Top 10 Fictional Movie Universes

This franchise brought the suave back to swashbuckling! Set in an era of jolly rogers, epic battles at sea and the occasional giant squid monster, “Pirates of the Caribbean” introduced us to Jack Sparrow. Sorry. Captain Jack Sparrow, the most badass yet uncoordinated pirate you will ever meet. We follow him on a set of perilous adventures from the drunken haven of Tortuga all the way to Davy Jones’ Locker. Whether it’s battling skeletal pirates, the Kraken or Blackbeard, you won’t be short on treasure or fun in this universe.

Straight out of the books by C.S. Lewis, “The Chronicles of Narnia” managed to translate beautifully onto the silver screen, bringing both a gripping story and magical visuals to audiences worldwide. The story follows the Pevensie siblings as they escape the ruins of their London home through a wardrobe into a world of magic and conflict. With a mythos heavily based in Christianity, and a selection of memorable characters that range from the wicked White Witch to the noble Aslan, Narnia is a land of wonder we don’t want to leave anytime soon.

Get ready to upload yourself into the Wachowskis’ cyberpunk world of martial arts, killer programs and bullet time! In a universe where machines have turned on humans, mankind is kept in perpetual slavery inside an artificial dream world known as the Matrix. It’s a world filled with dazzling fights, philosophy on the conflicts of science and faith, and guns - lots of guns. Even if the final instalment of the trilogy was a tad lackluster, there’s no denying the excitement we felt when we first saw Neo bend the rules of nature. Admit it, we all wanted to be the One.

This franchise has been going on longer and has released more movies than any other entry on our list, spanning from the ‘50s all the way to the 2000s. What do the movies all have in common? Endless Japanese Kaiju action featuring the King of the Monsters. Ranging from light-hearted to bleak, you can almost always expect to see Japanese cities getting demolished, and Godzilla himself facing off against pretty vicious challengers for his title. Whether it’s against Mothra, King Kong or Ghidorah, these films promise you entertainment that only kaiju can bring.

While Godzilla may be nostalgic and have the entertainment factor, there’s no denying that both of these sci-fi beasts put the fear back in the hearts of moviegoers. We’ve rated these universes equally due to their similarities and successes within the genre, and the fact they’ve also duked it out on more than one occasion. Ridley Scott’s “Alien” proved that in space no one can hear you scream, while John McTiernan’s “Predator” turned hunters into the hunted. Both are packed with futuristic weapons, badass protagonists, and of course, the ever-looming threat of an interstellar creature ready to tear you limb from limb.

To boldly go where no man has gone before; this franchise did just that. Expanding on what the incredible television series did, the movies introduced trekkies and casual viewers alike to unforgettable characters and epic space battles. Whether it’s the original crew of the Next Generation or the Enterprise, you can expect all phasers to be set to excitement throughout this voyage into the depths of space.

When one hero isn’t enough, you bring in a whole team. Linking together Marvel Comics’ greatest through a series of origin stories and eventual team ups, the heroes that make up the Avengers have proven to be one of the most successful franchises in cinematic history. While iconic characters like Iron Man, Thor and Captain America continue to add depth to their own stories, new releases such as “Guardians of the Galaxy” expand a universe that can only be described as superhuman.

There’s no denying that J.K. Rowling's tale of the boy who lived breathed life into the cinematic world of magic. This universe is the setting of Harry Potter’s adventures as he attends Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and the dangers he faces as he and his two friends go through seven years of magical education. It’s also filled to the brim with deadly conspiracies, terrifying beasts, and a war against the most demonic wizard in existence. Friendship, loss, sacrifice, love and destiny are what await any moviegoer who finds themselves drawn into this fantasy world featuring the boy with the lightning-shaped scar.

Fantasy doesn’t get any more epic than this. The ultimate tale of good versus evil, “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy follows the perilous journey of Frodo Baggins, a hobbit from the Shire, as he and a fellowship of companions attempt to destroy the Ring of Power before it brings about the destruction of all races. Breath-taking locations, unrivalled battle sequences, and enough fantastical creatures to leave you shouting out “my precious” before the credits roll, Peter Jackson’s vision of Tolkien’s work is both beautiful and exhilarating to behold.

Before our number one pick consumes us with its awesomeness, here are a few honorable mentions.
- Universal Monsters Universe
“Universal Monsters” franchise (1923-60)
- Toy Story Universe
“Toy Story” franchise (1995-)
- Quentin Tarantino Universe
“Quentin Tarantino” franchise (1992-)
- The Dark Knight Universe
“The Dark Knight” trilogy (2005-12)

When it comes to fictional cinematic universes, none is more saturated in rich lore than George Lucas’ epic space opera. Even if we were to disregard the multitude of other high-quality media that has spawned from the film’s success, there is no denying that the worlds, characters and events of the original trilogy are instantly recognizable and infinitely quotable. The story of Luke Skywalker and his battle against Darth Vader and the Empire is one that won’t be forgotten for a very, very long time. The force is indeed strong with this one.

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