Movie franchises with the most films: 10 long-running series to explore
Ten movie franchises with a lot of films, from Godzilla, Carry On and James Bond to Rocky, Star Trek, Mission: Impossible, Pokémon and Fast & Furious, with where each one begins.
Some stories never stop. This list gathers ten movie franchises with many films, ordered by the year of the first film, with a poster of where each one begins and a note on how long it has run.
How we chose
We chose long-running franchises by the number of theatrical films and cultural reach, and ordered them by the year of their first film. The counts are approximate and refer to theatrical films as of 2026. It is not a numbered ranking.
Godzilla
Since 1954, the giant monster of Toho Studios has appeared in more than thirty Japanese films, plus American versions.
Carry On
A British series of 31 comedies made from 1958 to 1992, full of puns and slapstick.
James Bond
Since 1962, 25 official films with six actors playing agent 007.
Rocky
Since 1976, nine films about the boxer Rocky Balboa, including the Creed spin-offs.
Halloween
Since 1978, thirteen films about Michael Myers and Laurie Strode, a pillar of slasher cinema.
Star Trek
Since 1979, thirteen films with the original cast and two later generations of crews.
Friday the 13th
Since 1980, twelve films about Jason Voorhees and Camp Crystal Lake.
Mission: Impossible
Since 1996, eight films led by Tom Cruise as Ethan Hunt, famous for real stunts.
Pokémon
Since 1998, more than twenty animated films based on the games and the anime.
Fast & Furious
Since 2001, eleven films that grew from street racing into heist and action spectacle.
Frequently asked questions
Which movie franchises have the most films?
In this list, the Japanese Godzilla films, the Carry On series, James Bond and Pokémon have the most, with more than twenty each.
Which of these franchises should I start with?
Start with Mission: Impossible for action, James Bond for spies, Star Trek for science fiction or Halloween for horror.
Which franchise has been running the longest?
Godzilla is among the longest-running, with its first film in 1954 and more than thirty Japanese films since.
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Sources: official studio releases, filmographies and public records.
