What movie has the most sequels?
The
Godzilla
franchise roars ahead as the film series with the most sequels
in cinematic history, with
an incredible 38 sequels
since its debut in 1954. But it’s far from alone, as certain franchises such as the
James Bond
franchise and
The Fast and the Furious
just keep going, constantly reinventing themselves to stay fresh and profitable. Which others make this list?
Key takeaways
-
The
Godzilla
franchise holds the record for the movie series with the most sequels
, boasting
38 sequels
since 1954. -
Several other long-running franchises, such as
Carry On, Saw,
and
Batman
, have also produced numerous sequels. - These enduring film series have succeeded by continuously reinventing themselves, building expansive universes and iconic characters that keep audiences engaged.
What movie has the most sequels?
The
Godzilla
franchise holds the record
for the movie with the longest sequels of any film series, with a total of 38 mainline entries. These films are divided into four distinct subseries, each representing a different era in the franchise’s long history.
The Showa era includes the first 15 films, followed by the Heisei era with seven more. Then comes the Millennium era, comprising six films, and finally, the Reiwa era, which features
Shin Godzilla, Godzilla Minus One
, and three animated titles. However, the latter are not considered part of the mainline series.
Interestingly, while the Showa, Heisei, and Reiwa eras are named after the reigns of Japanese emperors, the release periods of the films don’t always match the exact timelines of those reigns. For instance,
The Return of Godzilla
, technically part of the Heisei series, was released during the final years of the Showa period.
Likewise,
Shin Godzilla
, a Reiwa-era film, came out while Japan was still in the Heisei period. The Millennium era, meanwhile, was produced entirely during the Heisei era.
List of film franchises with the most sequels
In addition to
Godzilla
, several other film franchises have racked up an impressive number of sequels over the years. These cinematic movies with 3 sequels or more have long captivated audiences, building expansive universes, iconic characters, and enduring legacies that span generations. Below is a list of these top movie franchises.
|
Film |
Number of sequels |
|
Carry on |
31 |
|
James Bond |
25 |
|
Star Trek |
13 |
|
Friday the 13th |
12 |
|
The Fast and the Furious |
11 |
|
Star Wars |
11 |
|
Batman |
10 |
|
Saw |
10 |
|
Rocky |
9 |
|
Harry Potter |
8 |
1. Carry on
-
Number of sequels
: 31 -
Year of debut
: 1958
Carry On
is a classic British comedy franchise that consists 31 films, making it one of the most prolific series in cinema history. Running from 1958 to 1992, the franchise also included four Christmas specials, a television series, and various stage shows.
Produced by Peter Rogers and directed by Gerald Thomas, the
Carry On
films became known for their cheeky humour, slapstick comedy, and an ensemble cast of familiar faces like Sid James, Kenneth Williams, and Charles Hawtrey.
2. James Bond
-
Number of sequels
: 25 -
Year of debut
: 1962
James Bond, another movie that has the most sequels, is a legendary fictional spy created by British author Ian Fleming in 1953. Since his first big-screen appearance, the role has been taken on by several actors, including Sean Connery, David Niven, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan, and most recently, Daniel Craig.
The vast majority of these
James Bond
films were produced by Eo Productions, which owns the rights to all of Fleming’s original novels. The most recent entry in the franchise,
No Time to Die
, was released in September 2021.
3. Star Trek
-
Number of sequels
: 13 -
Year of debut
: 1979
Star Trek is an iconic American science fiction franchise that began as a television series created by Gene Roddenberry, originally titled simply
Star Trek
. It is now widely known as
Star Trek: The Original Series
. The film branch of the franchise, produced by Paramount Pictures, launched in 1979 with
Star Trek: The Motion Picture.
This film, as well as the next five, featured the original series cast, bringing their space-faring adventures to the big screen. The seventh film,
Star Trek Generations
(1994), was the bridge between the original crew and the cast of
Star Trek: The Next Generation
. The following three films starred the
Next Generation
cast exclusively, concluding with
Star Trek: Nemesis in 2002
.
4. Friday the 13th
-
Number of sequels
: 12 -
Year of debut
: 1980
Friday the 13th
is a renowned American horror franchise that includes twelve slasher films, along with a television series, novels, comic books, video games, and a wide array of tie-in merchandise. At the heart of the series is the menacing figure of Jason Voorhees, a boy believed to have drowned at Camp Crystal Lake due to the negligence of the camp staff. The event fuels the blood-soaked vengeance central to the films.
The franchise has become one of the most commercially successful in American horror history, not just because of the enduring popularity of the films themselves, but also its vast merchandising empire. It has inspired countless references across popular culture.
5. The Fast and the Furious
-
Number of sequels
: 11 -
Year of debut
: 2001
Is
Fast and Furious
the longest movie series? Even though it is not, this high-octane American action franchise with 11 sequels is built around a series of films that explore the worlds of street racing, daring heists, and global espionage. The franchise kicked off in 2001 with its first film. This film was inspired by a 1998
Vibe
magazine article titled “Racer X” by Ken Li.
The early films formed an original tetralogy focused on illegal street racing, culminating in
Fast & Furious
(2009). With F
ast Five
(2011), the series shifted gears into a more action-packed, heist-driven narrative, embracing globe-trotting missions and spy-thriller elements. The most recent entry,
Fast X,
raced into cinemas on 19 May 2023, continuing the saga’s reputation for explosive stunts, fast cars, and family-driven drama.
6. Star Wars
-
Number of sequels
: 11 -
Year of debut
: 1977
Star Wars
is a groundbreaking science fiction franchise that includes a mix of live-action and animated films. Originally conceived by George Lucas, the saga began with a trilogy set in medias res before eventually evolving into a trilogy of trilogies, now collectively referred to as the “Skywalker Saga.”
The franchise began in 1977 with the release of
Star Wars
(later retitled
A New Hope
). It was followed by two iconic sequels:
The Empire Strikes Back
(1980) and
Return of the Jedi
(1983). These three films form the
Star Wars
original trilogy and laid the foundation for a cultural phenomenon that would span decades and redefine science fiction in cinema.
7. Batman
-
Number of sequels
: 10 -
Year of debut
: 1943
The
Batman
franchise centres on the iconic superhero Batman, a character originating from American comic books published by DC Comics. Created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger, Batman first appeared on screen in two serial films during the 1940s:
Batman
and
Batman and Robin.
The character gained further popularity with the 1966
Batman
feature film. This was an adaptation of the hit 1960s television series starring Adam West and Burt Ward, both of whom reprised their roles in the film. In the late 1980s, Warner Bros. revived Batman for the big screen with a fresh series of feature films, starting with the critically acclaimed
Batman
in 1989.
Directed by Tim Burton and starring Michael Keaton in the titular role, this film set the tone for a darker, more serious take on the Caped Crusader. This would later influence numerous sequels and adaptations in the years to come.
8. Saw
-
Number of sequels
: 10 -
Year of debut
: 2004
Saw
is an American horror series created by Australian filmmakers James Wan and Leigh Whannell. It all began with the original
Saw
film released in 2004, which rapidly gained global recognition and became a significant pop culture phenomenon. Known for its intense psychological thrills and inventive, often gruesome traps, the franchise has left a lasting mark on the horror genre and spawned numerous sequels, spin-offs, and merchandise worldwide.
9. Rocky
-
Number of sequels
: 9 -
Year of debut
: 1976
The
Rocky
films, created by Sylvester Stallone, are an American sports drama series that follows the life and career of the boxer Rocky Balboa in Philadelphia. The original film, written by Stallone, debuted in 1976. It was then succeeded by five sequels released between 1979 and 2006:
Rocky
II
,
Rocky III, Rocky IV, Rocky V,
and
Rocky Balboa.
Stallone took on both writing and directing responsibilities for four of these sequels. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer distributed all six films. Subsequently, the franchise expanded with the
Creed
series, which centres on a new generation. The movies include
Creed
(2015),
Creed II
(2018), and
Creed III
(2023).
10. Harry Potter
-
Number of sequels
: 8 -
Year of debut
: 2001
Harry Potter
is a film series adapted from the novels by J.K. Rowling. Produced and distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, the franchise consists of eight fantasy films. It began with
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone
in 2001 and concluded with
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2
in 2011.
The series was primarily produced by David Heyman. It stars Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson as the central trio: Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger. The success of these films paved the way for a spin-off prequel series, starting with
Fantastic Beasts
and
Where to Find Them
in 2016.
Final word
What movie has the most sequels? The Godzilla franchise stands unrivalled as the movie with the most sequels, boasting a remarkable 38 instalments that have spanned decades. Yet, it shares the spotlight with other enduring film series like
Carry On, James Bond,
and
The Fast and the Furious
, each continuously reinventing itself to captivate audiences worldwide. These franchises demonstrate the power of longevity in cinema, building expansive universes and iconic characters that keep fans coming back for more.
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