A Definitive Ranking of the Most Popular Blockbuster Film Franchises
I can't be the only person who prefers franchises over standalone films. I'm the type of person who gets deeply attached to characters, and I'm always left craving more after a movie ends, so series are often my antidote.
In the past few weeks, I've gone film-crazy and re-watched a couple of my favorite blockbuster franchises. Keep scrolling to see how the most popular series performed on my list!
8. Star Wars
Ranking Star Wars as the "worst" franchise on this list might upset some people. I've just never been able to get into it. Don't get me wrong—I love a good space opera (is anyone else excited for part two of Dune?), but the action isn't intense enough for me, and I never feel engaged with the dialogue. The newer series on Disney+ (Ahsoka, Boba Fett and The Bad Batch) look intriguing, though.
I will clarify that I've only seen the newer Star Wars films, so maybe I should attempt the original trilogy. Oh, well. Maybe someday.
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7. Pirates of the Caribbean
From here on out, I can say that I'm a big fan of the rest of these franchises.
I don't gravitate toward the Pirates of the Caribbean films very often, but I still enjoy them. They're those types of movies I'd see on cable and be pleasantly surprised by, or if I was really bored, I could turn them on for background noise. They just have the perfect level of chaos that I can watch passively. Oh—and the films' ride at the Disney parks is unarguably one of the best attractions on this planet.
6. DC Comics Films
Once upon a time, I would swear only to watch Marvel films, but I've grown to love DC movies. After a certain point, I had to stop depriving myself, and I started watching them.
There are characters from DC Comics that I love, like Jason Momoa's Aquaman and Margot Robbie's Harley Quinn, but most, especially the superheroes, I still can't picture myself enjoying. You can't tell me Superman and Batman aren't the most boring heroes on this planet. However, many of the villains are starkly more fun than anyone on Marvel's roster.
5. Fast & Furious
As I previously alluded to, I love an action-packed film, and nonsensical action scenes are basically the only things that happen in any Fast & Furious film. I have no idea what attracts me to them, but they always holds my attention. Plus, it's hilarious to see what kind of crazy activities the characters will get into, such as driving up a building or falling off a cliff with zero broken bones.
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4. Marvel Cinematic Universe
If you asked me this about four years ago, I'd tell you that the Marvel Cinematic Universe was the best collection of films. Over the years, I've fallen out of love with superhero movies, but I can confidently say there's not a Marvel movie I don't like. Unlike DC Comics films, I usually cannot stand any of the villains, so I end up rooting hard for all of the superheroes, even the more underwhelming ones, like Captain America and Hawkeye.
3. Indiana Jones
I started watching Indiana Jones fairly recently because of the premiere of the final movie, The Dial of Destiny. These movies are like if Fast & Furious had a higher sense of reality and actual storylines attached. These movies also made me recognize I have a love for adventure films. I watched Uncharted last year and thought it was the action, but Indiana Jones made me realize it's the fun of watching the journey come together. It's like a less interactive puzzle.
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2. Harry Potter
Maybe it's the nostalgia in my speaking—Harry Potter is the first film I can remember seeing in theaters during my childhood—but this is one of the best franchises of all time. I've always liked fantasy and magic, so Harry Potter was always up my alley. Despite having eight films, it felt like each one served its own purpose.
And like Pirates of the Caribbean, I'm a sucker for a good amusement park ride, and the Wizarding World of Harry Potter is everything I could've asked for and more.
1. Twilight Saga
I'm almost embarrassed to admit this, but I didn't start watching Twilight until nearly 10 years after its premiere. Wow, have I been missing out?
Romance, undoubtedly, is one of my favorite genres, and it's almost difficult for me to watch a movie without a charming love story. So, it was a dream to finally have a romance series in my rotation that wasn't also a comedy. I also grew up as a passionate fanfiction reader, so I instantly knew (and appreciated) the cringe aspects that exposed the film's origin as a My Chemical Romance story.
Curious about our other film opinions? Read HERE for a definitive ranking of every Disney live-action adaptation.