One shared universe towers over everything else in movie history. Ranked by total worldwide box office across every installment, these are the franchises that turned recurring characters into the most valuable engine in entertainment.
The full ranking
One shared universe towers over everything else in movie history. Ranked by total worldwide box office across every installment, these are the franchises that turned recurring characters into the most valuable engine in entertainment.
Marvel Cinematic Universe
The most successful franchise in film history by a wide margin, grossing roughly $32 billion across about three dozen films since Iron Man in 2008, and the only series above $30 billion. Its peak, Avengers: Endgame, earned about $2.8 billion on its own.
Spider-Man
Counting Sony's films and the character's Marvel Cinematic Universe appearances, the web-slinger has grossed roughly $11 billion since 2002, topped by Spider-Man: No Way Home at about $1.92 billion.
Star Wars
George Lucas's saga has earned about $10.3 billion worldwide across a dozen theatrical films since 1977, led by The Force Awakens at roughly $2.07 billion.
Wizarding World (Harry Potter)
The Harry Potter films plus the Fantastic Beasts prequels have grossed roughly $9.7 billion since 2001, topped by Deathly Hallows, Part 2 at about $1.34 billion.
James Bond
The longest continuously running franchise in cinema, dating to Dr. No in 1962, has earned about $7.9 billion across 27 films, with Skyfall its biggest at roughly $1.11 billion.
DC Extended Universe
Warner Bros.' shared superhero universe grossed roughly $7.5 billion from Man of Steel (2013) through its 2023 wind-down, led by Aquaman at about $1.15 billion.
The Fast and the Furious
What began as a 2001 street-racing movie grew into a global action juggernaut grossing about $7.3 billion, peaking with Furious 7 at roughly $1.52 billion.
Batman
Across multiple continuities and studios, the Caped Crusader's films have earned roughly $6.9 billion, making him one of the most bankable characters in movie history.
Jurassic Park
Spielberg's 1993 original spawned the modern dinosaur blockbuster, and the combined Jurassic Park and Jurassic World films have grossed about $6.6 billion, topped by Jurassic World at roughly $1.67 billion.
X-Men
Fox's mutant saga ran from 2000 to 2024 before folding into Marvel, earning about $6.5 billion, with the MCU-adjacent Deadpool & Wolverine its biggest entry at roughly $1.34 billion.
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