Top 10 WORST Movie Franchises
Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the least-effective film series ever. Did we forget another forgettable franchise? Let us know in the comments below.
#10: “Fantastic Beasts” franchise (2016-22)
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What started as a guidebook linked to the Harry Potter series became its own spin-off. The result felt largely unnecessary, never rising to the magic of the original movies. Newt Scamander’s initial adventures offer up some fantastic thrills, but the sequels deliver diminishing returns. The controversies surrounding the casting of Grindelwald are just a fraction of the problems with “The Secrets of Dumbledore” and “The Crimes of Grindelwald.” Each sequel gets too bogged down by the story details and the finale in particular doesn’t offer anything new to excite fans. Wanting to chase Potter’s success and try something different, the filmmakers spread the idea too thin. Ultimately, we wish they’d left this property alone.
#9: “Fifty Shades” franchise (2015-18)
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From fan-fiction to a cultural phenomenon, E.L. James’ series was never considered high-art. The film adaptations don’t expand on the books either, failing to elevate the material or even be entertaining. It ultimately comes down to a melodramatic relationship between Anastasia Steele and Christian Grey. Even if you’re just looking for a good time, you’ll probably be let down by the poorly-written romance. The businessman’s many red flags will have viewers questioning how the main heroine sticks around for two sequels in the first place. On top of that, the twists of “Darker” and “Freed” feel more like a soap opera than an attempt to save the franchise. Even with talented actors in the cast, nobody can quite make it worthwhile.
#8: “Baby Geniuses” franchise (1999-2015)
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When scientists discover that babies are secretly smart, they hold them prisoner and prompt one of the most absurd plots in film history. “Baby Geniuses” involves a case of mistaken identity mixed with absurd action sequences. Along with an inane premise, the technology that makes the infants’ mouths move is nightmare fuel. Don’t even get us started on the disturbing baby robot either. Without learning their lesson, the producers took a modest profit and doubled-down with a sequel. “Superbabies: Baby Geniuses 2” tries to mix a kidnapping plot with some spy and superhero cliches. It was the opposite of a success, failing to earn sympathy from almost anyone. Unsurprisingly, people didn’t want to deal with the direct-to-video sequels either.
#7: “After” franchise (2019-)
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From the books by Anna Todd, the “After” franchise follows the relationship of Tessa Young and Hardin Scott. The first film captures the two meeting in college for a romance you can see coming a mile away. Unashamed of meet-cutes and on-the-nose dialogue, this series takes an extended look at a couple falling in love and drifting apart. It’s the stuff that romance novels are made of, with scandals, alcohol use disorder, and neglectful parents thrown in for good measure. Defying critics, the filmmakers decided to push this story into five installments so far, with predictable surprises along the way. You’d be better off watching any other rom-com instead of seeing this one-note plot to the end.
#6: “Jaws” franchise (1975-87)
Without a doubt, the first “Jaws” is an American classic and one of Steven Spielberg’s greatest achievements. The sequels all pale in comparison to the first film’s tension and sense of storytelling. Not for nothing, Spielberg’s lack of involvement in the follow-ups should be enough reason to give one pause. “Jaws 2” has Roy Scheider return in a mediocre cash-in, setting up the exact same shark problem. By the time the brand hit “Jaws 3-D,” it had completely lost the plot and only focused on mindless spectacle. Any semblance of character development drops out in favor of forgettable action, leading to the even worse adventure “Jaws: The Revenge” which shockingly stars the great Michael Caine.
#5: “Divergent” franchise (2014-16)
Riding the wave of young adult adaptations, “Divergent” always felt like a series that was too little and too late. Veronica Roth’s books were popular enough to get the film treatment, but the reviews weren’t all kind. Tris and Four’s romance couldn’t quite carry multiple movies’ worth of complicated sci-fi stories. Their rebellious journey to avoid betrayals and climb over the wall doesn’t feel fresh or engaging enough to justify itself. In later entries, acclaimed actresses such as Kate Winslet and Naomi Watts feel stifled by the less-than-impressive material. The plot ultimately doesn’t have the exciting premise of something like “The Hunger Games,” with a fourth installment being canceled due to bad box-office.
#4: “Resident Evil” franchise (2002-16)
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Gamers and film fans alike can find something to be disappointed by in “Resident Evil.” The series doesn’t even have the same feel as the video games, infuriating anyone looking for the franchise’s survival-horror gameplay. Instead of paying tribute to the source, the movies feel like they’re using the brand name to draw in viewership. Paul W.S. Anderson sets the tone with a gory first entry, but never quite explores the depths of any one character. His sequels seem like “Matrix” rip-offs that care more about bullets flying than anything else. The “Underworld” films also tried to combine action and horror, similarly failing to do much else other than finding new ways to kill enemies.
#3: “The Twilight Saga” (2008-12)
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This vampire series was undeniably a blockbuster event that captivated young fans in the late 2000s and early 2010s. Based on Stephenie Meyer’s books, “Twilight” features the melodramatic relationships between Bella and her two potential suitors. Great actors are in this franchise, but few of them are actually good in these movies. It takes itself so seriously at some points that you can’t help but laugh at the depiction of vampire and werewolf fights. Not without its fans, the series was an inescapable force of pop culture that was never destined to win any major awards. No matter what side you were on, you have to admit that the mediocre action, cliched story, and questionable writing weren’t worth much.
#2: “365 Days” franchise (2020-22)
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Trying to be a new “Fifty Shades,” this franchise doubles down on the idea of the erotic thriller in the worst way possible. The first movie finds the gangster Massimo kidnapping a young woman and giving her a year to fall in love with him. If that doesn’t have you grossed out, stick around for more toxic behavior and troubling relationship goals. Some moments are a mix between being a cringy romance and an X-rated perfume commercial. By the time that the couple gets married, you’ll probably be laughing at the series’ lame attempts at sentimentality. Did we forget to mention that there’s also a plot about the Sicilian mafia? With a cliffhanger ending, these movies come to an abrupt and pointless conclusion.
#1: “Atlas Shrugged” (2011-14)
Adapted from Ayn Rand’s novel, “Atlas Shrugged” takes place in an alternate timeline where a financially unstable America relies on dilapidated railroads for travel. It then slowly descends into a story about economics, business deals, and steel. Anything but riveting, you might be asleep by the end of the first film. Both sequels plainly reveal the mistake of turning one book into a trilogy of boring plots, bland acting, and writing that feels too preachy. While Rand’s original material might draw its fair share of fans and detractors, this movie series has little appeal even for even hardcore fans.
