Buzz
Even though Avengers: Endgame—the concluding chapter of the Avengers saga—won't hit theaters until April 26, 2019, industry experts are already forecasting record-breaking success for this colossal Marvel collaboration. This comes after the surprising performance of 2018's Avengers: Infinity War, which shattered global opening weekend records with an astounding $640.5 million worldwide.
Although Infinity War currently leads the Marvel Cinematic Universe as the highest-grossing film, surpassing $2 billion globally, it faces stiff competition. Not only from the upcoming Avengers installment but also from Captain Marvel, which has already amassed over $760 million in just over a week. With Spider-Man: Far From Home set for release in July, the franchise's supremacy over all other film series will continue well into 2019 and beyond. (Yes, even surpassing Star Wars.)
Below is a list of the 10 highest-grossing movie franchises of all time, based on global box office data provided by The Numbers.
1. Marvel Cinematic Universe
Global earnings: $18,263,221,776
While it may seem slightly unbalanced, the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe—encompassing The Avengers, Iron Man, Captain America, and the Guardians of the Galaxy films—is recognized as a single franchise in Hollywood. This makes it nearly unbeatable, with 28 movies (and counting) released over the past 12 years. Leading the pack in terms of revenue are Avengers: Infinity War ($2,048,797,682), The Avengers ($1,517,935,897), Avengers: Age of Ultron ($1,403,013,963), and Black Panther ($1,348,258,224).
2. Star Wars
Jonathan Olley, LucasfilmGlobal earnings: $9,307,186,202
Despite over four decades passing since the first Star Wars film captivated audiences, Disney has been aggressively expanding the franchise since acquiring it in 2012. Alongside new installments in the main saga, they've introduced standalone series and a new trilogy developed by Game of Thrones
3. Harry Potter
Global earnings: $9,185,046,972
The film adaptations of J. K. Rowling’s boy wizard have mirrored the success of the books. Starting with Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone in 2001, the series has grown to include 12 movies, nearly all of which have neared the $1 billion mark. The highest-grossing entry, 2011's Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II, earned $1,341,693,157 worldwide. With another Fantastic Beasts film slated for 2020, this cinematic juggernaut continues to thrive.
4. James Bond
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures/Columbia Pictures/EON ProductionsGlobal earnings: $7,077,929,291
The debate over who will next portray James Bond has been a perennial topic since the franchise began. However, 007's ability to draw audiences remains unquestioned, and his appeal only grows stronger over time. The Daniel Craig era has produced some of the most praised and financially successful films in the series, which started with Dr. No in 1963. The franchise's impressive standing is largely due to 2012’s Skyfall, which grossed $1,110,526,981 worldwide.
5. The Lord of the Rings
Global earnings: $5,886,273,810
It’s worth noting that Peter Jackson’s Middle Earth franchise encompasses both the The Lord of the Rings trilogy and the three The Hobbit films. While the former is often more highly praised, both series have significantly contributed to the franchise’s success. Among the six films, 2003’s The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King ($1,141,403,341) and 2012’s The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey ($1,017,003,568) stand out as the top earners.
6. X-Men
Ben Rothstein - © 2017 Marvel. TM and © 2017 Twentieth Century Fox Film CorporationGlobal earnings: $5,803,267,631
Although the X-Men originated from Marvel, they stand as a distinct (mutant) force in the box office realm. This is especially remarkable given that the franchise’s 14 films have independently generated enough revenue to rival their cinematic counterparts. While 2014’s X-Men: Days of Future Past earned $747,862,775, it’s Ryan Reynolds’s two Deadpool films that dominate the series, with the original grossing $801,025,593 and its 2018 sequel earning $786,680,557. With the anticipation surrounding June’s X-Men: Dark Phoenix, these figures are expected to climb rapidly.
7. Fast and the Furious
Global earnings: $5,136,814,346
Even the creators of the Fast and the Furious franchise might be astonished by its immense popularity, with eight high-octane films that only grow more successful with each release. While the 2001 debut, The Fast and the Furious, earned a solid $206,512,310, 2017’s The Fate of the Furious nearly sextupled that amount, raking in $1,234,846,267. Unsurprisingly, two more installments are already slated for 2020 and 2021.
8. Jurassic Park
Universal PicturesGlobal earnings: $4,977,979,246
The inclusion of Jurassic Park in the top 10 franchises is largely due to 2018’s Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, which grossed $1,305,772,799 worldwide. However, the original 1993 film, earning $1,038,812,584, makes this recognition long overdue. Among the top 10 franchises, Jurassic Park has the fewest films, with only five releases (and another on the way).
9. DC Extended Universe
Global earnings: $4,902,327,466
While it still has a considerable distance to cover to rival the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the DC Extended Universe is gradually gaining momentum. Following the massive success of 2017’s Wonder Woman, which earned $821,133,378, the studio achieved its highest-grossing film with 2018’s Aquaman, bringing in $1,143,689,193 (and counting). The next two years promise to be busy for the franchise, with releases like Shazam!, Justice League vs. The Fatal Five, Joker, Birds of Prey (And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn), and Wonder Woman 1984 on the horizon. (An Aquaman sequel is also in development.)
10. Spider-Man
Marvel StudiosGlobal earnings: $4,858,774,307
Sam Raimi’s 2002 Spider-Man revolutionized comic book films with its blend of action, humor, and a touch of camp. The highest-grossing entry in his trilogy, Spider-Man 3, earned $894,860,230. Despite two reboots, audiences remain captivated by the web-slinger; 2017’s Spider-Man: Homecoming garnered an impressive $880,206,511, with a sequel already slated for 2019.
All data provided by The Numbers.
