A film series or movie series is a collection of related films in succession that share the same fictional universe, or are marketed as a series. [1]
This article explains what film series are and gives brief examples of movie series. The body shows a list of the most popular film series and franchises in the United States and Canada. [2]
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 (or an original series in the case of the Skywalker Saga ) inspires further films to be made. Individual sequels are relatively common but are not always successful enough to spawn further installments.
As of 2024, the 34 films of the Marvel Cinematic Universe form the highest-grossing film series even when adjusted for inflation, surpassing J. K. Rowling's Wizarding World (11 films), Star Wars (12 films), Ian Fleming's James Bond (27 films), and J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth (6 films) series. [3]
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*Canada and U.S. gross only.
RDistributor rental.
Franchise | First film | Last/latest film | Length | Number of films |
---|---|---|---|---|
King Kong | King Kong (March 2, 1933) | Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire (March 29, 2024) | 91 years | 13 |
The Invisible Man | The Invisible Man (October 31, 1933) | The Invisible Man (February 27, 2020) | 86 years, 3 months | 8 |
The Mummy | The Mummy (December 22, 1932) | The Scorpion King: Book of Souls (October 23, 2018) | 85 years, 10 months | 19 |
Mickey Mouse | Fantasia (November 13, 1940) | Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers (May 20, 2022) | 81 years, 6 months | 17 |
Batman | Batman (July 6, 1943) | Joker: Folie à Deux (October 4, 2024) | 81 years, 2 months | 18 |
Lassie | Lassie Come Home (October 7, 1943) | Lassie Come Home (November 26, 2020) [4] | 77 years, 1 month | 12 |
Superman | Superman (January 5, 1948) | Batman and Superman: Battle of the Super Sons (October 7, 2022) | 74 years, 9 months | 14 |
Captain America | Captain America (February 5, 1944) | Captain America: Civil War (April 12, 2016) | 72 years, 2 months | 7 |
Father of the Bride | Father of the Bride (June 16, 1950) | Father of the Bride (June 16, 2022) | 72 years | 6 |
Peter Pan | Peter Pan (February 5, 1953) [5] | Peter Pan & Wendy (April 28, 2023) | 70 years, 2 months | 7 |
Godzilla | Godzilla (October 27, 1954) [6] | Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire (March 29, 2024) | 69 years, 5 months | 38 |
Wong Fei-hung | Huang Fei-hong zhuan: Bian feng mie zhu (1949) | Wong Fei-hung: Return Of The King (2018) | 69 years | 123 |
Father of Four | Father of Four (2 November 1953) | Far til fire og vikingerne (1 October 2020) | 66 years, 10 months | 21 |
The Cisco Kid | In Old Arizona (January 20, 1929) | The Cisco Kid (February 6, 1994) | 65 years | 28 |
Cinderella | Cinderella (February 15, 1950) | Cinderella (February 13, 2015) | 64 years, 11 months | 4 |
Alice in Wonderland | Alice in Wonderland (July 26, 1951) [7] | Alice Through the Looking Glass (May 27, 2016) | 64 years, 10 months | 3 |
Sleeping Beauty | Sleeping Beauty (January 29, 1959) [8] | Maleficent: Mistress of Evil (October 18, 2019) [9] | 60 years, 8 months | 3 |
101 Dalmatians | One Hundred and One Dalmatians (January 25, 1961) | Cruella (May 28, 2021) [10] | 60 years, 4 months | 5 |
James Bond | Dr. No (5 October 1962) | No Time to Die (30 September 2021) [11] | 58 years, 11 months | 27 |
Ocean's | Ocean's 11 (August 10, 1960) | Ocean's 8 (June 8, 2018) | 57 years, 9 months | 5 |
Planet of the Apes | Planet of the Apes (February 8, 1968) | Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (May 10, 2024) | 56 years, 3 months | 10 |
Ultraman | Ultraman: Monster Movie Feature (July 22, 1967) [12] | Ultraman Decker Finale: Journey to Beyond (February 23, 2023) | 55 years, 7 months | 47 |
St Trinian's School | The Belles of St. Trinian's (28 September 1954) | St Trinian's 2: The Legend of Fritton's Gold (18 December 2009) [13] | 55 years, 2 months | 7 |
Asterix | Asterix the Gaul (20 December 1967) | Asterix & Obelix: The Middle Kingdom (1 February 2023) | 55 years, 1 month | 16 |
Kamen Rider | Go Go Kamen Rider (July 19, 1971) | Shin Kamen Rider (March 17, 2023) | 51 years, 7 months | 95 |
Otoko wa Tsurai yo | It's Tough Being a Man (August 27, 1969) | Tora-san, Wish You Were Here (December 27, 2019) | 50 years, 4 months | 48 |
The Exorcist | The Exorcist (December 26, 1973) | The Exorcist: Believer (October 6, 2023) | 49 years, 9 months | 6 |
Night of the Living Dead | Night of the Living Dead (October 1, 1968) | Day of the Dead: Bloodline (December 29, 2017) | 49 years, 2 months | 12 |
The Flintstones | The Man Called Flintstone (August 3, 1966) | The Flintstones & WWE: Stone Age SmackDown! (March 10, 2015) | 48 years, 7 months | 12 |
The Jungle Book | The Jungle Book (October 18, 1967) [14] | The Jungle Book (April 15, 2016) [15] [16] | 48 years, 5 months | 5 |
Zatoichi | The Tale of Zatoichi (April 12, 1962) [17] [18] | Zatoichi: The Last (May 29, 2010) | 48 years, 1 month | 26 |
Shaft | Shaft (July 2, 1971) | Shaft (June 14, 2019) | 48 years | 5 |
The Omen | The Omen (June 6, 1976) | The First Omen (April 5, 2024) | 47 years, 9 months | 6 |
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre | The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (October 11, 1974) [19] | Texas Chainsaw Massacre (February 18, 2022) | 47 years, 4 months | 9 |
Spider-Man | Spider-Man (September 14, 1977) | Venom: The Last Dance (October 25, 2024) | 47 years, 1 month | 20 |
Yogi Bear & friends | Hey There, It's Yogi Bear! (June 3, 1964) | Yogi Bear (December 17, 2010) [20] | 46 years, 6 months | 7 |
Looney Tunes | Bugs Bunny: Superstar (December 19, 1975) | King Tweety (June 14, 2022) | 46 years, 5 months | 11 |
Rocky | Rocky (November 21, 1976) [21] | Creed III (March 3, 2023) [22] | 46 years, 3 months | 9 |
Super Sentai | Himitsu Sentai Gorenger (1975) | Kamen Rider Saber + Kikai Sentai Zenkaiger: Superhero Senki (2021) | 46 years | 61 |
Lupin III | Lupin III: Strange Psychokinetic Strategy (August 3, 1974) | Lupin III: The First (December 6, 2019) | 45 years, 4 months | 43 |
Alien | Alien (May 25, 1979) [23] | Alien: Romulus (August 16, 2024) | 45 years, 2 months | 9 |
The Pink Panther | The Pink Panther (December 18, 1963) | The Pink Panther 2 (February 6, 2009) | 45 years, 1 month | 12 |
Mad Max | Mad Max (April 12, 1979) | Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (May 24, 2024) | 45 years, 1 month | 5 |
Olsen Gang | The Olsen Gang (11 October 1968) | The Olsen Gang in Deep Trouble (2013) | 45 years | 17 |
Halloween | Halloween (October 25, 1978) | Halloween Ends (October 14, 2022) | 43 years, 11 months | 13 |
Scooby-Doo | Scooby Goes Hollywood (December 23, 1979) [24] | Scooby-Doo! and Krypto, Too! (September 26, 2023) | 43 years, 9 months | 48 |
Coffin Joe | At Midnight I'll Take Your Soul (9 November 1964) | Embodiment of Evil (August 8, 2008) | 43 years, 8 months | 3 |
Death Wish | Death Wish (July 24, 1974) | Death Wish (March 2, 2018) | 43 years, 7 months | 5 |
Tales for All | The Christmas Martian (1971) | The Outlaw League (2014) | 43 years | 24 |
Doraemon | Doraemon: Nobita's Dinosaur (March 15, 1980) | Doraemon: Nobita's Earth Symphony (March 1, 2024) [25] | 43 years, 11 months | 44 |
Star Wars | Star Wars (May 25, 1977) | Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (December 20, 2019) | 42 years, 6 months | 12 |
The Muppets | The Muppet Movie (May 31, 1979) | Muppets Haunted Mansion (October 8, 2021) [26] | 42 years, 4 months | 14 |
Indiana Jones | Raiders of the Lost Ark (June 12, 1981) | Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (June 30, 2023) | 42 years | 5 |
Feluda | Sonar Kella (27 December 1974) | Double Feluda (16 December 2016) | 41 years, 11 months | 11 |
Evil Dead | The Evil Dead (October 15, 1981) | Evil Dead Rise (April 21, 2023) | 41 years, 6 months | 5 |
Winnie the Pooh | The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (March 11, 1977) | Christopher Robin (August 3, 2018) [27] | 41 years, 4 months | 15 |
Gamera | Gamera, the Giant Monster (November 27, 1965) | Gamera the Brave (April 29, 2006) | 40 years, 5 months | 12 |
Mothra | Mothra (July 30, 1961) | Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack (December 15, 2001) | 40 years, 4 months | 11 |
Ghostbusters | Ghostbusters (June 8, 1984) | Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire (March 22, 2024) | 39 years, 9 months | 5 |
Beverly Hills Cop | Beverly Hills Cop (December 5, 1984) | Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F (July 3, 2024) | 39 years, 6 months | 4 |
Dune | Dune (December 14, 1984) | Dune: Part Two (March 1, 2024) | 39 years, 2 months | 3 |
The Amityville Horror | The Amityville Horror (July 27, 1979) | The Amityville Murders (October 9, 2018) | 39 years, 2 months | 11 |
Hulk | The Incredible Hulk (November 4, 1977) | Hulk: Where Monsters Dwell (October 21, 2016) | 38 years, 11 months | 12 |
Shake, Rattle & Roll | Shake, Rattle & Roll (December 25, 1984) | Shake, Rattle & Roll Extreme (November 29, 2023) | 38 years, 11 months | 16 |
Psycho | Psycho (June 16, 1960) | Psycho (December 4, 1998) | 38 years, 5 months | 6 |
Transformers | The Transformers: The Movie (August 8, 1986) [28] | Transformers One (September 11, 2024) | 38 years, 1 month | 9 |
Middle-earth | The Hobbit (November 27, 1977) | The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (11 December 2014) | 37 years | 9 |
Rambo | First Blood (October 22, 1982) | Rambo: Last Blood (September 20, 2019) | 36 years, 10 months | 5 |
Star Trek | Star Trek: The Motion Picture (December 7, 1979) | Star Trek Beyond (July 22, 2016) [29] | 36 years, 7 months | 13 |
Children of the Corn | Children of the Corn (March 9, 1984) | Children of the Corn (October 23, 2020) | 36 years, 7 months | 11 |
Herbie | The Love Bug (December 24, 1968) | Herbie: Fully Loaded (June 22, 2005) | 36 years, 5 months | 6 |
Philip Marlowe | The Falcon Takes Over (May 29, 1942) | Marlowe (24 September 2022) | 35 years, 9 months | 11 |
Dragon Ball | Dragon Ball: Curse of the Blood Rubies (December 20, 1986) | Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero (June 11, 2022) | 35 years, 6 months | 24 |
My Little Pony | My Little Pony: The Movie (June 6, 1986) | My Little Pony: A New Generation (September 24, 2021) | 35 years, 3 months | 5 |
Anpanman | Soreike! Anpanman Kirakira Boshi no Namida (March 11, 1989) | Soreike! Anpanman Baikinman to Ehon no Lulun (June 28, 2024) | 35 years, 3 months | 35 |
Predator | Predator (June 12, 1987) | Prey (July 21, 2022) | 35 years, 1 month | 7 |
Hellraiser | Hellraiser (September 10, 1987) | Hellraiser (October 7, 2022) | 35 years | 11 |
Terminator | The Terminator (October 26, 1984) | Terminator: Dark Fate (November 1, 2019) | 35 years | 6 |
Carry On | Carry On Sergeant (31 August 1958) [30] | Carry On Columbus (2 October 1992) | 34 years, 1 month | 31 |
Piranha | Piranha (August 3, 1978) | Piranha 3DD (June 1, 2012) | 33 years, 9 months | 5 |
The Little Mermaid | The Little Mermaid (November 17, 1989) | The Little Mermaid (May 26, 2023) | 33 years, 6 months | 4 |
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles | Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (March 30, 1990) | Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem (August 2, 2023) | 33 years, 4 months | 7 |
Vacanze di Natale | Vacanze di Natale (1983) | Un Natale al Sud (2016) | 33 years | |
Poltergeist | Poltergeist (June 4, 1982) | Poltergeist (May 22, 2015) | 32 years, 11 months | 4 |
National Lampoon's Vacation | National Lampoon's Vacation (July 29, 1983) | Vacation (July 29, 2015) [31] | 32 years | 6 |
Bill & Ted | Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure (February 17, 1989) | Bill & Ted Face the Music (August 28, 2020) | 31 years, 6 months | 3 |
Uuno Turhapuro | Uuno Turhapuro (24 August 1973) | Uuno Turhapuro – This Is My Life (10 September 2004) | 31 years | 20 |
Crayon Shin-chan | Crayon Shin-chan: Action Mask vs. Leotard Devil (July 24, 1993) | Crayon Shin-chan: Our Dinosaur Diary (August 9, 2024) [32] | 31 years | 32 |
Puppet Master | Puppet Master (October 12, 1989) [33] | Blade: The Iron Cross (2020) | 30 years, 8 months | 14 |
Tremors | Tremors (January 19, 1990) | Tremors: Shrieker Island (October 20, 2020) [34] [35] [36] | 30 years, 9 months | 7 |
The Howling | The Howling (March 13, 1981) | The Howling: Reborn (October 18, 2011) | 30 years, 7 months | |
Child’s Play / Chucky | Child's Play (November 9, 1988) | Child's Play (June 21, 2019) | 30 years, 7 months | 8 |
Sniper | Sniper (January 29, 1993) | Sniper: G.R.I.T. – Global Response & Intelligence Team (September 26, 2023) | 30 years, 7 months | 10 |
The Fly | The Fly (July 16, 1958) | The Fly II (February 10, 1989) | 30 years, 6 months | 5 |
The Crow | The Crow (May 13, 1994) | The Crow (August 23, 2024) | 30 years, 3 months | 5 |
Tom and Jerry | Tom and Jerry: The Movie (October 1, 1992) | Tom and Jerry: Snowman's Land (November 15, 2022) | 30 years, 1 month | 17 |
Witchcraft | Witchcraft (November 1988) | Witchcraft XVI: Hollywood Coven (2018) | 30 years | 16 |
Apartment Wife | Apartment Wife: Affair In the Afternoon (November 20, 1971) | Apartment Wife: Moans from Next Door (June 1, 2001) | 29 years, 6 months | |
Sailor Moon | Sailor Moon R: The Movie (December 5, 1993) | Sailor Moon Cosmos (Part 2) (June 30, 2023) | 29 years, 6 months | 7 |
Bad Boys | Bad Boys (April 7, 1995) | Bad Boys: Ride or Die (June 7, 2024) | 29 years, 2 months | 4 |
Debbie Does Dallas | Debbie Does Dallas (1978) | Debbie Does Dallas ... Again (2007) | 29 years | 12 |
Jurassic Park | Jurassic Park (June 11, 1993) | Jurassic World Dominion (June 10, 2022) | 28 years, 11 months | 6 |
Candyman | Candyman (October 16, 1992) | Candyman (August 27, 2021) | 28 years, 10 months | 4 |
Friday the 13th | Friday the 13th (May 9, 1980) | Friday the 13th (February 13, 2009) | 28 years, 9 months | 12 |
Mr. Moto | Think Fast, Mr. Moto (August 1937) [37] | The Return of Mr. Moto (1965) | 28 years | 9 |
View Askewniverse | Clerks (October 19, 1994) | Clerks III (September 13, 2022) | 27 years, 10 months | 9 |
Power Rangers | Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie (June 30, 1995) | Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once & Always (April 19, 2023) | 27 years, 9 months | 4 |
The Ring | Ring (August 11, 1995) | Sadako DX (October 28, 2022) | 27 years, 2 months | 15 |
The Land Before Time | The Land Before Time (November 18, 1988) | The Land Before Time XIV: Journey of the Brave (February 2, 2016) | 27 years, 2 months | 14 |
Mission: Impossible | Mission: Impossible (May 22, 1996) | Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One (July 12, 2023) | 27 years, 1 month | 7 |
Taboo | Taboo (March 7, 1980) | Taboo 23 (2007) | 27 years | 23 |
RoboCop | RoboCop (July 17, 1987) | RoboCop (February 12, 2014) | 26 years, 6 months | 4 |
Toy Story | Toy Story (November 22, 1995) | Lightyear (June 17, 2022) | 26 years, 6 months | 6 |
Aladdin | Aladdin (November 25, 1992) | Aladdin (May 24, 2019) | 26 years, 5 months | 4 |
Scream | Scream (December 20, 1996) | Scream VI (March 10, 2023) | 26 years, 2 months | 6 |
God of Gamblers | God of Gamblers (December 14, 1989) | From Vegas to Macau III (February 6, 2016) | 26 years, 1 month | 9 |
The Lion King | The Lion King (June 15, 1994) | Black is King (July 31, 2020) | 26 years, 1 month | 5 |
Case Closed | Case Closed: The Time Bombed Skyscraper (April 19, 1997) | Detective Conan: The Million-dollar Pentagram (April 12, 2024) [38] | 26 years, 11 months | 27 |
The Karate Kid | The Karate Kid (June 22, 1984) | The Karate Kid (June 11, 2010) | 25 years, 11 months | 5 |
Leprechaun | Leprechaun (January 8, 1993) | Leprechaun Returns (December 11, 2018) | 25 years, 11 months | 8 |
Rin Tin Tin | The Man from Hell's River (May 1922) | The Return of Rin Tin Tin (November 1, 1947) [39] [40] [41] | 25 years, 6 months | |
Enteng Kabisote | Okay Ka, Fairy Ko!: The Movie (1991) | Enteng Kabisote 10 and the Abangers (November 30, 2016) | 25 years, 6 months | 10 |
The Waltons | The Homecoming: A Christmas Story (December 19, 1971) | A Walton Easter (April 27, 1997) | 25 years, 4 months | |
A Nightmare on Elm Street | A Nightmare on Elm Street (November 9, 1984) | A Nightmare on Elm Street (April 30, 2010) | 25 years, 5 months | 9 |
Beauty and the Beast | Beauty and the Beast (November 13, 1991) | Beauty and the Beast (March 17, 2017) | 25 years, 4 months | 5 |
The Rockford Files | Backlash of the Hunter (March 27, 1974) | If It Bleeds, It Leads (April 20, 1999) | 25 years | 9 |
Digimon | Digimon Adventure (March 6, 1999) [42] | Digimon Adventure 02: The Beginning (October 27, 2023) | 24 years, 7 months | 20 |
Die Hard | Die Hard (July 15, 1988) | A Good Day to Die Hard (February 14, 2013) | 24 years, 6 months | 5 |
X-Men | X-Men (July 14, 2000) | Deadpool & Wolverine (July 26, 2024) | 24 years | 14 |
Ugo Fantozzi | Fantozzi (1975) | Fantozzi 2000 – La clonazione (1999) | 24 years | |
Jumanji | Jumanji (December 15, 1995) | Jumanji: The Next Level (December 13, 2019) | 23 years, 11 months | 4 |
The Matrix | The Matrix (March 31, 1999) | The Matrix Resurrections (December 22, 2021) | 22 years, 8 months | 4 |
Beethoven | Beethoven (April 3, 1992) | Beethoven’s Treasure Tail (October 28, 2014) | 22 years, 6 months | 8 |
Pokémon | Pokémon The First Movie: Mewtwo Strikes Back (July 18, 1998) [43] | Pokémon the Movie: Secrets of the Jungle (December 25, 2020) [44] | 22 years, 5 months | 24 |
One Piece | One Piece: The Movie (March 4, 2000) | One Piece Film: Red (August 6, 2022) | 22 years, 5 months | 15 |
Road to ... | Road to Singapore (March 14, 1940) | The Road to Hong Kong (March 1962) | 22 years | 7 |
Whispering Corridors | Whispering Corridors (May 30, 1998) | The Humming (2020) | 22 years | |
Sjors & Sjimmie | Sjors van de Rebellenclub (July 25, 1955) | Sjors en Sjimmie en het Zwaard van Krijn (July 14, 1977) | 21 years, 11 months | 7 |
Men in Black | Men in Black (July 2, 1997) | Men in Black: International (June 14, 2019) | 21 years, 11 months | 4 |
Fast & Furious | The Fast and the Furious (June 22, 2001) | Fast X (May 19, 2023) [45] | 21 years, 10 months | 11 |
Shrek | Shrek (May 18, 2001) | Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (December 21, 2022) | 21 years, 7 months | 6 |
Highlander | Highlander (March 7, 1986) | Highlander: The Source (September 13, 2007) | 21 years, 6 months | 6 |
Faces of Death | Faces of Death (November 10, 1978) | Faces of Death: Fact or Fiction? (1999) | 21 years | |
Khiladi | Khiladi (5 June 1992) | Khiladi 786 (7 December 2012) | 20 years, 6 months | 8 |
Hannibal Lecter | Manhunter (August 15, 1986) | Hannibal Rising (February 9, 2007) | 20 years, 5 months | 5 |
Troublesome Night | Troublesome Night (10 May 1997) | Always Be with You (October 26, 2017) | 20 years, 5 months | 20 |
Wizarding World | Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (10 November 2001) [46] | Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore (April 15, 2022) | 20 years, 5 months | 11 |
Universal Soldier | Universal Soldier (July 10, 1992) | Universal Soldier: Day of Reckoning (October 25, 2012) | 20 years, 3 months | 6 |
Camp Blood | Camp Blood (April 4, 2000) | Children of Camp Blood (2020) | 20 years | 11 |
Ice Age | Ice Age (March 15, 2002) | The Ice Age Adventures of Buck Wild (January 28, 2022) | 19 years, 10 months | 6 |
Ju-On | Ju-On: The Curse (11 February 2000) | The Grudge (January 3, 2020) | 19 years, 10 months | |
SpongeBob SquarePants | The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie (November 19, 2004) | Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Movie (August 2, 2024) | 19 years, 8 months | 4 |
Resident Evil | Resident Evil (March 21, 2002) | Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City (November 19, 2021) | 19 years, 7 months | 7 |
Saw | Saw (October 29, 2004) | Saw X (September 29, 2023) | 18 years, 11 months | 10 |
The Godfather | The Godfather (March 15, 1972) | The Godfather Part III (December 25, 1990) | 18 years, 9 months | 3 |
Philo Vance | The Canary Murder Case (February 16, 1929) | Philo Vance's Secret Mission (August 30, 1947) | 18 years, 6 months | 15 |
Eastrail 177 Trilogy | Unbreakable (November 22, 2000) | Glass (January 18, 2019) | 18 years, 1 month | 3 |
Wangan Midnight | Wangan Midnight (1991) | Wangan Midnight: The Movie (2009) | 18 years | 11 |
Kinnikuman | Kinnikuman (July 14, 1984) | Muscle Ginseng Competition! The Great Choujin War (July 20, 2002) | 18 years | 7 |
Before Trilogy | Before Sunrise (January 19, 1995) | Before Midnight (January 20, 2013) | 18 years | 3 |
Dirty Harry | Dirty Harry (December 23, 1971) | The Dead Pool (July 13, 1988) | 16 years, 6 months | 5 |
Marvel Cinematic Universe | Iron Man (May 2, 2008) | Deadpool & Wolverine (July 26, 2024) | 16 years, 2 months | 34 |
Killjoy | Killjoy (October 24, 2000) | Killjoy’s Psycho Circus (October 30, 2016) | 16 years | 5 |
King Kong vs. Godzilla is a 1962 Japanese kaiju film directed by Ishirō Honda, with special effects by Eiji Tsuburaya. Produced and distributed by Toho Co., Ltd, it is the third film in both the Godzilla and King Kong franchises, as well as the first Toho-produced film featuring King Kong. It is also the first time that each character appeared on film in color and widescreen. The film stars Shoichi Hirose as King Kong and Haruo Nakajima as Godzilla with Shoichi Hirose, Tadao Takashima, Kenji Sahara, Yū Fujiki, Ichirō Arishima, and Mie Hama playing other prominent roles. In the film, Godzilla is reawakened by an American submarine and a pharmaceutical company captures King Kong for promotional uses, culminating in a battle on Mount Fuji.
Destroy All Monsters is a 1968 Japanese epic kaiju film directed by Ishirō Honda, with special effects directed by Sadamasa Arikawa and supervised by Eiji Tsuburaya. The film, which was produced and distributed by Toho Co., Ltd, is the ninth film in the Godzilla franchise, and features eleven monster characters, including Godzilla, Mothra, Rodan, King Ghidorah, Anguirus, and Minilla. The film stars Akira Kubo, Jun Tazaki, Yukiko Kobayashi and Yoshio Tsuchiya.
Godzilla is a 1954 Japanese epic kaiju film directed and co-written by Ishirō Honda, with special effects by Eiji Tsuburaya. Produced and distributed by Toho Co., Ltd., it is the first film in the Godzilla franchise. The film stars Akira Takarada, Momoko Kōchi, Akihiko Hirata, and Takashi Shimura, with Haruo Nakajima and Katsumi Tezuka as Godzilla. In the film, Japan's authorities deal with the sudden appearance of a giant monster, whose attacks trigger fears of nuclear holocaust in post-war Japan.
Eiji Tsuburaya was a Japanese special effects director, filmmaker, and cinematographer. A co-creator of the Godzilla and Ultraman franchises, he is considered one of the most important and influential figures in the history of cinema. Tsuburaya is known as the "Father of Tokusatsu", having pioneered Japan's special effects industry and introduced several technological developments in film productions. In a career spanning five decades, Tsuburaya worked on approximately 250 films—including globally renowned features directed by Ishirō Honda, Hiroshi Inagaki, and Akira Kurosawa—and earned six Japan Technical Awards.
Ishirō Honda was a Japanese filmmaker who directed 46 feature films in a career spanning five decades. He is acknowledged as the most internationally successful Japanese filmmaker prior to Hayao Miyazaki and one of the founders of modern disaster film, with his films having a significant influence on the film industry. Despite directing many drama, war, documentary, and comedy films, Honda is best remembered for directing and co-creating the kaiju genre with special effects director Eiji Tsuburaya.
Invasion of Astro-Monster is a 1965 kaiju film directed by Ishirō Honda, with special effects by Eiji Tsuburaya. It is the sixth film in the Godzilla franchise and Shōwa period. The film was a Japanese-American co-production; it was the second collaboration between Toho Co., Ltd. and UPA. The film stars Akira Takarada, Nick Adams, Kumi Mizuno, Akira Kubo, and Yoshio Tsuchiya, with Haruo Nakajima as Godzilla, Masaki Shinohara as Rodan, and Shoichi Hirose as King Ghidorah. In the film, aliens plead with humanity to borrow Godzilla and Rodan to defeat Ghidorah, only to betray the humans and unleash the monsters on the Earth.
Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster is a 1964 Japanese kaiju film directed by Ishirō Honda, with special effects by Eiji Tsuburaya. Produced and distributed by Toho Co., Ltd., it is the fifth film in the Godzilla franchise, and was the second Godzilla film produced that year, after Mothra vs. Godzilla. The film stars Yosuke Natsuki, Hiroshi Koizumi, Akiko Wakabayashi, with Haruo Nakajima as Godzilla, Masanori Shinohara as Rodan, and Shoichi Hirose as King Ghidorah. In the film, an extraterrestrial from Venus, possessing the body of a princess, warns humanity of the pending destruction by the alien-dragon Ghidorah, with Godzilla, Rodan, and Mothra being their last hope for survival.
Mothra vs. Godzilla is a 1964 Japanese kaiju film directed by Ishirō Honda, with special effects by Eiji Tsuburaya. Produced and distributed by Toho Co., Ltd., it is the fourth film in the Godzilla franchise. The film stars Akira Takarada, Yuriko Hoshi, Hiroshi Koizumi, Kenji Sahara, and Emi and Yumi Itō, with Haruo Nakajima and Katsumi Tezuka as Godzilla. In the film, humans beseech the aid of the insect god Mothra to stop Godzilla from destroying Japan.
Godzilla Raids Again is a 1955 Japanese kaiju film directed by Motoyoshi Oda, with special effects by Eiji Tsuburaya. Produced and distributed by Toho Co., Ltd., it is the second film in the Godzilla franchise, and a sequel to Godzilla (1954). The film stars Hiroshi Koizumi, Setsuko Wakayama, Minoru Chiaki, and Takashi Shimura, with Haruo Nakajima as Godzilla and Katsumi Tezuka as Anguirus. In the film, Japan struggles to survive Godzilla's return, as well as its destructive battle against its ancient foe Anguirus.
Frankenstein vs. Baragon is a 1965 kaiju film directed by Ishirō Honda, with special effects by Eiji Tsuburaya. The film stars Nick Adams, Kumi Mizuno and Tadao Takashima, with Koji Furuhata as Frankenstein and Haruo Nakajima as Baragon. An international co-production of Japan and the United States; it was the first collaboration between Toho Co., Ltd and Henry G. Saperstein. In the film, scientists investigate the origins of a mysterious boy and his resistance to radiation that makes him grow to monstrous size, while a second monster ravages the countryside.
The War of the Gargantuas is a 1966 kaiju film directed by Ishirō Honda, with special effects by Eiji Tsuburaya. Referred by film historian Stuart Galbraith IV as a "quasi–sequel" to Frankenstein vs. Baragon, the film was a Japanese-American co-production; it was the third and final collaboration between Toho Co., Ltd and Henry G. Saperstein. The film stars Russ Tamblyn, Kumi Mizuno and Kenji Sahara, with Yû Sekida as Sanda and Haruo Nakajima as Gaira. In the film, scientists investigate the sudden appearance of two giant hairy humanoid monsters that culminates in a battle in Tokyo.
The Mysterians is a 1957 Japanese epic science fiction film directed by Ishirō Honda, with special effects by Eiji Tsuburaya. Produced and distributed by Toho Co., Ltd., it is the first Honda-Tsuburaya collaboration filmed in both color and TohoScope, and stars Kenji Sahara, Yumi Shirakawa, Momoko Kōchi, Akihiko Hirata, Yoshio Tsuchiya, Susumu Fujita, and Takashi Shimura, with Haruo Nakajima and Katsumi Tezuka as Mogera. In the film, Earth's defense forces unite to combat an extraterrestrial race that desires to intermarry with human women and settle on the planet.
Mothra is a 1961 Japanese kaiju film directed by Ishirō Honda, with special effects by Eiji Tsuburaya. Produced and distributed by Toho Co., Ltd, it is the first film in the Mothra franchise. The film stars Frankie Sakai, Hiroshi Koizumi, Kyōko Kagawa, Jerry Ito, and The Peanuts. In the film, an expedition to an irradiated island brings civilization in contact with a primitive native culture. When one sensationalist entrepreneur abducts two doll-sized priestesses for exploitation, their ancient deity, known as Mothra, arises in retaliation.
Godzilla is a Japanese monster, or kaiju, franchise centering on the titular character, a prehistoric reptilian monster awakened and empowered by nuclear radiation. The films series are recognized by the Guinness World Records as the "longest continuously running film series", having been in ongoing production since 1954, with several hiatuses of varying lengths. There are 38 Godzilla films: 33 Japanese films produced and distributed by Toho Co., Ltd., and five American films; one by TriStar Pictures and four films by Legendary Pictures.
Escape at Dawn is a 1950 Japanese anti-war film directed by Senkichi Taniguchi. Co-written by Taniguchi and Akira Kurosawa, the film is based on Story of a Prostitute by Taijiro Tamura. The film revolves around a tragic affair between a soldier involved in the Manchurian campaign and a prostitute.
Eagle of the Pacific, also known as Operation Kamikaze, is a 1953 Japanese epic war film directed by Ishirō Honda, with special effects by Eiji Tsuburaya. The film dramatizes the start of Japan's military action in World War II, with an emphasis on the role of Isoroku Yamamoto.
Tōkyō no hito sayōnara is a 1956 Japanese film directed by Ishirō Honda. The film is about young lovers trying to listen to their heart despite their parent's interjecting.
Ultraman: Monster Movie Feature is a 1967 Japanese superhero kaiju film directed by Hajime Tsuburaya, with special effects by Koichi Takano. Produced by Tsuburaya Productions and distributed by Toho Co., Ltd., it is the first film in the Ultraman franchise, consisting entirely of re-edited material from the original series. In the film, an extraterrestrial defends Earth from giant monsters who pose a threat to humanity.
Katsumi Tezuka was a Japanese actor. He is best known for playing monsters in several Toho science fiction and horror films directed by Ishirō Honda.
Eiji Tsuburaya (1901–1970) was a Japanese special effects director and filmmaker who worked on roughly 250 films throughout his five-decade career. Having pioneered and popularized the special effects sector of the Japanese film industry, he is popularly known as the "Father of Tokusatsu". Tsuburaya started his career in the Japanese film industry as a cinematographer for several successful dramas and jidaigeki films in the early 1920s. His directorial debut was the propaganda documentary film Three Thousand Miles Across the Equator, which he filmed in the Pacific Ocean on the Asama for most of 1935. Following the completion of photography on this film, he worked as the cinematographer and had his debut as special effects director on Princess Kaguya (1935). It was one of Japan's first major productions to feature special effects. The next year, Tsuburaya made his dramatic directorial debut with the release of Folk Song Collection: Oichi of Torioi Village and had substantial success staging the special effects for Arnold Fanck's The Daughter of the Samurai.
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).