its combination of spectacle and science run amok has grossed almost $5 billion, with the 2015 reboot alone chomping $1.67 billion. Viewers simply can’t get enough of the sound of a T. rex at the movies.
5. James Bond
License to thrill? Oh, yes. Fifty years on since 1962, James Bond has been the coolest of cats, dispatching bad guys with panache, gadgets, and style. Over 27 films and a few actors in the role, the franchise has made $7.9 billion at the global box office. Skyfall was the top-grosser at $1.1 billion and showed 007 still had it. Now Amazon is in charge, Bond’s next mission promises to be one of his most intriguing ever.
4. Spider-Man
Regardless of who is wearing the mask, Spider-Man has been a box office favorite. From Tobey Maguire to Andrew Garfield to Tom Holland—and not to mention the animated brilliance of Into the Spider-Verse—the Spider-Verse has grossed $8.9 billion. No Way Home was a multiverse triumph, scaring up fans and making nearly $2 billion. The web-slinger remains one of the most popular and lucrative heroes on the big screen.
3. Harry Potter (Wizarding World)
The boy who lived lived on as a global sensation. The initial Harry Potter series enchanted people for ten years, with Fantastic Beasts attempting to maintain the wizardry. Together, the Wizarding World has equaled $9.6 billion in box office sales. With theme parks, stage productions, and even a new streaming series on the way, this world continues to be full of spells and surprises.
2. Star Wars
More than just a movie series, Star Wars is a generational epic. Since its 1977 debut, it’s spawned 12 theatrical releases, animated adventures, live-action spin-offs, and enough merchandise to fill a galaxy. The franchise has pulled in $10.32 billion at the box office, with The Force Awakens contributing over $2 billion alone. Disney’s $4 billion buyout of Lucasfilm in 2012 now looks like one of the best bets in Hollywood history.
1. Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU)
There has never been a franchise that remade the modern movie landscape like the MCU. It went from humble beginnings with Iron Man to the shocking heights of Avengers: Endgame. Marvel created an integrated universe of heroes and villains with endless, epic storytelling. The MCU has produced 35 films to date and has taken over $31.4 billion worldwide. Endgame alone grossed $2.79 billion, making it the second-highest-grossing film in history. The MCU, fueled by crossover magic, ambitious world-building, and a devoted fanbase, is the absolute box office king.
These franchises aren’t just movie phenomena—they are the stories we grow up with, the characters we cosplay, and the worlds we return to again and again. Whether it’s lightsabers, wands, webs, or dinosaurs, these cinematic universes have become part of who we are as movie lovers.