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.

  1. 1
    Lord of the Rings Movies in OrderFilm

    The gold standard. Three perfect films that earn every one of their twelve hours.

    See the order
  2. 2
    Star Wars Movies in OrderFilm

    The franchise that invented the modern saga. Watch it, fight about the order forever.

    See the order
  3. 3
    Marvel Movies & Shows in Order (MCU)Film

    The most ambitious crossover ever built. Thirty-plus films that actually pay off.

    See the order
  4. 4
    The Godfather Movies in OrderFilm

    Two untouchable masterpieces and a third you can debate. Cinema's greatest crime epic.

    See the order
  5. 5
    Indiana Jones Movies in OrderFilm

    Spielberg adventure at its peak. Raiders alone justifies the whole boulder-dodging marathon.

    See the order
  6. 6
    John Wick Movies in OrderFilm

    Four escalating ballets of gun-fu. The action franchise everyone else is copying now.

    See the order
  7. 7
    Mad Max Movies in OrderFilm

    Fury Road reinvented the action movie. Insane practical chaos, no notes.

    See the order
  8. 8
    Alien Movies in OrderFilm

    Two genre-defining classics: Scott's slow horror, Cameron's relentless war. Essential sci-fi.

    See the order
  9. 9
    The Matrix Movies in OrderFilm

    Reality-bending sci-fi that rewired action filmmaking. The original still hits like 1999.

    See the order
  10. 10
    Mission: Impossible Movies in OrderFilm

    Cruise dangling off the world for our entertainment. The most reliable blockbuster going.

    See the order
  11. 11
    Harry Potter Movies in OrderFilm

    Eight films that grow up with you. Comfort-watch magic, start to finish.

    See the order
  12. 12
    Back to the Future Movies in OrderFilm

    The most perfectly engineered trilogy ever. Time-travel comfort food that never ages.

    See the order
  13. 13
    James Bond Movies in OrderFilm

    Sixty years, six Bonds, one tuxedo. The longest-running spy party in cinema.

    See the order
  14. 14
    Jurassic Park Movies in OrderFilm

    Spielberg's dinosaurs still roar loudest. Watch for the original, stay for the chaos.

    See the order
  15. 15
    Toy Story Movies in OrderFilm

    Pixar's crown jewel. Four films, zero misses, infinite tears at the end.

    See the order
  16. 16
    Kill Bill in OrderFilm

    Tarantino's revenge symphony in two blood-soaked volumes. Pure stylish vengeance.

    See the order
  17. 17
    Planet of the Apes Movies in OrderFilm

    The Caesar trilogy is shockingly soulful blockbuster filmmaking. Ape sci-fi with real heart.

    See the order
  18. 18
    How to Train Your Dragon Movies in OrderFilm

    DreamWorks' most heartfelt arc. A boy, his dragon, and a perfect ending.

    See the order

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.

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