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The 20 Most Successful Film Franchises of All Time

By Dustin Rowles | Posted Under Seriously Random Lists | Comments (20)

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After the release of Saw 3D — the most successful horror movie franchise of all time (let that sink in) — I was curious how it stacked up against the other film series across all genres. Turns out, it’s not in the Top 20. Hell, it’s not even close.

In researching that, I did run across the 20 Most Successful Film Series of All Time (worldwide), which I provide here for education and comment purposes. The only real surprising entry here, I imagine, would be The Mummy series.

1. Harry Potter ($5.4 billion)
2. James Bond ($5.02 billion)
3. Star Wars ($4.27 billion)
4. Shrek ($2.93 billion)
5. The Lord of the Rings ($2.91 billion)
6. Pirates of the Caribbean ($2.68 billion)
7. Batman ($2.58 billion)
8. Spider-man ($2.49 billion)
9. Indiana Jones ($1.97 billion)
10. Toy Story ($1.94 billion)
11. Ice Age ($1.91 billion)
12. Jurassic Park ($1.90 billion)
13. Twilight Saga ($1.79 billion)
14. The Matrix ($1.6 billion)
15. Transformers ($1.54 billion)
16. X-Men ($1.53 billion)
17. Star Trek ($1.44 billion)
18. The Mummy ($1.41 billion)
19. Terminator ($1.402 billion)
20. Mission Impossible ($1.402 billion)

The Saw Franchise: $394 million.

Other notes of interest: On a per film basis, The Lord of the Rings is number one with $937 million per film, while Star Trek ranks last among the top 20 with a little more than $130 million per film. The James Bond series, which is the second highest grossing series also has the second lowest per film average, with $238 million, but there have been 22 Bond films. And in the United States alone, Star Wars outranks The Harry Potter series for the top spot.









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Comments

Will there be EE this week? I want the peeps to get their props.

Posted by: Jane Doe at November 2, 2010 3:02 PM

This is the EE for this week.
It's been franchised.

Posted by: Odnon. at November 2, 2010 3:07 PM

It's so sad that Shrek is 4. Not surprising, just sad.

Posted by: Theseus at November 2, 2010 3:30 PM

The Mummy really doesn't surprise me, given that it's #18, and what #s 19 and 20 are.
The two films (what third film?) are decent popcorn fare, although I think Terminator would out-rank it if the third and fourth films in that series hadn't tanked.

Posted by: Rykker at November 2, 2010 3:32 PM

Does the Batman entry include every Batman movie ever, or just the Nolan ones?

Posted by: Todd at November 2, 2010 3:48 PM

What about Tarzan?

Posted by: The Mutt at November 2, 2010 3:58 PM

Technically, LOTR's isn't a series. It was one novel that was split into 3 bits by the publisher, because it was too big to print as one novel during wartime rationing, or something like that. The movie is similar in that it's impossible to tell the story in a single movie, so it was broken into 3 bits. Each movie is not a standalone story, whereas all the others are.

Would there have even been a Matrix 2 or 3 if the first one had tanked? Probably not.

Posted by: BWeaves at November 2, 2010 4:13 PM

How could Star Wars NOT be #1?

Are you sure you adjusted for inflation?

These numbers are bullshit!

Posted by: BarbadoSlim at November 2, 2010 4:22 PM

The first two Mummy(ies) were really fun movies. I spit on the third.

Posted by: Candy at November 2, 2010 4:27 PM

Don't forget Resident Evil. Around 630 mil. Much worthier mention then Saw

As for this :


13. Twilight Saga ($1.79 billion)

Fuck our lives.

Posted by: YesPlease at November 2, 2010 6:04 PM

Bond forever!

Posted by: Gem at November 2, 2010 7:51 PM

Sorry guys, no EE this week.

Posted by: figgy at November 2, 2010 8:13 PM

Fuck EE. That should be eliminated just for the fact that Jane Doe wants people to get "props" (white chicks using outdated street slang never gets old, just like white chicks throwing up gang signs ironically is comedy gold in their tiny minds) for repeating the same tired pajiba-cliches phrased slightly differently. It's over, move on for the love of god. Or fucking godtopus or whatever the fuck those idiots would say.

Posted by: Jack Random at November 2, 2010 9:43 PM

Posted by: Jack Random at November 2, 2010 9:43 PM

Good old Jack, periodically bringing a ray of sunshine into our lives.

Posted by: Uriah Creep at November 2, 2010 11:34 PM

I love that twilight is only 13th :)

Posted by: Sarah Barkai at November 3, 2010 9:12 AM

Jack,

I'm Jane Doe and I am so sorry that my whimsical word choice has offended you and required a screed at me, and what you assume to be other white women everywhere. I’ll try to be more authentic next time.

Fuck the what do you care if we enjoy EE and like to read it?

Would calling you a "jackhole" be outdated slang usage? Godtopus forgive me, I know not what I do.

Kisses,
Mrs. Julien

Posted by: Mrs. Julien at November 3, 2010 9:19 AM

Todd: I'm guessing all of them since 1989. The numbers may seem a bit low, but the Batman movies have always been notorious underperformers overseas. The only one that made more than 1/2 its money overseas was Batman & Robin, probably mostly due to Arnie's top billing.

Yes, that is correct, Batman & Robin made almost as much overseas as Batman Begins, and probably a lot more when adjusted for inflation. Something to keep in perspective the next time your tempted to go off on a tangent about the horrible tastes of the US market. (well not "you" specifically, you know what I mean)

Posted by: Irving Washington at November 3, 2010 1:22 PM

surprised the ice ages are up there
others I wondered about
jason bourne movies
back to the futures
final destinations
die hards

Posted by: DaneR at November 4, 2010 1:37 PM

were the prices changed for inflation? because if not then this movie list is not accurate.

Posted by: kt at November 5, 2010 8:57 AM

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Posted by: Ardelia Sham at February 7, 2011 10:09 PM