While movie franchises may be more common in modern cinema, it’s still incredibly rare to see an entire film series that hasn’t released at least one bad movie. Many modern movies are designed with a plan to build on the IP and expand the franchise. Film studios have seen great multi-billion dollar successes come from movie franchises that explore one specific universe and keep audiences coming back again and again. However, when the building of a franchise takes priority over the quality of individual projects, film quality can suffer drastically.
Creating a great movie requires a great level of care, attention to detail and often a large team of talented people to make something special. Of course, almost anyone who goes into making a film is likely to try to do their best and create something that will resonate with audiences, but a movie can be bad for numerous reasons, such as lack of communication between teams or too many changes and alterations to a finished product. Thankfully, there are some incredible franchises where everything worked together well and finished strong.
10 Back To The Future Trilogy
Bringing Time Travel Up To Date
Back to the Future
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Marty McFly, a 17-year-old high school student, is accidentally sent 30 years into the past in a time-traveling DeLorean invented by his close friend, the maverick scientist Doc Brown. In 1955, he meets his parents when they were his age, and must step in to make sure they wind up together before he gets back to 1985.
- Director
- Robert Zemeckis
- Studio(s)
- Universal Pictures
- Writers
- Robert Zemeckis , Bob Gale
- Cast
- Claudia Wells , Christopher Lloyd , James Tolkan , Thomas F. Wilson , Michael J. Fox , Wendie Jo Sperber , Crispin Glover , Marc McClure , Lea Thompson
The Back to the Future franchise was both written and directed by Robert Zemeckis, and it helped to popularize time travel in sci-fi for a modern audience. The movies featured great music, a young hero, and an incredible storyline that captured the attention of audiences everywhere, and the reception to the films was hugely positive. While the first entry is undoubtedly the best in the series, the movies continued to deliver high quality with each entry, making it one of the few trilogies where every movie is worth a rewatch and equally entertaining.
Movie Title | IMDb Score | Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score | Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
|---|---|---|---|
Back to the Future (1985) | 8.5 | 93% | 94% |
Back to the Future Part II (1989) | 7.8 | 62% | 85% |
Back to the Future Part III (1990) | 7.4 | 80% | 78% |
9 Jumanji
Fantasy Games Brought To Life
Jumanji
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Jumanji is an action-adventure comedy film by director Joe Johnston and starring Robin Williams. Two orphan siblings move into a home occupied by the former Parrish family, whose son disappeared years ago. When the two start playing a mysterious board game known as “Jumanji,” they unknowingly release the missing Alan Parrish later, along with various other jungle-themed dangers that can only be stopped if they finish the game.
- Director
- Joe Johnston
- Studio(s)
- TriStar Pictures , Interscope Communications
- Writers
- Jonathan Hensleigh , Greg Taylor , Jim Strain
- Cast
- Robin Williams , Kirsten Dunst , David Alan Grier , Bonnie Hunt , Jonathan Hyde , Bebe Neuwirth
The original Jumanji film has gone on to secure a cult classic status, and thanks to the incredible performance from the late Robin Williams, the 1995 movie was highly entertaining. The franchise went on to produce a cartoon which continued the story of Alan Parrish, but it wasn’t until more than 20 years later that a sequel was released, bringing Jumanji to a brand-new generation. The modern movies feature a star-studded cast, which certainly helped to pull in audiences, but the clever concept and updates to the franchise made the subsequent entries arguably better than the original.
Movie Title | IMDb Score | RT Critic Score | RT Audience Score |
|---|---|---|---|
Jumanji (1995) | 7.1 | 51% | 63% |
Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017) | 6.9 | 76% | 87% |
Jumanji: The Next Level (2019) | 6.7 | 71% | 87% |
10 Canceled Movie Franchises We Wish Had Happened
Movie franchises are taking over Hollywood, but some franchises that failed to take off could have been great if the studios pushed them forward.
8 Toy Story
Pixar’s Debut Film And Most Popular Series
Toy Story
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Pixar’s first feature film release sees Woody (Tom Hanks), a cowboy doll, confronted by the nightmare of being replaced as his owner Andy’s favorite toy jeopardized when his parents buy him a Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen) action figure. Stricken by anxiety, Woody hatches a plan to remain the favorite, kicking off a race against time for the toys to be reunited with their owner before his house move makes them permanently Lost Toys.
- Director
- John Lasseter
- Writers
- Joss Whedon , Alec Sokolow , Joel Cohen , Andrew Stanton
- Cast
- Tom Hanks , Don Rickles , Annie Potts , Tim Allen , Jim Varney
Pixar began life as a graphic design company under the umbrella of Lucasfilms, producing special effects for films. However, approximately 15 years after the company was founded, they moved into making their own feature length animated films, with Toy Story marking their debut. Soon after Toy Story’s incredible success, Pixar developed a close-knit relationship with Disney, and the rest is history. However, the studio continued to produce more entries in the Toy Story saga, with a fifth movie currently in development. Despite so many changes, Pixar continues to get it right when it comes to their most important IP.
Movie Title | IMDb Score | RT Critic Score | RT Audience Score |
|---|---|---|---|
Toy Story (1995) | 8.3 | 100% | 92% |
Toy Story 2 (1999) | 7.9 | 100% | 87% |
Toy Story 3 (2010) | 8.3 | 98% | 90% |
Toy Story 4 (2019) | 7.7 | 97% | 94% |
7 The Dark Knight Trilogy
Christopher Nolan’s Dark Take On Batman And Gotham City
Batman Begins
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Christopher Nolan’s take on Batman’s origin story sees Christian Bale take up the mantle of the Caped Crusader. Batman Begins follows young Bruce Wayne who, reeling from the murder of his wealthy parents, decides to become a vigilante in order to save Gotham City. This pits him against the mysterious League of Shadows, an organization intent on destroying Gotham with the help of the villainous Scarecrow and his powerful fear toxin.
- Director
- Christopher Nolan
- Studio(s)
- Warner Bros. Pictures
- Writers
- Bob Kane , David S. Goyer , Christopher Nolan
- Cast
- Ken Watanabe , Liam Neeson , Gary Oldman , Tom Wilkinson , Linus Roache , Christian Bale , Katie Holmes , Mark Boone Junior , Michael Caine , Rutger Hauer , Cillian Murphy , Morgan Freeman
Christopher Nolan was quickly becoming a household name when he began working on Batman Begins, but by the time The Dark Knight Rises came out in 2012, he was considered one of the most talented directors in Hollywood. Prior to Nolan and Bale’s work on Batman, previous adaptations of the comic book hero had undergone several transformations. However, Nolan’s work helped shape the future of comic book movies, with a darker, more realistic tone, and audiences everywhere fell in love with the trilogy for everything from the outstanding performances, to the costumes and cars, and the action scenes throughout the series.
Movie Title | IMDb Score | RT Critic Score | RT Audience Score |
|---|---|---|---|
Batman Begins (2005) | 8.2 | 85% | 94% |
The Dark Knight (2008) | 9.0 | 94% | 94% |
The Dark Knight Rises (2012) | 8.4 | 87% | 90% |
6 John Wick
Keanu Reeves Is The Master Assassin, John Wick
John Wick
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John Wick is the first entry in the action-thriller franchise directed by Chad Stahelski and starring Keanu Reeves. Retired hitman John is brought back into the field when the dog his recently deceased life left him is murdered. Full of rage and equipped with unparalleled combat skills, John begins to track down the ones responsible for the act of violence and lays waste to any who dare to cross his path, sending panic throughout the criminal underworld.
- Director
- David Leitch , Chad Stahelski
- Studio(s)
- Thunder Road Pictures , 87Eleven Productions
- Writers
- Derek Kolstad
- Cast
- Keanu Reeves , Adrianne Palicki , Willem Dafoe , Bridget Moynahan , Jason Isaacs , Alfie Allen
John Wick is the most recent entry on this list, with more movies and spin-offs set to come in the future. However, as of the release of John Wick: Chapter 4, the series has had a perfect track record. The spin-off show, The Continental, got some mixed reviews, but the movies starring Keanu Reeves as the titular assassin continuously improved with each new entry. Most franchises tend to get worse over time, but as the character of John Wick became more clearly defined, and he edged closer to his freedom from The High Table’s influence, the series kept getting better.
Movie Title | IMDb Score | RT Critic Score | RT Audience Score |
|---|---|---|---|
John Wick (2014) | 7.4 | 86% | 81% |
John Wick: Chapter 2 (2017) | 7.4 | 89% | 85% |
John Wick: Chapter 3 — Parabellum | 7.4 | 89% | 86% |
John Wick: Chapter 4 (2023) | 7.7 | 94% | 93% |
5 The Dollars Trilogy
AKA The Man With No Name Trilogy
A Fistful of Dollars
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A Fistful of Dollars is a spaghetti Western film from director Sergio Leone starring Clint Eastwood. A Fistful of Dollars is notable for being Clint Eastwood’s big break in Hollywood and also for being the beginning of the “Dollars Trilogy.” The film was followed by For a Few Dollars More in 1965 and The Good, The Bad and the Ugly in 1966.
- Director
- Sergio Leone , Monte Hellman
- Studio(s)
- United Artists
- Writers
- Ryûzô Kikushima , Akira Kurosawa , A. Bonzzoni , Víctor Andrés Catena , Sergio Leone , Jaime Comas Gil
- Cast
- Clint Eastwood , Marianne Koch , Gian Maria Volonte , Wolfgang Lukschy , Sieghardt Rupp , Joseph Egger
From the most modern peak franchise to one of the oldest, The Dollars Trilogy was not intended to be a trilogy, or even a connected story. However, the presence of Clint Eastwood, playing a very similar character with no name, and each entry being directed by Sergio Leone, led many to view the films as a series. The series is responsible for rocketing the popularity of the Spaghetti Western genre, and the career of Eastwood to new heights. The films were incredibly influential, and each entry became wildly popular for the time that they were released.
Movie Title | IMDb Score | RT Critic Score | RT Audience Score |
|---|---|---|---|
A Fistful of Dollars (1964) | 7.9 | 98% | 91% |
For a Few Dollars More (1965) | 8.2 | 92% | 94% |
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966) | 8.8 | 97% | 97% |
10 Movie Franchises That Killed Off Their Main Character
While the lead character of a major franchise may seem too important to kill off, many series have had their protagonist meet their end.
4 The Hunger Games
Teenage Dystopian Thriller Starring Jennifer Lawrence And Josh Hutcherson
The Hunger Games
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The Hunger Games is the first of four in the action-drama movie series based on the novels by Suzanne Collins. Set in a dystopian world where people are separated into twelve districts to maintain order, this first film in the franchise focuses on Katniss Everdeen as she is forced to participate in The Hunger Games: a draconian gladiatorial survival event where there can be only one winner.
- Director
- Gary Ross
- Studio(s)
- Lionsgate , Color Force
- Writers
- Gary Ross , Suzanne Collins , Billy Ray
- Cast
- Liam Hemsworth , Jeffrey Wright , Natalie Dormer , Josh Hutcherson , Julianne Moore , Elizabeth Banks , Robert Knepper , Donald Sutherland , Woody Harrelson , Jennifer Lawrence , Jena Malone , Philip Seymour Hoffman
When The Hunger Games was released in 2012, there had been a surge in popularity for young adult fiction and fantasy novels being adapted to film. While some of these franchises were able to generate success, like Twilight and Harry Potter, others fell flat. The Hunger Games managed to overcome the odds stacked against it, with four films based on the original trilogy by Suzanne Collins, and a further prequel story, all of which managed to stay on the right side of critics and audiences. Of course, some entries were better than others, but all of them had their merits.
Movie Title | IMDb Score | RT Critic Score | RT Audience Score |
|---|---|---|---|
The Hunger Games (2012) | 7.2 | 84% | 81% |
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013) | 7.5 | 90% | 89% |
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 1 (2014) | 6.6 | 70% | 71% |
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 2 (2015) | 6.5 | 69% | 66% |
The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (2023) | 6.8 | 64% | 89% |
3 Before Trilogy
Ethan Hawke And Julie Delpy’s Epic Love Story
Before Midnight
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The final film in Richard Linklater’s “Before” trilogy, Before Midnight, returns to Jesse and Celine as a married couple with children on vacation. The two revisit their memories of their lives until now and ponder the possibilities they left behind in pursuit of their newfound happiness as they enjoy the last few days of holiday in Greece.
- Director
- Richard Linklater
- Studio(s)
- Sony
- Writers
- Richard Linklater , Julie Delpy , Ethan Hawke , Kim Krizan
- Cast
- Ethan Hawke , Julie Delpy , Seamus Davey-Fitzpatrick , Jennifer Prior , Charlotte Prior , Xenia Kalogeropoulou
The Before trilogy managed to release three films with nine-year intervals between each and still remain incredibly compelling. Richard Linklater and Kim Krizan worked closely with the stars, exploring where the narrative could go for each movie, creating an epic love story that extends over multiple decades, and each movie exploring the events of a single day. Every movie in the trilogy feels important, original, and strengthens ties between the audience and the characters on the screen. In addition, with such lengthy gaps, this is another series that transcends generations and brings younger viewers together with fans of the early entries.
Movie Title | IMDb Score | RT Critic Score | RT Audience Score |
|---|---|---|---|
Before Sunrise (1995) | 8.1 | 100% | 93% |
Before Sunset (2004) | 8.1 | 94% | 92% |
Before Midnight (2013) | 7.9 | 98% | 82% |
2 Middle-Earth
J.R.R. Tolkien’s Epic Fantasy Brought To Life By Peter Jackson
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
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The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring is the first film in Peter Jackson’s critically acclaimed Lord of the Rings trilogy. The movie follows Frodo Baggins (Elijah Woods) as he is tasked with destroying the One Ring in the fires of Mount Doom after he inherits the ring.
- Director
- Peter Jackson
- Studio(s)
- New Line Cinema , Wingnut Films
- Writers
- Fran Walsh , Philippa Boyens , Peter Jackson
- Cast
- Elijah Wood , Ian McKellen , Liv Tyler , Viggo Mortensen , Sean Astin , Cate Blanchett , John Rhys-Davies , Billy Boyd , Dominic Monaghan , Orlando Bloom , Christopher Lee , Hugo Weaving , Sean Bean , Ian Holm , Andy Serkis
J.R.R. Tolkien was a talented writer who imagined and meticulously crafted the fantastical world of Middle-earth. While earlier attempts to adapt his stories were able to achieve some success, it wasn’t until Peter Jackson stepped up to develop the franchise that it really took off. Between 2001 and 2003, the first three entries became a roaring success, and then, just over a decade later, The Hobbit prequels were released. Again, some entries are definitely stronger than others, but all of them manage to create something visually stunning, compelling, and as imaginative as Tolkien’s original ideas.
Movie Title | IMDb Score | RT Critic Score | RT Audience Score |
|---|---|---|---|
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) | 8.9 | 91% | 95% |
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002) | 8.8 | 95% | 95% |
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003) | 9.0 | 94% | 86% |
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012) | 7.8 | 64% | 83% |
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013) | 7.8 | 75% | 85% |
The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (2014) | 7.4 | 59% | 74% |
1 The Godfather
The Original American Crime Movies
The Godfather
Francis Ford Coppola directed this 1978 classic that would go on to become one of the most iconic crime films ever made. Starring Marlon Brando, James Caan, and Al Pacino, The Godfather gives a tense and introspective look into the Corleone crime family of New York City.
- Director
- Francis Ford Coppola
- Studio(s)
- Paramount Pictures
- Writers
- Mario Puzo , Francis Ford Coppola
- Cast
- Marlon Brando , Diane Keaton , James Caan , Al Pacino , Robert Duvall
The Godfather, especially the first two entries, are included on many lists of the best films of all time. The series by Francis Ford Coppola delivered something that felt revolutionary in cinema, with many scenes in the films pushing the envelope for what could be done. The stories are compelling, dramatic, and feature some incredibly talented individuals as members of the Corleone family. While Part III is frequently given harsher reviews, this may come as a result of the incredibly high quality of the first two films. Part III still manages to be an outstanding film when compared to many other crime dramas, thus making this another movie franchise with no bad entries.
Movie Title | IMDb Score | RT Critic Score | RT Audience Score |
|---|---|---|---|
The Godfather (1972) | 9.2 | 97% | 98% |
The Godfather, Part II (1974) | 9.0 | 96% | 97% |
The Godfather, Part III (1990) | 7.6 | 66% | 67% |
