The Ultimate Countdown: Unveiling the Hottest 2023 Franchises in Gaming, TV, and Film - Fans' Top Picks!

A new survey conducted by Fandom's parent company, Our Website, has provided valuable insights into various aspects of media and entertainment. Among the notable discoveries is a list of the top 25 franchises in media so far in 2023, based on fan perceptions. The list includes well-known franchises such as Star Wars, Disney, DC, Zelda, and others.

This year's survey incorporates Fandom's Franchise Factor Score, which utilizes data from Fandom's network of 350 million unique users every month, in addition to insights from a global study known as Inside Fandom.

"Franchises comprised 95% of the top-grossing blockbusters and games in 2023," said Perkins Miller, CEO of Fandom. The chart below demonstrates the rankings of the top 25 franchises, according to Fandom's measurements, with Star Wars reigning as the ultimate franchise. Marvel, One Piece, Elder Scrolls, and Harry Potter complete the top five. Other notable contenders such as Barbie, Yellowstone, The Last of Us, Fallout, Disney, DC, Star Trek, Pokemon, The Witcher, and The Walking Dead occupy additional positions.

The Top 25 Franchises of 2023, thus far

The study also revealed that 64% of gamers and 69% of general entertainment enthusiasts prefer engaging with established series rather than exploring new ventures. In addition, 57% of fans enjoy prequels and sequels, while 53% find spin-offs intriguing. Surprisingly, only 36% of respondents expressed interest in remakes and remasters for video games, despite their recent prominence.

The survey also highlights the growing popularity of cross-media adaptations. It reveals that 72% of respondents expressed a greater interest in a cross-media adaptation of something they are familiar with, rather than a completely new intellectual property. This aligns with the success of HBO's The Last of Us series and Universal's The Super Mario Bros. Movie, both of which received widespread acclaim.

Regarding preferences for cross-media adaptations, 40% of participants mentioned desiring a "strong connection" to the source material, while 34% expressed a desire for involvement from the original creators. The Last of Us series exemplifies this as Neil Druckmann, the writer and director of the game, plays an active role in the show's production. Similarly, in The Super Mario Bros. Movie, Shigeru Miyamoto served as an executive producer, and Chris Meledandri from Universal was invited to contribute as an outside director on Nintendo's board of directors to guide their endeavors in the film industry.

The Franchise Factor, as defined by Fandom, assesses the strength of a franchise based on five key factors. These factors encompass Worldbuilding, High Ratings, Fierce Fanbase, Culture Relevance, and Consistency.

In terms of Worldbuilding, the ability to create a fictional universe that captivates audiences through intriguing characters, settings, and lore is essential.

High Ratings: Ratings from both critics and fans play a pivotal role in capturing audience attention

Fierce Fanbase: Cultivating a community that passionately advocates for a franchise

Cultural Relevance: The capacity of a franchise to embody the essence of the current era and connect with a larger audience; a franchise that serves as a link between its core supporters and the general public, ultimately making a lasting impact on popular culture.

Consistency: A franchise that consistently stays in the forefront of people's minds and maintains interest over time by consistently delivering high-quality, innovative, and upgraded content for fans to delight in.

In terms of methodology, the survey is based on responses from 5,000 gaming and entertainment fans in the US and UK. For more, check out the full survey results.