5 Sci-Fi Franchises That Don’t Have a Single Bad Movie

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Even long-running film franchises have their missteps. These can range from negative reviews to disappointing box office numbers, or both. We’re focusing on critically panned installments, specifically within science fiction. Like horror and comedy, many sci-fi franchises start strong with fans and critics, but struggle to maintain that quality over many years. For example, Star Wars had The Rise of Skywalker (and some argue the first two prequel films were weak too), Star Trek released several poorly received movies, the Matrix sequels weren’t well-liked, and Tron: Ares was a critical and commercial failure. These examples show that even successful franchises aren’t immune to having disappointing entries.

Let’s be honest, even the biggest sci-fi franchises stumble eventually. Think Men in Black, Jurassic Park, Predator, Alien, Transformers, Avatar – they all have entries that don’t quite hit the mark. It’s rare to find a sci-fi series where every movie is genuinely good. But a few have managed it, and I’ve put together a list of those consistently excellent cinematic sagas for you.

3) Dune

Although the source material is over 60 years old, we’ve only gotten three Dune films. Two of those movies are excellent, and the third is decent. It’s a film that people either love or hate, but it has a strong following on both sides.

Denis Villeneuve’s Dune films are truly exceptional, and it’s highly unlikely the upcoming Dune: Part Three will change that. David Lynch’s version, while ambitious, tries to fit too much story into its runtime and doesn’t fully succeed. However, it features strong performances and Lynch’s unique style, preventing it from being a bad film. Considering the source material is notoriously difficult to adapt, the fact that his version works at all after 40 years is remarkable.

2) Mad Max

The first Mad Max feels a little simple by today’s standards, but it’s still a solid revenge story. The Road Warrior is a truly groundbreaking action film that really defined the post-apocalyptic genre. Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome isn’t as strong as the first two movies, though it did introduce some cool ideas and characters. Mad Max: Fury Road is arguably even better than The Road Warrior. Finally, Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga is a very ambitious film that sometimes feels weighed down by its own scope, but it actually improves with multiple viewings.

Overall, Mad Max is a prime example of a franchise that’s successfully evolved for today’s audiences. The recent films are just as good as the originals, and the story can even shift its focus away from Max himself without losing quality. This shows a richly developed world, and so far, every installment has been worth seeing in theaters.

1) Back to the Future

Of course, the first Back to the Future movie is considered the best. It’s a favorite film for many people, just like classics such as The Shawshank Redemption, Jaws, Forrest Gump, or The Godfather.

The real issue with the two sequels isn’t that they’re poorly made, but rather that they don’t quite live up to the first film. While they don’t reach the same heights, they aren’t complete misses. They still capture the spirit of the original, with likeable characters and solid writing. They do rely heavily on the structure of the first movie, which some might see as a lack of originality, but this actually helps maintain a connection to what made the original so good.

What’s your all-time favorite science fiction movie series? Share your pick in the comments and discuss it with other fans in the ComicBook Forum!

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2026-03-03 17:10