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Since the inception of cinema, action movies have consistently captivated audiences with daring stunts and intense combat scenes. From the silent film era’s swashbuckling adventures to today’s explosive blockbusters, the genre has remained a major draw for thrill-seeking crowds. Notably, a significant portion of the most successful and enduring movie franchises worldwide belongs to the action genre.
From the high-octane Fast and Furious series to superhero epics like the Avengers, these franchises have shattered records and achieved remarkable box office success. It’s worth mentioning that the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is excluded from the list due to its vast scope. Instead, individual film franchises within the MCU, such as Iron Man or Guardians of the Galaxy, are considered. Nevertheless, the cumulative earnings of the entire MCU are staggering at an estimated $29.62 billion, far surpassing the competition.
Here are the top 10 highest-grossing action movie franchises in history.
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Top 10 Highest-Grossing Action Movie Franchises
Avatar (2009-Present) — $5.24 Billion
In 2009, James Cameron directed the groundbreaking science fiction film Avatar, renowned for its stunning visuals and immersive 3D experience. It became the highest-grossing movie of its time, grossing over $2.9 billion worldwide. Despite concerns about waning interest during the long wait for the sequel, Avatar: The Way of Water was eventually released in 2022, showcasing new areas of Pandora. Avatar 2 swiftly became the fastest film to gross over $2 billion, reaching $2.32 billion. Cameron’s ambitious plans for the franchise include multiple sequels that aim to push technological boundaries and offer cutting-edge immersive experiences. With only two movies, Avatar has grossed $5.24 billion, a figure expected to grow significantly with the continuation of the franchise.
Transformers (2007-Present) — $5.29 Billion
The Transformers film franchise, inspired by the popular Hasbro toy line, made its cinematic debut in 2007 with Transformers, directed by Michael Bay. This visually stunning film combined state-of-the-art visual effects with an engaging storyline, introducing audiences to the epic battle between the Autobots and Decepticons.
The success of the first movie paved the way for a series of sequels, including Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009), Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011), Transformers: Age of Extinction (2014), and Transformers: The Last Knight (2017). The franchise also expanded with the spin-off Bumblebee (2018), offering a fresh perspective and a nostalgic touch. The latest addition is Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, based on the Beast Wars sub-franchise.
In terms of box office performance, Transformers set the stage with a global gross exceeding $709 million. Subsequent films continued the trend, with Revenge of the Fallen surpassing $836 million, Dark of the Moon crossing the billion-dollar mark with $1.124 billion, and Age of Extinction contributing over $1.1 billion. The Last Knight accumulated more than $605 million, showcasing the series’ consistent box office success and growing interest.
The spin-off, Bumblebee, had a comparatively modest box office performance at around $468 million but garnered critical acclaim for its fresh approach to the Transformers narrative. Rise of the Beasts followed suit, grossing just under $440 million at the box office, bringing the cumulative total for the series to an impressive $5.29 billion.
Jurassic Park / Jurassic World (1993-Present) — $6.08 Billion
The Jurassic Park/World movie series, stemming from Michael Crichton’s novel, commenced with Steven Spielberg’s groundbreaking Jurassic Park in 1993. Featuring pioneering special effects, the film brought dinosaurs to life and set a new standard. While subsequent sequels, The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997) and Jurassic Park III (2001), didn’t match the original’s success, the franchise saw a revitalization in 2015 with Jurassic World, directed by Colin Trevorrow. This led to sequels Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (2018) and Jurassic World: Dominion (2022), integrating characters from the original trilogy.
In terms of box office performance, the Jurassic Park/World franchise has been a massive success, amassing a total worldwide gross of $6 billion. The original Jurassic Park set records with a global box office of over $1.1 billion. The subsequent sequels added $618 million and $368 million, respectively. The reboot, Jurassic World, broke records with a staggering $1.67 billion global box office, and Fallen Kingdom continued the financial success, contributing over $1.3 billion. Dominion concluded with a worldwide gross of approximately $1 billion.
X-Men (2000-Present) — $6.08 Billion
Launching a new era for Marvel and the superhero genre, the X-Men film series debuted in 2000 with “X-Men,” directed by Bryan Singer. This marked the beginning of a successful franchise exploring themes of prejudice and acceptance, expanding with sequels like “X2: X-Men United” (2003) and “X-Men: The Last Stand” (2006). The prequel “X-Men: First Class” (2011) delved into the origins of Professor X and Magneto.
Taking a darker turn with “Logan” (2017), which served as a poignant farewell to Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine, the franchise also included prequels like “X-Men: Days of Future Past” (2014) and “X-Men: Apocalypse” (2016). The soft reboot came with “X-Men: Dark Phoenix” (2019). The Deadpool movies, despite their distinct tone, are considered part of the franchise and were highly successful.
In terms of box office performance, the X-Men franchise has made a significant impact globally, accumulating a total worldwide gross exceeding $6 billion. Individual entries like “Deadpool” (2016) surprised as a hit, grossing over $783 million worldwide, showcasing the potential for R-rated superhero films. Hugh Jackman’s farewell in “Logan” (2017) was both critically acclaimed and commercially successful, earning over $619 million globally. The time-bending narrative of “X-Men: Days of Future Past” (2014) contributed to its box office success, surpassing $746 million.
Batman (1989-Present) — $6.76 Billion
The iconic DC superhero made his first appearances in two films during the 1940s and another in 1966. However, for many, the memorable entry was in Tim Burton’s 1989 Batman, featuring Michael Keaton as the Caped Crusader. This successful start led to Burton’s Batman Returns. The franchise took a lighter turn in the late ’90s with Joel Schumacher’s Batman Forever and Batman & Robin. Christopher Nolan later revitalized the series with Christian Bale as Batman in Batman Begins (2005), followed by The Dark Knight and The Dark Knight Rises, earning critical acclaim.
The character’s legacy continued with Robert Pattinson in Matt Reeves’ darker, detective-focused interpretation, The Batman, released in 2022. Additionally, the Batman universe expanded with the well-received Batman Lego Movie and the mature, reality-grounded Joker film, offering a backstory to the iconic villain.
Box office performances varied across the series. Burton’s Batman (1989) grossed over $411 million worldwide, while Nolan’s trilogy, especially The Dark Knight, reached new heights, crossing the billion-dollar mark. Ben Affleck’s Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice earned over $873 million, and Robert Pattinson’s The Batman came close with $770 million. The Joker spinoff, despite its departure in tone, became the highest-grossing R-rated movie ever, surpassing $1 billion globally, significantly boosting the cumulative total of the Batman franchise.
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Fast & Furious (2001-Present) — $7.47 billion
Led by the magnetic Vin Diesel in the role of Dom Toretto, the Fast & Furious franchise has transcended boundaries to become a global cultural phenomenon. Initially centered around the thrilling world of underground racing, the series underwent a strategic shift towards high-stakes heists and espionage after the explosive Fast & Furious in 2009.
The turning point came with Fast Five in 2011, introducing a diverse cast that includes notable names like Dwayne Johnson, Jason Momoa, and Jason Statham. Fast forward to the present, the franchise boasts 10 main movies and the 2019 spin-off, Hobbs & Shaw.
In terms of box office performance, the Fast & Furious series has amassed a staggering combined worldwide gross of $7.47 billion. The journey began with the first film raking in over $207 million. As the franchise expanded in both scale and narrative complexity, so did its financial success.
Fast Five accelerated the momentum, earning an impressive $626 million globally. Each subsequent installment continued to outdo its predecessor, culminating in the remarkable $1.51 billion worldwide gross for Furious 7. While recent entries have shown a slight decline in traction, they remain significant box office draws. The latest installment, Fast X, garnered $714.5 million, pushing the franchise’s total earnings beyond the $7.47 billion mark.
The Avengers (2012-Present) — $7.77 Billion
The Avengers movie series brought together Marvel’s iconic superheroes like Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, Hulk, Black Widow, and Hawkeye, delighting millions of fans worldwide. Packed with thrilling action, impressive special effects, and witty humor, these films redefined the superhero genre.
Each character delivered outstanding performances, creating an unbeatable team with on-screen chemistry that captivated audiences. From facing formidable foes to tackling the galaxy-threatening menace of Thanos, the franchise offered a compelling blend of heart-stopping spectacle and character development across its four movies: The Avengers (2012), Age of Ultron (2015), Infinity War (2018), and Endgame (2019).
In terms of box office performance, every installment in the series was a massive success, breaking numerous records upon release and amassing a staggering cumulative total of $7.77 billion. Avengers: Endgame, a monumental achievement, became the highest-grossing movie of all time at its release, surpassing the $2.799 billion mark. Avengers: Infinity War also performed exceptionally well, grossing over $2.052 billion, while The Avengers, a trailblazer in its own right, earned a box office haul exceeding $1.520 billion.
James Bond (1962-Present) — $7.83 Billion
James Bond, the world’s most renowned spy, made his debut onscreen in 1962 with “Dr. No,” marking the beginning of a franchise that has produced 27 official Bond films. Starring iconic actors like Sean Connery, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan, and Daniel Craig, each brought a distinctive touch to the MI6 agent, shaping the character’s evolution with their suave demeanor, daring missions, and high-tech gadgets.
The success of the Bond franchise can be attributed to its ability to adapt to changing times while staying true to Ian Fleming’s original creation. As Daniel Craig announced his retirement from the role, fans eagerly await the announcement of the next actor to portray the MI6 operative.
Box office performance has been a key indicator of the franchise’s success, with nearly 60 years of hit movies contributing to its impressive standing. Notably, “Skyfall” (2012), directed by Sam Mendes and starring Craig, emerged as one of the highest-grossing Bond films, earning over $1.1 billion worldwide. Following this success, “Spectre” (2015) continued the trend with a box office haul surpassing $880 million.
In summary, the Bond movies have consistently performed well at the box office, adapting to various generations and cinematic trends, and there are no indications of a slowdown in the franchise’s enduring popularity.
Spider-Man (2002-Present) — $10.2 Billion
The Spider-Man movie franchise, rooted in the beloved Marvel superhero, has captivated global audiences since its inception in 2002 with Sam Raimi’s “Spider-Man,” starring Tobey Maguire. This successful franchise has undergone various iterations over the years, with Raimi’s sequels solidifying the character’s cinematic presence. In 2012, Marc Webb introduced a fresh perspective with “The Amazing Spider-Man,” featuring Andrew Garfield.
A significant shift occurred in 2017 when Tom Holland took on the iconic role in “Spider-Man: Homecoming,” integrating the character into the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Subsequent films, such as “Spider-Man: Far From Home” and “Spider-Man: No Way Home,” along with animated entries like “Into the Spider-Verse” and “Across the Spider-Verse,” have all been both commercially and critically successful.
The box office performance has been remarkable throughout the franchise’s history. Raimi’s “Spider-Man” set the tone with a global gross exceeding $821 million, followed by sequels that maintained strong momentum. Webb’s “The Amazing Spider-Man” collected over $757 million globally.
Tom Holland’s MCU entries saw even greater success, with “Spider-Man: Homecoming,” “Far From Home,” and “No Way Home” grossing over $880 million, $1.13 billion, and an impressive $1.92 billion worldwide, respectively. The two animated films collectively earned over $1 billion globally. In total, the franchise has amassed a staggering $10.2 billion at the box office, cementing its status as a cinematic phenomenon.
Star Wars — $10.32 billion
The original Star Wars trilogy, comprised of A New Hope (1977), The Empire Strikes Back (1980), and Return of the Jedi (1983), was a groundbreaking force in revolutionizing the science fiction genre. Director George Lucas transported audiences to a captivating galaxy far, far away, employing cutting-edge special effects and a captivating narrative. This trilogy not only reshaped the landscape of cinematic storytelling but also established a new benchmark for the utilization of visual effects in film.
In the current era, the Star Wars universe has evolved into a sprawling and influential movie franchise. With a multitude of entries, including prequels, sequels, and spin-offs, it has grown into a cultural phenomenon with a dedicated fan base. Beyond the silver screen, the franchise’s impact extends to various media, merchandise, and even theme park attractions, solidifying its indelible mark on pop culture.
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