Franchises That Need a Break: A Top 7 List
Even the best franchises need to take a break. While goodwill can bring an audience back for a sequel, nostalgia, and anticipation can do even more, especially for a franchise that had worn out its welcome, but then audiences grew to miss.
Transformers
The Transformers franchise, once a box office powerhouse, has struggled artistically and financially since director Michael Bay left. While Bumblebee was embraced by fans and critics, it failed to reach the same box office success as its predecessors. The last film, Rise of the Beasts, disappointed across the board, indicating a decline in audience interest. The spectacle and awe of the Transformers no longer have the shine they once did, and there isn't the same level of nostalgia for the 80s cartoon that there once was. It seems the best thing for the Transformers franchise would be to park itself for a little while and come back with a fresh new perspective on the concept.
Transformers 2007 Optimus Prime vs Bonecrusher
The last film teased a team-up with GI Joe, but the best thing for the Transformers franchise would be to go into hibernation, allowing audiences to miss it and building anticipation for a return with a new and exciting take. A break could provide the opportunity for a complete creative revamp, breathing new life into the franchise for future installments.
Noah and Elena running in Transformers Rise of the Beasts
The Monsterverse
Warner Bros' Monsterverse has been one of the more successful cinematic universes outside the MCU, with projects ranging from great monster movies to fine summer blockbusters. However, with Godzilla vs. Kong wrapping up the major narrative arc of the series and Godzilla Minus One impressing audiences, now might be the right time for the Monsterverse to go into hibernation. The franchise hasn't worn out its welcome yet, but it easily could with an overflow of Monster content coming out in short succession. This runs the risk of feeling too repetitive and uninteresting, and the franchise needs either a break or a massive artistic shake-up to maintain audience interest.
Godzilla vs the Ion Dragon in Monarch Legacy of Monsters
With Monarch expanding the Monsterverse into TV and Godzilla x Kong on its way, there is a lot of potential for the franchise, but it needs to take a step back and consider its direction. A break could provide the space for a creative reimagining, ensuring that future installments captivate modern audiences with fresh and intriguing content.
Kong scowls menacingly while brandishing a club-like weapon in Godzilla x Kong
Terminator
The Terminator franchise has struggled artistically after T2, with the timeline constantly rebooting itself in the hopes of reigniting the series. The last film, Terminator: Dark Fate, relied heavily on nostalgia for the original films, and if the Terminator franchise is going to find success outside of James Cameron, it needs a fresh new perspective on the concept. It's time for Terminator to call it quits, at least for a little while, allowing audiences to miss it and creating anticipation for a return with a new and exciting take.
Arnold Schwarzenegger firing a flame gun in Terminator Dark Fate
A break from the big screen could provide the opportunity for a complete creative revamp, breathing new life into the franchise and ensuring that future installments resonate with both existing fans and a new generation of moviegoers.
Terminator and Sarah Connor in Dark Fate with guns.
Halloween
The original Halloween redefined the horror genre in 1978 with its simple yet atmospheric story of a killer returning to his home neighborhood. However, with 12 more movies released since then, the franchise has struggled to recapture the heights of the first. Most entries feel repetitive as Michael Myers runs around Haddonfield stabbing teenagers, and attempts to introduce new elements have been rejected by fans and critics. The most recent entry, Halloween Ends, was considered a massive disappointment, signaling that it's time to put the franchise on ice. The iconography of Michael Myers and his knife has been overexploited, and there's no more nostalgia to play off of. A hiatus is necessary to allow filmmakers to develop a new and exciting take on the franchise.
Michael Myers in Halloween Ends
The Halloween franchise should take a well-deserved break from the theater screens, providing space for a creative revamp that can reinvigorate the series and bring something new and captivating to future installments.
Jamie Lee Curtis as Laurie Strode in Halloween Ends with cut on her face
Harry Potter
The original eight Harry Potter films were some of the biggest movies of all time, but interest in the prequel films, particularly the Fantastic Beasts franchise, has waned. Lackluster movies, coupled with controversies surrounding the author, J.K. Rowling, have made the Wizarding World less magical than it used to be. It's time to allow audiences to miss the enchanting world of Harry Potter and build anticipation for a return with new and captivating stories. The upcoming Harry Potter TV show feels futile, as several generations associate the characters with the original cast. A break from new releases could provide the opportunity for the franchise to undergo a creative reimagining and regain its former allure.
Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) looks up as he walks down the street in Fantastic Beasts.
A well-deserved hiatus would give the Wizarding World the chance to refresh its storytelling approach and captivate audiences with a new era of magic, allowing future installments to reignite the enchantment that made the franchise a global phenomenon.
Kamala Khan, Carol Danvers and Monica Rambeau in new costumes in The Marvels
SPUMC
Sony's attempts to create a compelling universe out of lesser-known Spider-Man characters, from Morbius to Venom, have been met with mixed reception. The studio lacks a solid plan for this universe and has been producing sub-par origin movies about villains and lesser-known side characters. With superhero fatigue setting in among regular moviegoers, there isn't room for mediocre content. It's time for the SPUMC to take a break and come back with a compelling and well-thought-out vision for the universe.
morbius in the ssu
A hiatus would provide the necessary time for Sony to develop a solid plan for the universe, ensuring that future installments captivate audiences and contribute meaningfully to the Spider-Man universe.
Eddie Brock speaking to Venom with a chicken
John Wick
The John Wick franchise has consistently delivered high-quality action cinema, with each installment raising the bar for the genre. The most recent entry, John Wick: Chapter 4, wrapped up the story in a satisfying manner, and any attempt at returning to the franchise shortly runs the risk of spoiling a terrific ending. It's essential to allow audiences to miss the adrenaline-pumping world of John Wick and build anticipation for a return with fresh and exhilarating stories. A break from new releases could provide the opportunity for the franchise to maintain its legacy and deliver captivating content in future installments.
John fighting two men in an antique shop in John Wick 3
A well-deserved hiatus would ensure that the John Wick franchise continues to set new standards for action cinema, captivating audiences with thrilling narratives and pulse-pounding action.
Keanu Reeves as John Wick sits next to the Unnamed Dog in John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum's intro.
The MCU
The Marvel Cinematic Universe, once the biggest movie franchise in the world, is in desperate need of some time on the bench. After the phenomenon of Avengers: Endgame, the quality of projects has fluctuated, leading to superhero fatigue among audiences. It's crucial for the MCU to take a break and reevaluate its storytelling approach, ensuring that future installments captivate audiences and contribute meaningfully to the superhero genre.
Don Cheadle as James Rhodey Rhodes in Secret Invasion in the MCU
A hiatus would provide the necessary time for the MCU to recalibrate and deliver projects that reignite the excitement and anticipation that defined the early years of the franchise, setting the stage for a new era of superhero storytelling.
Anthony Mackie as Sam Wilson in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier holding Captain America's shield
