Anghus Houvouras with the five best film franchises…
As we continue to examine the state of Hollywood’s biggest franchises, it’s time to dole out a little love. We’ve looked at the Five Worst Film Franchises and Five Film Franchises on the Fence. It’s time for the Five Best Film Franchises. Yes, there are franchises that deserve love. Movie series that consistently entertain and deliver at the box office. Films that make the concept of franchises more palatable, even when studios are trying to crap garbage like G.I. Joe: Retaliation down you’re throat.
Once again, we are only considering franchises that have films actively in production with two or more installments previously produced.
With that in mind… here’s the best of the best:
1. James Bond
The longest film franchise is still the best. Super-Spy James Bond has been entertaining audiences since the 1960’s with his alcohol fueled sexual exploits. Along the way he managed to save the world many times over. James Bond has survived as a franchise because it understands the importance of staying true to the character. It also has a built-in ‘franchise freshener’ when the part is re-cast every 10 years or so. The casting of James Bond is always a topic of conversation and helps reinvigorate the series when it starts to get stale. It also helps that the creative forces behind 007 allow the character to change to reflect the modern cinematic scene. Fifty years later, we’re still enjoying watching Bond save the day, get the girl, and drink vodka martinis.
2. Batman
1989’s Batman was the most influential film of the last 25 years and helped usher in a new focus on comic book adaptations. Batman Returns may be one of the strangest summer blockbusters ever released. A trojan horse story about loneliness that felt like Tim Burton having way too much fun seeing what he could get away with. I personally love Batman Forever, a super-campy and fun story that doesn’t enough credit for being wonderful. Batman & Robin threatened to sandbag the cinematic adventures of the Dark Knight. Fortunately, Christopher Nolan found a new creative approach and re-launched Batman into a new era of box office success and critical notoriety.
Batman is still a very healthy franchise. So healthy that Warner Bros. is hoping to use him to launch more potential comic book franchises (Justice League, Suicide Squad). Next year’s Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice looks to be another monster hit while rumors of a Ben Affleck directed Batman movie are swirling. The future looks bright for the Dark Knight.
3. Marvel Studios
The no-brainer on this list. Marvel has managed to create the most robust multi-billion dollar franchise that has completely revolutionized how blockbusters are produced. The only thing more mind-blowing than the success Marvel Studios has enjoyed is the ridiculously small sum of time they’ve accomplished this task. In the time it took to write this article, two more Marvel movies have been released. Seven years ago Marvel Studios started with a roll of the dice called Iron Man. Today, they have three of the highest grossing movies of all time (Avengers, Avengers: Age of Ultron, and Iron Man 3). It’s not just the success of the comic book adaptations, but the overall quality. Marvel has meticulously protected their brand and delivered a number of exceptional movies (Guardians of the Galaxy, Avengers, Iron Man) and only a handful of duds (Iron Man 2, Incredible Hulk). Marvel has even been able to successfully franchise their characters to television (Daredevil, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.).
Marvel has the midas touch.
4. Mission: Impossible
The Mission: Impossible franchise has been an interesting examination into the dynamic of the film franchise. The first is a slow-burn thriller that is more focused on mystery than manic action. Then John Woo does the exact opposite, delivering his signature slow motion gun-fighting and doves in a baffling sequel. J.J. Abrams cut his big budget chops on the underrated third entry. Finally, Brad Bird steps into the director’s chair and scores big with a blockbuster that successfully combines all the best aspects of the first three movies. Mission: Impossible is a franchise that has always been interesting with each installment feeling quite different from the last. Hopefully this summer’s Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation will continue to deliver exceptional espionage thrills.
It’s interesting. As I write this, I’ve just realized this is the first franchise in the series that is reliant on a major A-List talent. Mission: Impossible has been a strong and consistent vehicle for Tom Cruise. Will this franchise be able to exist after he gets too old to climb skyscrapers and hang on the side of airplanes?
5. Planet of the Apes
The Planet of the Apes films were a cinematic gift to those of us old enough to remember them. They were a little before my time but had become staples of late night cinema. The original Apes films were the kind of high-mined, well-intentioned goofy science fiction that perfectly defined the late 60’s/Early 70’s era when they were released. They were earnest, heavy-handed, and so much fun. The franchise got off to a clunky start in the 21st century with an absolute abomination of reboot. Tim Burton and Marky Mark made of the most disappointing films of all time: a silly, poorly plotted, terribly executed parable that felt even campier than the originals.
Fox’s second attempt at reviving the franchise has been a far more interesting creative endeavor. Thanks to radical advances in motion capture technology, film fans have been given three-dimensional ape characters led by Caesar (Andy Serkis) and have created an ‘Apes’ world which can be taken seriously and still indulge in some awesome over-the-top moments. The Planet of the Apes franchise still has so much potential for storytelling. It’s also a perfect example of how to bring a franchise back from the flaming fuselage of a terrible reboot.
There you have it. The five best current film franchises. Do you agree?
Anghus Houvouras is a North Carolina based writer and filmmaker and the co-host of Across the Pondcast. Follow him on Twitter.
https://youtu.be/IkCIASOuyCw?list=PL18yMRIfoszEaHYNDTy5C-cH9Oa2gN5ng
Originally published June 28, 2015. Updated April 14, 2018.
