Some movies are so good that one film is never enough. Over the decades, Hollywood has built massive franchises that keep fans coming back for more, sequel after sequel.
These film series have made billions of dollars and shaped pop culture in ways that are hard to imagine. From superheroes to wizards to talking toys, here are the 20 biggest movie franchises ever created.
1. Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU)
With over $31 billion at the worldwide box office, the Marvel Cinematic Universe is the undisputed king of movie franchises. Starting with Iron Man in 2008, Marvel carefully built an interconnected universe of superhero stories that no studio had ever attempted before.
Avengers: Endgame alone pulled in $2.8 billion globally, making it one of the highest-grossing films in history. Twenty-three films and counting, the MCU redefined what a movie franchise could truly become.
2. Star Wars
A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, George Lucas launched one of cinema’s most beloved franchises. Star Wars has earned over $10.32 billion worldwide, making it the only other franchise besides the MCU to cross the $10 billion milestone.
Spanning five decades and 12 original releases, this saga of Jedi knights and galactic battles has captivated multiple generations. A brand-new Star Wars film is already planned for 2026, proving the Force is far from finished.
3. Harry Potter (Wizarding World)
Platform 9 and three-quarters changed everything when Harry Potter first hit theaters in 2001. The Wizarding World franchise has since conjured up roughly $9.6 billion at the global box office, placing it tantalizingly close to the $10 billion mark.
Between the original eight Harry Potter films and the Fantastic Beasts spin-off series, this magical universe has enchanted fans of all ages. Few franchises have built such a passionate, enduring fanbase across books, films, and theme parks worldwide.
4. Spider-Man
No one swings through box office records quite like Spider-Man. With $9.25 billion in worldwide earnings, the web-slinger has starred in multiple film series across different studios, each bringing a fresh take on the beloved Marvel hero.
Spider-Man: No Way Home brilliantly united three different movie versions of the character, sending fans absolutely wild. The franchise proves that even after decades of reboots and reimaginings, audiences never get tired of their favorite friendly neighborhood Spider-Man.
5. The Avengers
Four films. $7.76 billion. The Avengers sub-franchise within the MCU represents some of the most electrifying moviegoing experiences of the last 15 years.
When Earth’s Mightiest Heroes first assembled on screen in 2012, audiences around the world lost their minds with excitement.
Avengers: Endgame became a cultural phenomenon, with fans booking midnight screenings months in advance. As a standalone group of films within the MCU, the Avengers series stands as one of the most profitable in cinema history.
6. The Fast and the Furious
What started as a movie about street racing in Los Angeles somehow became a franchise about international espionage, space missions, and family. Fast and Furious has earned an astonishing $7.3 billion globally across 10 films and one spinoff.
The secret ingredient? An unshakeable emphasis on loyalty and brotherhood that resonates with audiences worldwide.
Critics may raise an eyebrow at the physics-defying stunts, but fans keep showing up in massive numbers, making this one of Hollywood’s most reliable box office machines.
7. James Bond
Nobody does it better than 007. The James Bond franchise has been thrilling audiences since 1962, accumulating $7.12 billion across an impressive 27 releases.
Six different actors have portrayed the iconic British spy, each bringing their own style to the role.
From Sean Connery’s cool charisma to Daniel Craig’s gritty intensity, Bond has constantly reinvented himself while keeping his signature charm intact. As one of cinema’s longest-running franchises, Bond’s legacy in Hollywood is virtually unmatched.
8. DC Extended Universe (DCEU)
Marvel may dominate the box office, but DC’s Extended Universe has still managed to pull in between $7 and $8 billion worldwide. Launching with Man of Steel in 2013, the DCEU brought iconic heroes like Wonder Woman, Aquaman, and The Flash to the big screen.
Wonder Woman and Aquaman were especially massive hits, each earning over $1 billion globally. Now transitioning into a rebooted DC Universe under new leadership, the franchise is gearing up for a bold new chapter in superhero cinema.
9. Batman
Gotham’s Dark Knight has been gracing movie screens since 1943, making Batman one of cinema’s oldest recurring characters. The franchise has grossed $6.39 billion worldwide, with Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight Rises earning over $1.08 billion at the top.
What makes Batman so enduring is his humanity. Unlike most superheroes, he has no powers, just determination, intelligence, and a very dark wardrobe.
Each new actor who takes on the cape brings a fresh perspective that keeps audiences genuinely curious.
10. Jurassic Park
Life, uh, finds a way. Steven Spielberg’s 1993 original Jurassic Park was a game-changer for visual effects and storytelling, and the franchise has never looked back.
Six films later, Jurassic Park and its Jurassic World sequels have collectively earned $6.3 billion worldwide.
The series taps into a primal human fascination with dinosaurs that never seems to fade. Whether it is terrifying raptors in a kitchen or a Mosasaurus leaping from the water, these films deliver unforgettable moments that stick with audiences for years.
11. X-Men
Before the MCU took over, X-Men was the franchise that proved superhero movies could be serious, smart, and emotionally powerful. Since launching in 2000, the X-Men series has released 14 films and earned $6.05 billion at the worldwide box office.
Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine became one of cinema’s most beloved characters, appearing in more films than almost any other superhero actor. With the X-Men now set to enter the MCU, a whole new era of mutant storytelling is right around the corner.
12. The Lord of the Rings
Peter Jackson turned J.R.R. Tolkien’s beloved novels into three of the most breathtaking films ever made.
The Lord of the Rings franchise, including The Hobbit trilogy, has earned $5.86 billion worldwide and is expected to cross $6 billion with an upcoming seventh release.
The Return of the King famously swept all 11 of its Oscar nominations, including Best Picture. Few franchises have matched the sheer scale, emotional depth, and world-building ambition that Jackson brought to Middle-earth on the big screen.
13. Despicable Me
Who knew that a supervillain adopting three orphaned girls would become one of animation’s biggest success stories? The Despicable Me franchise, including the wildly popular Minions spin-offs, has earned $5.6 billion at the global box office.
The Minions themselves became a full-blown cultural phenomenon, spawning their own movies, merchandise, and an army of internet memes. Warm, funny, and surprisingly heartfelt, this franchise has a unique ability to make both kids and adults laugh out loud at exactly the same moments.
14. Transformers
Robots in disguise have been rolling out to theaters since 2007, and the Transformers franchise has accumulated $4.85 billion worldwide in the process. Director Michael Bay turned the beloved toy and cartoon franchise into a series of massive, loud, and relentlessly action-packed blockbusters.
Love them or criticize them, these films know exactly what their audience wants. Bumblebee, a 2018 prequel with a softer tone, actually won over many skeptical critics.
A new chapter called Transformers One arrived in 2024, reimagining the story as an animated origin tale.
15. Pirates of the Caribbean
Based on a theme park ride, Pirates of the Caribbean had no business being as good as it turned out to be. The franchise has sailed its way to $4.5 billion in global box office earnings across five swashbuckling adventures.
Johnny Depp’s portrayal of the eccentric Captain Jack Sparrow became one of cinema’s most instantly recognizable characters. The original Curse of the Black Pearl remains a near-perfect adventure film, blending humor, action, and supernatural mystery in a way few blockbusters have matched since.
16. Mission: Impossible
Tom Cruise refuses to let Mission: Impossible slow down. What began as a 1996 adaptation of a classic TV show has grown into a $4.35 billion global franchise built on jaw-dropping practical stunts that Cruise performs himself.
Each film somehow tops the last in terms of sheer audacity, from hanging off the Burj Khalifa to riding a motorcycle off a cliff. The franchise is a masterclass in escalating tension and crowd-pleasing action, proving that real stunts still beat CGI every single time.
17. Shrek
Once upon a time, a big green ogre completely flipped the fairy tale genre on its head. Shrek has earned $3.9 billion worldwide across four main films and two spin-offs, cementing its place among animation’s all-time greats.
Shrek 2 alone earned over $900 million globally.
Sharp humor aimed at adults, slapstick comedy for kids, and genuinely touching themes about acceptance made these films special. A fifth Shrek film is reportedly set for 2026, and honestly, the world is already ready to return to Far Far Away.
18. The Twilight Saga
Few franchises have ever inspired quite the level of passionate fan devotion that Twilight generated in the late 2000s and early 2010s. The five-film saga earned $3.36 billion worldwide, making it the most successful young adult franchise in box office history.
Team Edward versus Team Jacob debates dominated school hallways and social media alike. Based on Stephenie Meyer’s bestselling novels, Twilight tapped into something deeply emotional for its audience.
Though critics were divided, fans showed up in enormous numbers every single time a new chapter arrived.
19. The Hunger Games
May the odds be ever in your favor. The Hunger Games franchise has collectively earned over $3.2 billion worldwide across four original films and a 2023 prequel, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.
Another prequel, Sunrise on the Reaping, is already in development.
Jennifer Lawrence’s portrayal of Katniss Everdeen became a defining performance of her generation, inspiring countless young fans. The franchise tackled themes of government control, media manipulation, and rebellion in ways that felt startlingly relevant to real-world events happening around the same time.
20. Toy Story
To infinity and beyond! Toy Story changed animation forever when Pixar released the world’s first fully computer-animated feature film back in 1995.
The four-film franchise has since earned $3.3 billion worldwide, with Toy Story 4 topping the series at $1.07 billion.
What makes Toy Story truly remarkable is how it grows up alongside its audience. Kids who watched Andy play with Woody in 1995 were full-grown adults sobbing when he left for college in 2010.
That emotional connection across generations is something very few franchises ever achieve.