10 Movie Franchises That Came Roaring Back After A Long Hiatus

May 22, 2024, 4:30 p.m.

Movies

10 Movie Franchises That Came Roaring Back After A Long Hiatus

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Summary Some long-running movie franchises, like Jurassic Park and Star Wars, successfully made a comeback after extended breaks with fresh new entries.

The success of these comebacks often relied on capturing the essence of what made the original films beloved while introducing new elements and characters.

The return of these franchises, such as Mad Max and Planet of the Apes, demonstrated the enduring popularity and cultural significance of well-executed sequels.

It’s not easy for a movie franchise to make a grand return after a long break, but there were a few instances where long-running series managed to recapture the magic after an extended hiatus. When there have been gaps of several years, or even decades, between new installments in a franchise, the actors have grown older, the original team has usually disbanded, and audience expectations were often unsurmountable. Luckily, now and again, filmmakers defy these odds, and the franchise comes roaring back to mainstream success.

This has happened across many different genres, such as comedy series, children’s entertainment, and beloved sci-fi franchises, all of which came back after extended breaks and succeeded. In some instances, long-running franchises released their very best entry after a extended hiatus and even found success at the box office, which went beyond any previous film in the series. In a movie landscape full of so many unnecessary sequels, it’s great when a movie franchise was able to capitalize on its name recognition with a worthy and long-awaited sequel.

10 Jurassic Park (1993 - Present)

Jurassic World (2015)

The first Jurassic Park movie was the most successful film of 1993 and still has the power to blow audiences away with its stunning visual effects and awe-inspiring representation of dinosaurs. Steven Spielberg followed up this success with the release of two sequels, and while they never reached the heights of the original, the Jurassic Park trilogy stood as one of the most enjoyable franchises of the late 1990s and early 2000s. This was the whole story until 2015, 14 years after the release of Jurassic Park III, when the franchise came roaring back.

Jurassic World was the fourth installment in the series but also began a new trilogy that focused on Chris Pratt as Owen Grady, a handler in the dinosaur-themed park Jurassic World. This series later featured the highly anticipated return of classic Jurassic Park characters like Dr. Alan Grant (Sam Neil), Dr. Ellie Sattler (Laura Dern), and Dr. Ian Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum.) The Jurassic World trilogy was a major success at the box office and led to plans for yet another film in the Jurassic Park franchise to be released in 2025.

9 Rocky (1976 - Present)

Creed (2015)

Much like Rocky Balboa himself, once viewers thought the Rocky franchise was down for the count, it always came back swinging. This first happened with the release of Rocky Balboa in 2006, a sequel that came 16 years after the release of Rocky V and focused on an older, retired Rocky who was compelled to come back into the ring for one more fight. However, even more shocking was the third life this franchise received with the release of Creed in 2015, which allowed the series to flourish beyond the realm of its title character.

Creed introduced the character of Adonis Creed, the son of Rocky’s old rival, Apollo Creed, who was later trained and mentored by Rocky Balboa. A success with audiences and critics, Creed reignited the long-dormant franchise and made it relevant for a modern audience. Michael B. Jordan has given a career-defining performance as Adonis Creed, and although Sylvester Stallone reprised his role of Rocky in the first two movies, the Creed series has since proved that it’s still a knockout even when Rocky’s out of the ring.

Creed Where to Watch *Availability in US stream

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buy Not available Not available Not available Creed is a spin-off/continuation of the boxing drama franchise Rocky. Set years after the original Rocky series, Creed follows Adonis Johnson, the estranged son of Apollo Creed, on a journey to Philadelphia to find his father's friend/rival, Rocky Balboa. Now training to follow in his father's footsteps, Creed fights to become the best boxer in the world. Director Ryan Coogler Release Date November 25, 2015 Studio(s) Warner Bros. Pictures Distributor(s) Warner Bros. Pictures Writers Aaron Covington , Ryan Coogler Cast Michael B. Jordan , Sylvester Stallone , Wood Harris , Graham McTavish , Tessa Thompson , Phylicia Rashad Runtime 2h 13m Sequel(s) Creed II , Creed III Budget 75 million Expand

8 Toy Story (1995 - Present)

Toy Story 3 (2010)

As Pixar’s first feature-length movie, Toy Story was a significant moment in the history of animation that helped spearhead the era of computer-animated children’s films. It’s no surprise that a sequel was quickly released, and Toy Story 2 came out just four years later, and the technical quality bump between the two movies showcased how rapidly the technology was evolving. Following the success of Toy Story 2, Pixar focused on creating new properties like Monsters Inc., Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, WALL-E, and many more.

However, interest in Toy Story never went away, and in 2010, 11 years after the release of the previous entry, Woody and Buzz Lightyear returned for a third installment. Toy Story 3 was an extraordinary success with audiences and critics, as it captured the franchise's spirit and added even more emotional depth to its characters. This franchise continued with Toy Story 4 in 2019, the spin-off Lightyear in 2022, and plans for Toy Story 5 in 2026.

Toy Story 3 Where to Watch *Availability in US stream

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buy Not available Not available Not available The third installment in the Toy Story franchise, Toy Story 3, continues the story of Woody and Buzz as they come to terms with the inevitable. With their owner, Andy, growing older and no longer playing with his toys, Woody, Buzz, and co. are given a new lease on life when they end up in a local daycare center. However, things there aren't as they seem, and the toys must work together to find their way home. Director Lee Unkrich Release Date June 18, 2010 Studio(s) Disney Distributor(s) Disney Writers Michael Arndt Cast Jodi Benson , Ned Beatty , Tim Allen , Tom Hanks , Joan Cusack Runtime 103 minutes Franchise(s) Toy Story Sequel(s) Toy Story 4 prequel(s) Toy Story 2 , Toy Story Budget $200 million Expand

7 The Muppets (1955 - Present)

The Muppets (2011)

The absurd, self-referential, and often heartfelt puppets known as The Muppets have been around in one form or another since they were created by Jim Henson in 1955. With entries spanning books, movies, and television, The Muppets was a major franchise with acclaimed releases such as the holiday classic The Muppet Christmas Carol. However, as the 1990s came to an end, The Muppets were less a part of the cultural zeitgeist and slowly started to fall away as modern audiences connected less and less with characters like Kermit the Frog and Mrs. Piggy.

That was until 2011, when The Muppets came roaring back with the release of a feature film starring Jason Segal and all the classic Muppets. With a unique sense of humor, incredible music, and strong characterization, the success of The Muppets proved these characters' relevance in the modern era and even gained an Academy Award for Best Original Song for “Man or Muppet.” The sequel in 2014, Muppets Most Wanted, was not as successful, but the earlier movie’s acclaim showed that with the right material, viewers would turn out to see The Muppets once again.

The Muppets Where to Watch *Availability in US stream

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buy Not available Not available Not available When a businessman plans to demolish the Muppet Theater to drill for oil, die-hard Muppet fan Walter and his brother Gary set out to help Kermit the Frog reunite his disbanded group of friends in order to raise $10 million. The Muppets features the iconic characters alongside the voice talents of Jim Parsons, with Jason Segel, Amy Adams, and Chris Cooper starring. Director Randall Einhorn Release Date November 23, 2011 Studio(s) Disney Distributor(s) Disney Writers Bill Prady , Bob Kushell Cast Eric Jacobson , Bill Barretta , Matt Vogel , Peter Linz , Steve Whitmire , Dave Goelz , David Rudman Runtime 1h 43m Franchise(s) The Muppets Sequel(s) The Muppet Christmas Carol Budget 45million Expand

6 Halloween (1978 - Present)

Halloween (2018)

One thing that the Halloween franchise had in common with its main villain, the serial killer Michael Myers, was that it never seemed to die, no matter what happened. The franchise began in 1978 with the release of the original Halloween and had numerous sequels that recontextualized, retconned, or outright contradicted previous entries. Halloween as a series was often muddled and confusing as, at certain points, Myers and Laurie Strode were related, and at others, there was no connection.

The series lay dormant from 2009 to 2018 after Rob Zombie’s remake and sequel failed to breathe new life into the classic slasher series. However, Halloween returned in 2018 with a direct sequel to the original film that acted as an opportunity to rewrite the wrongs of the past and move forward with a fresh start. This worked well and led to an entire rebooted trilogy that paid homage to the past and featured the return of Jamie Lee Curtis as Laurie Strode.

Halloween (2018) Where to Watch *Availability in US stream

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buy Not available Not available Not available Halloween is the first film of the David Gordon Green-directed sequel trilogy to the 1978 original horror/slasher film. Having been institutionalized for forty years after the events of the original Haddonfield murders, Michael Myers escapes during a prison transfer to pursue his original target, Laurie Strode. Having lived in fear of his shadow for years, Laurie learns of his return, setting the stage for war while trying to protect her daughter and granddaughter from her masked tormentor. Director David Gordon Green Release Date October 18, 2018 Studio(s) MiraMax , Blumhouse Productions , Trancas International , Rough House Pictures Distributor(s) Universal Pictures Writers David Gordon Green , Danny McBride , Jeff Fradley , John Carpenter , Debra Hill Cast Jamie Lee Curtis , Judy Greer , Andi Matichak , Will Patton , Virginia Gardner , James Jude Courtney , Nick Castle Runtime 106 Minutes prequel(s) Halloween (1978) Budget $10 Million Expand

5 Bad Boys (1995 - Present)

Bad Boys for Life (2020)

While Bad Boys was a popular series in the mid-1990s and early 2000s, nobody expected it to roar back so effectively in 2020. The first two Bad Boys movies were directed by Michael Bay and were action-comedy classics with intense action sequences and a healthy dose of humor. However, Bay moved on to other projects like the Transformers series, and it felt like a third entry in the franchise was unlikely until Bad Boys for Life was announced.

With directors Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah at the helm, Bad Boys for Life had a long production history filled with delays and rescheduling but was finally released to critical acclaim in 2020. With a worldwide gross of $426,505,244 (via Box Office Mojo), Bad Boys for Life was one of the most successful films during the pandemic. With this surprise success, it made sense that a fourth entry was planned, and Bad Boys: Ride or Die has been scheduled for a 2024 release.

Bad Boys for Life Where to Watch *Availability in US stream

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buy Not available Not available Not available In Bad Boys For Life, the third installment in the Bad Boys film franchise, Marcus Burnett wants to retire, but when Mike Lowrey is shot, and the assailant goes after a friend of Burnett's, the two team up together for one last ride. Director Adil El Arbi , Bilall Fallah Release Date January 15, 2020 Studio(s) Columbia Pictures , 2.0 Entertainment , Overbrook Entertainment Distributor(s) Sony Pictures Releasing Writers Joe Carnahan , Chris Bremner , Peter Craig Cast Will Smith , Martin Lawrence , Kate del Castillo , Joe Pantoliano , Vanessa Hudgens , Alexander Ludwig , Charles Melton Runtime 124 Minutes Sequel(s) Bad Boys: Ride or Die prequel(s) Bad Boys (1995) , Bad Boys 2 (2003) Budget $90 Million Expand

4 Jumanji (1995 - Present)

Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017)

The first Jumanji movie from 1995 was a box office hit that received mixed reviews from critics, although a memorable performance from Robin Williams meant it was never forgotten. The franchise continued with an animated and spin-off movie, Zathura: A Space Adventure, but it was never a major series and not one that most audiences expected to roar back into the mainstream in the way that it did. This came in 2017 with the release of Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, an indirect sequel propped up by the star power of Dwayne Johnson, Jack Black, and Kevin Hart.

Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle did well and actually crept toward an incredible nearly $1b box office gross, taking in an astounding $995,340,026 worldwide (via Box Office Mojo.) The sequel, Jumanji: The Next Level, was also a massive hit that proved this franchise’s potential as a major property. A third Jumanji movie has been in the works since 2020 but was delayed due to the pandemic; however, it’s likely that it could repeat the success of its previous two entries when it gets released.

Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle Where to Watch *Availability in US stream

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buy Not available Not available Not available Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle is an action-adventure comedy directed by Jake Kasdan and acts as the sequel to the original 1995 film. When a group of disconnected high school students end up in detention, they stumble upon a video game titled "Jumanji." When they decide to try it, the group is dragged into the video game world, all in entirely different bodies. Trapped in a lush-jungle-themed digital world, the four teenagers must play by the game's rules if they hope to return home. Director Jake Kasdan Release Date December 5, 2017 Studio(s) Columbia Pictures , Matt Tolmach Productions , Seven Bucks Productions Distributor(s) Sony Pictures Releasing Writers Chris McKenna , Erik Sommers , Scott Rosenberg , Jeff Pinkner Cast Dwayne Johnson , Jack Black , Kevin Hart , Karen Gillan , Nick Jonas , Bobby Cannavale , Alex Wolff , Ser'darius Blain , Madison Iseman , Morgan Turner Runtime 119 Minutes Sequel(s) Jumanji: The Next Level , Jumanji 4 prequel(s) Jumanji Budget $90-150 Million Franchise(s) Jumanji Expand

3 Planet of the Apes (1968 - Present)

Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011)

As the longest-running American science fiction film series, Planet of the Apes started in 1968 and had four direct sequels throughout the 1970s. While the series gained a significant place in popular culture, with the original twist ending being parodied countless times across media, the series was also remembered as a relic from the past whose cast members in gorilla costumes looked painfully dated. Tim Burton released a remake in 2001 with Mark Wahlberg as the lead but plans for a sequel were scrapped.

However, in 2011, the Planet of the Apes franchise was rebooted entirely with the release of Rise of the Planet of the Apes. This reimagined the story and explored how a genetically enhanced chimpanzee eventually led to a revolt against humanity. With incredible visual effects and an engaging story, Rise of the Planet of the Apes relaunched the entire franchise, and three popular sequels have been released, the most recent being 2024’s Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes.

Rise of the Planet of the Apes Where to Watch *Availability in US stream

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buy Not available Not available Not available A prequel and reboot to the Planet of the Apes franchise, Rise of the Planet of the Apes stars James Franco as pharmaceutical chemist Will Rodman. While working with apes, Rodman befriends Caesar (Andy Serkis), a particularly intelligent chimpanzee. Not all humans are as gentle with the apes as Rodman, however, and Caesar is destined to start the line of super-intelligent apes that will one day inherit the Earth. Director Rupert Wyatt Release Date August 5, 2011 Studio(s) 20th Century Distributor(s) 20th Century Writers Rupert Wyatt Cast James Franco , Andy Serkis , Tom Felton , John Lithgow Runtime 1h 45m Sequel(s) War for the Planet of the Apes prequel(s) Planet of the Apes Budget 93million Franchise(s) Planet of the Apes Expand

2 Star Wars (1977 - Present)

Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999)

Following the release of the original Star Wars trilogy from 1977 to 1983, the George Lucas space opera franchise became a cultural phenomenon that revolutionized the entire moviemaking industry and helped usher in the age of the blockbuster. While Lucas did mention in 1980 that he had plotted a nine-film series (via Bantha Tracks), it was not until 1992 that he acknowledged his plan for a prequel trilogy, and anticipation for its release grew throughout the decade. Finally, in 1999, 15 years after the release of Return of the Jedi, Star Wars returned with the cinematic event, The Phantom Menace.

The Phantom Menace was a divisive movie, and audiences still debate the quality of the prequel trilogy to this day. But there’s no denying that Star Wars roared back in the late 1990s and early 2000s as the story of how young Anakin Skywalker turned into the Sith Lord Darth Vader was finally told on the big screen. After Revenge of the Sith in 2005, the Star Wars film series would lay dormant for another 10 years before The Force Awakens was released, once again renewing the franchise for a new generation.

1 Mad Max (1979 - Present)

Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)

The Australian filmmaker George Miller made movie history with the release of Mad Max in 1979, a low-budget dystopian action film about a post-apocalyptic society in total collapse. Having grossed over $100 million worldwide and been recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as the most profitable movie ever made at the time (via NFSA), it made sense that Mad Max spawned an entire franchise that’s still ongoing today. However, following the release of Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome in 1985, it would take 30 years for another entry in the franchise to be made.

During the gap in between, Miller made very different types of movies as he directed Babe: Pig in the City and Happy Feet, but the Mad Max franchise came roaring back in 2015 with its very best entry, Mad Max: Fury Road. An extraordinary example of a long-dormant franchise unexpectedly coming back to life, Fury Road replaced Mel Gibson with Tom Hardy and stood as one of the greatest action movies ever made. With six Academy Award nominations, Fury Road had extraordinary action sequences, was a technical marvel, and featured impressive performances by Hardy and Charlize Theron.

Sources: Box Office Mojo (Bad Boys for Life), Box Office Mojo (Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle), Bantha Tracks, NFSA