Films That Have the Most Sequels
It’s always exciting when a new sequel is released. You get to see your favorite characters once again in a new — or not so new — storyline. Sometimes, however, the sequels seem to go on forever. After a while, you’re not sure where it all began anymore!
Read on for the movies with the most sequels ever. Some have five, some fifteen, and some more than twenty. Can you guess which movies they’ll be?
Halloween
One of the most successful movie series in the horror genre is Halloween, currently at 11 total films. When it was first released in 1978, viewers were appalled and intrigued by the suspenseful story of serial killer Michael Myers, one that seemingly never ends.
The first movie influenced many slasher films to come and continues to be a fan favorite. Two more films are set to release in the coming years: Halloween Kills and Halloween Ends. But will it really be the end of the Halloween sequels? Only time will tell.
Batman
Every movie in the Batman series may not technically qualify as a sequel, but the sheer number of them is impressive in itself; there are 14 Batman films dating as far back as 1943. In fact, the first Batman movies were a form of World War II propaganda.
Some big names in Hollywood have played this stoic hero over the years, including Christian Bale, George Clooney and Ben Affleck. They’ve also inspired films centered on Batman’s nemesis, the Joker, most recently played by the talented Joaquin Phoenix.
Star Trek
While Star Trek was a series first, it was also made into multiple feature-length films. 13 of them, to be exact. The movies have certainly been successful, but they’re not as well-known as the classic series starring William Shatner as Captain Kirk.
It seems no matter how advanced costumes and special effects are, audiences still get attached to the actors behind the characters. Even so, Star Trek has won a name for itself as a series (and movies) with some of the most sequels of all time.
A Nightmare on Elm Street
Halloween isn’t the only horror flick with a daunting number of sequels — A Nightmare on Elm Street boasts nine terrifying installments that are worth a scary movie marathon. The plot has some similarities with the former, as well: a serial killer hunts down kids, only he’s dead.
Despite having been burned at the stake, Freddy Krueger isn’t finished wreaking havoc on sleeping children. The latest movie was in 2018, but who knows? We could have any number of sequels cropping up in the future. If it’s anything like Halloween, it’ll last for many more years.
El Hombre Lobo / Wolf Man
The Hombre Lobo series follows Count Waldemar Daninsky, a werewolf, who oftentimes gets into trouble with other scary monsters like vampires and even Frankenstein. These movies were released under different names all throughout Europe and made fair profits.
The interesting thing about the Hombre Lobo sequels is that they’re not sequels in the purest sense — each movie, despite starring the same character, has a different storyline and background. This was initially confusing for many fans but allowed for more creative freedom during the writing process. A total of 11 films were released.
The Land Before Time
The Land Before Time inspires childhood memories for many Gen Xers and Millennials, but it’s likely familiar to even younger generations childhood as well. The most recent sequel was released in 2016, number 14 in the series.
The original movie came out in 1988 and followed a group of young dinosaurs on a heartfelt adventure. It taught important lessons about prejudice, friendship and loss while also imagining life for prehistoric creatures. With such a unique plotline, it’s no wonder it’s lasted so long.
Planet of the Apes
Like many successful movie series, Planet of the Apes inspired a loyal cult following in its heyday. The original series was made up of five films released between 1968 and 1973. It starred Charlton Heston in his discovery of a strange future where apes run the world instead of humans.
Recently, the series saw a reboot of three new films complete with advanced CGI and ties to the original series that die-hards surely wouldn’t miss. There have also been books, comics, video games and a TV series inspired by the movies.
The Fast and the Furious
Sometimes, you just want to see cool cars and intense action scenes — and that’s precisely what you’ll get if you buy a ticket to movie in The Fast Saga. A grand total of nine films have been made in this series since 2001’s The Fast and the Furious, and they’re not even close to being done.
There are at least three more movies in the works, including one that is set to be totally female-centered. That might be a welcome change to the male-dominated films, paving the way for more inclusive movies in the future.
Star Wars
If you’re not on the Star Wars bandwagon by now, then you’re in the minority. Ever since the first movie was released in 1977, fans have gone positively crazy for the space fantasy saga. Since then, it’s amassed ten more films, never failing to make big bucks at the cinemas.
Ask any Star Wars fan, and they’ll have a favorite character: cunning Princess Leia, good-hearted Luke Skywalker, the wise Yoda or one of the many other central characters! Fans have proven that they’ll never get enough of the Force.
Friday the 13th
Any time October 31st rolls around, you’ll likely see people impersonating the villain of these popular horror films. They’re often released exactly on Friday the 13th, which makes seeing them in theaters even more exciting. There have been no less than 12 Friday the 13th movies.
The story isn’t a pleasant one, as you can probably guess. It all starts with the supposed drowning of a child at camp, who comes back with a vengeful spirit. It’s the perfect movie for a scare with friends, and it never gets old!
Harry Potter
The Harry Potter series didn’t just rock the literary world; it also made a splash in the cinematic one. Given the fierce following that already existed for Harry Potter at the release of the first movie, no one was surprised by its immediate success.
Fans saw the films’ three protagonists grow up before their eyes — and fans grew up alongside them, in many cases. The final book was made into two movies, ending with eight total films for viewers to enjoy. That’s not counting the prequels, either.
Rocky
The Rocky series was a staple for older generations, with many films released during the 70’s and 80’s, but the films managed to make their way into the 21st century as well. They’ve been so popular that even the youngest viewers are likely to know the iconic Rocky theme song.
There’s a total of eight films in the series, chock-full of inspiring training montages and gut-wrenching fight scenes. If you’re trying to pump yourself up or start a new gym routine, you can’t go wrong with these movies.
X-Men
What kid doesn’t like to think there’s something special about them, something that makes them different from everyone else? This is essentially the premise of X-Men: certain people have powers, and they’re swept into a world of heroism and crime-fighting.
This idea resonated so much with fans that it’s lasted for 12 installments since 2000. The best part is that the X-Men crew is made up of many different characters, which means some movies focus on different heroes. There’s variety, suspense and intrigue, so prepare yourself — this series could go on for decades.
Superman
Superman is one of those series that’s defined American society. After all, it’s been a radio show, television show, comic book and pretty much everything else you can imagine. The man himself is one of those timeless characters in popular culture that just keeps coming back for more.
So what is the official number of Superman movies? Seven in total. It may seem like a small number, but don’t worry, there will be more. No one is ready to let go of that blue leotard and red cape just yet.
American Pie
American Pie wasn’t supposed to spawn many sequels, but it was such a hit in theaters that they created three more, along with another three spin-offs. It’s not exactly a family-friendly film — the plot centers on a group of friends trying to lose their virginities — but its raw comedy hit home with audiences nationwide.
If the title sounds familiar to you, that’s probably because they took it from a popular song by Don McLean. It also references a specific scene in the movie, but you’ll have to watch it to find out which.
Saw
It’s a wonder they’ve managed to make so many sequels of a movie that is so hard to watch. If you’ve ever sat through a Saw film, you know that around every corner is a gruesome, traumatic scene waiting to happen. In fact, that’s exactly what viewers pay to see. Nails going through people’s fingers? Great — if that’s what you’re into.
This twisted horror franchise has produced nine films as of 2020’s The Organ Donor. Audiences can only imagine what terrible events will transpire in that one.
The Karate Kid
Now here’s a kid-friendly movie. It only has five films in the series, one of the smallest numbers on this list, but that doesn’t mean it can’t catch up to others in the years to come; the latest installment came in 2010, so a new Karate Kid film might just be due soon.
The original 1984 movie also inspired a TV show and launched Ralph Maccio’s acting career. It also had an important lesson to teach: that mastering the mind is more important than the body.
Tom and Jerry
Yes, Tom and Jerry started off as a television series, but it also inspired 12 films starting in 1993 and ending in 2015. At least, until they make a new one — there are rumors of a live-action version coming in the future. It looks like there’s no end to the hijinks this pair can get into!
These movies owe their success to the diverse audience they attract; adults and kids alike find themselves laughing at these characters. After all, what can be more entertaining than a game of cat and mouse?
Police Academy
The Police Academy movies are on the older end — they haven’t made any new sequels since 1994. In their time, however, they were a hit. These comedy films were about a group of wannabe cops trying to make it on the job. They got into all kinds of trouble, oftentimes getting knocked around in the process.
There are a total of seven Police Academy movies along with a couple attempts at a TV series. Unfortunately, this franchise hasn’t made a come-back yet, although movies like Super Troopers have many similarities.
Alien
A total of six movies complete the Alien series (excluding the Alien vs. Predator films), with Alien: Covenant released in 2017. Despite the multiple entries in the series, however, there’s one scene that’s arguably the most memorable: when an alien explodes from John Hurt’s chest. That moment was among the most iconic in cinema history.
Even though Sigourney Weaver is no longer the protagonist of these suspenseful films, who can refuse a good extraterrestrial plotline? The numbers show that this classic concept is still engaging to viewers, even if it has been forty years since the first — and it might last forty more.
King Kong
The King Kong movies are as imposing as the giant gorilla himself, with twelve hit films that haven’t ceased to entertain. It’s one of the longest-lasting storylines, as well, with the first-ever Kong movie debuting in 1933. The monster himself is a complicated one — sometimes he’s depicted as mindless and destructive, while other times he’s a misunderstood antihero.
King Kong goes head to head with another giant monster, Godzilla, in a new entry in 2020. They pitted these two against each other in 1962, and now they’re at it again.
Hellraiser
Like many great movies, Hellraiser is based on a book. The Hellbound Heart by Clive Baker was written in 1986 and laid the foundation for this popular horror film. The author gave up his rights after the first movie, not knowing they’d go on to make nine more with the same name.
The movies revolve around beings called Cenobites that seek out humans for torturous experiments. It’s a sadistic, terror-filled franchise appealing to the same people that love Saw, Halloween and Nightmare On Elm Street. For its cinematic influence alone, it’s worth a watch.
The Pink Panther
For those that like a more relaxing film experience, The Pink Panther won’t let you down. Whether you go for the older films from the 60s or the more recent reboot from the 2000s, you’ll find comedy and suspense rolled together into one delightful movie.
The great thing about these 12 movies is that they upend people’s expectations of a detective — instead of a cunning, quick-witted mastermind, we find a clumsy, accident-prone goofball. When they rebooted the series, Steve Martin’s hilarious performance made them instant hits.
Madea Simmons
It’s not the male-actor-dressed-as-female-character gag that makes Tyler Perry’s Madea films such a huge success as much as Madea herself. She’s an over-the-top, tough-love, back-talking grandma with an attitude, and she resonates with many viewers.
Her hilarious commentary and heartfelt lessons have made 11 successful films over the years. People love to hear Madea tell it like it is, even to the point where they’ll go see her in a play. That’s right, 11 Madea plays have been produced as well, many of them based on the films.
Yogi Bear
When you think about it, what could be better than a talking bear? Apparently, nothing. Yogi Bear was the first animated TV character to unexpectedly explode in popularity in the late 1950’s. In fact, Yogi was originally a supporting character to Huckleberry Hound.
Nowadays, however, Yogi has proven to be America’s favorite by a long shot. There are 11 Yogi Bear movies and counting, along with several TV shows, including 2020’s Yellowstone! His real-life cousins aren’t so inviting.
Spiderman
Another famous superhero, Spiderman, has eight films to his name. He was originally a comic-book character but made it onto the big screen to rave reviews. People of all ages love New York’s web-spinning guardian.
So why is he so popular? It might be because unlike other superheroes who wear the cape for vengeance or because they’re an all-powerful being, Spiderman’s just an ordinary kid trying to get by, and even after becoming a superhero, he still has everyday problems. No wonder the crowds keep coming back for more.
The Muppets
Not only can you find the Muppets in a total of eight films, but you can also see them in 27 television specials, too. That’s a lot of air time. But that’s not all! Check out their 11 TV shows, two TV films and three direct-to-video movies. With that amount of content, you could spend months watching only Muppets.
There’s something about these lively puppets and their silly comedy that people just love to watch. Kermit the Frog has even had appearances on The Tonight Show, Larry King Live and American Idol.
Sherlock Holmes
If there’s one movie series that might go on forever, it’s Sherlock Holmes. The original 1939 movies had no less than 14 installments, and that’s not including any movies made after 1946. The character of Sherlock himself dates back to the late 1800’s with Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s original novels, and the most recent Sherlock film was released in in 2018 (Holmes and Watson).
With a lifespan of over 100 years, the number of movies, TV shows and shorts modeled after this character are many, indeed. Will the public ever tire of this genius detective? Or will Sherlock live on forever?
James Bond
Bond. James, Bond. Who could forget him? Bond has become an iconic film character played by seven different actors in a 57-year lifespan. He was made famous by Sean Connery in the early 60’s and was most recently portrayed by Daniel Craig.
What some don’t realize, however, is that Bond was originally a literary figure created by Ian Fleming. Initially a dull man in his late 30’s, Bond’s character has developed into a tough, smooth-talking womanizer surviving through 26 films. Needless to say, these movies have made billions of dollars in profits.
Godzilla
The first Godzilla movie premiered in 1954. This prehistoric monster has now reigned over cinema for more than 50 years, with a total of 35 films produced, more than any other movie franchise by most counts. As technology improves, Godzilla only gets bigger, scarier and more realistic — and it seems that audiences can’t get enough.
Godzilla: King of the Monsters came out in May of 2019 with Godzilla vs. Kong coming out the next year in November. King of the monsters or king of the sequels — it’s hard to say which title Godzilla deserves more.
