There is a reason for it just not generally for the benefit of the viewer.
Are film franchises more common nowadays?
- Thread starter Lord Camomile
- Start date
Looking further at that list of films for 1981, 1991, 2001 and 2011 as it is looking at only certain years, I thought it interesting to look at the number of sequels in the US yearly box office top 10s since 1980.
1980 -3
1981 - 2
2
3
2
2
2
1
1
1989 - 4
1990 - 1
1991 - 2 (their list has 3 including a remake of Father of the Bride, yet there are other remakes there)
1992 - 3
1993 -0
1994 - 0
1995 - 4
1996 - 0
1997 - 1
1998 - 0
1999 - 3
2000 - 1
2001 - 3 (they list 5 including remakes of Oceans 11 and Planet of the Apes)
2002 - 5
6
4
2
4
6
3
4
2010 - 5
2011 - 9 (after their list was published, Sherlock Holmes 2 made the final top 10)
2012 - 4
2013 - currently 5
So the 90s were comparatively low on successful sequels, the 80s had a steady stream and since 2002 over 40% of the biggest films have been sequels.
Not got the data here but will look into earlier years at a later date.
1980 -3
1981 - 2
2
3
2
2
2
1
1
1989 - 4
1990 - 1
1991 - 2 (their list has 3 including a remake of Father of the Bride, yet there are other remakes there)
1992 - 3
1993 -0
1994 - 0
1995 - 4
1996 - 0
1997 - 1
1998 - 0
1999 - 3
2000 - 1
2001 - 3 (they list 5 including remakes of Oceans 11 and Planet of the Apes)
2002 - 5
6
4
2
4
6
3
4
2010 - 5
2011 - 9 (after their list was published, Sherlock Holmes 2 made the final top 10)
2012 - 4
2013 - currently 5
So the 90s were comparatively low on successful sequels, the 80s had a steady stream and since 2002 over 40% of the biggest films have been sequels.
Not got the data here but will look into earlier years at a later date.
Looking at just the top 10 of the 70s, none are sequels.
Source
Musical - Grease
Book - Jaws, Exorcist, Godfather, Airport
Magazine article - Saturday Night Fever
Original - Star Wars, The Sting, Love Story, Close Encounters
Six of these generated sequels.
The lists that Reno linked to (which are unadjusted for inflation) lists Animal House (short stories), Superman (comic book) and Smokey and the Bandit (original) rather than Love Story, Saturday Night Fever and Airport.
Source
Musical - Grease
Book - Jaws, Exorcist, Godfather, Airport
Magazine article - Saturday Night Fever
Original - Star Wars, The Sting, Love Story, Close Encounters
Six of these generated sequels.
The lists that Reno linked to (which are unadjusted for inflation) lists Animal House (short stories), Superman (comic book) and Smokey and the Bandit (original) rather than Love Story, Saturday Night Fever and Airport.
80s
Sequels - Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi, Indiana Jones and the temple of Doom
Originals - ET, Raiders, Ghostbusters, Beverly Hills Cop, Back to the Future, Tootsie
Comic book - Batman
Of the non-sequels, 5 generated sequels. One has been remade/re-imagined.
Again, the unadjusted list that Reno links to has Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (a sequel) rather than Tootsie.
Sequels - Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi, Indiana Jones and the temple of Doom
Originals - ET, Raiders, Ghostbusters, Beverly Hills Cop, Back to the Future, Tootsie
Comic book - Batman
Of the non-sequels, 5 generated sequels. One has been remade/re-imagined.
Again, the unadjusted list that Reno links to has Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (a sequel) rather than Tootsie.
Top 10 films from the 50s
10 Commandments
Ben Hur
Around the World in 80 Days
The Robe
Cinderella
Bridge on the River Kwai
Greatest Show on Earth
Lady and the Tramp
From Here to eternity
Peter Pan
Not got time to analyse yet but the top 2 are remakes and at least 3 others are not originals.
ETA Of those, the 3 Disney films probably shouldn't be included as their position is largely based on re-releases in other decades.
10 Commandments
Ben Hur
Around the World in 80 Days
The Robe
Cinderella
Bridge on the River Kwai
Greatest Show on Earth
Lady and the Tramp
From Here to eternity
Peter Pan
Not got time to analyse yet but the top 2 are remakes and at least 3 others are not originals.
ETA Of those, the 3 Disney films probably shouldn't be included as their position is largely based on re-releases in other decades.
Reno
The In Kraut
I'm really not sure what you are trying to prove here. Are you really suggesting that todays Hollywood is as creative and diverse in its output as it was in its golden age or in the 70s. It feels like you aren't quite seeing the wood for the trees with your number crunching. None of the films on there are part of what we would recognise as a "franchise". That at least half of the films made have always been adaptations of some sort isn't exactly big news and also doesn't make them franchise films. It takes a little more to understand film history and how Hollywood has changed its business model, than some quick imdb research.
I'm not trying to prove anything. Was just interested in what the historic trend was.
Excluding the Disney films adds Giant, Quo Vadis and Peyton Place.
Source
Remakes - 10 Commandments, Ben Hur
Book - The Robe, Quo Vadis, Around the World in 80 Days, Peyton Place, From Here to Eternity, Giant, Bridge on the River Kwai
Original - Greatest Show on Earth
A very literary list, with the two remakes being based on books.
The unadjusted list lists South Pacific, which was based on a show.
90s
Filmed previously - Titanic
Book - Jurassic Park, Forrest Gump
Sequels. - Star Wars Episode 1
Originals - Lion King, Independence Day, Home Alone, Sixth Sense, Twister
Comic Book - Men in Black
Considering the position now and the number of sequels in the 80s, the 90s were quite original.
The unadjusted link in the list posted by Reno adds Toy Story 2 rather than Twister.
Filmed previously - Titanic
Book - Jurassic Park, Forrest Gump
Sequels. - Star Wars Episode 1
Originals - Lion King, Independence Day, Home Alone, Sixth Sense, Twister
Comic Book - Men in Black
Considering the position now and the number of sequels in the 80s, the 90s were quite original.
The unadjusted link in the list posted by Reno adds Toy Story 2 rather than Twister.
30s
Book - Gone with the Wind,
Filmed previously - Snow White, Mutiny on the Bounty,
Remake - Whoopee
Original - San Francisco, Alexander's Ragtime Band, Boys Town, Saratoga, Kid From Spain
Biopic - Great Ziegfeld
40s
Book - Duel in the Sun, Sergeant York, For Whom the Bell Tolls, Best Years of Our Lives, Samson and Delilah, Mrs Miniver
Show - This is the Army
Sequel - Bells of St Mary's
Original - Going My Way
Biopic - The Jolson Story
ETA the unadjusted list replaces Mrs Miniver with Mom and Dad (original) and Forever Amber (book).
60s
Filmed previously - Sound of Music
Remake - My Fair Lady, Cleopatra
Book -Doctor Zhivago, Mary Poppins, The Graduate
Sequel - Thunderball, Goldfinger
Factual - Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
Original - it's a mad, mad, mad, mad world
The unadjusted list has Funny Girl (book) and 2001 (original) instead of Mad x 4 and Goldfinger.
Book - Gone with the Wind,
Filmed previously - Snow White, Mutiny on the Bounty,
Remake - Whoopee
Original - San Francisco, Alexander's Ragtime Band, Boys Town, Saratoga, Kid From Spain
Biopic - Great Ziegfeld
40s
Book - Duel in the Sun, Sergeant York, For Whom the Bell Tolls, Best Years of Our Lives, Samson and Delilah, Mrs Miniver
Show - This is the Army
Sequel - Bells of St Mary's
Original - Going My Way
Biopic - The Jolson Story
ETA the unadjusted list replaces Mrs Miniver with Mom and Dad (original) and Forever Amber (book).
60s
Filmed previously - Sound of Music
Remake - My Fair Lady, Cleopatra
Book -Doctor Zhivago, Mary Poppins, The Graduate
Sequel - Thunderball, Goldfinger
Factual - Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
Original - it's a mad, mad, mad, mad world
The unadjusted list has Funny Girl (book) and 2001 (original) instead of Mad x 4 and Goldfinger.
And finally, the top 15 since 2000:
Original - Avatar, Finding Nemo
Comic book - Avengers, Spider-Man
Sequels - Dark Knight, Dark Knight Rises, Shrek 2, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest, Toy Story 3, Transformers Revenge of the Fallen, Iron Man 3, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, Star Wars Episode 3, Lord of the Rings Return of the King
Book - The Hunger Games
With 2/3rds of the biggest hits of the last 14 years being sequels it's quite clear that they are far more dominant than they were in the past, with the decade with the second most in the top ten for a decade being the 80s where 30% of the top 10 movies were sequels with at least 2 or 3 big sequels each year.
Original - Avatar, Finding Nemo
Comic book - Avengers, Spider-Man
Sequels - Dark Knight, Dark Knight Rises, Shrek 2, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest, Toy Story 3, Transformers Revenge of the Fallen, Iron Man 3, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, Star Wars Episode 3, Lord of the Rings Return of the King
Book - The Hunger Games
With 2/3rds of the biggest hits of the last 14 years being sequels it's quite clear that they are far more dominant than they were in the past, with the decade with the second most in the top ten for a decade being the 80s where 30% of the top 10 movies were sequels with at least 2 or 3 big sequels each year.
Having said that, there are around 500 films released each year in the US. In the top 100 grossing last year there were:
16 sequels
4 remakes
5 reissues
In the top 500, this increased to:
21 sequels
5 remakes
21 reissues
Therefore, only around 4% of films were sequels however, of the top 100, this increases to 16% and as per the earlier summary, it was 40% of the top 10.
In the 30s and 40s when a similar number of films were released, I imagine the overall percentage of sequel/serial/franchise films was probably higher however these, whilst very popular, weren't the big spectacles and the big money making films of the day.
The studios have changed completely and are no longer personal fiefdoms with lots of contracted talent. With the gargantuan sums spent on films nowadays the filmmakers try to reduce risk by making sure that there is already a built in audience for their films.
The issue at the moment is skewed further as these sequels/franchises take over the summer months and it is not until the awards season towards the end of the year (often released in Jan and Feb in the UK) that we get the studios releasing more original and serious films.
16 sequels
4 remakes
5 reissues
In the top 500, this increased to:
21 sequels
5 remakes
21 reissues
Therefore, only around 4% of films were sequels however, of the top 100, this increases to 16% and as per the earlier summary, it was 40% of the top 10.
In the 30s and 40s when a similar number of films were released, I imagine the overall percentage of sequel/serial/franchise films was probably higher however these, whilst very popular, weren't the big spectacles and the big money making films of the day.
The studios have changed completely and are no longer personal fiefdoms with lots of contracted talent. With the gargantuan sums spent on films nowadays the filmmakers try to reduce risk by making sure that there is already a built in audience for their films.
The issue at the moment is skewed further as these sequels/franchises take over the summer months and it is not until the awards season towards the end of the year (often released in Jan and Feb in the UK) that we get the studios releasing more original and serious films.
Reno
The In Kraut
The thread is about film franchises, which strictly speaking is a film series. An adaptation of a book does not constitute a film franchise.
As to whether some films Maltin quotes are even remakes is questionable. Titanic is based on a historical event and not a remake of a previous film and not even a re-adaptation of a particular book. It's central plot is unique to its telling of the story. I might do another one for remakes when I have more time and feel anal again.
I will list sequels and I will note when films spawned a franchise or sequels. It's worth noting that even though films lead to sequels throughout film history, they were much less likely to end up on a top ten list in earlier decades.
There now are straight to video sequels to just about every Disney film, but I won't count them because they don't tell us much about franchises of the period, as they were only made over the sequel crazy last couple of decades.
http://www.filmsite.org/boxoffice2.html
since 2010:
8 sequels
The Hunger Games was announced as a franchise from the first film
A sequel to Alice in Wonderland is in the works
since 2000:
6 sequels/prequels
7 lead to further sequels/prequels, sequels are in the works for 2 more. Spiderman has already been rebooted.
since 1990
2 sequels/prequels
6 films spawned further sequels/prequels
since 1980
4 sequels
9 films in the charts would spawn further sequels/prequels
since 1970
no sequels
10 films would go on to spawn sequels
since 1960
1 sequel
4 would lead to further sequels.
since 1950
no sequels
no further sequels
since 1940
1 sequel
no further sequels
since 1930
no sequels
4 would lead to sequels
since 1920
no sequels
1 would lead to further sequels
As to whether some films Maltin quotes are even remakes is questionable. Titanic is based on a historical event and not a remake of a previous film and not even a re-adaptation of a particular book. It's central plot is unique to its telling of the story. I might do another one for remakes when I have more time and feel anal again.
I will list sequels and I will note when films spawned a franchise or sequels. It's worth noting that even though films lead to sequels throughout film history, they were much less likely to end up on a top ten list in earlier decades.
There now are straight to video sequels to just about every Disney film, but I won't count them because they don't tell us much about franchises of the period, as they were only made over the sequel crazy last couple of decades.
http://www.filmsite.org/boxoffice2.html
since 2010:
8 sequels
The Hunger Games was announced as a franchise from the first film
A sequel to Alice in Wonderland is in the works
since 2000:
6 sequels/prequels
7 lead to further sequels/prequels, sequels are in the works for 2 more. Spiderman has already been rebooted.
since 1990
2 sequels/prequels
6 films spawned further sequels/prequels
since 1980
4 sequels
9 films in the charts would spawn further sequels/prequels
since 1970
no sequels
10 films would go on to spawn sequels
since 1960
1 sequel
4 would lead to further sequels.
since 1950
no sequels
no further sequels
since 1940
1 sequel
no further sequels
since 1930
no sequels
4 would lead to sequels
since 1920
no sequels
1 would lead to further sequels
An overview of my earlier analysis
30s - 5 originals; 2 adaptations/other source; 1 remake; 2 filmed previously
40s - 1 original; 8 adaptations/other; 1 sequel
50s - 1 original; 7 adaptation/other; 2 remakes
60s - 1 original; 4 adapt/other; 2 remakes; 1 filmed previously; 2 sequels
70s - 4 originals; 6 adapt/other
80s - 6 originals; 1 adapt/other; 3 sequels (4 sequels on the list unadjusted for inflation)
90s - 5 originals; 3 adapt/other; 1 filmed previously; 1 sequel (2 sequels on the list unadjusted for inflation)
2000 to date - 2 originals; 3 adapt/other; 10 sequels
30s - 5 originals; 2 adaptations/other source; 1 remake; 2 filmed previously
40s - 1 original; 8 adaptations/other; 1 sequel
50s - 1 original; 7 adaptation/other; 2 remakes
60s - 1 original; 4 adapt/other; 2 remakes; 1 filmed previously; 2 sequels
70s - 4 originals; 6 adapt/other
80s - 6 originals; 1 adapt/other; 3 sequels (4 sequels on the list unadjusted for inflation)
90s - 5 originals; 3 adapt/other; 1 filmed previously; 1 sequel (2 sequels on the list unadjusted for inflation)
2000 to date - 2 originals; 3 adapt/other; 10 sequels
i agree that my categorisations are arbitrary and may be wrong. Whilst Titanic isn't strictly a remake, the story has been filmed many times. Perhaps the phrase I should have used was filmed previously.
On review of my posts, I'm not really sure about my categorisation of Batman. I said it was based on a comic book, but post this there was the TV version and a film release from the TV series so I could have included it as a remake.
I'm not sure what your point about books and franchises refers to. I was just summarising the source materials.
Is The Avengers strictly a sequel? It's definitely part of The Marvel franchise but I'm not sure I would classify it as a sequel.
Reno
The In Kraut
I'm counting The Avengers as a sequel to several films. It's a new thing, but it only proves the point that Hollywood is afraid to tackle original material. Even if you were to leave it out on a technicality, we still have 7 sequels.
I'm not going to fight over individual films for the rest of the thread. I think a massive trend towards franchising is clear and that's the point.
I'm not going to fight over individual films for the rest of the thread. I think a massive trend towards franchising is clear and that's the point.
Reno
The In Kraut
One more thing on The Avengers. The Marvel superhero films are one massive franchise consisting of several sub-franchises and the previous films set up The Avengers in their post credit sequences and often their plot lines. It's a super-franchise and if that isn't franchise crazy, then what is ?
Nanker Phelge
Leave the gun. Take the cannoli.
compared to what?
Reno
The In Kraut
Spambot ?
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