Top 5 Sci-Fi Franchises

Top 5 Sci-Fi Franchises

I do not list super heroes- Spiderman, Batman as true Sci-fi. To make the list, you have to have at least one TV show and one movie. A cartoon series will count as a TV show. Must be able to stand the test of time and be able to come back every few years. I have rated them in my order. Let the debate begin!

1. Star Trek- 7 movies, 5 TV shows and 1 cartoon. The little show that could. Fan support saved the original show for one more season and syndication made it a legend. With the ability to reinvent itself and never getting too full of its self- Star Trek is #1.

2. Star Wars- SW 1 or 4- maybe the most fun Sci-fi movie in history. The introduction of Darth early in the movie- classic. 6 movies and 1 cartoon and an Ewok Special. The early movies appealed to the kid inside of us. The later three movies seemed to appeal straight to kids. The first three movies are classics, the last three a little too kiddy or arrogant.

3. Dr Who- longevity! The ability to write out/in any actor/actress and the show never missing a beat. The original run of the show- never got stale because of this dynamic. Numerous lead actors, a couple movies and some TV movies.

4. Battlestar Gallatica- 2 series and the original pilot was released as a movie. With the re-imamaging of Battlestar on the Sci-fi channel, this franchise took off. Made use of new forms of communications to promote itself. Better than the original series

5. Planet of the Apes- 6 movies, 1 series and possibility one cartoon. The original movie- some of the most iconic movie moments of the 60s. The original series of movies addressed problems they faced in the 60s and that we still have trouble with today.

Outside Looking In

Terminator- 3 or 4 movies and 1 TV show. Needs another break through movie to get into the top 5.

Stargate- 1 movie and several series. Needs another break through event.

Alien- Does it deserve to be in the top 5?

How could you leave out Robotech?

Godzilla! 29 movies (including another American remake slated for 2012), video games, comic books, a few TV series, cartoons, and much more.



Wish they would have made the fight better, but what can you expect from a Japanese director who hates the American Godzilla.

Godzilla gets my vote -- classic.

Star Trek at #2.

I just dont think Godzilla measures up. I posted this same post in another forum...and there were Godzilla lovers there too. To me Godzilla has been more of a joke than adding anything significant. Just my opinion

Personally, I'd put Alien in the top 5 along with Predator. Those two have spawned any TV series but they've done a bunch of awesome comics and videogames.

Star Wars also had 2 Ewok spin-off movies that focused on Wicket.

Kaine333 wrote:Personally, I'd put Alien in the top 5 along with Predator. Those two have spawned any TV series but they've done a bunch of awesome comics and videogames.

Star Wars also had 2 Ewok spin-off movies that focused on Wicket.

Did you know that the Ewok "Wicket", also was the main character in the movie Willow?

[VK]†D-Man☢Warlord† wrote:

Kaine333 wrote:Personally, I'd put Alien in the top 5 along with Predator. Those two have spawned any TV series but they've done a bunch of awesome comics and videogames.

Star Wars also had 2 Ewok spin-off movies that focused on Wicket.

Did you know that the Ewok "Wicket", also was the main character in the movie Willow?

He's been in ALOT of movies. he was the main character in the Leprechaun series too as.... the leprechaun.

Phillip wrote:I just dont think Godzilla measures up. I posted this same post in another forum...and there were Godzilla lovers there too. To me Godzilla has been more of a joke than adding anything significant. Just my opinion

Not sure what yardstick you are using, but 28 movies, starting in 1954 (over 50 years ago!) and they are still making more -- numerous video games, novels, comic books and television series -- iconic.

Looks like I'm on the ouside of the godzilla debate....29 movies is hard to beat. but you still have to look at quality vs quantity. Do the Godzilla movies stand the test of time? Two Japanese dudes wearing rubber suits and wrestling around in balsa wood towns--is this quality?

Franchise by definition would be more than 1. For the purposes of this thread- should be more than 1 movie or televison show. So Blade Runner and Close Encounters of the Third Kind would be disqualified currently. I think you have to weigh several factors such as but not limited to the following: Profitability, Social Impact, Staying Power, Returning back, reinventing itself, staying relavent, merchandising, multiple revenue streams, multiple media outlets(books,comics,web, etc) and hotness of the female eye candy.

Phillip wrote:Looks like I'm on the ouside of the godzilla debate....29 movies is hard to beat. but you still have to look at quality vs quantity. Do the Godzilla movies stand the test of time? Two Japanese dudes wearing rubber suits and wrestling around in balsa wood towns--is this quality?

LOL

Quality? This was Japan in 1954 ...

As far as the "test of time" -- I still enjoy an old late night Godzilla flick!

And honestly, only "Wrath of Kahn" of the Star Trek movies was worth watching a second time in my opinion. The Original TV series though -- yeah, still watch those too.

I still love watching the old Godzilla movies. I think they're way better than that one from 1998 even though the FX aren't as good.

Would John Carpenter's The Thing count? Personally, it's one of my all time favorite movies and even though it was made in '82, it's FX still rival, or i many cases, beat those of movies made today. It's also spawned 1 videogame, and if you count everything related to it, it has a novella. Though in this case, the novella spawned the movie.

Since we are talking giant lizards lest we forget one huge ape also that trashed ny and a few other things as well. he goes by the name King Kong. You want longgevity cant get to much older than his first film in 1933. the etst of time well the franchise and movie remakes will speak for that. Come on admit it you all were having mario jump over them barrels I know I did.

Star Trek absolutely #1. (we'll just forget about that first movie)

Anyone remember Logan's Run?

I remember Logan's Run, used to watch it everytime it came on TV.. Like 'The Island' better these days as it's along the same basis.

Celtic Lady wrote:Would never argue about Battlestar Galactica or Dr Who which has the spin off Torchwood. Used to love Godzilla when I was a kid, but that was a lifetime ago!

The Sarah Jane Adventures was a Dr Who spin off too.

I married a Brit so he could translate for me.

Not that this is sci-fi, but I was flipping through the channels I pay WAY too much for for too many channels that have nothing good on them and saw an episode of an old Hardy Boys Mystery. It was one of those "had to go back to the channel" things to make sure I actually saw what I saw. lol

And Godzilla.. black and white picture. It came on every Sunday afternoon.

Logan's Run had a series also- lasted for 1 year. A remake of the movie is scheduled in 2012

I'd like to see a movie remake but I'm a bit leery after dishing out moolah to see the remake of Clash of the Titans. HORRID!

But yeah, only 1 season of Logan's Run. It seemed all the sci-fi shows I loved got cancelled.

I really liked the Dresden Files + Firefly although they both only lasted a season.

Anyone ever remember seeing Quark?

anyone watched V? originally a 2 part tv movie in 1983, a 3 part sequal in 1984, a tv series from 1984-85, 18 novels, a comic book series, a video game, a japanese manga series, and the new series came out last year with the second season of the new series scheduled to start in November. i grew up watching the original series so i was excited when i heard about the remake. alot of people didn't like the first season of the remake for alot of reasons: they didn't see what the visitors actually look like, the story is too slow, and other reasons but i say screw them. the first season was setting up for a helluva second season. i mean come on, the last episode of the new series shows Anna starting to feel human emotions (sadness and hate when Erica destroyed her "hatchery" and killed all her babies), and hundreds if not thousands more motherships heading toward Earth. if that's not a set up for a kick ass second season then i don't know what is.

I like V the second series alot! I only thought there was one bad episode.....Peace Always!