There have been many hugely successful franchises over the years that have transformed filmmaking into a multi-billion dollar industry, as well as making for some amazing movie marathons.
At Cheap TVs, we love great movies, and here are some of the most successful movie franchises of all time.
Harry Potter – $7.7bn
The Harry Potter franchise is one of the most successful in history, and the movies managed to match the magic of J.K. Rowling’s books, earning over $7.7 billion over the course of the eight films.
Warner Brothers bought the rights to the first four Harry Potter books for an estimated $1 million in 1998, but on reflection that was a small price to pay for one of the biggest movie franchises of all time. The films became more and more successful with each release, with many children camping outside cinemas with their parents in order to be one of the first to see the most magical films of all time.
James Bond – $6bn
With 23 successful films and another set to be released this year, the James Bond franchise has always been hugely successful. The gentlemen spy on Her Majesty’s Secret Service has attracted audiences for generations, with particular interest lying in his lovers, gadgets and cars.
With the franchise earning over $6 billion, the role of James Bond has been claimed by many actors, including Sean Connery, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan and Daniel Craig. All of these major actors have shaped the role of 007, bringing their own brand of style, class, heroism and action.
Star Wars – $4bn
Set a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, the Star Wars franchise is without a doubt one of the most successful movie franchises of all time. The George Lucas films have been a fan favourite for decades, creating a huge demand for merchandise such as action figures, Lego models and cuddly toys, which have been even more widely available since Disney bought the rights to the franchise in 2012 with the intention of making even more films.
Consisting of two trilogies, with Disney in the process of creating a third, the Star Wars franchise has made over $4 billion to date. The first film, which was originally named Star Wars but later renamed as Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, was hugely successful, although many fans were left disappointed by the prequels that followed the original trilogy.
Batman (The Dark Knight Trilogy) – $2.5bn
Adapted from the DC comic book character, the notorious Batman has been the inspiration for many films, however none have been quite as successful as those in the Dark Knight Trilogy: Batman Begins, The Dark Knight and The Dark Knight Rises.
With the character of Batman/Bruce Wayne portrayed by Christian Bale, these three films were hugely successful, with The Dark Knight being one of the most successful films of all time. Christopher Nolan’s dark portrayal of the Batman story captivated and thrilled audiences, rekindling the public’s love of the franchise and contributing to rising sales of Batman comic books and merchandise.
The Fast and the Furious – $2bn
Although the series has become less successful over the years with many believing that the quality of the films has gone downhill since the 2006 release, Tokyo Drift, there’s no question that The Fast and the Furious is one of the biggest movie franchises of all time.
With the seventh film in cinemas now, this series still attracts huge audiences, earning over $2 billion to date. Who knows when these films will end, as the writers don’t seem to be too worried about the terrible reviews the latest films in the franchise have received.
We hope you enjoyed looking at the most successful movie franchises of all time and that you’ll be giving them a watch very soon. Remember, the best way to enjoy a great movie is with a great TV, and here at Cheap TVs we have plenty of great models on offer. Visit our website today or contact us by calling 0121 3273273.
