The concept of the “blockbuster” was born in the United States, transforming movies from simple entertainment into colossal cultural events. In the highly competitive arena of Hollywood, success isn’t just measured by applause—it’s measured in billions. As of late 2025, the landscape of cinema is dominated by expansive universes and enduring sagas that have captivated audiences for decades. These franchises don’t just release films; they create global moments, driving fans to theaters from New York City to Los Angeles.
At Top 10 America, we believe that box office numbers tell a deeper story about what resonates with the American spirit. Whether it’s the hope of a galaxy far, far away or the adrenaline of street racing in Los Angeles, these franchises represent the pinnacle of commercial art. We have analyzed the most current box office data, factoring in the massive receipts of recent 2025 hits like Jurassic World: Rebirth and Superman, to bring you a definitive ranking of the financial titans of cinema.
Our list ranks these giants by their total worldwide box office gross, while paying special attention to their roots in American studios and their impact on the domestic market. From the superhero sprawls of Burbank to the sci-fi legacies of San Francisco, here are the 10 movie franchises that have earned billions, defining the modern era of filmmaking.
Overview: Top 10 Best Movie Franchises in the USA
| Rank | Franchise | Est. Total Gross | Origin / Primary US Studio |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) | $32.5 Billion+ | Burbank, CA (Marvel Studios/Disney) |
| 2 | Star Wars | $10.4 Billion+ | San Francisco, CA (Lucasfilm) |
| 3 | Wizarding World | $9.6 Billion+ | Burbank, CA (Warner Bros.) |
| 4 | Spider-Man | $8.9 – $11.1 Billion* | Culver City, CA (Sony) / Burbank (Marvel) |
| 5 | Batman | $7.9 Billion+ | Burbank, CA (Warner Bros./DC) |
| 6 | James Bond | $7.8 Billion+ | Beverly Hills, CA (MGM) / UK (Eon) |
| 7 | X-Men | $7.4 Billion+ | Los Angeles, CA (Fox/Disney) |
| 8 | Fast & Furious | $7.3 Billion+ | Universal City, CA (Universal) |
| 9 | Jurassic Park | $6.9 Billion+ | Universal City, CA (Universal) |
| 10 | Middle Earth (LOTR) | $5.9 Billion+ | Burbank, CA (New Line/Warner Bros.) |
Top 10. Middle Earth (Lord of the Rings)
Located conceptually in the mind of J.R.R. Tolkien but brought to life by New Line Cinema in Burbank, California, the Middle Earth franchise remains a masterclass in fantasy filmmaking. This saga, comprising The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies, set a new standard for epic storytelling. While the production famously utilized the landscapes of New Zealand, the financial and creative engine was distinctly American, driven by the risk-taking executives at New Line who greenlit the ambitious project.
Historical records show that this franchise redefined the “trilogy” format for the modern box office. The Return of the King was one of the first films to breach the billion-dollar mark, a feat that was rare in the early 2000s. We admire this franchise not just for its gross revenue, but for its critical prestige; it stands as one of the few blockbusters to sweep the Academy Awards, proving that big-budget spectacles could also be high art.
A fascinating insider detail is that despite the massive scale of the battles, the franchise’s success is rooted in its emotional intimacy. The “extended editions” of these films became a secondary revenue stream that kept the fandom alive for decades, a strategy now copied by many other studios.
Key Highlights
- Total Films: 6 (excluding animated spinoffs).
- Top Earner: The Return of the King ($1.1 Billion).
- Academy Awards: 17 Oscars won by the original trilogy alone.
Top 9. Jurassic Park
Hatched in the laboratories of Universal Studios in Universal City, California, the Jurassic franchise is the ultimate example of the “creature feature” evolved. Since Steven Spielberg first awed audiences in 1993, this series has consistently dominated the summer box office. The release of Jurassic World: Rebirth in 2025 added nearly $870 million to the tally, proving that the public’s appetite for dinosaurs remains voracious even three decades later.
Data indicates that the Jurassic films are unique because they rely less on complex interconnected universes and more on pure, visceral spectacle. Every time a new park opens (and inevitably fails), audiences flock to see the carnage. We see this franchise as a testament to the power of visual effects; Industrial Light & Magic (based in San Francisco) revolutionized CGI with the first film, setting the technological foundation for almost every other entry on this list.
Did you know that the original Jurassic Park was the highest-grossing film of all time until Titanic released? Its legacy is so strong that the “Jurassic World” ride at Universal Studios Hollywood remains one of the park’s most popular attractions, seamlessly blending the movie magic with real-world tourism.
Key Highlights
- Debut: 1993 (Directed by Steven Spielberg).
- 2025 Update: Jurassic World: Rebirth grossed approx. $868M.
- Top Earner: Jurassic World ($1.67 Billion).
Top 8. Fast & Furious
Roaring out of the street racing culture of Los Angeles, California, the Fast & Furious saga has evolved from a mid-budget crime thriller into a gravity-defying global espionage franchise. Distributed by Universal Pictures, this series is arguably the most diverse blockbuster franchise in history, appealing to a massive international audience while keeping its “family” roots planted in American muscle car culture.
In Top 10 America’s view, the durability of this franchise is nothing short of miraculous. While critics often point to the absurdity of the stunts, the box office receipts are undeniable. The franchise found a “second gear” with Fast Five, transforming into a heist series that regularly grosses over $700 million per entry. It is a rare example of a series that became more popular the longer it went on, defying the typical law of diminishing returns.
A unique feature of this series is its emphasis on “practical” destruction. While CGI is used, the team famously drops real cars from planes and destroys actual vehicles by the hundreds, giving the action a tactile weight that fans appreciate. The “Toretto House” in Los Angeles remains a pilgrimage site for fans of the series.
Key Highlights
- Signature Star: Vin Diesel (Dominic Toretto).
- Highest Grossing Entry: Furious 7 ($1.5 Billion).
- Key Theme: “Family” (mentioned over 50 times across the saga).
Top 7. X-Men
Originally produced by 20th Century Fox in Century City, California, the X-Men franchise laid the groundwork for the modern superhero boom long before the MCU took flight. Spanning over two decades, this series introduced audiences to a more mature, socially conscious style of comic book movie. With the massive success of Deadpool & Wolverine in 2024, which united the Fox-era characters with the Disney machine, the franchise’s total gross surged past the $7 billion mark.
We recognize the X-Men series for its incredible resilience and ability to reinvent itself, from the original trilogy to the First Class prequels and the R-rated Deadpool spinoffs. It proved that audiences were willing to embrace complex ensembles and darker themes. The franchise’s recent integration into the MCU has only solidified its financial standing, making it a unique hybrid of two major Hollywood eras.
An insider note: The 2017 film Logan is widely considered one of the greatest superhero films ever made, becoming the first live-action superhero movie to be nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay at the Oscars, elevating the genre’s prestige significantly.
Key Highlights
- Years Active: 2000 – Present.
- Recent Hit: Deadpool & Wolverine ($1.33 Billion).
- Distributor: Originally 20th Century Fox, now Disney.
Top 6. James Bond
While the character is distinctly British, the James Bond franchise is a transatlantic powerhouse, with its cinematic home deeply tied to MGM in Beverly Hills, California. As one of the longest-running franchises in history, 007 has survived the Cold War, the digital age, and countless changes in lead actors to remain a box office titan. The franchise’s ability to modernize—shifting from campy spy thrillers to gritty action dramas—has kept it relevant for over 60 years.
Financial records show that the Daniel Craig era pushed the franchise to new heights, with Skyfall becoming the first Bond film to earn over $1 billion. Top 10 America views Bond not just as a movie series, but as a luxury brand. The cars, the suits, and the locations are as essential to the appeal as the plot. It is the gold standard for the spy genre, influencing every American action film from Mission: Impossible to Bourne.
A fun fact for travelers: While Bond travels the globe, many of his most iconic vehicle stunts and soundstage work were orchestrated by American stunt teams and financiers who understood that to sell Bond to the USA, the action had to be bigger and louder than anything else on screen.
Key Highlights
- Total Films: 27 (Eon Productions).
- Top Earner: Skyfall ($1.1 Billion).
- Legacy: The longest continually running film franchise in history.
Top 5. Batman
brooding in the shadows of Gotham—a fictionalized version of New York City and Chicago—Batman is the crown jewel of Warner Bros. in Burbank, California. Unlike other franchises that rely on a single continuity, the Batman brand thrives on reinvention. From Tim Burton’s gothic vision to Christopher Nolan’s grounded realism and the recent The Batman saga, the Caped Crusader consistently pulls in billions regardless of who wears the cowl.
We analyze this franchise’s success as a triumph of character over plot. Audiences flock to see how Batman will be interpreted next. The Dark Knight trilogy alone contributed nearly $2.5 billion to this total, setting the template for the modern “prestige” blockbuster. Even when part of the wider DC Universe, Batman remains the primary financial draw, consistently outperforming his super-powered peers.
Insider detail: The Dark Knight (2008) was the film that arguably forced the Academy Awards to expand the Best Picture category from five to ten nominees, after the outcry when it was snubbed. This changed the way Hollywood awards blockbusters forever.
Key Highlights
- Key Directors: Tim Burton, Christopher Nolan, Matt Reeves.
- Top Earner: The Dark Knight Rises ($1.08 Billion).
- Awards: Heath Ledger won a posthumous Oscar for his role as the Joker.
Top 4. Spider-Man
Swinging through the canyons of New York City, Spider-Man is arguably the single most profitable character in Hollywood history. While his film rights are held by Sony Pictures in Culver City, California, his integration into the MCU created a box office perfect storm. If one were to aggregate every film featuring Spider-Man (including the Spider-Verse and spinoffs), the total would challenge the top spots on this list, with some data placing the wider “Spider-Man economy” at over $11 billion.
However, looking strictly at the core franchise, Peter Parker is a phenomenon. Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021) proved the character’s multi-generational appeal by uniting three decades of cinema into one $1.9 billion hit. Top 10 America suggests that Spider-Man resonates so deeply because he is the “everyman” hero—a kid from Queens with money problems, making him relatable to American audiences in a way billionaire heroes are not.
The “Sony vs. Disney” negotiation that allowed Spider-Man to appear in the Avengers movies is famous in Hollywood circles; it was a rare instance where two rival studios agreed to share a character, resulting in billions of dollars of mutual profit.
Key Highlights
- Studios: Sony Pictures (Columbia) & Marvel Studios.
- Top Earner: Spider-Man: No Way Home ($1.92 Billion).
- Innovation: Into the Spider-Verse revolutionized mainstream animation styles.
Top 3. Wizarding World (Harry Potter)
Managed by Warner Bros. in Burbank, California, the Wizarding World is a transatlantic phenomenon that turned a British book series into a Hollywood empire. Comprising eight Harry Potter films and the Fantastic Beasts prequels, this franchise defined the 2000s. It was the first franchise to successfully split a final book into two movies—a financial strategy that Twilight and The Hunger Games immediately copied.
Historical data shows that this franchise was incredibly consistent; almost every Harry Potter film hovered near or above the nearly $1 billion mark (adjusted for inflation). We believe the secret to its longevity was its ability to mature alongside its audience. As the fans grew up, the films became darker and more complex. Even in 2025, merchandise sales and theme park revenue at Universal Studios Orlando continue to rival the box office numbers.
A magical detail: The “Wizarding World of Harry Potter” at Universal Studios is credited with saving the theme park industry in Florida during a recession, proving that a strong movie franchise can physically reshape American tourism geography.
Key Highlights
- Total Global Gross: Over $9.6 Billion.
- Top Earner: Deathly Hallows: Part 2 ($1.34 Billion).
- Source Material: Based on the best-selling book series in history.
Top 2. Star Wars
Born in San Francisco, California under the visionary George Lucas and later acquired by Disney, Star Wars is more than a franchise; it is the foundational myth of modern American pop culture. With a total box office gross exceeding $10 billion, it holds a special place in the domestic market, where its “Episodes” are treated as national holidays. The franchise dominates the all-time domestic box office charts, with The Force Awakens still holding records a decade after its release.
Top 10 America ranks Star Wars at #2 because of its unparalleled “gross per film” average and its cultural density. While other franchises may release three films a year, a Star Wars movie is an event. The “Skywalker Saga” concludes the most profitable nine-film narrative in history. Despite a pause in theatrical releases in the early 2020s to focus on streaming, the theatrical re-releases and the 2026 slate ensure the Force remains strong.
Reflection: Star Wars (1977) invented the modern merchandising industry. Before this film, toys and tie-ins were an afterthought. George Lucas’s decision to keep the merchandising rights instead of a higher salary is cited as the smartest business move in Hollywood history.
Key Highlights
- Owner: Lucasfilm (Disney).
- Domestic King: The Force Awakens is the #1 film in US history (unadjusted).
- Total Gross: ~$10.4 Billion.
Top 1. Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU)
Headquartered at the Disney lot in Burbank, California, the Marvel Cinematic Universe is the undisputed king of the box office. With a staggering total gross of over $32 billion, it has not just beaten the competition; it has lapped them twice. Since Iron Man launched the universe in 2008, Marvel Studios, led by Kevin Feige, has released over 35 films, creating an interconnected serialized narrative that changed how movies are consumed globally.
Facts show that the MCU’s success lies in its “Phase” structure, which builds anticipation over years, culminating in massive crossover events like Avengers: Endgame (the second highest-grossing film of all time). Even recent entries in 2025 like Captain America: Brave New World and Thunderbolts continue to add hundreds of millions to the war chest. No other franchise has ever sustained this level of output and financial return for this long.
We view the MCU as the modern American equivalent of Greek mythology—a vast, shared pantheon of heroes that reflects the anxieties and hopes of the era. It is the single most successful entertainment product ever created by human beings.
Key Highlights
- Total Gross: $32.5 Billion+ (More than the next three combined).
- Highest Earner: Avengers: Endgame ($2.8 Billion).
- Achievement: Four separate MCU films have grossed over $2 billion each.
Conclusion
The numbers speak for themselves: the American movie industry is a global juggernaut. From the spellbinding corridors of Hogwarts to the cosmic battlefields of the MCU, these top 10 franchises have generated wealth comparable to the GDP of small nations. They are produced in California, but they belong to the world.
As we look toward 2026, the battle for the box office continues. Will Avatar eventually climb higher with its upcoming sequels? Will a new challenger arise? One thing is certain: Top 10 America will be here to track the winners.
Which of these billion-dollar franchises has earned the most from your wallet over the years?
