Film series

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] It is a type of series fiction.

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]

Description

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]

Box office

Main article: List of highest-grossing films § Highest-grossing franchises and film series

† Background shading indicates that at least one film in the series is playing in the week commencing 21 February 2025 in theaters around the world.

Highest-grossing franchises and film series ^[§]

(The films in each franchise can be viewed by selecting "show".)

Rank Series Total worldwide gross No. of films Average of films Highest-grossing film

1 Marvel Cinematic Universe S † $31,457,216,010 35 $898,777,600 Avengers: Endgame ($2,797,501,328) The Infinity Saga $22,589,262,908 23 $982,141,866 Avengers: Endgame ($2,797,501,328) Phase Three $13,506,562,880 11 $1,227,869,353 Avengers: Endgame ($2,797,501,328) 1 Avengers: Endgame (2019) $2,797,501,328 2 Avengers: Infinity War (2018) $2,048,359,754 3 Black Panther (2018) $1,347,280,838 4 Captain America: Civil War (2016) $1,153,337,496 5 Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019) $1,132,679,685 6 Captain Marvel (2019) $1,128,274,794 7 Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017) $880,918,840 8 Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017) $863,756,051 9 Thor: Ragnarok (2017) $853,983,879 10 Doctor Strange (2016) $677,796,076 11 Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018) $622,674,139 Phase Two $5,269,487,547 6 $878,247,925 Avengers: Age of Ultron ($1,402,809,540) 1 Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015) $1,402,809,540 2 Iron Man 3 (2013) $1,214,811,252 3 Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) $773,350,147 4 Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014) $714,421,503 5 Thor: The Dark World (2013) $644,783,140 6 Ant-Man (2015) $519,311,965 Phase One $3,813,212,481 6 $635,535,414 The Avengers ($1,518,815,515) 1 The Avengers (2012) $1,518,815,515 2 Iron Man 2 (2010) $623,933,331 3 Iron Man (2008) $585,796,247 4 Thor (2011) $449,326,618 5 Captain America: The First Avenger (2011) $370,569,774 6 The Incredible Hulk (2008) $264,770,996 The Multiverse Saga † $8,867,953,102 12 $738,996,092 Spider-Man: No Way Home ($1,922,598,800) Phase Four $5,712,571,367 7 $816,081,624 Spider-Man: No Way Home ($1,922,598,800) 1 Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021) $1,922,598,800 2 Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022) $955,775,804 3 Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022) $859,208,836 4 Thor: Love and Thunder (2022) $760,928,081 5 Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021) $432,243,292 6 Eternals (2021) $402,064,899 7 Black Widow (2021) $379,751,655 Phase Five † $3,155,381,735 5 $631,076,347 Deadpool & Wolverine ($1,338,073,645) 1 Deadpool & Wolverine (2024) $1,338,073,645 2 Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023) $845,555,777 3 Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023) $476,071,180 4 Captain America: Brave New World (2025) † $289,544,308 5 The Marvels (2023) $206,136,825

2 Spider-Man $11,154,009,397 16 $697,125,587 No Way Home ($1,922,598,800) Marvel Cinematic Universe $3,936,197,325 3 $1,312,065,775 No Way Home ($1,922,598,800) 1 No Way Home (2021) $1,922,598,800 2 Far From Home (2019) $1,132,679,685 3 Homecoming (2017) $880,918,840 Raimi series $2,511,239,929 3 $837,079,976 Spider-Man 3 ($895,735,062) 1 Spider-Man 3 (2007) $895,735,062 2 Spider-Man (2002) $825,776,725 3 Spider-Man 2 (2004) $789,728,142 Sony's Spider-Man Universe $2,171,790,210 6 $361,965,035 Venom ($856,085,151) 1 Venom (2018) $856,085,151 2 Venom: Let There Be Carnage (2021) $506,863,592 3 Venom: The Last Dance (2024) $478,892,552 4 Morbius (2022) $167,460,961 5 Madame Web (2024) $100,498,764 6 Kraven the Hunter (2024) $61,989,190 Marc Webb series $1,468,416,364 2 $734,208,182 The Amazing Spider-Man ($758,682,352) 1 The Amazing Spider-Man (2012) $758,682,352 2 The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014) $709,734,012 Spider-Verse $1,066,365,569 2 $533,182,785 Across the Spider-Verse ($690,824,738) 1 Across the Spider-Verse (2023) $690,824,738 2 Into the Spider-Verse (2018) $375,540,831

3 Star Wars $10,343,937,416 12 $861,994,785 The Force Awakens ($2,068,223,624) Skywalker Saga $8,825,309,378 9 $980,589,931 The Force Awakens ($2,068,223,624) Sequel trilogy $4,474,907,761 3 $1,491,635,920 The Force Awakens ($2,068,223,624) 1 VII – The Force Awakens (2015) $2,068,223,624 2 VIII – The Last Jedi (2017) $1,332,539,889 3 IX – The Rise of Skywalker (2019) $1,074,144,248 Prequel trilogy $2,544,668,505 3 $848,222,835 The Phantom Menace ($1,046,515,409) 1 I – The Phantom Menace (1999) $1,046,515,409 2 III – Revenge of the Sith (2005) $848,754,768 3 II – Attack of the Clones (2002) $649,398,328 Original trilogy $1,805,733,112 3 $601,911,037 A New Hope ($775,398,007) 1 IV – A New Hope (1977) $775,398,007 2 V – The Empire Strikes Back (1980) $547,969,004 3 VI – Return of the Jedi (1983) $482,366,101 Standalone films $1,450,345,194 2 $725,172,597 Rogue One ($1,057,420,387) 1 Rogue One (2016) $1,057,420,387 2 Solo (2018) $392,924,807 The Clone Wars (2008) $68,282,844

4 Wizarding World $9,656,055,269 11 $877,823,206 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 ($1,342,139,727) Harry Potter series $7,780,010,016 8 $972,501,252 Deathly Hallows – Part 2 ($1,342,139,727) 1 Deathly Hallows – Part 2 (2011) $1,342,139,727 2 Philosopher's Stone (2001) $1,009,046,830 3 Deathly Hallows – Part 1 (2010) $977,070,383 4 Order of the Phoenix (2007) $942,201,710 5 Half-Blood Prince (2009) $934,483,039 6 Goblet of Fire (2005) $896,815,106 7 Chamber of Secrets (2002) $880,684,614 8 Prisoner of Azkaban (2004) $797,568,607 Fantastic Beasts series $1,876,045,253 3 $625,348,418 Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them ($814,038,508) 1 Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016) $814,038,508 2 The Crimes of Grindelwald (2018) $654,855,901 3 The Secrets of Dumbledore (2022) $407,150,844

5 James Bond $7,836,510,562 27 $290,241,132 Skyfall ($1,108,594,137) Eon series $7,634,765,844 25 $305,390,634 Skyfall ($1,108,594,137) Daniel Craig series $3,969,538,100 5 $793,907,620 Skyfall ($1,108,594,137) 1 Skyfall (2012) $1,108,594,137 2 Spectre (2015) $880,705,312 3 No Time to Die (2021) $774,153,007 4 Casino Royale (2006) $616,505,162 5 Quantum of Solace (2008) $589,580,482 Pierce Brosnan series $1,479,008,618 4 $369,752,155 Die Another Day ($431,971,116) 1 Die Another Day (2002) $431,971,116 2 The World Is Not Enough (1999) $361,832,400 3 GoldenEye (1995) $352,194,034 4 Tomorrow Never Dies (1997) $333,011,068 Roger Moore series $1,151,600,000 7 $164,514,286 Moonraker ($210,300,000) 1 Moonraker (1979) $210,300,000 2 For Your Eyes Only (1981) $194,900,000 3 The Spy Who Loved Me (1977) $185,400,000 4 Octopussy (1983) $183,700,000 5 A View to a Kill (1985) $152,400,000 6 Live and Let Die (1973) $126,400,000 7 The Man with the Golden Gun (1974) $98,500,000 Sean Connery series $621,500,000 6 $103,583,333 Thunderball ($141,200,000) 1 Thunderball (1965) $141,200,000 2 Goldfinger (1964) $124,900,000 3 Diamonds Are Forever (1971) $116,000,000 4 You Only Live Twice (1967) $101,000,000 5 From Russia with Love (1963) $78,900,000 6 Dr. No (1962) $59,500,000 Timothy Dalton series $347,400,000 2 $173,700,000 The Living Daylights ($191,200,000) 1 The Living Daylights (1987) $191,200,000 2 Licence to Kill (1989) $156,200,000 George Lazenby series $64,600,000 1 $64,600,000 On Her Majesty's Secret Service ($64,600,000) 1 On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969) $64,600,000 Never Say Never Again (1983) $160,000,000 Casino Royale (1967) $41,744,718

6 Avengers $7,767,486,137 4 $1,941,871,534 Endgame ($2,797,501,328) 1 Endgame (2019) $2,797,501,328 2 Infinity War (2018) $2,048,359,754 3 The Avengers (2012) $1,518,815,515 4 Age of Ultron (2015) $1,402,809,540

7 X-Men $7,422,190,386 14 $530,156,456 Deadpool & Wolverine ($1,338,073,645) Main series $3,059,525,837 7 $437,075,120 Days of Future Past ($746,045,700) 1 Days of Future Past (2014) $746,045,700 2 Apocalypse (2016) $543,934,105 3 The Last Stand (2006) $460,435,291 4 X2 (2003) $407,711,549 5 First Class (2011) $352,616,690 6 X-Men (2000) $296,339,528 7 Dark Phoenix (2019) $252,442,974 Deadpool series $2,906,582,409 3 $968,860,803 Deadpool & Wolverine ($1,338,073,645) 1 Deadpool & Wolverine (2024) $1,338,073,645 2 Deadpool 2 (2018) $785,896,609 3 Deadpool (2016) $782,612,155 Wolverine series $1,406,912,546 3 $468,970,849 Logan ($619,021,436) 1 Logan (2017) $619,021,436 2 The Wolverine (2013) $414,828,246 3 Origins: Wolverine (2009) $373,062,864 The New Mutants (2020) $49,169,594

8 Fast & Furious $7,333,654,169 11 $666,695,834 Furious 7 ($1,515,341,399) The Fast Saga $6,572,921,243 10 $657,292,124 Furious 7 ($1,515,341,399) 1 Furious 7 (2015) $1,515,341,399 2 The Fate of the Furious (2017) F8 $1,238,764,765 3 Fast & Furious 6 (2013) $788,680,968 4 F9 (2021) $726,229,501 5 Fast X (2023) $714,567,285 6 Fast Five (2011) $626,137,675 7 Fast & Furious (2009) $360,366,870 8 2 Fast 2 Furious (2003) $236,350,661 9 The Fast and the Furious (2001) $207,517,509 10 Tokyo Drift (2006) $158,964,610 Hobbs & Shaw (2019) $760,732,926

9 DC Extended Universe S $7,191,680,912 15 $479,445,394 Aquaman ($1,148,528,393) 1 Aquaman (2018) $1,148,528,393 2 Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016) $873,637,528 3 Wonder Woman (2017) $822,854,286 4 Suicide Squad (2016) $746,846,894 5 Man of Steel (2013) $668,045,518 6 Justice League (2017) $657,926,987 7 Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom (2023) $434,381,226 8 Black Adam (2022) $393,452,111 9 Shazam! (2019) $365,971,656 10 The Flash (2023) $271,433,313 11 Birds of Prey (2020) $205,358,461 12 Wonder Woman 1984 (2020) $169,601,036 13 The Suicide Squad (2021) $168,717,425 14 Shazam! Fury of the Gods (2023) $134,138,006 15 Blue Beetle (2023) $130,788,072

10 Batman $7,051,416,471 18 $391,745,360 The Dark Knight Rises ($1,081,169,825) The Dark Knight trilogy $2,462,179,755 3 $820,726,585 The Dark Knight Rises ($1,081,169,825) 1 The Dark Knight Rises (2012) $1,081,169,825 2 The Dark Knight (2008) $1,007,336,937 3 Batman Begins (2005) $373,672,993 Joker series $1,281,958,569 2 $640,979,285 Joker ($1,074,458,282) 1 Joker (2019) $1,074,458,282 2 Folie à Deux (2024) $207,500,287 Burton/Schumacher series $1,253,192,682 4 $313,298,171 Batman ($411,556,825) 1 Batman (1989) $411,556,825 2 Batman Forever (1995) $336,567,531 3 Batman Returns (1992) $266,832,411 4 Batman & Robin (1997) $238,235,915 Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016) $873,637,528 The Batman (2022) $772,319,315 The Lego Batman Movie (2017) $311,950,384 Catwoman (2004) $82,102,379 Mask of the Phantasm (1993) $5,617,391 DC Universe Animated Original Movies $4,501,125 2 $2,250,563 The Killing Joke ($4,462,034) 1 The Killing Joke (2016) $4,462,034 2 Batman and Harley Quinn (2017) $39,091 1960s TV series $3,957,343 2 $1,978,672 Batman: The Movie ($3,900,000) 1 Batman: The Movie (1966) * R $3,900,000 2 Return of the Caped Crusaders (2016) $57,343

11 Jurassic Park $6,008,970,499 6 $1,001,495,083 Jurassic World ($1,671,537,444) Jurassic World series $3,984,015,461 3 $1,328,005,154 Jurassic World ($1,671,537,444) 1 Jurassic World (2015) $1,671,537,444 2 Fallen Kingdom (2018) $1,308,473,425 3 Dominion (2022) $1,004,004,592 Jurassic Park trilogy $2,024,955,038 3 $674,985,013 Jurassic Park ($1,037,535,230) 1 Jurassic Park (1993) $1,037,535,230 2 The Lost World (1997) $618,638,999 3 Jurassic Park III (2001) $368,780,809

12 Middle-earth $5,978,700,075 8 $747,337,509 The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King ($1,147,997,407) Jackson series $5,927,770,083 6 $987,961,681 The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King ($1,147,997,407) The Lord of the Rings $2,995,691,652 3 $998,563,884 The Return of the King ($1,147,997,407) 1 The Return of the King (2003) $1,147,997,407 2 The Two Towers (2002) $948,945,489 3 The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) $898,748,756 The Hobbit $2,932,078,431 3 $977,359,477 An Unexpected Journey ($1,017,030,651) 1 An Unexpected Journey (2012) $1,017,030,651 2 The Desolation of Smaug (2013) $959,027,992 3 The Battle of the Five Armies (2014) $956,019,788 The Lord of the Rings (1978) $30,471,420 The War of the Rohirrim (2024) $20,458,572

13 Despicable Me $5,619,444,992 6 $936,574,165 Minions ($1,159,444,662) Main series $3,519,796,565 4 $879,949,141 Despicable Me 3 ($1,034,800,131) 1 Despicable Me 3 (2017) $1,034,800,131 2 Despicable Me 4 (2024) $970,946,614 3 Despicable Me 2 (2013) $970,766,005 4 Despicable Me (2010) $543,283,815 Minions series $2,099,648,427 2 $1,049,824,214 Minions ($1,159,444,662) 1 Minions (2015) $1,159,444,662 2 The Rise of Gru (2022) $940,203,765

14 Transformers $5,423,926,612 9 $602,658,512 Dark of the Moon ($1,123,794,079) Main series $5,418,066,011 8 $677,258,251 Dark of the Moon ($1,123,794,079) 1 Dark of the Moon (2011) $1,123,794,079 2 Age of Extinction (2014) $1,104,054,072 3 Revenge of the Fallen (2009) $836,303,693 4 Transformers (2007) $709,709,780 5 The Last Knight (2017) $605,425,157 6 Bumblebee (2018) $467,989,645 7 Rise of the Beasts (2023) $441,381,193 8 One (2024) $129,408,392 The Transformers: The Movie (1986) $5,860,601

15 Avatar $5,243,956,307 2 $2,621,978,154 Avatar ($2,923,706,026) 1 Avatar (2009) $2,923,706,026 2 The Way of Water (2022) $2,320,250,281

16 Pirates of the Caribbean $4,522,015,850 5 $904,403,170 Dead Man's Chest ($1,066,179,747) 1 Dead Man's Chest (2006) $1,066,179,747 2 On Stranger Tides (2011) $1,045,713,802 3 At World's End (2007) $960,996,492 4 Dead Men Tell No Tales (2017) $794,861,794 5 The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003) $654,264,015

17 Mission: Impossible $4,142,271,248 7 $591,753,035 Fallout ($791,657,398) 1 Fallout (2018) $791,657,398 2 Ghost Protocol (2011) $694,713,380 3 Rogue Nation (2015) $682,716,636 4 Dead Reckoning (2023) $570,619,838 5 Mission: Impossible 2 (2000) $546,388,108 6 Mission: Impossible (1996) $457,696,391 7 Mission: Impossible III (2006) $398,479,497

18 Shrek $4,023,149,353 6 $670,524,892 Shrek 2 ($932,530,034) Main series $2,982,907,499 4 $745,726,875 Shrek 2 ($932,530,034) 1 Shrek 2 (2004) $932,530,034 2 Shrek the Third (2007) $813,367,380 3 Shrek Forever After (2010) $752,600,867 4 Shrek (2001) $484,409,218 Puss in Boots series $1,040,241,854 2 $520,120,927 Puss in Boots ($554,987,477) 1 Puss in Boots (2011) $554,987,477 2 The Last Wish (2022) $485,254,377

19 The Twilight Saga $3,359,862,915 5 $671,972,583 Breaking Dawn – Part 2 ($829,746,820) 1 Breaking Dawn – Part 2 (2012) $829,746,820 2 Breaking Dawn – Part 1 (2011) $712,205,856 3 New Moon (2009) $709,827,462 4 Eclipse (2010) $698,509,825 5 Twilight (2008) $407,187,715 6 Twilight / New Moon Combo (2010) $2,385,237

20 The Lion King † $3,326,818,854 4 $831,704,714 The Lion King (2019) ($1,656,943,394) CGI animated series † $2,356,109,626 2 $1,178,054,813 The Lion King (2019) ($1,656,943,394) 1 The Lion King (2019) $1,656,943,394 2 Mufasa: The Lion King (2024) † $699,166,232 Traditionally animated series $970,709,228 2 $485,354,614 The Lion King (1994) ($970,707,763) 1 The Lion King (1994) $970,707,763 2 The Lion King 1½ (2004) $1,465

^SShared universes for which some properties also have their own entries.

^*Canada and U.S. gross only.

^RDistributor rental.

See also

• Lists of feature film series
• Highest-grossing franchises and film series
• List of highest-grossing media franchises

References

1. "Greatest Movie Series - Film Franchises of All-Time". filmsite.org . Retrieved April 1, 2020. 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).
2. "Movie Franchises and Brands Index". 2018-12-11. Archived from the original on 2018-12-11. Retrieved 2021-11-04.
3. "Movie Franchises - Box Office History". The Numbers . Nash Information Services, LLC. Retrieved 2016-12-22.

Works cited

• Galbraith IV, Stuart (1996). The Japanese Filmography: 1900 through 1994. McFarland. ISBN   0-7864-0032-3.
• Ryfle, Steve; Godziszewski, Ed (2017). Ishiro Honda: A Life in Film, from Godzilla to Kurosawa. Wesleyan University Press. ISBN   9780819570871.
• Solomon, Charles (2014). Once Upon a Dream: From Perrault's Sleeping Beauty to Disney's Maleficent. Disney Editions. ISBN   978-1-4231-9902-1.