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

† Background shading indicates that at least one film in the series is playing in the week commencing 29 August 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 †

$32,458,200,811

37

$877,248,671

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 †

$9,868,937,903

14

$704,924,136

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	$3,663,375,921	6	$610,562,654	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)	$415,101,577
5	Thunderbolts* (2025)	$382,436,917
6	The Marvels (2023)	$206,136,825

	Phase Six †	$492,990,615	1	$492,990,615	The Fantastic Four: First Steps ($492,990,615)
1	The Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025) †	$492,990,615

2

Spider-Man

$11,154,092,078

16

$697,130,755

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	$2,171,872,891	6	$361,978,815	Venom ($856,085,151)
1	Venom (2018)	$856,085,151
2	Venom: Let There Be Carnage (2021)	$506,813,864
3	Venom: The Last Dance (2024)	$478,937,618
4	Morbius (2022)	$167,460,961
5	Madame Web (2024)	$100,498,764
6	Kraven the Hunter (2024)	$62,076,533

	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

$10,400,778,595

12

$866,731,550

The Force Awakens ($2,068,223,624)

Skywalker Saga

$8,882,150,557

9

$986,905,617

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	$2,601,509,684	3	$867,169,895	The Phantom Menace ($1,046,515,409)
1	I – The Phantom Menace (1999)	$1,046,515,409
2	III – Revenge of the Sith (2005)	$905,595,947
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

$7,333,461,998

11

$666,678,363

Furious 7 ($1,515,341,399)

	The Fast Saga	$6,572,729,072	10	$657,272,907	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)	$714,375,114
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	$7,196,680,912	15	$479,778,727	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)	$439,381,226
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 †

$6,856,169,992

7

$979,452,856

Jurassic World ($1,671,537,444)

	Jurassic World series †	$4,831,214,954	4	$1,207,803,739	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
4	Rebirth (2025) †	$847,199,493

	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

$5,978,900,075

8

$747,362,509

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)	$20,658,572

13

Despicable Me

$5,620,799,382

6

$936,799,897

Minions ($1,159,444,662)

	Main series	$3,520,872,025	4	$880,218,006	Despicable Me 3 ($1,034,800,131)
1	Despicable Me 3 (2017)	$1,034,800,131
2	Despicable Me 4 (2024)	$972,022,074
3	Despicable Me 2 (2013)	$970,766,005
4	Despicable Me (2010)	$543,283,815

	Minions series	$2,099,927,357	2	$1,049,963,679	Minions ($1,159,444,662)
1	Minions (2015)	$1,159,444,662
2	The Rise of Gru (2022)	$940,482,695

14

Transformers

$5,424,201,969

9

$602,689,108

Dark of the Moon ($1,123,794,079)

	Main series	$5,418,341,368	8	$677,292,671	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)	$441,656,550
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	Mission: Impossible †	$4,740,833,106	8	$592,604,138	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	The Final Reckoning (2025) †	$598,056,261
5	Dead Reckoning (2023)	$571,125,435
6	Mission: Impossible 2 (2000)	$546,388,108
7	Mission: Impossible (1996)	$457,696,391
8	Mission: Impossible III (2006)	$398,479,497

17	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

18

Shrek

$4,023,150,968

6

$670,525,161

Shrek 2 ($932,531,649)

	Main series	$2,982,909,114	4	$745,727,279	Shrek 2 ($932,531,649)
1	Shrek 2 (2004)	$932,531,649
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

$3,350,284,378

4

$837,571,095

The Lion King (2019) ($1,656,943,394)

	CGI animated series	$2,379,575,150	2	$1,189,787,575	The Lion King (2019) ($1,656,943,394)
1	The Lion King (2019)	$1,656,943,394
2	Mufasa (2024)	$722,631,756

	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.

References

^ "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).
^ "Movie Franchises and Brands Index". 2018-12-11. Archived from the original on 2018-12-11. Retrieved 2021-11-04.
^ "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.

[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.

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v t e Media franchises
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