10 Most Consistent Hollywood Franchises That Are Great In Both Movies And TV
In today’s modern media landscape, countless Hollywood franchises have expanded into both movies and television, but unfortunately, the quality between releases can vary and there are very few that manage to be consistently great. As franchises branch out across sequels, spin-offs, and reboots on both movies and television, it can be difficult to maintain that initial spark of what made them successful in the first place. Certain franchises can keep the quality consistent and release projects that ensure viewers stay engaged and excited about their upcoming releases. There are some franchises, like the Buffyverse, that started in the world of film before finding major success on the small screen through series like Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel. Other franchises, such as the British stop-motion animation series Wallace and Gromit, have managed to gain critical acclaim in all of their releases and are just as viable across all media. During a time when audiences are feeling franchise fatigue and some series are releasing disappointing new entries, the franchises that are consistently great in both movies and TV are more vital than ever.
The Buffyverse
The Buffyverse includes one film and two television series. The Buffyverse started with the original Buffy the Vampire Slayer movie written by Joss Whedon and starring Kirsty Swanson. That film was a modest success, but the concept failed to make much of an impact until five years later, when Whedon created the darker and more mature television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Buffy was a major success and helped spearhead a wave of strong, powerful women on television in the 1990s and 2000s. Buffy even had a spin-off series, Angel, starring David Boreanaz. The Buffyverse has continued in comic book form and while a television reboot of Buffy the Vampire Slayer had been planned, its future is uncertain.
Sarah Michelle Gellar as Buffy in a collage picture with the rest of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer cast
Wallace and Gromit
The Wallace and Gromit franchise includes three films and five television series. The stop-motion franchise Wallace and Gromit includes numerous films, television series, and even the spin-off Shaun the Sheep. Focusing on the eccentric cheese-loving Wallace and his loyal and intelligent dog Gromit, the characters, who were created by Nick Park, are cultural icons of British media and their films have received universal critical acclaim. Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit is the second highest-grossing stop-motion movie of all time, only outgrossed by Chicken Run, another Park movie. The adventures of Wallace and Gromit have also continued on television with the series Wallace and Gromit's Cracking Contraptions and Wallace and Gromit's World of Invention.
Wallace and Gromit Aardman
The Karate Kid
The Karate Kid franchise includes five films and two television series. The success of the original 1984 Karate Kid movie led to three sequels and a remake. The coming-of-age story about teenagers mentored in the ways of martial arts struck a chord with audiences and is one of the best martial arts franchises of all time. The development of a sequel television series, Cobra Kai, on Netflix was a major success that showcased the series' viability on the small screen. Cobra Kai received universal acclaim and expertly blends nostalgia with compelling characters and emotional resonance.
Daniel LaRusso in The Karate Kid and a Cobra Kai poster
