The Highest-Grossing Movie Franchises of All Time

Which franchise has made the most money? If you're a movie fan, you probably already know the answer.

The Highest-Grossing Movie Franchises of All Time

There’s something about a movie franchise that makes us come back over and over again.

Maybe it’s the dynamic characters that somehow know how to keep on saving the day. Or maybe it’s a beloved book series with fans across the world. Or maybe it’s just really good marketing.

Whatever the case, film studios depend on franchises to make a good chunk of their money. Click through to see the 20 highest-grossing movie franchises of all time, as determined by Box Office Mojo. Numbers are for worldwide performance and not adjusted for inflation.

Note: Some of the franchises overlap, so a few movies are counted more than once.

20. “The Hunger Games”

Total worldwide gross: $2,968,200,000

Number of movies: 4

Average gross per movie: $374,000,000

Studio: Lionsgate

Launch date: March 23, 2012

With Jennifer Lawrence portraying Katniss Everdeen, “The Hunger Games” trilogy showcased an apocalyptic universe where a government puts on annual killing games.

The movie franchise became one of the most successful book-to-film series ever made.

19. "Twilight"

Total worldwide gross: $3,343,800,000

Number of movies: 5

Average gross per movie: $668,800,000

Studio: Summit/Lionsgate

Launch date: Nov. 21, 2008

Moviegoers ran to the theater to see their favorite characters (and favorite real-life couple, Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson) from the YA book series come to life on the silver screen.

Just like the “Harry Potter” franchise, the last book of the “Twilight” trilogy was broken into two movies to tell the love story between Bella Swan and Edward Cullen.

18. “Shrek”

Total worldwide gross: $3,510,800,000

Number of movies: 5

Average gross per movie: $702,200,000

Studio: DreamWorks/Paramount

Launch date: May 16, 2001

An animated film about a green monster who marries a princess and pulls in a lot of money in the process? Yes, it does exist.

This wholesome franchise not only killed at the box office, but involved some of the best actors in the biz, including Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz and Mike Myers.

17. “Mission Impossible”

Total worldwide gross: $3,570,400,000

Number of movies: 6

Average gross per movie: $595,100,000

Studio: Paramount

Launch date: Dec. 19, 1996

Peak Tom Cruise? Perhaps. As Ethan Hunt he runs (and runs and runs) around the world, fighting global conspiracies and, sometimes, his own team in this action-packed series.

16. "Despicable Me"

Total worldwide gross: $3,708,100,000

Number of movies: 4

Average gross per movie: $927,000,000

Studio: Universal Studios

Launch date: July 9, 2010

Universal Studios knocked it out of the park with this family-friendly franchise that took off unexpectedly thanks to its yellow Minions, unicorn-obsessed children and their beloved villain-turned-dad, Felonious Gru, voiced by Steve Carell.

The next film in the franchise, a second movie dedicated to the Minions, is in the works. It’s expected to debut July 3, 2020.

15. “Pirates of the Caribbean”

Total worldwide gross: $4,524,400,000

Number of movies: 5

Average gross per movie: $904,900,000

Studio: The Walt Disney Studios

Launch date: July 9, 2003

This Disney theme-park-ride-turned-movie series started out with a bang, but it progressively lost momentum.

Rumor has it Johnny Depp, who has played Captain Jack Sparrow for the span of the franchise, has been removed for the next installment, most likely because the last film made the least amount of money of the bunch.

14. “Transformers”

Total worldwide gross: $4,691,600,000 (as of publication)

Number of movies: 7

Average gross per movie: $670,200,000

Studio: Paramount

Launch date: August 8, 1986

The “Transformers” series relies on its humor, director Michael Bay’s action sequences and the genuine acting chops of its cast. Since its initial release, the franchise has had many actors take the leads, and it even recently introduced a “Bumblebee” solo flick starring Hailee Steinfeld and John Cena.

13. DC Extended Universe

Total worldwide gross: $4,714,000,000 (as of publication)

Number of movies: 6

Average gross per movie: $785,700,000

Studio: Warner Brothers

Launch date: June 14, 2013

Aside from “Wonder Woman,” the DC Extended Universe hasn’t been doing so well with critics and fans alike. Films like “Batman vs Superman” and “Justice League” confused reviewers and audiences. But with the recent release of “Aquaman,” it seems things may be turning around for this comic book franchise.

12. “Batman”

Total worldwide gross: $4,903,000,000

Number of movies: 11

Average gross per movie: $490,300,000

Studio: Warner Brothers

Launch date: June 23, 1989

“Batman” has been reinvented over and over again by directors and actors alike — and people keep on coming back.

This DC character has seen successes and flops through his “career,” and recently took a child-like turn with “The LEGO Batman Movie.”

11. “Jurassic Park”

Total worldwide gross: $4,951,400,000

Number of movies: 5

Average gross per movie: $990,300,000

Studio: Universal Studios

Launch date: June 11, 1993

A dinosaurs-roaming-the-Earth franchise is guaranteed to bring in the big bucks, especially with Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard taking the leads.

While the series’ most recent film, “Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom,” didn’t do as well as expected by the critics, Universal Studios is planning to produce sixth film in the next couple of years.

10. “Avengers”

Total worldwide gross: $4,972,900,000

Number of movies: 3

Average gross per movie: $1,657,600,000

Studio: Marvel Studios

Launch date: May 4, 2012

Every “Avengers” movie that’s ever been released has topped the previous film in some form or fashion, with “Avengers: Infinity War” quickly becoming part of the highest-grossing list.

Next year, the Marvel Cinematic Universe will introduce the final “Avengers” film that’ll feature some of its favorite original characters (in addition to new ones) going against Thanos, attempting to undo what he has done to the universe.

9. James Bond

Total worldwide gross: $5,019,900,000

Number of movies: 25

Average gross per movie: $200,796,000

Studio: Sony

Launch date: May 8, 1963

As one of the oldest movie series in the bunch, the saga of James Bond has made us all wish we could be a secret British spy and fight villains.

This British series isn’t stopping anytime soon. Rumor is Daniel Craig will reprise his role as the current James Bond one last time.

8. “Spider-Man”

Total worldwide gross: $5,119,200,000 (as of publication)

Number of movies: 7

Average gross per movie: $731,300,000

Studio: Sony

Launch date: May 3, 2002

A superhero kid from Queens has spun webs into millions of people’s hearts. While the infamous Spider-Man has been played by countless actors, including Andrew Garfield and Tobey Maguire, Marvel and Sony have recently made a deal to bring Spider-Man into the Marvel Cinematic Universe with Tom Holland in the role.

7. “The Fast and the Furious”

Total worldwide gross: $5,132,100,000

Number of movies: 8

Average gross per movie: $641,500,000

Studio: Universal Studios

Launch date: June 22, 2001

After more than a decade on the silver screen, these films are still going strong, even after the tragic death of one of the franchise’s stars, Paul Walker.

Universal Studios already has two more “Furious” movies lined up for the coming years.

6. “X-Men”

Total worldwide gross: $5,742,500,000

Number of movies: 11

Average gross per movie: $522,045,000

Studio: Fox

Launch date: July 14, 2000

Marvel comic book characters are known to bring audiences to the movies, and the “X-Men” franchise has done just that.

Not every movie was a success. But “Deadpool” and “Logan” have helped fuel the franchise with their sense of humor. Even their “R” ratings haven’t held them back.

5. Disney Live Action Reimaginings

Total worldwide gross: $5,814,700,000

Number of movies: 9

Average gross per movie: $646,077,000

Studio: The Walt Disney Studios

Launch date: Nov. 27, 1996

Since 1996, Disney has been reimagining its family-loved animated films into live-action movies — and it has been doing it really well.

Iconic films like “The Lion King” and “Aladdin” are the next movies planned to come out, and you can bet everyone will be going to see these classics in the theaters, especially with leads like Donald Glover, Beyoncé and Will Smith playing some of the beloved Disney characters.

4. J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle Earth

Total worldwide gross: $5,847,200,000

Number of movies: 6

Average gross per movie: $974,500,000

Studio: New Line

Launch date: Dec. 19, 2001

This mystical franchise not only won dozens of Academy Awards, it was one of the most ambitious movie series ever created.

“The Hobbit” movies didn’t do as well as “The Lord of the Rings” films, but they still generated enough money to make a killing in the box office, thanks to the existing fan base of the book series.

3. J.K. Rowling's Wizarding World

Total worldwide gross: $9,180,600,000

Number of movies: 10

Average gross per movie: $918,100,000

Studio: Warner Brothers

Launch date: Nov. 16, 2001

It would be a crime if a highest-grossing movie list didn’t include the “Harry Potter” series. In addition to the release of 10 films, this series morphed into theme parks across the globe and merchandise that racks up billions of dollars in sales. There’s also an original trilogy prequel in progress, written for the screen by J.K. Rowling herself.

2. “Star Wars”

Total worldwide gross: $9,491,000,000

Number of movies: 11

Average gross per movie: $862,818,000

Studio: The Walt Disney Studios

Launch date: May 25, 1977

A long time ago (well, just a decade or two ago), “Star Wars” became a science-fiction phenomenon.

Ever since The Walt Disney Company purchased Lucasfilm, it has released four movies that highlighted what happens before and after the original films.

1. The Marvel Cinematic Universe

Total worldwide gross: $17,530,200,000

Number of movies: 20

Average gross per movie: $876,510,000

Studio: The Walt Disney Studios

Launch date: May 2, 2008

The Marvel Cinematic Universe triumphs. It’s the highest-grossing movie franchise of all time, with its roster of 20 films.

While we have “Captain Marvel” and “Avengers: Endgame” to look forward to soon, we don’t know much about what Marvel’s plans are for the years beyond.