Long-lasting movie franchises that stand the test of time

Though it may seem that all the endless film sagas and franchises are a recent phenomenon, the reality is quite different: long before Marvel turned the concept upside down with Iron Man in 2008 or even the many reboots of The Batman, the industry was already producing feature-length series of all shapes and colours.

This article reviews which, from a critical point of view, are some of the best movie sagas that the seventh art has given us.

Many of these movies have transcended the screen and made it into video games. During the PlayStation 1 and PlayStation 2 era, every single big franchise movie came bundled with a video game, though most of the time with arguable quality. Some bigger franchises had comic books to expand the story and some when further and had movie-themed arcade games. More and more gaming providers want to offer users versions of great movies, and players can find games based on Planet of the Apes, Indiana Jones, Jurassic Park and more (though there will always be those who prefer the classic versions of games, and for them there’s always access to some free spins online along with various promotions).

These films have become pillars of pop culture, and though movies are, of course, a subjective matter, it’s possible to agree that some in particular have quality features that make them stand out (at least in their first few instalments!). Here are some of the movie franchises that stand the test of time.

James Bond

Even where simple trilogies are concerned, there are often certain ups and downs in quality between instalments, so making a saga with 26 feature films (if we include the non-canonical ones) is quite a feat. True, among the titles that swell the legacy of agent 007 there are less successful offerings such as The Man with the Golden Gun and Die Another Day, but in the more than 50 years since Ian Fleming’s spy has been showing off in style on the big screen, the results are, as a general rule, delivered with quality.

Planet of the Apes

Let’s forget for a moment the existence of that remake abomination by Tim Burton in 2001 – that excepted, the sequels of the magnificent original 1968 Planet of the Apes (directed by Franklin J Schaffner) provide the perfect excuse to binge on science fiction. The new trilogy, without a doubt, ends up elevating the concept to seventh heaven, mixing state-of-the-art technology with a superb narrative and treatment of characters. The new trilogy boosted the franchise to new levels and new audiences, making it as relevant as ever.

The Godfather

There’s nothing significant that can be added to what has already been said about this trilogy – it’s simply a classic. There are, of course, those who think that The Godfather: Part III was a disgrace in the Corleone film saga, but even viewers who belong to that sector, needn’t worry because there are still two masterpieces to rediscover over and over again. This franchise’s films are a masterclass of narrative, direction, photography, interpretation… faced with such wonder, one can only kneel and give thanks to Coppola.

Rocky

The original Rocky defined a genre of sports drama. Yes, Rocky V is terrible, and Rocky III has been somewhat forgotten, but the great moments that the underrated saga, starring Sylvester Stallone, has given viewers are worthy of respect, including the fantastic late sequel Rocky Balboa. And in case viewers are left wanting more boxing movies, beyond the main series there are the two fantastic spin-offs focused on Adonis Creed.

Star Wars

With Episode IX, titled The Rise of Skywalker, already released, film buffs can definitively conclude that this is the cathedral of space opera, now known as the Skywalker Saga. A galactic epic that spans three generations, narrated through nine feature films (leaving aside spin-offs, non-canon films and other transmedia productions) and more than four decades, Star Wars has made history and captivated legions of fans around the world. The George Lucas of 1977 would not have believed what his creation would become 30 years later.

Star Trek

In the field of space fiction, the fiercest battle continues to rage between Star Wars and Star Trek. While some may have not been big fans of the adventures of Kirk, Spock and company, the remarkable reboot of JJ Abrams and his two recommendable sequels invite viewers to discover an irregular, extensive franchise (with 13 feature film productions), but with enviable levels of creativity.

Conclusion

To be honest, it’s about time for Hollywood to start taking chances again and quit milking the same cow over and over, year after year. While it’s a safe play for them, and most of the movies above can be very good, fans are eager for new and revitalised movies (without forgetting the oldies every now and then). 

The editorial unit