Best Movie Franchises for Your Next Marathon

Few things beat a weekend immersed in a movie marathon. Whether you have a free weekend or want to plan an engaging group activity with friends, diving into hours of back-to-back films is always a great choice.

With countless movie marathon options, focusing on a single franchise often delivers the best experience. To help you plan your next cinematic adventure, we’ve compiled 15 top franchises to binge, complete with their total runtimes.

Which blockbuster movie franchise do you love most?

Star WarsMarvelFast and FuriousDCPirates of the CaribbeanAvatarJurassic Park/WorldHarry PotterJames BondOther

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Planet of the Apes

With Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes released last year, now’s the perfect time to dive into this iconic sci-fi saga. The franchise, spanning 10 films, offers a gripping marathon experience. Though the newer films diverge from the original series and follow three distinct timelines, they deliver a thrilling journey dominated by ape overlords.

While the exact runtime for all Planet of the Apes films isn’t pinned down, the collection’s scope suggests a solid two-day binge. Alternatively, stream just the prequel trilogy for a single-day marathon.

Planet of the Apes Trilogy Blu-ray Collection with Digital Copy

Also available in full 4K.See it at Amazon

X-Men

Before the MCU took over, the X-Men franchise ruled the superhero scene. Now including Deadpool & Wolverine, it boasts 13 films. The timeline gets tricky with time jumps and Deadpool entries, but you can simplify by following the Wolverine arc for a shorter binge.

Excluding Deadpool, the X-Men films total just over 22 hours. Including Deadpool adds undeniable flair, as it’s a fan favorite for a reason.

X-Men Blu-ray Collection

Includes 10 films.See it at Amazon

Fast and Furious

With Fast X hitting screens in 2023, the Fast and Furious saga now spans 13 films. What began as a street-racing series evolved into a globe-trotting epic that even ventures into space. For an action-packed marathon centered on family, this franchise delivers.

Binge all films for nearly 23.5 hours. Check our guide to the Fast and Furious films in order for more details.

Fast & Furious: 10-Movie Collection Blu-ray + Digital

See it at Amazon

Lord of the Rings

The Lord of the Rings trilogy remains a cornerstone of epic fantasy, adapted from J.R.R. Tolkien’s beloved books. Extend your marathon with the three Hobbit films and Amazon’s Rings of Power series for a full franchise experience.

The six feature films clock in at about 19.5 hours combined. Adding two seasons of Rings of Power brings nearly 18 more hours. See our guide to the Lord of the Rings in order or explore Lord of the Rings Blu-ray collections.

The Lord of the Rings: Motion Picture Trilogy (Extended & Theatrical) 4K Ultra HD

See it at Amazon

Star Wars

Star Wars continues to expand with no end in sight. With The Acolyte wrapping up this summer and numerous upcoming projects confirmed, the franchise includes 11 films so far. Adding animated movies, The Clone Wars, The Mandalorian, and more extends the timeline significantly.

A live-action movie marathon totals just over 25 hours. Explore our guide to Star Wars movies and shows in order or delve into Star Wars Legends books for deeper lore.

Pirates of the Caribbean

Among pirate films, Pirates of the Caribbean stands alone as a true franchise. Its five films, led by Johnny Depp’s iconic Jack Sparrow, await a sixth installment. For now, marathon all five in a single day.

Binge the Pirates of the Caribbean films for just over 12 hours.

4K UHD

Pirates of the Caribbean 5-Movie Collection

See it at Amazon

Jurassic Park

Quality dinosaur films are rare, making Jurassic Park the go-to for a prehistoric marathon. With six films, plus shorts and a Netflix animated series, the franchise grows with Jurassic World Rebirth set for July 2025. The Jurassic Park and Jurassic World trilogies share one timeline.

Watch all films in just over 10 hours. Check our guide to Jurassic Park movies in order for streaming options.

Jurassic World 6-Movie Collection (Standard Edition)

Includes all six films in 4K UHD, Blu-ray, and digital.See it at Amazon

Indiana Jones

Spanning four decades with just five films, the Indiana Jones series remains a classic. With Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny released in 2023 and a new game out, it’s a great time to revisit. Perfect for a Harrison Ford marathon.

Watch all five films in just over 10 hours.

4K UHD + Blu-ray

Indiana Jones 4-Movie Collection

See it at Amazon

The Conjuring

The Conjuring universe is expansive, with nine films including The Conjuring, Annabelle, and The Nun. Its complex timeline can be daunting for newcomers.

Including all nine films and five shorts, the marathon runs just under 14.5 hours, perfect for a weekend dive into horror, including The Nun 2.

The Conjuring 7-Film Blu-ray Collection

See it at Amazon

Transformers

With Transformers One now out, the franchise’s eight films deliver action, explosions, and humor. Transformers: Rise of the Beasts kicks off the timeline, followed by the original films.

Binge all Transformers movies for about 18.5 hours, ideal for a weekend of high-octane fun.

Limited Edition [Blu-ray + 4K UHD]

Transformers 6-Movie Steelbook Collection

See it at Amazon

Harry Potter

Despite the Fantastic Beasts series’ mixed reception, the Harry Potter films remain a magical marathon staple. Packed with wonder and nostalgia, they’re a favorite for fans of the books. Hogwarts Legacy adds prequel context.

Skip Fantastic Beasts for an eight-film marathon in just under 20 hours, or add the prequels for another 6 hours and 49 minutes.

Harry Potter: 8-Film Collection [4K UHD + Blu-ray]

See it at Amazon

Alien

With Alien: Romulus, the Alien franchise now totals nine films: six mainline, two Predator crossovers, and two prequels.

Perfect for a space-horror marathon, all Alien films take just over 17 hours, or about 14 hours without the Predator crossovers.

Alien: 6-Film Collection

Includes six Blu-ray discs and digital codes.See it at Walmart

Scream

The Scream franchise is thriving, with Scream 5 (2022), Scream 6 (2023), and Scream 7 set for 2026. Ideal for a lighthearted October horror marathon.

Watch all six Ghostface films in just over 11.5 hours. Find where to stream the Scream movies online.

Scream: 6-Movie Collection

See it at Amazon

James Bond

James Bond, one of the longest-running franchises, spans 26 films across seven actors. Marathon all for a deep dive, or focus on Daniel Craig’s era for a shorter run.

All 26 films take over 54 hours, while a Daniel Craig marathon runs 7 hours and 40 minutes.

James Bond Collection

Includes 24 films from classic to modern eras.See it at Amazon

The Hunger Games

With The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes streaming and a new Hunger Games book coming, it’s time to revisit the five-film series. The prequel starts the timeline, followed by the main films.

Binge all five films in just over 11.5 hours, with the prequel as the longest at 2 hours and 38 minutes.