Film series
A film series, film franchise, movie series, or movie franchise is a collection of related films in succession that share the same fictional universe, or are marketed as a series.[1]
Description
Sometimes the work is conceived from the beginning as a multiple-film work – for example, the Three Colours series – but in most cases the success of the original film inspires further films to be made. Individual sequels are relatively common, but are not always successful enough to spawn further installments.
The Marvel Cinematic Universe is the highest grossing film series in unadjusted US Dollar figures surpassing the Wizarding World, Star Wars, James Bond, and J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-Earth series. However, Star Wars is the highest grossing when adjusted for inflation.[2]
Worldwide
North America
The following list is ordered by the highest-grossing film franchises (minimum $500 million gross). Updated to October 16, 2018.[3]
Indicates sub-series (such as the Harry Potter series within the larger Wizarding World franchise).
(1) ( Elvis Movies) 31
| # | Franchise | Total Gross | # Movies | Average Gross | #1 Picture | gross |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marvel Cinematic Universe | $8,121.0 | 23 | $369.1 | Avengers: Endgame | $825.0 |
| 2 | Star Wars | $4,220.7 | 11 | $383.7 | Star Wars: The Force Awakens | $936.7 |
| 3 | J.K. Rowling's Wizarding World | $2,624.1 | 10 | $291.5 | Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows 2 | $381.0 |
| Avengers | $2,586.2 | 4 | $646.5 | Avengers: Endgame | $825.0 | |
| Harry Potter | $2,390.1 | 8 | $298.7 | Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows 2 | $381.0 | |
| 4 | X-Men | $2,362.7 | 11 | $214.8 | Deadpool | $363.1 |
| 5 | Batman | $2,222.5 | 8 | $277.8 | The Dark Knight | $533.3 |
| 6 | James Bond | $2,112.9 | 24 | $84.5 | Skyfall | $304.4 |
| 7 | Spider-Man | $1,912.9 | 6 | $318.8 | Spider-Man | $403.7 |
| 8 | Middle Earth | $1,846.7 | 6 | $307.8 | Return of the King | $377.0 |
| 9 | DC Extended Universe | $1,588.1 | 5 | $317.6 | Wonder Woman | $412.6 |
| 10 | The Fast and the Furious | $1,516.8 | 8 | $189.6 | Furious 7 | $353.0 |
| 11 | Transformers | $1,455.2 | 6 | $242.5 | Transformers 2 | $402.1 |
| 12 | Pirates of the Caribbean | $1,451.8 | 5 | $290.4 | Dead Man's Chest | $423.3 |
| 13 | The Hunger Games | $1,451.5 | 4 | $362.9 | Catching Fire | $424.7 |
| 14 | Shrek | $1,419.6 | 5 | $283.9 | Shrek 2 | $441.2 |
| 15 | Star Trek | $1,401.0 | 13 | $107.8 | Star Trek | $257.7 |
| 16 | Twilight | $1,363.5 | 5 | $272.7 | The Twilight Saga: Eclipse | $300.5 |
| 17 | Despicable Me | $1,220.2 | 4 | $305.1 | Despicable Me 2 | $368.1 |
| The Dark Knight Trilogy | $1,186.8 | 3 | $395.6 | The Dark Knight | $533.3 | |
| 18 | Mission: Impossible | $1,155.0 | 6 | $192.5 | Mission: Impossible 6 | $220.1 |
| 19 | Superman | $1,139.5 | 7 | $162.8 | Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice | $330.4 |
| The Lord of the Rings | $1,060.7 | 3 | $265.2 | Return of the King | $377.0 | |
| Iron Man | $1,039.9 | 3 | $346.6 | Iron Man 3 | $409.0 | |
| 20 | Indiana Jones | $906.4 | 4 | $226.6 | Indiana Jones 4 | $317.1 |
| 21 | Toy Story | $883.4 | 4 | $220.8 | Toy Story 3 | $415.0 |
| 22 | The Incredibles | $868.9 | 2 | $434.5 | Incredibles 2 | $607.5 |
| Captain America | $844.5 | 3 | $281.5 | Captain America: Civil War | $408.1 | |
| 23 | Finding Nemo | $826.0 | 2 | $413.0 | Finding Dory | $486.3 |
| The Hobbit | $816.5 | 3 | $272.2 | An Unexpected Journey | $303.0 | |
| 24 | Bourne | $801.0 | 5 | $160.2 | The Bourne Ultimatum | $227.5 |
| 25 | Planet of the Apes | $794.0 | 9 | $88.2 | Dawn of the Planet of the Apes | $208.5 |
| 26 | Ice Age | $793.7 | 5 | $158.7 | Ice Age 3 | $196.6 |
| 27 | Avatar | $749.8 | 1 | $749.8 | Avatar | $749.8 |
| Star Wars Anthology | $745.9 | 2 | $373.0 | Rogue One | $532.2 | |
| Guardians of the Galaxy | $723.0 | 2 | $361.5 | Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 | $389.8 | |
| Thor | $702.5 | 3 | $234.2 | Thor: Ragnarok | $315.1 | |
| Deadpool | $681.6 | 2 | $340.8 | Deadpool | $363.1 | |
| 28 | Rocky | $675.4 | 7 | $96.5 | Rocky IV | $127.9 |
| 29 | Madagascar | $673.3 | 4 | $168.3 | Madagascar 3 | $216.4 |
| 30 | Alvin and the Chipmunks | $662.7 | 5 | $132.5 | Alvin and the Chipmunks 2 | $219.6 |
| 31 | The Hangover | $644.0 | 3 | $214.7 | The Hangover | $277.3 |
| 32 | Men in Black | $620.1 | 3 | $206.7 | Men in Black | $250.7 |
| 33 | The Conjuring | $609.1 | 7 | $87.0 | The Conjuring | $137.4 |
| 34 | Terminator | $608.7 | 5 | $121.7 | Terminator 2 | $204.8 |
| 35 | Fockers | $593.9 | 3 | $198.0 | Meet the Fockers | $279.3 |
| 36 | The Matrix | $592.4 | 3 | $197.5 | The Matrix Reloaded | $281.6 |
| 37 | Alien | $590.2 | 8 | $73.8 | Prometheus | $126.5 |
| 38 | Cars | $588.4 | 3 | $196.1 | Cars | $244.1 |
| 39 | Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles | $583.6 | 6 | $97.3 | Ninja Turtles | $191.2 |
| 40 | Ocean's | $565.5 | 4 | $141.4 | Ocean's Eleven | $183.4 |
| 41 | The Mummy | $550.9 | 4 | $137.7 | Mummy Returns | $202.0 |
| 42 | Night at the Museum | $541.9 | 3 | $180.6 | Night at the Museum | $250.9 |
| Wolverine | $538.7 | 3 | $179.6 | Logan | $226.3 | |
| 43 | The Chronicles of Narnia | $537.7 | 3 | $179.2 | The Chronicles of Narnia | $291.7 |
| Planet of the Apes (2011-2017) | $532.2 | 3 | $177.4 | Dawn of the Planet of the Apes | $208.5 | |
| 44 | Monsters, Inc. | $524.4 | 2 | $262.2 | Monsters University | $268.5 |
| 45 | Kung Fu Panda | $524.2 | 3 | $174.7 | Kung Fu Panda | $215.4 |
| 46 | Rush Hour | $507.5 | 3 | $169.2 | Rush Hour 2 | $226.2 |
| 47 | Die Hard | $502.4 | 5 | $100.5 | Live Free or Die Hard | $134.5 |
note: Differences with Box Office Mojo: The Batman franchise is considered 8 films, not 11, as animated films are excluded; Harry Potter IMAX Marathon is excluded.
See also
- Lists of feature film series
- Highest-grossing franchises and film series
- Media franchise
- List of the highest-grossing media franchises
References
- ^ "Greatest Movie Series - Film Franchises of All-Time". filmsite.org. Retrieved October 17, 2018.
A film series is a collection of related movies released in succession over a period of time, for instance, the Tarzan movies. Usually, films in a series include common elements, such as characters (i.e., the Frankenstein films), actors/actresses (Astaire & Rogers), or names in a title (the Pink Panther films), etc. Sometimes, a film series is based upon the same director (i.e., Robert Rodriguez' Mariachi Trilogy, or Baz Luhrmann's Red Curtain Trilogy), or it can be based upon the studio (i.e., Hammer's Dracula films).
- ^ "Movie Franchises - Box Office History". The Numbers. Nash Information Services, LLC. Retrieved 2016-12-22.
- ^ "Franchise Index - Total Gross". boxofficemojo.com. Retrieved October 16, 2018.
| Media series | |
|---|---|
| Media lists | |
| Highest-grossing | |
| Best-selling | |
