7 Perfect Movie Series With No Bad Entries (That Are Longer Than Trilogies)

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Turning a good idea into a successful movie is challenging, but it’s incredibly rare for that movie to become popular enough to launch an entire series. Even among those few films that do become franchises, very few reach the milestone of a trilogy, and truly long-lasting franchises – those with more than three films – happen only once or twice a generation.

Over the past thirty years, we’ve seen many movie franchises extend well beyond the traditional three-film trilogy. The seven series listed below are notable because they each have at least four films, and each movie is generally considered good – or at least enjoyable – on its own merits. While judging movie quality is always subjective, and opinions will vary, each of these series has a dedicated fanbase and could reasonably be considered among the best.

7) James Bond

Some fans might struggle to understand, but those who’ve really enjoyed James Bond movies over the years will recognize they’re the ideal long-running series. James Bond—007—has been a consistently popular movie hero for over 60 years, with 25 films since 1962. Each era of Bond has delivered at least one truly memorable film, if not several. The films starring Sean Connery, like Dr. No and Goldfinger, are classics, and Roger Moore is likely the most well-known Bond (The Man with the Golden Gun, Octopussy). Later actors, Timothy Dalton and Pierce Brosnan, attracted new fans and helped evolve Bond into the modern, multi-platform character we know today. Even George Lazenby, who only played Bond once, has gained a devoted following and is the subject of a documentary.

You’re free to dislike any James Bond film, but the series as a whole has provided entertainment for over 70 years, both in theaters and on television. Surprisingly, even the less popular installments – like License to Kill, Quantum of Solace, and The World is Not Enough – have their fans. Bond is a prime example of a franchise succeeding not by being perfect, but by simply having a lot of movies. Ultimately, it’s worth seeing them all at some point.

6) Wallace & Gromit

When you think of great movie series, Wallace & Gromit might not be the first that comes to mind, but it really should be. It began as a series of three charming claymation shorts between the late 1980s and 1990s. Each film became a favorite with audiences, known for its uniquely dry British humor and wonderfully quirky clay-animated world.

By 2005, when Wallace & Gromit made their first full-length movie, Curse of the Were-Rabbit, the characters and the Aardman Animations brand (known for films like Chicken Run) were already incredibly popular. This helped Curse of the Were-Rabbit become a big hit in theaters, earning almost $200 million on a $30 million budget. Following this success, the Wallace & Gromit world has expanded with new movies (including the recent Netflix film Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl), TV shows, and online series. They’ve also created spin-offs like Shaun the Sheep. Importantly, everything has been made with the same care and dedication from creator Nick Park and the team at Aardman Animations, ensuring consistently high quality.

5) Evil Dead

It’s surprising how the Evil Dead has grown! What started as a low-budget horror film has become a five-movie series – and it’s still going. Sam Raimi’s initial trilogy (Evil Dead, Evil Dead 2, Army of Darkness) was followed by a remake in 2013, and then Evil Dead Rise in 2023. Rise really expanded the possibilities for future movies in the Evil Dead franchise.

The Evil Dead franchise has never been a huge commercial success, and that’s actually part of what makes it so beloved. Sam Raimi’s original films were made with a low-budget, independent spirit, which earned him a dedicated fanbase, and the trilogy retained that gritty charm. Fede Álvarez’s 2013 remake introduced a new generation to the series’ intense thrills, and is steadily gaining a cult following. Each Evil Dead movie has become memorable in its own way, and they all deliver a genuinely fun horror experience. Plus, the series gave us Bruce Campbell – and that alone is a triumph.

4) Scream

The popular horror series Scream is continuing with a seventh film, scheduled for release in 2026. What’s remarkable about Scream is that it hasn’t restarted its story like many other horror franchises. Instead, Scream 7 will continue the original timeline and bring back original cast members Neve Campbell, Courtney Cox, Skeet Ulrich, and Matthew Lillard—actors who first appeared in the series three decades ago.

No Scream movie has ever been truly disliked by fans – even the weaker installments have their supporters. After a strong start with the original trilogy in the 90s, Scream has expertly balanced continuing the story with fresh reboots, keeping it popular today. Scream 4, 5, and 6 were all successful enough to build the franchise into a major modern horror series, and Scream 7 could potentially be the biggest hit yet, celebrating the series’ 30th anniversary.

3) The Fast Saga

The Fast Saga is definitely a contender, even though it’s a series people either love or hate. For its fans, each Fast & Furious movie feels like a special occasion, and the franchise has steadily gained a dedicated following over the years.

You know, it’s funny. Even 2 Fast 2 Furious, which we used to rib as being totally over-the-top, has become a bit of a guilty pleasure – a fun, cheesy classic. Tokyo Drift always had its dedicated fans, even though it felt a little different, and honestly, the more wild the Fast & Furious movies have gotten – Furious 7, The Fate of the Furious, F9, and Fast X – the more people seem to just be along for the ride. We’ve all kind of accepted that these are just pure, escapist blockbusters, and it’s best to just switch off and have fun!

The Fast & Furious series, including the Hobbs & Shaw spin-off, has consistently earned between $700 million and $1 billion at the box office with each film since Fast Five came out in 2011 (which made $626.1 million). It’s rare for any movie series to have that level of reliable success. While box office numbers aren’t everything, consistently earning so much certainly means something.

If the next movie does well in theaters, this film series could end on a high note, becoming the longest-running successful movie franchise of all time.

2) The Avengers

Marvel’s The Avengers was a groundbreaking film. It successfully combined characters from several previously independent movie series into one big event, and it earned over a billion dollars, setting a new standard for summer movies. This was just the start of a hugely successful era for Avengers films, with each movie in the series also earning over a billion dollars.

When Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame came out, they redefined success for Marvel films, both earning over $2 billion and becoming massive cultural hits worldwide. Another two-part Avengers event is planned for 2026 and 2027 with Doomsday and Secret Wars expected to be even bigger than what came before. If these new films are as exciting and impactful as Infinity War and Endgame, the Avengers series could become the most successful extended movie series of all time.

1) Toy Story

As a movie reviewer, I have to say Toy Story isn’t just a series of films—it’s a landmark achievement that continues to resonate with audiences. The original really kicked off Pixar’s reign at the box office, and the whole story of toys coming to life and their bond with Andy quickly became a cultural touchstone for a generation. What’s truly impressive is how the series grew with its audience, culminating in what I consider one of the greatest trilogies ever made—Toy Story 3 bravely tackled themes of growing up and letting go of childhood, and it did so beautifully.

When Toy Story 4 came out in 2019, many people doubted it would succeed, especially since it introduced a new child owner for Woody and Buzz. However, it still earned $1 billion worldwide, showing just how much people still love the Toy Story movies. Now, Toy Story 5 is shaping up to be a particularly interesting installment, focusing on the classic toys navigating a world where today’s kids are more interested in screens and technology than traditional play.

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2025-12-27 18:12