A movie franchise is defined by a variety of factors, including its cast, box office performance, and—possibly most importantly—its age and duration. How long they can continue to be relevant before they become irrelevant is the question because even the biggest of them will eventually vanish into obscurity. The MCU may currently be at the top of the list in terms of money and popularity, but in comparison to other organisations, it is still relatively young in terms of years of operation.
Running a film series for a very long time is no easy task. While some have managed to better maintain themselves, others, like the Terminator franchise, have been seeing a quality deterioration for years. The list that follows examines several film series that have withstood the test of time more successfully than others, taking all of that into account.
Jordan Iacobucci updated this on January 25th, 2023: For better or worse, pop culture is filled with countless remakes, spinoffs, and sequels that have sustained certain brands for many years. The lifespan of already established series is extended by movies like Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny and Jurassic World: Dominion, which consistently outperform at the box office. Although audiences have been accustomed to spending a lot of time in these imaginary worlds, some series have proven to be extremely long-lived.
With his 1979 movie Alien, Ridley Scott raised the standard for frightening creatures. Although CGI is an excellent tool for bringing a scene or movie to life, there is still something amazing about the special effects and prosthetics employed in the original Alien movies.
The subsequent prequel movies Prometheus and Alien: Covenant received mixed reviews from audiences and critics, bringing an early stop to the anticipated trilogy. However, there are ongoing initiatives for the popular franchise that will keep the Alien universe alive for the time being.
Godzilla – 68 Years (1954 – Present)
Ishir Honda’s Japanese production, the first Godzilla (originally titled Gojira), was made as a parable for nuclear power in post-World War II Japan. The movies have diverged from what they previously stood for as a result of their westernisation and widespread appeal, but as the most well-known monster in movie history, the franchise is still going strong as never before. Over the course of its 67-year existence, the character has seen numerous remakes and reboots and is today a member of the Monsterverse, which is its own own cinematic universe.
The battle between the monster and King Kong in 2021 demonstrated that people are still interested in seeing the titanic conflicts, which has rekindled interest in the Monsterverse. In 2024, a Godzilla v. Kong sequel with the working title Godzilla and Kong is expected to hit theatres.
Halloween – 44 Years (1978 – 2022)
Around the turn of the century, the slasher subgenre of horror gained enormous popularity, and Halloween from 1978 undoubtedly contributed to this. It featured one of the most recognisable horror villains of all time, Michael Myers, and is one of the oldest modern horror movie series.
Anyone acquainted with the movies would recognise that the continuity of the series is a bit of a muddle, yet through this jumbled succession of remakes and retcons, it has managed to endure for more than 40 years, presumably coming to a conclusion earlier this year with the appropriately named Halloween Ends.
Indiana Jones – 42 Years (1981 – 2023)
The 1981 blockbuster Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark launched a successful and extended collaboration between Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, and Harrison Ford. Temple of Doom and The Last Crusade followed the original movie in 1984 and 1989, respectively. Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, a legacy sequel, made its debut in 2008 to mainly unfavourable reviews.
The first trailer for Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny will hit the internet in late 2022, despite the fact that the fourth film seemed to put an end to all prospects of a continuing franchise. According to popular belief, the movie will conclude the franchise, which has been running for 42 years, in 2023.
James Bond – 60 Years (1962 – Present)
Even though having that designation negates the point of being a “secret” agent, James Bond, the prototypical male action hero, is the most well-known spy in the world. The character was invented by author Ian Fleming and originally featured in the 1952 novel Casino Royale. In 1962, Dr. No became the first of many live-action adaptations of the character. James Bond has been portrayed by a number of actors over the years, leading to a series of twenty-five movies.
While the series has been inactive ever since Daniel Craig left in No Time to Die, fans are eagerly awaiting the reveal of the new Bond, who will continue a sixty-year tradition.
Jurassic Park – 29 Years (1993 – Present)
As she escapes from her pen in Jurassic Park, the T-Rex can be heard roaring in the pouring rain.
With Steven Spielberg’s first ground-breaking picture released in 1993, the Jurassic Park franchise began almost thirty years ago. Six movies, several computer games, and an animated spinoff series about the reanimation of dinosaurs were produced as a result of the excellent special effects combined with real emotion.
The smashing success of this climax seems to hint that the Jurassic World sequel franchise may carry on in some kind, with many fans unwilling to rule out another picture in the near future, despite the fact that Dominion earlier this year looked to mark the end of the sequel trilogy. The company may decide to stop making movies while it is still ahead, although such events don’t appear plausible in Hollywood given the recent films’ positive reviews.
Mad Max – 43 Years (1979 – Present)
George Miller created the post-apocalyptic wasteland of Mad Max, where all types of materials are limited and crazy-dressed deranged characters engage in conflict over them. From 1979 to 1985, Mel Gibson portrayed Max Rockatansky in the first three motion pictures of the series.
After a lengthy 30-year hiatus, Tom Hardy starred in 2015’s Fury Road, which saw the return of Mad Max in all its glory and cemented its status as one of the best action thrillers of the decade. But the Mad Max series is far from over; a prequel spinoff picture called Furiosa is scheduled for release in 2024, and a sequel movie is definitely coming soon.
Planet Of The Apes – 52 Years (1968 – Present)
The original Planet of the Apes movie, directed by Franklin J. Schaffner and based on the Pierre Boulle novel, is set in the year 3978 and centres on a party of astronauts who crash land on a planet and find a society controlled by apes with human-like intellect.
Four sequels and a 2001 remake, which was directed by Tim Burton, were produced as a result of the initial movie’s success. More recently, the series was revived in 2011 with a new trilogy that, despite having a plot very different from the previous movies’, earned generally positive reviews from critics. The movie Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, which is slated for a 2024 release, has also been reported to be in production.
Predator – 35 Years (1987 – Present)
Arnold Schwarzenegger firing a huge pistol in the jungle in Predator In 1987, Predator captivated fans with its intense action and horrifying monster, launching a successful franchise that has spawned numerous movies and crossovers with the Alien series. The Predator series is still producing new material 35 years after it first debuted.
Prey from 2022, which received raving reviews from both critics and fans, seems to have revived interest in the series, despite the franchise’s failed effort at a revival in 2018. Prequel to Prey is currently being worked on, and it promises to extend the franchise for at least a few more years.
Rocky – 46 Years (1976 – Present)
The original Rocky movie, written and starring Sylvester Stallone, was made on a modest budget of about $1 million and brought in $225 million at the box office, making it a very successful movie. The story of Rocky Balboa and one of the most recognisable sports film franchises in history began with this.
After five more instalments, the series has changed its focus to a different character and is thriving under the name Creed, starring Michael B. Jordan as the Black Panther. The long-running sports franchise’s epic history will continue with the release of Creed III in March 2023.
Star Trek – 43 Years (1979 – Present)
Star Trek character standing atop debris in a black coat while the USS Enterprise flies in the backdrop.
The first Star Trek movie was produced in 1979, but the Star Trek television series, Star Trek: The Original Series, which debuted in 1966, was the start of the media franchise. While many film series create spin-off programmes following the initial success of the movies, Star Trek experienced the reverse.
The plot chronicles the exploits of the starship USS Enterprise and her crew as they visit previously unexplored regions in a number of TV episodes, motion pictures, and reboots. While each movie seems to be delayed in development for years, the franchise continues to add new series to its roster with projects including Lower Decks, Prodigy, and Picard.
Star Wars – 45 Years (1977 – Present)
Combining posters for the prequels, original trilogy, and sequels of the Star Wars movies
The greatest tool a filmmaker has is ambition, and if the creation of Star Wars reveals anything about its author, George Lucas, it is that he is ambitious. The perfection in its simplicity is what has made Star Wars a cornerstone of pop culture with one of the largest and most devoted fan groups on the globe, even though it doesn’t always include the most innovative stories ever.
Star Wars fans continue to receive new content on a regular basis thanks to Disney+ shows like The Mandalorian, The Bad Batch, and Andor, even if every planned film beyond 2019’s Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker got stuck in the development stage.
Terminator – 35 Years (1984 – 2019)
The Terminator was one of James Cameron’s debut films as a director and writer, and he has since gone on to create a remarkable number of well-regarded movies, from classics like Titanic to contemporary smashes like Avatar. The movies largely focused on a post-apocalyptic future where humans have been exterminated by an AI system. Arnold Schwarzenegger played the most famous role of his career as an assassin cyborg.
Despite the franchise’s perennial problem of failing to measure up to the originals, it is simply too well-known to have been forgotten just yet. But given the recent box office flops of multiple movies, it could be time for fans to say “hasta la vista, baby” to this venerable institution.
The Muppets – 43 Years (1979 – Present)
The Muppets began their career on television, but the friendly group of well-known puppets has also enjoyed a long and fruitful run in the movies, starting with 1979’s The Muppet Movie. Since then, the muppets have made intermittent appearances in movies and television, most notably in the Disney+ original movie Muppets Haunted Mansion from 2021.
The Muppets are still well-liked even though it seems as though they have been reduced to television and streaming specials for the time being. In fact, another series based on the adored puppets, The Muppets Mayhem, is about to premiere on Disney+.
The Pink Panther – 45 Years (1963 – 2009)
Beginning in 1963, the comedy-mystery series The Pink Panther followed Peter Sellers’ bumbling Inspector Clouseau as he tried to solve his high-profile case. Before leaving the part, Sellers made appearances in a number of movies. Over time, other renowned comics have filled his spot.
In two recent movies from a rebooted continuity, Steve Martin took on the role of Inspector Jacques Clouseau. With 45 years of content for fans to enjoy, the 2009 sequel is the franchise’s final release to date. However, another movie is now in production and, if it ever sees the light of day, will extend the franchise’s life by more than ten years.
