My Top 3 Film Franchises

Whether it’s for the nostalgia they bring me, or simply because these series are just that damn good, I knew I had to make a top 3 list of my ultimate favourite film franchises. There’s a lot that goes into making a great franchise, from the cast to the director to the soundtrack, it all has to be amazing. Plus, with multiple movies under their belt, every single one has to meet a certain standard. The franchises I’ve chosen below are what I consider movies that I can watch repeatedly at any time and still enjoy no matter what. I’ve seen all of the movies below a countless number of times and have deemed them all worthy of this list. You can expect individual reviews for each of the films below in the near future too! Keep reading to find out my top 3 film franchises of all time:

1. The Lord of the Rings

There is no doubt in my mind that the number one spot on this list belongs to The Lord of the Rings. This trilogy has solidified itself as three of my most favourite movies ever made. When it comes to defining a brilliant cinematic experience, The Lord of the Rings trilogy is kind of my benchmark for excellence. Each of the three parts are so incredibly well done and when added together, they create a perfectly crafted story filled with fantasy and adventure. It never ceases to amaze me how J.R.R. Tolkien was able to imagine and build such an amazing world with its own set of languages, races, and landmarks. Major props to Peter Jackson for being able to bring this written world to life and doing the movies justice.

From acting to directing to cinematography to music, everything about the Lord of the Rings to me has been masterfully executed. It’s the classic good vs. evil story, but it’s done right. Each character is well developed and has their own unique struggles which makes it easy to root for them. If you’re interested in hearing who my favourite characters are, you can check out this post here 🙂 I just love how iconic these characters all are now and I always get excited when I hear them being referenced (I remember one time in Biology 11, my teacher referenced the Ents and I was the only one who got the reference. Disappointing 😦 ).

There’s something so beautiful about these movies and the message of hope that they bring. When rewatching these movies, I still cry, laugh, tense up, and relax every time. The story is timeless and its fight for good will always remain relevant.

I don’t want to say too too much since a whole lot of Lord of the Rings reviews are about to come your way (so excited to share them!), so all I really want to say is these movies are absolutely fantastic and if you’ve never seen them, you are seriously missing out on solid pieces of cinema.

2. Harry Potter

While the Harry Potter universe didn’t take my top spot on this list, I will say, this franchise holds a very special place in my heart and brings me the most nostalgia. I grew up when Harry Potter was in its prime and I still remember the day when the final book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (2007) was released. I owe this series a lot of thanks to be honest, it’s one of the reasons I fell in love with reading, writing, and movies in the first place. Harry Potter really opened my eyes to the world of fantasy, and I remember seeing the movies as a child and wanting nothing more than to be a wizard myself. Yes, I waited for my acceptance to Hogwarts when I turned 11 (nerdy but 100% true).

I genuinely think the Harry Potter movies did a great job at adapting the novels and capturing the magic they hold. They really brought the wizarding world to life beautifully on screen and completely nailed the look and feel of Hogwarts. I love rewatching these movies every year (oftentimes in the winter for some reason) and I never get tired of them despite knowing the plot by heart.

A big reason as to why I adore these films so much is because of the cast – it is insane that they managed to maintain the same cast for 10 or so years. It was so fun seeing myself growing up alongside them, and it really added to my experience of the films. I also really enjoyed seeing how the movies matured more and more as the actors got older too – they definitely became darker and more serious which felt necessary and certainly appropriate. I think each actor is brilliantly casted and they were able to embody these beloved characters so well.

3. Marvel Cinematic Universe

In today’s time, there’s nothing more popular and prominent than the Marvel Cinematic Universe. I know I’ve recently shared some of my doubts and criticisms towards the direction the MCU is currently taking, but as a whole, it still remains one of my favourite franchises. I just love the action, the characters, and all the stories. Big fan of Captain America if you’re wondering 🙂 I remember it wasn’t until I was halfway through high school before I became a Marvel fan, and since then, I’ve remained an avid watcher.

Phases 1-3 were such incredible movie experiences and I’m so happy to have been a part of the jaw-dropping conclusion that was Avengers: Infinity War (2018) and Avengers: Endgame (2019). It was so so amazing, but it’s really a testament to the universe that Kevin Feige and the creators were able to build. None of this would have been possible without the 10 year build up of solo movies and developing the heroes. I think that’s what I love so much about the MCU – the evident care and planning they had in making this franchise. Because of their efforts, we’re now able to get really cool superhero team-ups and fun cameos in different solo films.

I think Marvel movies may be my favourite to watch in theatres too because the audience reactions are always great. The theatre is always filled with so many laughs, “oooohs”, and “ahhhhhs”. It’s also pretty funny that it’s just a given to stay after the credits for the famous Marvel post credit scenes (it’s interesting seeing how many people leave right away). I’ve always really appreciated what Marvel has done for the comic book community and how they’ve transformed what once was considered nerdy and geeky, to be mainstream and “cool”.

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There are so many film franchises out there but I chose these ones because they’re all very dear and meaningful to me. I’d love to hear what your favourites are! Do you love them just because they’re good movies or do they hold something special for you too? 😀 Feel free to share in the comments below!