The most successful film franchise of all time is the Marvel Cinematic Universe, with about $34.9 billion from 38 films. Star Wars, the Harry Potter Wizarding World and James Bond follow. Toy Story, The Lord of the Rings, Indiana Jones, Planet of the Apes, Godzilla, The Hunger Games, Rocky and Mad Max complete our list of 12.
We first ran this list in 2021. A lot has changed since. Toy Story 5, The Mandalorian and Grogu and Spider-Man: Brand New Day have all come out in 2026, and older series like Indiana Jones, Mad Max and Planet of the Apes have added new chapters. Box office figures below are worldwide and not adjusted for inflation.
Highest-grossing film franchises: quick table
These are the top ten film franchises and series by worldwide gross, as listed on Wikipedia in September 2026.
| Rank | Franchise | Worldwide gross | Films |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marvel Cinematic Universe | $34.94 billion | 38 |
| 2 | Spider-Man | $13.61 billion | 17 |
| 3 | Star Wars | $10.75 billion | 13 |
| 4 | Wizarding World | $9.66 billion | 11 |
| 5 | James Bond | $7.84 billion | 27 |
| 6 | Avengers | $7.77 billion | 4 |
| 7 | X-Men | $7.42 billion | 14 |
| 8 | Fast and Furious | $7.34 billion | 11 |
| 9 | DC Extended Universe | $7.20 billion | 15 |
| 10 | Batman | $7.05 billion | 19 |
Some of these overlap. Spider-Man and Avengers films are also counted inside the MCU total. Our list below sticks to 12 distinct franchises that have lasted, made money and stayed popular with fans.
The 12 most successful film franchises of all time
1. Marvel Cinematic Universe (2008 to present)
The MCU is the highest-grossing franchise in history, with $34.94 billion across 38 films. Avengers: Endgame (2019) alone earned about $2.80 billion, the second-highest gross ever for a single film. The latest entry, Spider-Man: Brand New Day (2026), has crossed $2.45 billion and is now the third highest-grossing film of all time.
2. Star Wars (1977 to present)
The space saga that began in 1977 has earned $10.75 billion from 13 films. The newest is The Mandalorian and Grogu (2026), which brought the series back to cinemas this year.
3. Harry Potter and the Wizarding World (2001 to present)
The eight Harry Potter films and three Fantastic Beasts films have made $9.66 billion together. The last film released was Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore (2022). For Indian fans who grew up with the books, this remains the defining fantasy series.
4. James Bond (1962 to present)
The oldest active franchise on this list has earned $7.84 billion from 27 films. No Time to Die (2021) is still the latest Bond film, so fans are now waiting on the next 007.
5. Toy Story (1995 to present)
Pixar’s toy story now has five main films: Toy Story (1995), Toy Story 2 (1999), Toy Story 3 (2010), Toy Story 4 (2019) and Toy Story 5, released on 19 June 2026. Counting the spin-off Lightyear (2022), the series has grossed about $4.30 billion. Toy Story 5 opened to $310.2 million worldwide.
6. The Lord of the Rings (2001 to present)
The original trilogy (2001 to 2003) earned about $2.99 billion on its own, and The Return of the King won 11 Oscars. The Hobbit trilogy followed from 2012 to 2014, and the animated The War of the Rohirrim came out in 2024. A new live-action film, The Hunt for Gollum, is planned for December 2027.
7. Indiana Jones (1981 to present)
Harrison Ford played the whip-cracking archaeologist in all five films, from Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) to Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (2023). The series has grossed about $2.37 billion worldwide.
8. Planet of the Apes (1968 to present)
Ten films across the original series, the 2001 remake and the 2011 reboot have earned over $2 billion. The latest is Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (2024), and a sequel is planned for 14 May 2027.
9. Godzilla (1954 to present)
With 38 films, 33 from Japan’s Toho and 5 from Hollywood, Godzilla is one of the longest-running film franchises in the world. Godzilla Minus One (2023) won the Oscar for Best Visual Effects, the first Academy Award for any Godzilla film. Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire (2024) is the latest American entry, and Godzilla Minus Zero is listed for 2026.
10. The Hunger Games (2012 to present)
The original story ran across four films from 2012 to 2015, with Mockingjay split into two parts. The prequel The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes followed in 2023. The next film, Sunrise on the Reaping, is set for release on 20 November 2026.
11. Rocky and Creed (1976 to present)
The first Rocky won Best Picture at the 49th Academy Awards. Six Rocky films ran up to Rocky Balboa (2006), and Michael B. Jordan’s Adonis Creed took over with Creed (2015), Creed II (2018) and Creed III (2023). That makes nine films, with Creed IV in development.
12. Mad Max (1979 to present)
George Miller has directed or co-directed all five films, from Mad Max (1979) to Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (2024), which starred Anya Taylor-Joy. Mad Max: Fury Road (2015) won six Oscars from ten nominations.
What makes a film franchise successful?
- Box office: the MCU and Star Wars lead on money, but James Bond and Godzilla have lasted the longest.
- Awards: The Return of the King, Fury Road, Rocky and Godzilla Minus One show that franchise films can win big at the Oscars.
- Staying power: Toy Story, Star Wars, the MCU, Godzilla, The Hunger Games, Planet of the Apes and The Lord of the Rings all have a film out in 2026 or planned for 2027.
For more on these films, visit our Hollywood section, read our movie reviews or browse more lists.
Frequently asked questions
What is the highest-grossing film franchise of all time?
The Marvel Cinematic Universe, with about $34.94 billion from 38 films as of September 2026.
Which film franchise has the most movies?
Godzilla and the MCU are level at 38 films each. James Bond follows with 27.
What is the highest-grossing movie ever?
Avatar (2009), with about $2.92 billion worldwide, followed by Avengers: Endgame at about $2.80 billion.
Is Harry Potter more successful than Star Wars?
Not at the box office. Star Wars has earned about $10.75 billion from 13 films, while the Wizarding World has earned about $9.66 billion from 11.
Sources: Wikipedia: List of highest-grossing films, Wikipedia: Toy Story, Wikipedia: Godzilla franchise.
