By its very nature, horror movies lend themselves to sequels as killers, supernatural threats and monstrous creatures constantly return for revenge and vengeance. While this can sometimes feel unnecessary as horror franchises are past their prime and testing audiences’ patience, other series remain entertaining and feature characters that I will watch endlessly. As a horror movie lover, there are only a few franchises out there, no matter how many installments they make, I’m always excited to hear about a new, upcoming entry.
The best horror franchises feature antagonists who have played important roles in popular culture, and characters like Michael Myers and Freddy Krueger are sure to haunt audiences for decades to come. While I agree that some franchises should be put out of their misery, there are others that I still can’t get enough of. Although it may be true that Hollywood horror could use more original ideas instead of endless sequelsreboots and reinventions, some franchises deserve to stay afloat and still have something to offer in new installments.
10
Scream (1996-present)
Six films
Wes Craven revived the slasher genre with his first film. Scream in 1996 and ever since then I’ve been looking forward to seeing what hilarious and terrifying horror movie tropes the franchise pokes fun at. The first film took the tired concept of a masked killer stalking teenagers and imbued it with a knowing, tongue-in-cheek energy that helped it stand out from many other slasher films. Second and third Scream the films paid homage to the literal idea of ​​sequels and trilogies to create a very smart franchise that wasn’t afraid to laugh at itself.
Scream was the first horror franchise I really got intoand watching it grow and develop over the past almost three decades has been a joy. With later installments parodying the ideas of old sequels and franchise fatigue, Scream has evolved with the times and remained consistently relevant through meta-commentary and clever subversions of stereotypes. With this incredible story behind me, I’m excited to follow Scream franchise and Ghostface’s constant copycat killers for years to come.
9
Halloween (1978-present)
13 films with three time frames
Original Halloween The 1978 film was the definitive release in horror history, but was not a film that I felt needed a sequel. However, director John Karptener soon produced a lackluster film. Halloween IIa release that seemed to signal the series’ lack of franchise potential. However, the story doesn’t end there, as the franchise has continued over the past few decades with sequels, reboots, and reimaginings that Revealed the backstory of nanny killer Michael Myers.
With ridiculously confusing timelines that contradict, ignore and repeat themselves many times over, Halloween proved that, like Myers himself, he cannot die. Thanks to this I came to accept Halloween franchise for what it was and embrace its endless exploration of Laurie Strode’s trauma. Considering that the latest reboot trilogy shows new and interesting ways to explore the legacy of Myers and Strode, I’m all for keeping it going and seeing how Halloween finds a way to reinvent himself.
8
Child’s Play (1988-present)
Eight films, five theatrical releases, two VODs and one reboot.
One of the best things about using a killer doll as the antagonist of a horror franchise was that it could easily create sequels without losing its believability because it was already incredible to begin with. I feel absurd Children’s game has always been part of his charm, and over the years he continues to maintain his campy, over-the-top style. The story of a serial killer whose soul was transferred into a Good Guy doll, Chucky became a bona fide horror icon and has remained popular for nearly four decades.
While the earliest Children’s game movies will always be my favorite, I’ve loved watching them continue as a direct-to-video franchise with great releases like Chucky Seed And Cult of Chucky. Although there was an attempt to reboot the series with a theatrical release starring Aubrey Plaza, I believe the best way to continue Children’s game the franchise is a VOD series. Without having to live up to the expectations of big-budget theatrical productions, Children’s game can continue to do what it does best in the form of a campy and often ridiculous horror series..
7
Conjuring Universe (2013–present)
Eight films in three series
Since release Spell In 2013, the horror series expanded into an expansive cinematic universe with many sequels, prequels, and spin-offs. Although initially I was associated with the supposed real adventures Paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warrenwatching how Spell led to the development of Annabelle And Nun series” was exciting. Having become the highest-grossing horror franchise of all time, I’m sure we as audiences can expect even more films set in Witch Universe for a long time.
Like a franchise that consistently delivers when it comes to tension and fear, Witch Universe kept viewers coming back for deeply engrossing and terrifying stories. While the original film helped revive the haunted house narrative, the way other films fleshed out the mythology of this world was very exciting. There are so many directions Witch Universe can come in and I’m very excited to see how it continues to expand in the coming years.
6
Final Destination (2000-present)
Five films
Final destination is a unique horror film franchise in that its antagonist is not any physical being, but a manifestation of Death itself. This concept truly scared me as a child, and although these films never received widespread critical acclaim, they have always been some of my favorite horror films. The idea that after escaping a near-death experience, those who were destined to die but survived would later be marked by a gruesome death was a scary concept that left the door open for sequels that don’t require the return of old actors.
Part of beauty Final destination Because the thing about a franchise is that by its very nature, a series can go on forever and reinvent itself for each new generation. Although I do like to see old actors come back or see that happen. Final Destination 5 was actually a secret prequel to the original, since the survivors were stranded aboard the doomed Flight 180, it was never necessary. While many other horror franchises have a limited number of entries before descending into absurdity, Final destination you can continue forever without problems.
5
Alien (1979-present)
Nine films with spin-offs and interquel
Famous alien xenomorph has been terrifying audiences since the original Ridley Scott film Stranger movie in 1979 and it has been my nightmare ever since I witnessed its grotesque chest scene. Since that fateful day I have continued to watch every episode Stranger franchise, and although spin-offs such as Alien vs Predator couldn’t live up to the original, the rich mythology of this franchise kept me coming back for more. From Scott’s controversial prequels to an incredible interquel Alien: RomulusThere’s still a lot of life left in this horror franchise.
Although I used to think that Stranger the franchise required Sigourney Weaver to play Ellen Ripley as the title character, the success of later films proving her ability to succeed without her. Recent success Alien: Romulus demonstrated that this franchise could incorporate the legacy of its predecessor while still delivering something new. With that in mind, I’m looking forward to seeing how this franchise evolves and how it can add to the rich Xenomorph mythology and hopefully one day give audiences a sequel. Alien: Covenant.
4
Evil Dead (1981-present)
Five films from the original trilogy and two standalone films
Sam Raimi’s first film Evil Dead franchise was a solid horror film, but it was with Evil Dead 2 that this franchise really connects with me. Bruce Campbell, the perfect blend of horror and comedy, became the perfect horror protagonist and helped transform Evil Dead to one of the most iconic franchises of all time. With the third film Army of Darkness, Evil Dead The franchise incorporated more fantastical elements and became one of the greatest horror trilogies of all time.
My gratitude to Raimi Evil Dead trilogy meant I kept checking the series for its individual installments and felt that the 2013 reimagining Evil Dead And Evil Dead: Rise helped showcase the potential of this franchise away from Ash Williams. With so much to explore, from standalone sequels to continuation of the adventures seen in Ash vs Evil Dead SeriesI’ll be happy to watch it forever Evil Dead sequels, spin-offs and reimaginings in the future.
3
Living Dead (1968-present)
Six films of the original series by George A. Romero
George A. Romero revolutionized the zombie genre with Night of the Living Dead in 1968, a film that influenced all subsequent zombie films made since then. This cult film was one of the greatest films of all time, and I never tired of watching the countless sequels, spin-offs, parodies and homages that were released under the blanket, loosely connected. Living Dead franchise.
The reason why Living Dead the franchise became so big and included so many episodes because a copyright error meant Night of the Living Dead entered the public domain and allowed other filmmakers to create their own versions without fear of infringement. This led to landmark releases such as the Dan O’Bannon album. Return of the Living Dead series and Italian classics Zombie 2. Huge volume Living Dead the films make this franchise unique, and I think it’s great that lesser-known directors can become a part of horror history by creating their own installments.
2
V/H/S (2012 – present)
Nine films, including two spin-offs.
The very nature of this V/H/S A franchise, an anthology series created by numerous directors, allows for an endless number of sequels. The plot, centered on VHS tapes discovered by innocent viewers, has always been associated with the way the V/H/S films used collaboration as they brought together various writers, directors and performers to create an expansive horror franchise. Using found footage short films, original V/H/S film fIn 2012, the groundwork was laid for a series that continues to this day. and there is no end in sight.
Although many V/H/S The films have had their ups and downs when it comes to quality, and this huge variety in this franchise has been a major part of its appeal. By inviting so many collaborators to contribute to the franchise and being willing to explore a variety of concepts and ideas, V/H/S managed to create something new in the realm of horror films. Combining demonic cults and zombie attacks into one series makes V/H/S a memorable franchise that can continue for years to come.
1
A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984–present)
Nine films, six main parts and one non-canonical, crossover and remake.
With a killer stalking his victims in their sleep A Nightmare on Elm Street this is literally the stuff nightmares are made of.. This was Wes Craven’s definitive release, creating one of horror’s most iconic villains alongside Freddy Krueger. As a series that ran for nine issues, A Nightmare on Elm Street has already proven its enduring power, and I’m excited to see how it develops in the future.
While it’s easy to get tired of the franchise due to the sheer number of sequels in the series, it was Wes Craven who showed me that there were new and exciting ways to continue the story of Freddy Krueger. Metanarrative about Wes Craven’s New Nightmare since 1990 has demonstrated how A Nightmare on Elm Street could go on forever as this unique film plays with the series’ legacy by having Krueger go after the cast and crew who made films about it. Such a clever and tongue-in-cheek concept is one of the reasons why I never want to horror franchise end.