The most successful film franchises of all time include the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Star Wars, James Bond, Harry Potter, Godzilla and Toy Story. They have lasted for decades because studios keep adding films that bring back old fans and win new ones. Several of them, including Toy Story, Star Wars and the MCU, released new films in 2026.
This updated list, current as of October 2026, looks at 14 franchises that have stayed popular in cinemas. For each, we give the number of films so far, the most recent release and what is coming next.
Franchises at a glance
| Franchise | Films so far | First film | Latest release |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marvel Cinematic Universe | 38 | 2008 | Spider-Man: Brand New Day (2026) |
| Godzilla | 38 | 1954 | Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire (2024) |
| James Bond (Eon) | 25 | 1962 | No Time to Die (2021) |
| Star Wars | 12 live-action | 1977 | The Mandalorian and Grogu (2026) |
| Wizarding World | 11 | 2001 | Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore (2022) |
| Planet of the Apes | 10 | 1968 | Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (2024) |
| Rocky and Creed | 9 | 1976 | Creed III (2023) |
| Mission: Impossible | 8 | 1996 | The Final Reckoning (2025) |
| Middle-earth | 7 | 2001 | The War of the Rohirrim (2024) |
| Jurassic Park | 7 | 1993 | Jurassic World Rebirth (2025) |
| Toy Story | 5 | 1995 | Toy Story 5 (2026) |
| Mad Max | 5 | 1979 | Furiosa (2024) |
| Indiana Jones | 5 | 1981 | Dial of Destiny (2023) |
| The Hunger Games | 5 | 2012 | The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (2023) |
The most successful film franchises
1. Marvel Cinematic Universe
Starting with Iron Man in 2008, the MCU has grown to 38 films. Spider-Man: Brand New Day, released on 31 July 2026, is the 38th. It has grossed about $2.45 billion worldwide, making it the biggest film of 2026 and the highest-grossing Spider-Man film. Avengers: Doomsday is scheduled for December 2026.
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2. Godzilla
Japan’s Toho studio created Godzilla in 1954. Counting 33 Japanese films and five American ones, the franchise has 38 films. Toho’s Godzilla Minus One (2023) won the Oscar for Best Visual Effects, a first for the series. Toho has announced Godzilla Minus Zero, and Legendary’s Godzilla x Kong: Supernova is planned for 2027.
3. James Bond
Eon Productions has made 25 Bond films since Dr. No in 1962, ending with No Time to Die, Daniel Craig’s last outing. In 2025, Amazon MGM Studios took full creative control of the series, and Denis Villeneuve was announced as director of the next film. As of October 2026, there is no release date for Bond 26.
4. Star Wars
George Lucas’s space saga began in 1977. The Mandalorian and Grogu, released on 22 May 2026, is the 12th live-action theatrical film, not counting the 2008 animated The Clone Wars. It earned about $336 million worldwide by late June, the lowest so far for a live-action Star Wars film.
5. Harry Potter and the Wizarding World
The eight Harry Potter films (2001 to 2011) and three Fantastic Beasts films (2016 to 2022) make 11 in total. The story now moves to television: HBO’s Harry Potter series, with Dominic McLaughlin as Harry and John Lithgow as Dumbledore, is set to premiere on 25 December 2026.
6. Planet of the Apes
This series has run since 1968, with original films, a 2001 remake and a reboot trilogy. Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (2024) brought the total to 10 films.
7. Rocky and Creed
Sylvester Stallone’s Rocky (1976) won the Oscar for Best Picture. Six Rocky films were followed by the Creed spin-offs, with Michael B. Jordan. Creed III (2023), which Jordan also directed, is the ninth film.
8. Mission: Impossible
Tom Cruise has led all eight films since 1996. Mission: Impossible: The Final Reckoning, released in May 2025, was presented as the close of the current storyline.
9. Middle-earth
Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings trilogy (2001 to 2003) and The Hobbit trilogy (2012 to 2014) were joined by the anime film The War of the Rohirrim in 2024. The Return of the King won 11 Oscars, including Best Picture.
10. Jurassic Park
Steven Spielberg’s Jurassic Park (1993) set new standards for visual effects. Jurassic World Rebirth, with Scarlett Johansson, released in July 2025 as the seventh film.
11. Toy Story
Pixar’s Toy Story (1995) was the first fully computer-animated feature film. Toy Story 5, directed by Andrew Stanton, opened on 19 June 2026 and grossed about $589 million worldwide in its first 10 days.
12. Mad Max
George Miller’s post-apocalyptic series began in 1979 with Mel Gibson. Mad Max: Fury Road (2015) won six Oscars, and the prequel Furiosa (2024) is the fifth film.
13. Indiana Jones
Harrison Ford played the archaeologist across five films from 1981 to 2023. Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (2023) was his final appearance in the role.
14. The Hunger Games
Based on Suzanne Collins’s novels, the series has five films. The sixth, The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, directed by Francis Lawrence, is scheduled for 20 November 2026.
Why these franchises last
Most of these series have a clear world, characters audiences grow up with, and a studio willing to reboot or spin off when interest drops. Many now extend into streaming series and games, which keeps fans engaged between films. Not every new entry succeeds, as the box office for The Mandalorian and Grogu showed, but the brands remain strong.
For more on films and streaming, see our Entertainment section, and for quick trivia reads, visit Infotainment.
Further reading: The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).
Frequently asked questions
Which is the highest-grossing film franchise?
The Marvel Cinematic Universe is widely reported as the highest-grossing film franchise, with 38 films so far.
Which franchise has the most films?
Godzilla and the MCU each have 38 films as of October 2026. Godzilla has run since 1954.
Is a new James Bond film coming?
Yes, Amazon MGM Studios is developing Bond 26 with Denis Villeneuve as director, but no release date has been announced.
When is the next Hunger Games film?
The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping is scheduled for release on 20 November 2026.
Sources: Wikipedia: Spider-Man: Brand New Day, Wikipedia: Toy Story 5, Wikipedia: Godzilla franchise, Wikipedia: James Bond in film.
