10 Greatest Sc-Fi Movies That Started A Franchise

The most memorable science fiction films aren’t just about big ideas – the truly great ones launch entire franchises. While a strong concept is essential for any sci-fi movie, to really succeed and inspire sequels, a film needs compelling characters and a storyline that leaves audiences wanting more.

Many of the most successful science fiction movies that launched franchises weren’t originally intended as the first part of a series. They were strong, standalone films with compelling ideas that later installments built upon. These movies are some of the best at creating enduring sci-fi universes.

Mad Max (1979)

George Miller’s 1979 film, Mad Max, wasn’t initially intended to launch a franchise. However, it unexpectedly became the first in a series that grew larger with each new movie. At the time, Miller simply wanted to tell a frightening story set in a world after a disaster.

Mel Gibson initially starred in Mad Max, a film that began as a straightforward revenge story about a former police officer seeking justice for the murder of his partner and family. The film felt very personal and its legend grew with each sequel. The following two movies expanded the scope, and then the franchise reached a new level of popularity in 2015.

It’s amazing to think the Mad Max series now includes five films, especially since the first one came out 47 years ago! And incredibly, the fourth film even received Oscar nominations. Despite the sequels becoming larger in scope, the original Mad Max remains a brilliant story that launched an entire cinematic world.

Predator (1987)

When Predator was released in 1987, it initially felt like a typical action movie starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. However, instead of Schwarzenegger’s character being the hunter, as in films like Commando, he became the prey of a deadly alien. This unique premise launched a series of films that have continued, with breaks in between, to this day.

This role was a major breakthrough for Schwarzenegger, similar to his other 1980s sci-fi film, Total Recall, which didn’t launch a continuing series. What set Predator apart, though, was the introduction of the Predator creatures themselves – they were compelling enough to potentially appear in future films and battle other characters, even without Schwarzenegger. Despite this potential, no sequel ever quite lived up to the original until the 2020s.

While the original sci-fi film spawned sequels, crossovers, a reboot, and even another sequel, none of them lived up to its quality until ‘Prey’ was released in 2022. Despite later installments reviving the franchise, the first ‘Predator’ remains a beloved cult classic and is considered a nearly flawless monster movie.

Avatar (2009)

James Cameron consistently aims for massive scale in his filmmaking. While his earlier movies showed glimpses of this ambition, 2009’s Avatar truly set him apart. He didn’t just make a film; he built an entire world, launching the franchise to unprecedented heights. Both of his previous films rank among the highest-grossing movies of all time.

Avatar first showed us Jake Sully and the Na’vi people who live on the planet Pandora. The movie also featured Earth’s military, determined to colonize Pandora at all costs. James Cameron always envisioned Avatar as the start of a large series, and it has become one.

The Avatar movies have earned over $6.72 billion worldwide, despite there only being three films so far. Even the least successful of the three, Avatar: Fire and Ash, still brought in $1.48 billion. This incredible success started with the first Avatar movie, which continues to be the highest-grossing film ever made.

Godzilla (1954)

As a huge movie fan, I’ve always been fascinated by Godzilla. It’s really unlike any other sci-fi series out there. The original film came out in 1954, not long after the end of World War II and the atomic bombings in Japan. It’s amazing how that event and the fear of radiation really sparked the filmmakers to create a story about the dangers of it all, and the best thing to come out of it was, without a doubt, the first Godzilla movie – a truly groundbreaking sci-fi horror film.

The movie depicts a massive monster rising from the sea to attack Japan, compounding the destruction already caused by war. Despite this, it launched a hugely successful science fiction series and introduced one of the most famous giant monsters in history. The Toho franchise, which began with this film, now includes 33 movies, with the critically acclaimed Godzilla Minus One released in 2023 being a standout.

Before the 2023 film, many of the classic Godzilla movies were popular favorites, despite some less-than-perfect special effects and Godzilla often being portrayed as a hero. Many fans still consider the original 1954 Godzilla the best in the series, and some even believe it’s better than the more recent American MonsterVerse films in terms of character development.

Back To The Future (1985)

Released in 1985, Back to the Future perfectly captures the spirit of the 1980s, fitting right in with other popular films from director Steven Spielberg. The movie, directed by Robert Zemeckis, launched his career and led to him creating some of the most beloved science fiction and fantasy films of the following twenty years.

The movie not only established Michael J. Fox as a star and Christopher Lloyd as a beloved actor, but it also cleverly used time travel for pure entertainment. This opened the door for sequels, which followed, though not in the way everyone expected.

Unlike some franchises, Back to the Future knew when to stop, ending with a strong trilogy instead of overdoing it with endless sequels. Each of the three films was good, and all delivered on the promise of the original. Robert Zemeckis directed all three, and the first film is widely considered the best.

Terminator (1984)

James Cameron has consistently delivered blockbuster hits, as proven by both his Avatar films and his earlier work. While his Terminator movies weren’t instant successes, the sequel really took off. Cameron ultimately moved on from the Terminator series before its quality declined.

The first and second movies in this series were drastically different from each other, and all subsequent films took a different direction. While the second film, Terminator 2: Judgment Day, was a groundbreaking visual effects showcase for its time, it wouldn’t have been possible without the original, which started as a horror movie.

What sets the first Terminator movie apart from all the others is that it felt like a horror film – specifically, a scary chase movie about an relentless killer targeting the ‘final girl’. Think of the Terminator as a robotic version of Jason Voorhees. This simple, terrifying concept is a big reason why the series became so popular.

Jurassic Park (1993)

Steven Spielberg revolutionized filmmaking with the original Jurassic Park. He wasn’t just imagining computer-generated imagery – he brought it to life on a massive scale, creating the first truly big-budget CGI movie. Remarkably, the dinosaurs in the film still look incredibly realistic, even compared to CGI in many movies made since then.

Jurassic Park sparked a renewed fascination with dinosaurs. Although the sequels weren’t as good as the original, the series found huge success again over a decade later with the Jurassic World reboot. Still, the first Jurassic Park remains the best film in the franchise.

What’s truly remarkable is that Spielberg also received Oscar recognition that same year for Schindler’s List. Achieving both a critically acclaimed war drama and a massive blockbuster in a single year cemented Spielberg’s position as Hollywood’s top director.

The Matrix (1999)

Released in 1999, The Matrix completely redefined science fiction cinema, and for years afterward, filmmakers attempted to replicate its style. Despite two sequels, nothing ever quite captured the original’s innovative and impressive quality. The first Matrix film was truly revolutionary.

This movie featured incredibly detailed world-building, ranging from a realistic depiction of a post-apocalyptic Earth to a fully realized virtual reality. Combined with its innovative use of “bullet time” slow-motion action, it was a truly groundbreaking film that strived to deliver a unique cinematic experience.

The first Matrix movie got it exactly right. Later sequels attempted ambitious and clever ideas, but they ended up losing what made the original so special. A third sequel came out twenty years later and had some interesting moments, but it couldn’t recapture the magic of the first film.

Alien (1979)

The original Alien film, much like the first Terminator, stands out from the rest of the series. It was primarily a horror movie, best described as a terrifying haunted house story set in space. When Ripley’s crew discovered a ship with an alien creature, there was nowhere to hide and no way to escape.

Similar to Terminator 2: Judgment Day, Aliens shifted the focus from pure horror to a blend of science fiction, action, and excitement. It did this by introducing the Colonial Marines and featuring numerous gun battles and explosions. Like the original Terminator and its sequel, both films were excellent, but in different ways.

Similar to the Terminator series, the Alien films weren’t as strong after the first installment. However, the original Alien movie was a truly terrifying and excellent film, and its success led the studio to create a series of sequels featuring the aliens and Ripley’s ongoing fight against them.

Star Wars (1977)

Before George Lucas created Star Wars, large science fiction franchises weren’t common, except for classics like Godzilla. Lucas, however, had a grand vision for his film and ambitious plans for its future. He demonstrated this foresight by negotiating to retain the rights to Star Wars merchandise, ultimately building a lasting legacy.

The second film in the series, The Empire Strikes Back, arrived just three years after the first, and Return of the Jedi completed the original trilogy three years after that. Similar to Back to the Future later on, this trilogy was a huge hit with audiences, making all three films blockbusters.

Today, the Star Wars universe includes eleven films, with a twelfth planned for 2026, plus numerous live-action and animated TV series. But it all started with George Lucas captivating a generation with his story set in a distant galaxy, launching what would become a beloved science fiction franchise.

2026-04-08 19:52