Following is a list of multimedia franchises originating in films, whether animated or live-action.
In the following tables, the initial media through which the franchise characters or settings became known is shown in boldface. Only works of fiction are only considered part of the series; a book or a documentary film about the franchise is not itself an installment in the franchise.
Franchise (Creator) | Literature | Comics | Animated films | Live action films | Animated TV series | Live action TV series | Video games | Other media | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
An American Tail (Don Bluth, Gary Goldman, Steven Spielberg) | various | no | An American Tail (1986) (1991) (1998) (1999) | no | Fievel's American Tails (1992) | no | various | An American Tail Theatre | |
Cars (John Lasseter and various) | various | various | Cars (2006) Cars 2 (2011) Cars 3 (2017) Planes (2013) (2014) | no | Cars Toons/Cars On The Road | no | various | toy line Cars Land | |
Casper the Friendly Ghost (Seymour Reit and Joe Oriolo) | various | various | The Friendly Ghost (1945) numerous others | Casper (1995) | Matty's Funday Funnies (1959–1961) The New Casper Cartoon Show (1963–1970) several others | several made-for-TV movies | various | toys | |
Despicable Me (Sergio Pablos) | children's novels | Minions comic albums | no | Minions Holiday Special (2020) | no | Despicable Me Minion Mayhem | |||
Felix the Cat (Pat Sullivan and Otto Messmer) | Felix the Cat comic strip | various | Theatrical Shorts series (beginning in 1919 to 1930) sound and color revival shorts from Van Beuren Studios (1936) (1988) Felix the Cat Saves Christmas (2004) | no | Felix the Cat (1958–1960) The Twisted Tales of Felix the Cat (1995–1997) Baby Felix (2000–2001) | no | Felix the Cat (1992/1993) | various merchandise | |
Finding Nemo (Andrew Stanton) | yes | yes | Finding Nemo (2003) Finding Dory (2016) | Exploring the Reef with Jean-Michel Cousteau (2003) | no | no | yes | Finding Nemo the Musical Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage | |
Frozen (Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee) | numerous | Yes | Frozen (2013) Frozen II (2019) | no | LEGO Frozen Northern (2016) | Once Upon a Time (season 4; 2014) | numerous | Disney On Ice Frozen, Frozen Ever After and more | |
Hotel Transylvania (Todd Durham) | no | no | Hotel Transylvania (2012) Hotel Transylvania 2 (2015) (2018) (2022) | no | (2017) Motel Transylvania (2025) | no | Hotel Transylvania Hotel Transylvania Dash Hotel Transylvania Social Game Hotel Transylvania BooClips Deluxe App | ||
Ice Age (Michael J. Wilson) | no | no | Ice Age (2002) The Meltdown (2006) Dawn of the Dinosaurs (2009) Continental Drift (2012) Collision Course (2016) The Ice Age Adventures of Buck Wild (2022) | no | no | no | various | Ice Age Live! A Mammoth Adventure (live arena ice show) | |
The Incredibles (Brad Bird) | yes | yes | The Incredibles (2004) Incredibles 2 (2018) | no | no | no | various | Incredicoaster | |
Kung Fu Panda (Ethan Reiff and Cyrus Voris) | no | yes | Kung Fu Panda (2008) Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011) Kung Fu Panda 3 (2016) Kung Fu Panda 4 (2024) | no | (2011–2016) (2018–2019) (2022-) | no | numerous | ||
The Land Before Time (Don Bluth, Gary Goldman, Judy Freudburg & Tony Geiss) | various | no | no | The Land Before Time (2007–08) | no | no | |||
Lilo & Stitch / Disney Stitch (Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois) | children's novels, including the Agent Stitch series (beginning in 2022) | Comic Zone Lilo & Stitch (2002– 2006) | Lilo & Stitch (2002) Stitch! The Movie (2003) (2005) Leroy & Stitch (2006) | Lilo & Stitch (2025) | (2003–2006) Stitch! (2008–2015) Stitch & Ai (2017) | no | theme park attractions and additional merchandise | ||
The Lion King (Roger Allers & Rob Minkoff) | adaption | various | The Lion King (1994) (1998) The Lion King 1½ (2004) The Lion King (2019) (2024) | no (though the 2019 remake was advertised as a live-action film) | The Lion King's Timon & Pumbaa (1995–1999) The Lion Guard (2015–2019) | no | other media | ||
Looney Tunes (Rudolf Ising and Hugh Harman) | yes | Theatrical Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies short films (beginning in 1930 to 1969 with rival shorts released in the 1990s and 2010s) various feature films | Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1989)(cameo only) Space Jam (1996) (2003) (2021) | numerous | no | Music albums, theme park attractions | |||
Madagascar (Tom McGrath, Eric Darnell) | various | various | Madagascar (2005) (2008) (2012) Penguins of Madagascar (2014) | no | various | no | various | musical, theme park attractions | |
Mickey Mouse and Friends (Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks) | children's books | Theatrical short films (beginning in 1928) Fantasia (1940) Saludos Amigos (1942) The Three Caballeros (1944) Fantasia 2000 (1999) | Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1989) | numerous | numerous | ||||
Monsters, Inc. (Pete Docter and various) | various | Monsters, Inc.: Laugh Factory | Monsters, Inc. (2001) Monsters University (2013) | no | Monsters at Work (2021–present) | no | various | numerous | |
The Secret Life of Pets (Cinco Paul Brian Lynch Ken Daurio) | yes | yes | The Secret Life of Pets (2016) The Secret Life of Pets 2 (2019) | no | no | no | The Secret Life of Pets: Unleashed | The Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash! | |
Tangled (Nathan Greno & Byron Howard) | various | various | Tangled (2010) Tangled Ever After (2012) (2017) | no | Tangled: The Series / Rapunzel's Tangled Adventure (2017–2020) | no | (2010) | ||
Tom and Jerry (William Hanna & Joseph Barbera) | yes | Theatrical short films, (beginning in 1940 to 1967 and 2005) various DTV animated films | Tom & Jerry | numerous | no | Musical adaption | |||
Toy Story (John Lasseter, and various) | yes | Toy Story (1995) Toy Story 2 (1999) Toy Story 3 (2010) Toy Story 4 (2019) Lightyear (2022) Toy Story Toons (2011–2012) Lamp Life (2020) | no | Toy Story Treats (1996) Buzz Lightyear of Star Command (2000–2001) Forky Asks a Question (2019–2020) two TV shorts | no | other media | |||
Wallace and Gromit (Nick Park) | yes | various | A Grand Day Out (1989) The Wrong Trousers (1993) A Close Shave (1995) The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2005) A Matter of Loaf and Death(2008) Shaun the Sheep Movie (2015) (2019) two Shaun the Sheep specials | no | Cracking Contraptions (2002) Shaun the Sheep (2007-) Timmy Time (2009–2012) Wallace and Gromit's World of Invention (2010) | no | Wallace & Gromit's Thrill-O-Matic | ||
Woody Woodpecker/Andy Panda (Walter Lantz) | yes | yes | Theatrical Andy Panda short series (starting in 1939 to 1952, with the short Knock Knock debuting the character of Woody Woodpecker) Theatrical Woody Woodpecker shorts (starting in 1940 to 1971) | Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1989) (cameo only)Woody Woodpecker (2017)Woody Woodpecker Goes to Camp (2024) | The Woody Woodpecker Show (1957–1958) The New Woody Woodpecker Show (1999–2001) Woody Woodpecker (2018) | live action segments in The Woody Woodpecker Show | various | theme park attractions The Woody Woodpecker Song |
Franchise (Creator) | Literature | Comics | Animated films | Live action films | Animated TV series | Live action TV series | Video games | Other media | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Alien[1] (Dan O'Bannon and Ronald Shusett) | no | Alien (1979) Aliens (1986) Alien 3 (1992) Alien Resurrection (1997) | no | no | - | ||||
Back to the Future (Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale) | no | Back to the Future (1985) Back to the Future Part II (1989) Back to the Future Part III (1990) | Back to the Future (1991–1992) | no | yes | Back to the Future the Musical Doc Brown Saves the World (2015) | |||
Beetlejuice (Michael McDowell and Larry Wilson) | juvenile novels (1992) | yes (1991–1992) | no | Beetlejuice (1988) Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (2024) | Beetlejuice (1989–1991) | no | Beetlejuice musical (2018) | ||
Bill & Ted (Chris Matheson and Ed Solomon) | yes | Bill & Ted's Excellent Comic Book (1991–1992) | no | Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure (1989) Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey (1991) Bill & Ted Face the Music (2020) | Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventures (1990–1991) | Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventures (1992) | various | cereal musical | |
Buffyverse (Joss Whedon) | no | Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992) | Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997–2003) Angel (1999–2004) | - | |||||
The Chronicles of Riddick / Pitch Black (David Twohy) | yes | no | (2004) | Pitch Black (2000) The Chronicles of Riddick (2004) Riddick (2013) | no | no | - | ||
DC Extended Universe (DC Films) | no | no | - | ||||||
Evil Dead (Sam Raimi) | no | Army of Darkness comic book various | no | no | Ash vs Evil Dead | Evil Dead: The Musical | |||
The Expendables (David Callaham) | no | no | The Expendables (2010) The Expendables 2 (2012) The Expendables 3 (2014) Expend4bles (2023) | no | no | soundtracks | |||
Final Destination (Jeffrey Reddick) | numerous novels | Final Destination: Sacrifice (2006) Final Destination: Spring Break (2006) | no | no | no | no | - | ||
Flipper (Arthur Weiss Ricou Browning Jack Cowden) | children's books | yes | no | Flipper (1963) Flipper's New Adventure (1964) Flipper (1996) | Flipper and Lopaka | Flipper (1964) Flipper (1995) | no | ||
Ghostbusters (Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis) | no | no | Ghostbusters (1984) Ghostbusters II (1989) Ghostbusters: Answer the Call (2016) (2021) (2024) | yes | no[2] | yes | - | ||
Godzilla (Ishirō Honda) | novels by Marc Cerasini | yes | yes | yes | - | ||||
Gremlins (Joe Dante) | no | no | Gremlins (1984) (1990) | (2022) | - | - | |||
Halloween (John Carpenter and Debra Hill) | no | no | no | Halloween | - | ||||
Herbie (Gordon Buford and Walt Disney Productions) | Car, Boy, Girl (1961, unpublished) film novelizations | three Gold Key Comics under the Walt Disney Showcase | no | The Love Bug (1968) Herbie Rides Again (1974) Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo (1977) Herbie Goes Bananas (1980) (2005) | no | Herbie, the Love Bug | Herbie: Fully Loaded (2005) Herbie Rescue Rally (2007) | - | |
High School Musical (Kenny Ortega and Peter Barsocchini) | High School Musical (2006–2009) | no | High School Musical (2006) High School Musical 2 (2007) (2008) | no | (2008) (2019–2023) | High School Musical on Stage! (2006) (2007) (2006–2009) | |||
Highlander (Gregory Widen) | various | various | (2007) | Highlander (1986) (1991) (1994) (2000) (2007) | Highlander (1986) (1995) | ||||
Indiana Jones (George Lucas and Steven Spielberg) | yes | no | Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984) Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989) Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008) Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (2023) | no | The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles | The Adventures of Indiana Jones Role-Playing Game by TSR and The World of Indiana Jones by West End Games | |||
The Karate Kid (Robert Mark Kamen) | no | no | no | The Karate Kid (1984) The Karate Kid Part II (1986) The Karate Kid Part III (1989) The Next Karate Kid (1994) The Karate Kid (2010)Karate Kid (2025) | The Karate Kid (1989) | Cobra Kai (2018–) | (1986) The Karate Kid (1987) | ||
King Kong (Merian C. Cooper) | no | various | The Mighty Kong (1998) | King Kong (1933); numerous others | The King Kong Show (1966–1969) (2000) | no | various | King Kong musical (2013); amusement park rides | |
Marvel Cinematic Universe (Marvel Studios) | various | various | no | Iron Man (2008) several other films | What If...? (2021) | various | various | various | |
The Matrix[3] [4] (The Wachowskis) | yes | The Animatrix (2003) | The Matrix (1999) The Matrix Reloaded (2003) The Matrix Revolutions (2003) The Matrix Resurrections (2021) | no | no | Enter the Matrix (2003) several others | - | ||
The Pink Panther (Blake Edwards and Maurice Richlin) | yes | The Pink Panther (1963); sequels and reboots | no | - | |||||
Police Academy (Paul Maslansky) | no | yes | no | Police Academy (1984) six sequels | Police Academy (1988) | (1997) | no | Police Academy Stunt Show (1991) | |
Predator (Jim Thomas and John Thomas) | no | Predator (1987) Predator 2 (1990) Predators (2010) The Predator (2018) Prey (2022) | no | no | - | ||||
RoboCop (Edward Neumeier and Michael Miner) | RoboCop 2: A Novel | no | RoboCop (1987) RoboCop 2 (1990) RoboCop 3 (1993) RoboCop (2014) | (1988) (1998−1999) | (1994) (2001) | RoboCop the Ride | |||
Rocky (Sylvester Stallone) | yes | no | no | Rocky (1976) Numerous sequels and spin-offs | no | no | Various | Rocky the Musical | |
Saw (James Wan and Leigh Whannell) | no | yes | no | no | no | Saw (2009) (2010) | various theme parks, attractions and additional merchandise | ||
Stargate (Roland Emmerich and Dean Devlin) | yes | no | Stargate (1994) | Stargate Infinity | Stargate SG-1 Stargate Atlantis Stargate Universe | - | |||
Star Wars (George Lucas) | Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008) | Star Wars (1977) several other films | numerous | (1984) The Mandalorian (2019-) The Book of Boba Fett (2021-) Obi-Wan Kenobi (2022-) | numerous | ||||
Terminator (James Cameron) | no | no | (2008–2009) | park attraction | |||||
Top Gun | no | no | no | Top Gun (1986) (2022) | no | no | soundtracks | ||
Tron (Steven Lisberger) | yes | no | Tron (1982) (2010) | no | |||||
Westworld (Michael Crichton) | no | no | no | Westworld (1973) Futureworld (1976) | no | Beyond Westworld (1980) Westworld (2016–2022) |