- Two of the longest-running franchises in movie history have recently released films.
- In theaters right now, you can catch the 10th "Superman" film or the seventh "Jurassic" installment.
- Those franchises are 84 and 32 years old, respectively.
It's a bird, it's a plane, it's … another sequel dominating the box office.
Movie franchises have been the backbone of the movie industry for over 100 years. Some of our favorite, most enduring characters have been gracing the silver screen since the silent movie era.
There are two long-running franchises with movies in theaters right now, with more on the way later this year.
"Jurassic World Rebirth" is the seventh movie in 32 years that takes place in a universe where dinosaurs have been brought back from extinction. On the other hand, James Gunn's "Superman" is the first in a new universe, but it's far from the first film to feature the Man of Steel. He's been flying across movie screens since 1941.
In honor of these films, we've compiled a list of the longest-running active movie franchises. We've limited this list to live-action films (sorry, "Shrek" and "Toy Story), and implemented a few other ground rules.
To be considered "active," a film franchise needed to have released a film in the last 10 years and shown signs that the story will continue, which eliminates things like "The Terminator," which seems to be definitively over.
A franchise also needs to have at least three films to make this list. Otherwise, a "series" like "Top Gun" would be on here, even though "Maverick," for now, is just a legacy sequel.
We also aren't counting TV series, which is why things like "Star Trek" and "Mission: Impossible" aren't as high up.
So without further ado, here are some of the longest-running movie franchises in Hollywood right now.
The Universal Monsters — 117 years
"The Mummy."
Universal Pictures
First film: "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" in 1908
Most recent film: "Wolf Man" in 2025
"King Kong" — 92 years
Jessica Lange in "King Kong."
Paramount Pictures
First film: "King Kong" in 1933
Most recent film: "Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire" in 2024 — though "Godzilla x Kong: Supernova" is coming in 2027
"Superman" — 84 years
David Corenswet in "Superman."
Warner Bros.
First film: "Superman" in 1941
Most recent film: "Superman" in 2025
"Batman" — 82 years
Robert Pattinson in "The Batman."
Warner Bros. Pictures
First film: "Batman" in 1943
Most recent film: "The Batman" in 2022 — though "The Batman: Part II" is set for a 2027 release
"Godzilla" — 71 years
Godzilla in "Godzilla Minus One."
Toho Co. Ltd
First film: "Godzilla" in 1954
Most recent films: "Godzilla Minus One" in 2023 and "Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire" — though "Godzilla x Kong: Supernova" is coming in 2027
"James Bond" — 63 years
Daniel Craig in "Spectre."
Sony
First film: "Dr. No" in 1962
Most recent film: "No Time to Die" in 2021
"Planet of the Apes" — 57 years
Proximus in "Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes."
20th Century Studios
First film: "Planet of the Apes" in 1968
Most recent film: "Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes" in 2024
"The Exorcist" — 52 years
Linda Blair in "The Exorcist II: Heretic."
Warner Bros. Pictures
First film: "The Exorcist" in 1973
Most recent film: "The Exorcist: Believer" in 2023
"Texas Chainsaw Massacre" — 51 years
The cast of "Texas Chainsaw Massacre."
Netflix.
First film: "The Texas Chain Saw Massacre" in 1974
Most recent film: "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" in 2022
"Rocky" — 49 years
Sylvester Stallone in "Rocky."
MGM
First film: "Rocky" in 1976
Most recent film: "Creed III" in 2023
"Star Wars" — 48 years
Yoda (voiced by Frank Oz) and Mark Hamill in "The Empire Strikes Back."
Lucasfilm
First film: "Star Wars" in 1977
Most recent film: "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker" in 2019 — though "Star Wars: Starfighter" is expected in 2027
"Halloween" — 47 years
Michael Myers in "Halloween Ends."
Ryan Green/Universal Pictures
First film: "Halloween" in 1978
Most recent film: "Halloween Ends" in 2022
"Star Trek" — 46 years
Chris Pine in "Star Trek."
Paramount Pictures
First film: "Star Trek: The Motion Picture" in 1979
Most recent film: "Star Trek Into Darkness" in 2016
"Alien" — 46 years
A xenomorph in "Alien."
20th Century Fox
First film: "Alien" in 1979
Most recent film: "Alien: Romulus" in 2024
"Tron" — 43 years
"Tron: Legacy."
Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
First film: "Tron" in 1982
Most recent film: "Tron: Ares" in 2025
"Beverly Hills Cop" — 41 years
Eddie Murphy in "Beverly Hills Cop."
Getty Images
First film: "Beverly Hills Cop" in 1984
Most recent film: "Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F" in 2024
"Predator" — 38 years
The Predator in "Prey."
David Bukach / 20th Century Studios
First film: "Predator" in 1987
Most recent film: "Predator: Badlands" in 2025
"Child's Play" — 37 years
Chucky in "Child's Play."
MGM/UA Communications Co.
First film: "Child's Play" in 1988
Most recent film: "Child's Play" in 2019
"The Naked Gun"— 37 years
Leslie Nielsen in "The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!"
Paramount Pictures
First film: "The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!" in 1988
Most recent film: "The Naked Gun" in 2025
"Home Alone" — 35 years
Macauley Culkin in "Home Alone."
20th Century Fox
First film: "Home Alone" in 1990
Most recent film: "Home Sweet Home Alone" in 2021
"Jurassic World" — 32 years
Jonathan Bailey and Scarlett Johansson in "Jurassic World Rebirth."
Jasin Boland / Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment
First film: "Jurassic Park" in 1993
Most recent film: "Jurassic World Rebirth" in 2025
"Bad Boys" — 30 years
Will Smith in "Bad Boys."
Columbia Pictures
First film: "Bad Boys" in 1995
Most recent film: "Bad Boys: Ride or Die" in 2024
"Jumanji" — 30 years
Kevin Hart and Dwayne Johnson in "Jumanji: The Next Level."
Sony Pictures Releasing
First film: "Jumanji" in 1995
Most recent film: "Jumanji: The Next Level" in 2019, though an unnamed sequel is set for a 2026 release
"Mission: Impossible" — 29 years
Tom Cruise in "Mission: Impossible — Ghost Protocol."
Paramount Pictures
First film: "Mission: Impossible" in 1996
Most recent film: "Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning" in 2025
"Scream" — 29 years
Neve Campbell in "Scream."
Paramount Pictures
First film: "Scream" in 1996
Most recent film: "Scream VI" in 2023 — though "Scream 7" is coming in 2026
The post 25 of the longest-running movie franchises that are still active today appeared first on Business Insider