While some may complain there are too many sequels and reboots in theaters, the reality is that film franchises exist because they’re successful. Movie studios produce entertainment, but ultimately, their goal is to make money. If a film is financially prosperous, chances are a second and third will succeed, too.

If audiences embrace certain movies and characters, giving them more of what they want makes sense. This approach has undoubtedly resulted in some dreadful sequels but has also birthed some excellent and beloved film series. After all, the highest-grossing franchises of all time didn’t get to the top by being mediocre.

Updated by Jordan Iacobucci on March 12, 2024: 2024 is shaping up to be a terrific year for the box office, with all kinds of new films, from Deadpool and Wolverine to Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, hoping to be the next big hit. This list has been updated to reflect new box office statistics according to The Numbers and CBR's current guidelines.

20 The Hunger Games Franchise Defined The Dystopian Genre

5 Films Grossing $3.28 Billion

The Hunger Games is the franchise that kicked off a new era of dystopian films, including Divergent, The Maze Runner, and more. None, however, could ever measure up to the success of these films. Based on the novel series by Suzanne Collins, The Hunger Games depicts a world in which the villainous Capitol forces children to fight in a battle to the death each year.

The original Hunger Games franchise comprised four films, each of which was tremendously popular at the box office. The series laid dormant for years after its conclusion, but has finally returned with the prequel film, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, whose success could portend many more spinoffs to come in the world of Panem.

19 The Twilight Saga Was a Hit Adaptation of a Beloved Book Series

5 Films Grossing $3.36 Billion

Based on the popular Stephanie Meyer books, The Twilight Saga took the world by storm during the late 2000s and early 2010s. The series, about powerful vampires, was one of the first Young Adult fiction franchises to dominate the movie industry, which gave way to other popular releases like The Hunger Games, Percy Jackson, Divergent, and Maze Runner.

Still, Twilight remains the most successful iteration out of these tween- and teen-focused franchises. Even though The Twilight Saga received primarily negative reviews from critics, there's no doubt the series was incredibly successful and beloved by fans. It remains one of the highest-grossing movie franchises in history, even though it hasn't released a new installment in over a decade.

18 Shrek Is a Surprise Hit That Launched a Studio’s Greatest Success

6 Films Grossing $4.02 Billion

From the moment Shrek debuted in 2001, the character became a cultural phenomenon and helped consolidate DreamWorks studios as one of Hollywood's most influential animated creators. In 2004, Shrek 2 became the highest-grossing movie that year. Similarly, Shrek the Third and Shrek Forever After also became top five-grossing movies in their respective release years.

Moreover, DreamWorks also released a 2011 Shrek spinoff following one of the franchise's other iconic characters, Puss in Boots. This spinoff subsequently received its own sequel, Puss in Boots: Last Wish, which was both a commercial and critical success. While the studio has pushed back the release date of Shrek 5 several times, there's no doubt the movie is inevitable, and will likely be as great a success as the rest of this series.

17 Mission: Impossible Is the Rare Franchise That's Improved With Age

7 Films Grossing $4.11 Billion

Starring Tom Cruise as agent Ethan Hunt, the Mission: Impossible franchise started saving the world in 1996. Since then, the series has steadily released a sequel every four or five years. These films are renowned for always performing well at the box office, with one notable exception – the most recent installment, Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning. Even this movie made over $567 million at the global box office.

Additionally, with an eighth installment on the way, Mission: Impossible could soon top the box office again. Although the first two Mission: Impossible films garnered mixed reviews, from Mission: Impossible II onwards, it consistently produced some of the best action movies in the industry. Mission: Impossible – Fallout is especially notable as one of the best-viewed action movies of the past five years.

16 Pirates of the Caribbean Remains a Top Franchise Despite Its Ongoing Hiatus

5 Films Grossing $4.52 Billion

Pirates of the Caribbean is still the sixth highest-grossing franchise ever despite totaling only five movies, the last released in 2017. Two of the films in the series alone amassed more than a billion dollars each, a fantastic feat few franchises have ever reached.

Although it’s been several years since any iteration was in theaters, Pirates of the Caribbean remains a fan favorite. Then, it seemed like the franchise would wither away following Johnny Depp’s controversies. However, producer Jerry Bruckheimer confirmed the sixth Pirates installment is in the works, with Margot Robbie leading the cast (via The Direct).

15 Despicable Me Is an Animated Powerhouse That Has More Coming

5 Films Grossing $4.62 Billion

Even though Disney maintains a near monopoly on animated movies, the Despicable Me series has pushed past the House of Mouse to become history's most financially successful animated film franchise. Not only are the three primary films incredibly profitable, but its sister series, based on the adorable and funny sidekicks called Minions, is also wildly popular.

Moreover, Despicable Me's success isn't likely to end anytime soon. The franchise's studio, Illumination, is set to release in 2024, which could position this franchise in the top ten highest-grossing individual films ever. So far, Minions has already broken records, becoming the highest-grossing animated film not owned by Disney, garnering $1.16 billion worldwide.

14 Avatar Is One of the Most Financially Successful Franchises Ever

2 Films Grossing $5.24 Billion

Taking the world by storm with an immersive visual experience, both Avatar and Avatar: The Way of Water smashed box office records upon their respective releases. To this day, Avatar remains the highest-grossing movie of all time, with $2.92 billion in earnings, beating massive hits like Titanic and The Force Awakens.

Furthermore, despite the sequel, Way of Water, taking over a decade to make, since James Cameron had to wait for technological advances to create the visuals, it made enough money to greenlight further Avatar installments. Way of the Water ended its theatrical run as the third-highest-grossing movie in history, second only to Avengers: Endgame. On a per-film basis, Avatar is easily the top-grossing franchise in cinematic history.

13 Transformers Has Garnered More Money Than Critical Praise

8 Films Grossing $5.29 Billion

While most of the films in the Transformers franchise have received negative reviews — and have weathered several off-screen controversies — the series has consistently performed well at the box office. Critics and audiences alike have praised most entries for their fantastic visual effects and action sequences while finding the stories and character development lackluster.

Despite critics roundly deriding Revenge of the Fallen as one of the decade's worst movies, its follow-up, Dark of the Moon, became the most profitable film of the series, earning $1.13 billion. Still, even after this success, the franchise has steadily garnered negative reviews until 2018's Bumblebee, which critics highly praised. The latest entry, Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, released on June 9, 2023, didn't perform exceptionally well with critics or at the box office, but two sequels are already on their way.

12 The Middle Earth Series Is Arguably the Greatest Fantasy Franchise Ever

6 Films Grossing $5.85 Billion

Based on one of the most popular and well-written fantasy series of all time, by J.R.R. Tolkien, it’s no surprise that Peter Jackson’s Middle Earth films were so successful. The franchise includes both The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies.

Although The Hobbit movies didn't receive as much critical praise as The Lord of the Rings, both series performed terrifically at the box office. The third TLOTR entry, The Return of the King, and the first Hobbit movie, An Unexpected Journey, topped over $1 billion during their theatrical runs. The success of TLOTR was so outstanding in the 2000s it opened the door for a bevy of more ambitious fantasy projects.

11 Jurassic Park Remains a Top Series Despite Its Diminishing Returns

6 Films Grossing $6.03 Billion

Directed by Steven Spielberg, Jurassic Park is one of the most popular movies from the '90s. This first entry, released in 1993, was so popular that it broke box office records, reaching $1.05 billion — the first film to earn more than a billion dollars.

So, it was surprising when, 14 years after the franchise's last movie, the then newest installment — Jurassic World — actually surpassed the original's success, grossing $1.67 billion worldwide. This new entry, a trilogy starring Chris Pratt, did incredibly well. Capitalizing on people's nostalgia from the first trilogy, this new set of movies took advantage of the latest visual effects technology to create some excellent dinosaur-centric sequences.

10 X-Men Paved the Way for the MCU’s Future Success

13 Films Grossing $6.07 Billion

Believe it or not, there was a time when Marvel wasn't synonymous with successful or even quality-made movies. The company's filmography included box office flops like Howard the Duck and bizarre adaptations like the bizarre Punisher starring Dolph Lundgren. But in 2000, X-Men debuted and changed everything.

This original X-Men film's success led to a now 13-movie franchise, which includes the Deadpool and Wolverine series. This prosperity also demonstrated that superhero movies could be big business. Deadpool 2 was the most financially successful of all these films, bringing in over $785 million. Deadpool 3, which features Wolverine's return, is anticipated

to surpass even this exceptional achievement.

9 Batman Is Arguably the Most Iconic American Cinematic Character

17 Films Grossing $6.8 Billion

After the underwhelming Superman movies of the late '70s and early '80s all but killed superhero movies, Tim Burton's 1989 Batman brought them back to life. While the haphazardly produced sequels almost killed the character in cinema again, Christopher Nolan resurrected him with his Dark Knight Trilogy.

The 17 films in the Batman franchise, starting in 1966 with Batman: The Movie through 2022's The Batman, have all performed well at the box office. The series, which includes animated fare like The Lego Batman Movie and spinoffs like Catwoman and Joker, has more range than audiences might believe for a franchise centered on a single character. This flexibility has let the Batman series reach creative heights few other franchises have matched.

8 The DC Extended Universe Overcame Uneven Creative Production

15 Films Grossing $7.14 Billion

After the overwhelming triumph of the MCU, the DC Extended Universe desperately sought to capture some of its rival’s cinematic magic. While there are some great films in the DCEU, like Birds of Prey and Wonder Woman, there are also some total flops like Black Adam and Suicide Squad.

One way the DCEU was consistent, though, was that audiences almost always showed up in droves to support it. With James Gunn's promotion to DC Studios co-CEO, the DCEU is officially dead, but the promise of the new DCU has fans excited. Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom brought the DCEU to an end, performing somewhat well but falling far short of the original Aquaman's success, the top-grossing DCEU entry, garnering over $1.15 billion at the global box office.

7 Fast & Furious Is an Enormous Franchise With Humble Origins

11 Films Grossing $7.33 Billion

The Fast and the Furious began as a brofest street racing movie, which debuted in 2001. Despite these humble beginnings, the franchise evolved into an international espionage action series and one of the top-grossing franchises ever. With ten films, a spinoff, and two more entries in production, the Fast & Furious franchise remains poised for continued box office dominance.

Additionally, the F&F series is one of the top franchises that doesn't involve superheroes, wizards, or Wookies. The series has been so successful because its producers figured out a way to make action-packed car chases the solution to any global threat that arises. This circuit's top performer is Furious 7, with over $1.5 billion in career earnings.

6 Avengers Is the Most Successful Franchise Within a Franchise

4 Films Grossing $7.77 Billion

The Avengers are a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but they are a top movie franchise all on their own. In only four films, Tony Stark and crew have hauled in an eye-popping sum that tops $7 billion, making The Avengers the most successful sub-franchise within the most successful franchise.

Every Avengers installment has grossed over a billion dollars, with even the least successful — Age of Ultron — raking in over $1.4 billion. Moreover, the franchise's grand finale, the time-hopping epic Endgame, absolutely smashed at the box office, becoming the second highest-grossing movie of all time.

5 James Bond Remains as Popular as Ever Even After 60 Years

27 Films Grossing $7.88 Billion

British secret agent 007 has almost single-handedly saved the world over two dozen times. This one agent, James Bond, is the star of a franchise that now spans nearly six decades and 27 films. In each entry, Bond goes head-to-head with an evil genius or shadowy cabal to protect Earth from potential domination.

The first 007 film, 1962's Dr. No, starring Sean Connery as Bond, earned a modest $59.5 million but has thrived since then. With each new movie and Bond portrayer, the series has grown in both popularity and earnings. Daniel Craig's 007 in Skyfall gets the top Bond rating, pulling in over $1.1 billion and saving the day again.

4 Spider-Man Is Arguably the Second Most Well-Known Comic Book Character Ever

10 Films Grossing $8.96 Billion

Thanks to some creative rights wheeling and dealing, Spider-Man now exists in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but he does just fine on his own. Slinging webs through 10 films, Spider-Man has earned almost $9 billion, making it the most successful single-character franchise ever.

Beginning with Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man in 2002, Peter Parker’s alter-ego has seen enough reboots and re-imaginings to rival Batman. Also, like Batman, Spider-Man has found success in the animated space, with Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and its sequel earning a combined $1.06 billion. So, although Spider-Man doesn’t need the MCU to sling webs and kick butt, his most successful outing was the MCU’s Spider-Man: No Way Home, which webbed in $1.92 billion.

3 The Wizarding World Has Spawned Two Massive Franchises Spanning 20 Years

11 Films Grossing $9.57 Billion

From the outset, J.K. Rowling's Wizarding World books seemed destined to become a great film like Harry Potter was pre-ordained to stop Lord Voldemort's evil reign. The franchise's 11 films, which include eight Harry Potter movies and three Fantastic Beast movies, have enchanted audiences and earned almost $10 billion in Muggle money.

The first film, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, was immediate box office magic, earning over $963 million. From here, the franchise only grew, with the final entry in the Harry Potter saga, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, raking in over $1.32 billion at the box office. While not as popular as Harry Potter, even the trilogy of Fantastic Beast films brought in a respectable $1.88 billion combined.

2 Star Wars Is One of the Most Beloved Series In Cinematic History

12 Films Grossing $10.33 Billion

Star Wars is the most commercially successful non-superhero cinematic franchise ever, with a trilogy of trilogies, a pair of anthology films, and an animated outlier. The 12 films comprising George Lucas's space saga reached light speed, earning over $10 billion worth of Imperial credits. Most experts also credit the original movie for taking the sci-fi genre mainstream and pulling 20th Century Studios out of the dumps.

This first movie, Star Wars: A New Hope, grossed $775 million, which was huge at the time. But adjusted for inflation, this sum reaches a whopping $2.5 billion and ranks second all-time, behind Gone with the Wind, as the biggest box office draw ever. In non-inflation-adjusted numbers, Star Wars: The Force Awakens is the franchise's top earner, with over $2.07 billion in ticket sales.

1 Marvel Cinematic Universe Remains the Most Significant Film Franchise Ever

33 Films Grossing $29.75 Billion

Stretching a story arc across 23 films, as Marvel did with the Infinity Saga, seems risky and downright foolish. Despite this risk, the Marvel Cinematic Universe became one of the most prosperous and creatively ingenious ideas in filmmaking history.

Along with the movies in the Multiverse Saga, the MCU is the highest-grossing film franchise of all time, earning over $29 billion across 33 movies. While the sheer volume of entries seems like an unfair advantage over other franchises, its $902 million per-film average is staggering. Additionally, while the MCU has struggled lately, it is poised for a major comeback, with nine more future installments already planned.