The Takeover: Top 10 Movie Franchises
Movie franchises are nothing new. The first one that comes to mind for me is Star Wars, and it's certainly one of the oldest. Nevertheless, we're all familiar with them; they've literally taken over Hollywood's summer blockbuster season! Back in the early days of film, franchises weren't a thing. At the most, you'd have a part one and part two of a movie. But, as time went on, the major studios realized they could make some real money off of sequels; and not just one sequel, but multiple. Sequels use to be bad, never living up to the same hype and quality of the original. But, that was back when people actually cared about a film's story line, characters, and cinematography.
Now, today, things have changed greatly. Studios are going into a project from day one thinking about multiple sequels and sub-stories, the franchise. As an art inspired filmmaker, sometimes I want to just automatically be against the franchise; but as a producer, I can't help but admire them. It has nothing to do with whether the movies are good or bad, but just the sheer planning, coordination, and execution is admirable. With that in mind, I came up with my top 10 movie franchises of all time. These are the ones that, not only have made money, but appear to stand the test of time for audiences worldwide.
1. Harry Potter
Box office to date: $7.7 billion
Number of films: 8
I hate "Harry Potter", I really do. I've just never been big on fantasy movies. But, regardless, you must respect the franchise. The books were massive. The movies were massive. No one involved with them in an above-the-line capacity ever needs to work again if they don't want to. And more magical stories are in the works.
Strength: As the books continue to reach new audiences, and Potter hits the stage in London, the hunger for J.K. Rowling's characters remains — and it doesn't hurt that the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at two Universal Studios theme parks gives fans a place to buy everything Hogwarts.
Weakness: Unclear if the Harry Potter-less "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" will resonate with audiences.
2. Die Hard
Box office to date: $1.4 billion
Number of films: 5
I can't lie, I'm a little bias here. Perhaps it's just the old school in me. But the "Die Hard" series remains a classic to me.
Strength: Bruce Willis as John McClane is one of the 20th century's great characters; even as the grosses for these films trail off domestically, they still perform overseas.
Weakness: There is no "Die Hard" without Willis, and the attempts to inject younger characters (Justin Long, Jai Courtney) fallen flat. And the in-development "Die Hard: Year One" is, without Willis, just another cop thriller.
3. James Bond
Box office to date: $5 billion
Number of films: 25
Any franchise that can survive Roger Moore's leisure suits is, clearly,
impenetrable. Going strong since 1962 and breaking attendance records with Daniel Craig's outings, there's no reason to think Bond will ever retire.
Strength: The long-established ability to freshen the actor in the lead role means Bond could return in perpetuity...
Weakness: …but it's about time the definition of who and what 007 is gets some updating. (a black James Bond or a woman perhaps?)
4. The Fast and the Furious
Box office to date: $3.8 billion
Number of films: 7
No one could have predicted this street-racing, "all about family" series
would become a global phenomenon when it started with 2001's modest fuel-injected undercover cop thriller. But here we are, ready to race next year in Cuba and beyond.
Strength: The multicultural cast plays incredibly well around the world; a fresh villain for each segment grants the illusion of change.
Weakness: As age catches up with them, it'll get harder for Vin Diesel and Dwayne Johnson to get into racing shape, and it's upon their broad shoulders that this franchise rests.
5. The Marvel Cinematic Universe
Box office to date: $9.3 billion
Number of films: 13
With films planned at least through 2020, the interwoven adventures of Marvel
characters like Iron Man, Captain America and the Guardians of the Galaxy show no sign of letting up.
Strength: A nearly inexhaustible roster of comic characters to pull in; a hunger from the younger set for merchandise.
Weakness: They haven't had to deal with replacing a star. And who knows how the audience will respond to a new Tony Stark. At some point, Marvel's marquee actors (Robert Downey Jr, Chris Evans) will become too expensive.
6. X-Men
Box office to date: $3.8 billion
Number of films: 7
Some of the seven installments of this franchise are better than others, but this parable for the outcasts of society continues to show box office pluck; the most recent outing, "X-Men: Apocalypse," pulled in $285 million worldwide thus far.
Strength: "Mutants" are stand-ins for whichever class society is discriminating against today.
Weakness: I personally don't think the series will have the same appeal without Hugh Jackman as Wolverine, but only time will tell.
7. Star Wars
Box office to date: $6.7 billion
Number of films: 8
Kathleen Kennedy, after taking over for George Lucas, has reinvigorated Lucasfilm with a sense of
purpose: to release a "Star Wars" movie every year for the foreseeable future. And since "The Force Awakens" rekindled a planet's love affair with Luke, Leia and Han (sniff), there's no reason to think audiences won't show up.
Strength: Multi-generational appeal, a world moviegoers love, proven merchandising muscle.
Weakness: Much of the "Star Wars" success has been nostalgia-driven — how long can looking backward work?
8. The DC Cinematic Universe
Box office to date: $1.5 billion
Number of films: 5
Strength: With Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman, DC has some of the most recognizable characters in the world.
Weakness: Warner Bros' strategy to exploit those characters has been questionable. "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice" underperformed, directors have been dropping out of movies. Perhaps with the elevation of DC Comics Chief Creative Officer Geoff Johns to oversee those films (with Jeff Berg), the ship can be steadied.
9. Mission: Impossible
Box office to date: $2.78 billion
Number of films: 5
Who could've known that back in 1996 Tom Cruise — then one of the biggest stars in the world — would initiate the franchise that would buoy him just as the very notion of movie stardom has faded?
Strength: By cycling in new directors, Cruise (also a producer) keeps the films feeling fresh.
Weakness: A key aspect of the "MI" appeal is seeing Cruise place himself in ever-increasing physical danger. Cruise is in his mid-50s; how long can he keep doing that?
10. Planet of the Apes
Box office to date: $1.6 billion
Number of films: 8
Strength: The first series to feel like a franchise as we now know it (complete with questionable sequels and toy tie-ins) was strong enough to rebound from Tim Burton's ill-advised reboot; everybody likes monkeys on horseback with machine guns.
Weakness: Kids today aren't clamoring for "Apes" bedsheets.
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