The biggest movie franchise of all time?
 

This question is an offshoot of a discussion currently underway around the office: which is the biggest movie series of all time. Not necessarily the best mind you, but the most important, the most influential, the 800-pound gorilla, if you will.

The series up for debate:

Star Wars: It changed the way that movies are marketed, defined the term 'summer blockbuster', brought about a paradigm shift in special effects. It spawned dozens of video games, hundreds of books, 20 years worth of comics, billions of dollars in merchandising. Love it or hate it, the impact on the face of movie making is undeniable.

James Bond: There was a study once that estimated that every one in three people ON THE PLANET had seen a James Bond movie at one time or another. That, my friends, is unbelievably huge.

Star Trek: The Curse of the Odd Numbered Movies aside, any film series that has 10 movies under its belt and a vast legion of fans (some sane, some not) behind it has to sport some clout. It's never broken into the top 100 or so top grossing movies of all time, but it does have staying power.

Friday the 13th: A series of bad movies to be sure, but find someone in western society who won't instantly identify a guy in a hockey mask and a machete.

Indiana Jones: Not really an ongoing franchise, exactly - 15 years since the last one and all, but its influence is significant. Millions of dollars at the box office, cementing Spielberg as THE director of the 80's, and propelling Harrison Ford from the one-hit-wonder of Han Solo into a certifiable box office star.

The Matrix: Also not a franchise, what with it's finite 3 movie storyline and all - but any movie that make Kung Fu fashionable to mainstream Hollywood should be in for consideration. For good or for evil, you do have to admit that it's big.

Other: Is there something not on the list you think was overlooked? Speak up then!

I would have to say Star Wars - at least domestically.

Um, duh.

-rolleyes-

I don't even see how a case can be made for anything but Star Wars.

Star Wars

Zatoichi!!!!!!


What?

Friday the 13th?? -- are you kidding? :confused:

You missed three big, BIG franchises: Lord of the Rings, Jurassic Park and Harry Potter. All three of those franchises have made some serious coin, which is what Hollywood is all about. And the Terminator franchise (shudder) also should be included on that list.

I would dump Star Trek and Friday the 13th off the board. Sorry, but even though they ran for a long time, I don't see them as being either hugely suggesful or influential.

No contest. Star Wars.

I like all of those, but none of them got my vote. You should have put Batman on there too. And Ghostbusters. Even though they only had two movies. It was one of the most successful franchises of all time. Multi-billion dollar franchise in fact. Believe it or not, Access Hollywood said it was right behind Star Wars in money making. It's true.

The Thin Man series.

Star Trek without it we wouldnt have a Star Wars,I do like Star Wars better but Star Trek was bigger and is the most infulencial Sci-fi movies/series of all time no question,yes I know it has gone down hill but in a sence so has Star Wars.

I voted James Bond because it does have 20 movies since the 60's era and still going strong till this day. I'm also a big James Bond fan and I like every single Bond movie there is.

You forgot Godzilla. Theres about 26 to 30 godzilla movies which is in first place for the most on going movies. James Bond is in 2nd with 20. Also, theres tons of comics and toys etc of Godzilla.

Star Wars all the way with James Bond a close second.

Bond. It was going long before Star Wars existed, and all indications are that it will be going long after Stars Wars is gone.

Has anyone ever tried to do an inflation-adjusted count of the worldwide grosses for Bond? It would be interesting to compare them to the Star Wars series.

"What is the biggest, most infulencial (and perhaps best) movie series of all time?"

That's three different questions.

Biggest- Bond

Most Influential- Star Wars

Best- Probably Star Wars or Bond but it's a matter of personal opinion.

Say what you will about the prequels, but this is really a no brainer.

Wow. I never thought I'd hear a (presumably) sane person say such a thing. :)

Anyway, despite that being a ridiculous statement, we're talking about movie franchises here, and in that respect, STAR WARS predates STAR TREK.

Star wars. No question. I dont think Friday the 13th, Matrix, or Star Trek even deserve to be up there.

Hate to say it, but <i>Star Wars</i> without a doubt.

Star Wars.

Actually, you're somewhat off base.

The thread's addressing movie franchises, not franchises in general. That being said, without the massive success of "Star Wars" in the theaters - essentially (along with "Jaws" and "Close Encounters") kickstarting the whole summer blockbuster era - there would have been no "Star Trek" movie "franchise."

The green light to produce "ST:TMP" didn't come until after the folks at Paramount saw how much $$$ "Star Wars" was raking in. Suddenly anything and everything to do with science fiction was hot and "Star Trek" rose miraculously from the ashes - once again.

In the dawn of "pre-history," before the Jedi, "Star Trek" was being pitched as a second coming television series - with all the original characters returning (and the "Decker" & "Ilia" characters, as well, I think). The project was cleverly code-named "Star Trek II." (I know. It's a stretch.)

Plus, just to be snide, there really only ever was one James Bond movie. They just keep repeating and repeating and repeating the same tired ol' formula.

Worst. Franchise. Ever.

IMO, of course.

:p

Are you kidding? Bond. How many years and still running strong at the box office? We're coming up on a 40 year movie franchise.

He never said they didnt do well. He just said its the same crap every time. Not one continuous story.