Film Franchise Takes

Created by: Robert E. Howard

Number of films: 2, including a remake and two sort of connected but not really films.

Years in activity: 1982 - 1984, 2011

Best in series: Conan the Barbarian

Worst in series: Conan the Annoyer, I mean sorry.... Conan the Destroyer. Red Sonja wasn’t all that great either. Sorry, Red Sonja fans.

Decent films: The Conan the Barbarian remake was not all that bad.

My take on the series: The original was great and a classic, the sequel wasn’t all that great. The other films, were either ok or not all that great.

I am not going to lie, while I would love for their to be a final Conan the Barbarian film, with Arnold Schwarzenegger, which would be a King Conan film, that have Conan in his final years, too much time may have passed, for that to happen.

Kull the Conqueror was ok, I guess?

Created by: Robert Guza Jr. and William Grey

Number of films: 4, including a remake.

Years in activity: 1980 - 1992, 2008

Best in series: Prom Night and Hello Mary Lou: Prom Night II

Worst in series: The remake. It was not all that great, and seemingly made because it could be made.

My take on the series: An oddly disjointed film series, with each film outside of 2 and 3, having limited if any connectivity to the other films.

With part 4, kind of being it’s own thing.

Created by; Bob Kane and Bob Finger

Number of films: Four

Years in activity: 1989 - 1997

Best in series: Batman and Batman Returns

Decent in series: Batman Forever

My take on the series: Decent, with a very wild, dramatic shift from dark and gritty, to wild and campy. That didn’t go over, very well with everyone.

But hey, you can’t please everyone.

Created by: Roderick Thorp and Steven de Souza

Number of films: 5

Years in activity: 1988 - 2018

Best in series: The first three films, Live Free of Die Hard was just ok.

Worst in series: Sigh.... That would have to A Good Day to Die Hard.

My take on the series: When the Die Hard series was great, it was great. When it wasn’t great, yeah it was a chore to get through.

I’m not sure what the future entails, but thanks to the box office dud, that was A Good Day to Die Hard, Detective John McClane maybe off of active duty.

It’s probably just as well.

Update: Sadly, due to Bruce Willis being diagnosed with aphasia, a degenerative disease that impacts ones speech and is a connotative disorder, Willis has opted to retire from acting.

He has only a handful of movies, left that he plans to make and after that, he is effectively retiring from acting.

Meaning that in all likelihood, A Good Day To Die Hard sadly ends the series, baring in mind, that there could always be a prequel or a reboot.

Rest easy, cowboy.

Characters created by: Frank B. Gilbreth, Jr. and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey

Years in activity: 1950 - 1952, 2003 - 2005, 2021

Number of films: 5

Decent in series: The Steve Martin films, were kind of meh.

My take on the series: I haven’t seen the original or the sequel, yet. The Steve Martin films, were harmless.

And pretty much have been done before.

Based on a concept (rather loosely) by: Stephen King

Years in activity: 1992 - 1996

Number of films: 2

Decent in series: The Lawnmower Man

Worst in series: Definitely the sequel.

My take on the series: It was decent for it’s time. The sequel? Don’t ask.

Created by: Robert Rodriguez

Years in activity: 1993 - 2003

Best in series: El Mariachi and Desperado

Decent in series: Once Upon a Time in Mexico

My take on the series: An action packed film series, from beginning to end.

Created by: Paul Rudnick

Years in activity: 1992 - present

Number of film: 3

Best in series: Sister Act

Decent in series: Sister Act 2

My take on the series: The first movie was great, the sequel was ok. I am not entirely sure if we need a part 3.

Created by: Kenny Kim and Edward Emanuel

Years in activity: 1992 - 1998

Number of films: 4

Decent in series: 3 Ninjas

Worst in series: Everything after 3 Ninjas.

My take on the series: It’s harmless, it’s cute, it’s essentially The Karate Kid meets Home Alone.

The sequels were totally not needed.

Created by: J.F. Lawton

Number of films: 2

Years in activity: 1992-1995

Best in series: Under Siege

Most meh in series: Under Siege 2

My take on the series: Of all the Die Hard On acBlank films, the film film is my favourite, and one of the better Steven Seagel films.

The sequel, which took place on a train, was ok. I guess.

Created by: Mike Myers

Years in activity: 1992 - 1993

Number of films: 2

Best in series: Wayne’s World

Decent in series: Wayne’s World 2

My take on the series: Wayne’s World is one of my favourite films, possibly ever. The sequel was ok. We may never get a part three, and I’m ok with that.

Created by: Len Wiseman, Kevin Grevioux, and Danny McBride

Years in activity: 2003 - 2016

Number of films: 5

Best in series: Underworld

Decent in series: Everything after Underworld.

My take on the series: If you always wanted a Vampires in leather versus werewolves, with The Matrix thrown in for good measure. Well, now you have it.

That being said.... Kate Beckinsale. In one word? Wow.

Created by: Rob Zombie

Number of film: 3

Years active: 2003 - 2018

Best in the series: House of 1,000 Corpses

My take on the series: I have only seen the first two, so that it’s hard to comment on it as a whole.

That been said, they are a grimy, exploitation, grunge feast, that is not for everyone.

Maybe one day, I will see part 3.

Update: I saw 3 From Hell, and it was okay I guess? Hopefully, it’s the end of the series.

Created by: Stephen King

Years in activity: 1989 - 1992, 2019

Number of films: 2, including a remake

Best in series: Pet Sematary, is by far the best film in The series.

Decent in the series: Surprisingly, it’s Pet Sematary Two, a film that U didn’t like at first, but not I think it’s actually pretty decent.

The recent remake is ok, too.

My take on the series: You’re in for a real treat, with the original. And sure, go ahead watch the sequel and remake.

Created by: Jim Kouf

Years in activity: 1987 - 1993

Number of films: 2

Best in series: Stakeout

Worst in series: Another Stakeout

My take on the series: The first film was pretty good, the sequel was not that great.

Created by: Bruce Geller

Number of films: 8

Years in activity: 1996 - present

Best in series: Mission: Impossible, and every film other than Mission: Impossible 2 (or as they call it MI: 2)

Decent in series: MI: 2

My take on the series: It’s the let’s see what crazy stunt Tom Cruise will do this time show.

Lucky, a back to basics, team centred approach was taken after part 2.

Based on characters created by: Jim Shooter, Bob Budianski, Dennis O'Hare, Jay Bacal, Kojin Ono, Takashi Matsuda, Hideaki Yoke, Hiroyuki Obara, and Satoshi Koizumi

Years in activity: 2007 -

Number of films: 7? That’s right, freaking 7. Way too many, if you ask me.

Best in series: Transformers and Bumblebee.

Worst in series: Everything other than Transformers and Bumblebee.

My take on the series: It ranges from decent, to fart.

Created by: Laurice Elehwany

Years in activity: 1991- 1994

Number of films: 2

Best in series: My Girl

Decent in series: My Girl 2

My take on the series: The first movie is great, the sequel is ok.

Created by: Jim Henson

Number of films: 8

Years in activity: 1979 -

Best in series: The Muppets Movie, Great Muppets Caper, Muppet Take Manhattan, actually pretty much every film in the series. Yes, that even includes Muppets From Space.

My take on the series: I love pretty much every Muppet film, from it’s very first, to Muppets Most Wanted.

Collectively, I am counting all of the films including the Clerks films, in this series.

Created by: Kevin Smith

Number of films: Ten

Years in activity: 1994 - 2022

Best in series: Clerks, Mallrats, Dogma, and Chasing Amy.

Worst in series: It’s one of the rare occasions, where there wasn’t a worst in the series.

Just okay films.

My take on the series: I love Kevin Smith films, some in this series are better than others.

Kevin Smith, must be one of the hardest working men, in show business.

I have yet to see Clerks III however.

Created by: Adam Herz

Number of films: Five, plus spin off series.

Years in activity: 1999 - present.

Best in series: American Pie

Worst in series: Having barely seen the spin off series, it’s hard to get a final take of the series, but most of the spin off films that I did see, where not all that great.

My take on the series: It was enjoyable, at times. But I am thinking that it’s also a series, that should have ended a long time ago.

Created by: Mike Mignola

Number of films: 2, and one reboot

Years in activity: 2005 - 2007, 2012

Best film in the series: Both Hellboy, and Hellboy II.
I haven’t seen the reboot yet, so I can’t say if I like it or not.

My take on the series: Sadly, we may never get to see, what Guillermo Del Toro, Ron Perlman, and Mike Mignola have in mind for a part three.

It would have awesome to have seen. I like both Hellboy and Hellboy II.

Created by: Tobe Hopper and Kim Henkel

Number of films: 9

Years active: 1974 - present.

Best in the series: The original, but I do have a fondness for part 2.

Worse in the series: That would be Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation.

My take on the series: I admire the commitment in keeping the series, going especially with the remakes and reboots.

The first three, are decent and the remake and sequel isn’t too bad.

But it is starting to run out of gas, as a series.


Update:: The Netflix film, is ok. I guess.

Created by: Bob Clark

Number of films: Three, including a direct to video remake.

Years in activity: 1981 - 2009

Worst in series: All of them.

My take on the series: Sorry, Porky’s fans but I thought that they were all awful films.

Created by: Clive Barker

Number of films: 10

Years in activity: 1987 - present.

Best film in series: Hellraiser, all though Hellraiser II is pretty great.

Worst in the series: Hellraiser: Deader

My take on the series: To date, I have only seen a handful of films, mostly the theatrical.

That being said, some are better than others. Ahem... most of the VOD films.

Created by: Chris Matheson and Ed Solomon

Years in activity: 1989 - 2021

Number of films: 3

Best in series: Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure and Bill and Ted Face the Music

Decent in series: Bill and Ted’s Bogus Journey

My take on the series: Fun, enjoyable, and quirky. It’s excellent that we got not one film, not two films, but three films.

Created by: Diane Thomas

Years in activity: 1984 - 1985

Number of films: 2

Best in series: Romancing the Stone

Decent in the series: Jewel of the Nile

My take on the series: I really enjoyed Romancing the Stone, Jewel of the Nile was a decent enough of a film.

Created by: Seth McFarlane

Years in activity: 2012 - 2015

Number of films: 2

Best in series: Ted

Decent in series: Ted 2

My take on the series: An interesting concept, the sequel was ok.

Created by: John Hughes and Amy Holden Jones

Years in activity: 1992 - 2014

Number of films: 8

Decent in series: Beethoven and Beethoven’s 2nd

My take on the series: Both of the first two films, are decent. I haven’t seen the direct to video films.

There are eight films? Seriously?

Created by: Lowell Ganz and Babaloo Mandel

Years in activity: 1991 - 1994

Best in series: City Slickers

Decent in series: City Slickers II

My take on the series: The first film is pretty great, and the sequel is ok.

Created by: Clive Barker

Years in activity: 1992 - 1999, 2021

Number of films: 3, including a remake

Best in series: Candyman

Decent in series: Candyman 2, was ok. I guess.

My take on the series: The first film is great, the sequel could have been better, and I haven’t seen the sequel or the remake.

Yet.

Created by: Joe Eszterhas

Years in activity: 1992 - 2006

Number of films: 2

Decent in series: Basic Instinct

Worst in series: Basic Instinct 2

My take on the series: It took a sharp turn, from decently adequate to hot mess, in only two films.

Created by: David S. Ward

Years in activity: 1989 - 1998

Number of films: 3

Best in series: Major League

Decent in series: Major League Ii

Worst in series: Major League: Back to the Minors

My take on the series: The first two films are pretty decent, however the series stuck out with the disappointing third movie.

Created by: Margery Sharp

Years in activity: 1977 - 1991

Number of films: 2

Best in series: The Rescuers and Rescuers Down Under

My take on the series: Both are great films, and highly underrated. Sadly due to the passing of Eva Gabor, we never did the third film, the fact that Rescuers Down Under under performed probably didn’t help either.

Created by: Larry Karaszewski and Scott Alexander

Years in activity: 1990 = 1995

Number of films: Two, including a direct to video sequel.

Worst in series: Both of the first two films. I haven’t seen the third film, yet.

My take on the series: If you liked the films, that’s great.

Because I didn’t.

Created by: David Zucker, Jim Abrahams, and Jerry Zucker

Number of films: 3

Years in activity: 1988 - present

Best in series: The Naked Gun

Decent in series: The sequels after the first film.

My take on the series: I really love the first film, and Leslie Nielsen as Frank Drebin.

The sequels were hilarious, with the third film ending things decently. It would be decidedly difficult, to continue on given that Nielsen passed away, not too long ago.

That being said. I wouldn’t be too surprised. If they managed to find a way, somehow.

Created by: Rita Mae Brown

Number of films: Three, including a remake.

Years in activity: 1982 - 1990, 2021

Best in series: The Slumber Party Massacre

Decent in series: Slumber Party Massacre II and Slumber Party Massacre III

My take on the series: The first film is great, and the sequels are decent. With The Slumber Party Massacre, being arguably the most serious minded, and the sequels either being over the top, or moderately serious.

Interestingly enough, it’s a series predominantly made by female film directors and writers, in a genre mostly dominated by men, and is considered to be a feminist mind series, that takes on the many tropes of slasher films.

Created by: Robert Hiltzik

Number of films: Five

Years in activity: 1983 - 2008

Best in series: Sleepaway Camp

Decent in series: Sleepaway Camp II and III are ok, it’s goofy, sillier, and more comedic than the first film.

My take on the series: The first film is a classic, the sequels are ok. I haven’t seen the the last two films.

The film’s original premise, is decidedly controversial and might not aged as well, over the years, but has still become a cult classic.

Created by: Chuck Pfarrer, Sam Raimi, and Ivan Raimi

Years in activity: 1990 - 1996

Best in series: Darkman

Decent in series: The direct to video sequels.

My take on the series: Fun, dark, and over the top. It’s like Batman meets The Phantom of the Opera and The Shadow.

Created by: Dario Argento, Lamberto Bava, Dardano Sacchetti, and Franco Ferrini

Number of films: 3, not including “the other films”.

Years in activity: 1985 - 1989

Best in series: Demons, Demons 2, and The Church

My take on the series: Bloody, over the top, and very R rated, and with great visual effects.