Ranked · Film · Updated June 2026
The Best Movie Franchises to Watch in Order
Some franchises are a couple of great films stapled together; these are sprawling sagas worth committing a weekend (or a month) to. We ranked the catalog's film series on how well they reward a full watch-through, best-first. Sequels included, no skipping.
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Frequently asked questions
What's the best movie franchise to start with?
The Lord of the Rings. It's only three films, every one is a masterpiece, and the extended editions reward a full weekend binge with zero homework required.
Should I watch these in release order or chronological order?
Release order is almost always the way to go — it preserves the reveals and the filmmakers' intent. Star Wars and the MCU are the famous exceptions people endlessly debate, but first-timers should stick to release order.
How long does it take to binge a whole franchise?
Wildly varies. A tight trilogy like Back to the Future is one long evening (~6 hours), while the full MCU is a 90-plus-hour commitment. Most series here land between 6 and 20 hours.