Big, sprawling movie franchises have defined the last few years of cinema’s modern history. Many of them have proved to be huge financial successes, with each subsequent installment bringing in more and more money at the international box office.
According to the data available onThe Numbers, there are 10 film franchises that have made considerably more money than most others. From superhero juggernauts like theMarvel Cinematic Universeto long-running action extravaganzas like theFast and Furiousfranchise, these movie series have garnered a large variety of responses from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, where calculating the average Tomatometer score of each one comes up with rather interesting results.
10’Fast and Furious' Franchise
Average Rotten Tomatoes Score: 57%
Having garnered $7.3 billion at the worldwide box office,Fast and Furiousis undoubtedly one of the most successful modern action franchises. Following the high-octane adventures and escapades of a group of friends and family, it has earned a reputation for getting bigger, louder, and sillier with each passing entry.
RELATED:10 Movies Like ‘Fast & Furious’ for More High-Octane Car Action
With the series' highest-rated movie on Rotten Tomatoes beingFurious 7with a surprising 91%, and its lowest-rated beingFast & Furiouswith a 29%, the franchise has certainly seen some variety. If fun cinematic experiences that don’t require much thought are your thing, these films might just scratch that itch.
9DC Extended Universe
Average Rotten Tomatoes Score: 61%
Although it has been able to earn $6.7 billion at the box office, the DC Extended Universe has had to follow a notoriously bumpy road. Trying to follow in the successful footsteps of a certain other superhero movie franchise, it has seen a number of shifts in its tone, canon, and leadership.
Perhaps because of these issues, the series hasn’t seen much critical acclaim for its outings. Rotten Tomatoes deemsWonder Womanits best movie (93%) andSuicide Squadits worst (26%). But in spite of occasionally stumbling, the franchise has hadits fair share of wins, showing there’s still hope for its future.
8’Batman' Franchise
Average Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 64%
As one of the superheroes that started it all, it’s only fitting that the Dark Knight also has one of the most prolific movie franchises in terms of earnings, having made $6.8 billion worldwide.
Batman’s most acclaimed film on Rotten Tomatoes isThe Dark Knight, with 94%, while the lowest-rated is the spin-off focused on one of his most iconic antagonists,Catwoman, with 8%. The hero has undoubtedly had some great and awful adaptations, but his cultural significance remains unparalleled.
7’X-Men' Franchise
Average Rotten Tomatoes Score: 67%
The firstX-Menwas arguably the movie that started the superhero genre boom of the 21st century, and the franchise that it spawned has box office numbers to support its significance, having made $6 billion worldwide.
RELATED:Best Movies With a Perfect 100% Score on Rotten Tomatoes
Though the franchise had some blunders, likeDark Phoenixand its 22% Tomatometer score, it also had successes as outstanding asLoganwith a 94%. Even if the series as it is today has reached its end, fans are satisfied with the abundance of phenomenal superhero movies that they got out of it.
6’James Bond' Franchise
Average Rotten Tomatoes Score: 70%
Spy movies are always a thrillto watch, but no spy franchise is as fertile and successful as the 007 series. Having made $7.9 billion globally, it has cemented its legacy as a paragon of the genre throughout its seven different James Bonds.
On Rotten Tomatoes, critics love the franchise for its constant creativity and self-reinventions. Despite failures like 1967’s version ofCasino Royale(26%), there will always be genre staples likeGoldfinger(99%) to show why 007 has remained such a legendary and popular character.
5’Spider-Man' Franchise
Average Rotten Tomatoes Score: 72%
The Wall-Crawler has always been one of the most popular superheroes, but as the years have passed and more films have been made about this friendly neighborhood hero and the side characters in his world, theSpider-Manfranchise has only made him more beloved, as proved by its $8.9 billion box office numbers.
While fiascos likeMorbiusand its 15% score on Rotten Tomatoes may have tarnished Spidey’s legacy on film, there are always spectacles likeInto the Spider-Versewith its 97% to pick it back up and show why this character’s mythos deserves to have its stories told.
4’Star Wars' Franchise
Average Rotten Tomatoes Score: 73%
One of the biggest franchises in the history of modern media, theStar Warsfranchise is the epitome of sci-fi epics and the $10.3 billion that its films have made at the box office back that up.
RELATED:Best Action Movies of the Last Decade, According to Rotten Tomatoes
Like all movie franchises as big as it is, this one has had missteps likeStar Wars: The Clone Warsat 18%. However, the fact remains that it has revolutionized the genre with classics likeThe Empire Strikes Backat 94%, resulting in a series of films that have something to offer to all kinds of fans.
3The Wizarding World
Average Rotten Tomatoes Score: 76%
If enrapturing worlds of fantasy are your thing, there’s a good chance you’re already deeply familiar with theHarry Pottersaga and itsFantastic Beastsspin-offs. The franchise has earned $9.6 billion, enchanting audiences all over the world with its interesting concepts and fun characters.
Rotten Tomatoes hasvarying opinions about each installment in the series, with something likeFantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwaldgetting 36% while the hyper-climactic finaleHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2got 96%. Even if you don’t like some installments, though, it’s hard to deny the franchise’s cultural impact.
2Marvel Cinematic Universe
Average Rotten Tomatoes Score: 81%
The Marvel Cinematic Universe is far and away the highest-grossing movie franchise internationally, almost tripling the earnings of the second highest (Star Wars) with the $29.5 billion it has made worldwide. It’s no surprise, as it revolutionized how film franchises work in the modern day, an impact it keeps having today.
Despite slip-ups likeAnt-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania(46%), genre-defining cultural phenomenons likeBlack Panther(96%) are what keeps the MCU’s engine running. What the future holds for it is a mystery, but what’s a fact is that no film franchise has ever come close to having the same amount of financial success.
1’The Avengers' Franchise
Average Rotten Tomatoes Score: 86%
The fact that four MCU films have been enough to crack the top 10 highest-grossing movie franchises ever tells you all you need to know about the popularity of theAvengersseries. These massive pop culture events of an epic scale have made $7.7 billion internationally, and it comes as no surprise.
Even the tetralogy’s lowest-rated entry on Rotten Tomatoes,Avengers: Age of Ultron, has a commendable 76%. The highest-rated isAvengers: Endgame, with an admirable 94%. These films, amongthe best superhero movies ever, shook the movie industry in the year they came out, making it obvious why they’ve been so popular both at the box office and on Rotten Tomatoes.
