The film business is not much different from investing. We see potential in gold, bonds, shares, and real estate; filmmakers see it in their movies’ box office prospects. The higher the returns, the higher the investment. That’s pretty much the fundamental idea behind why and how a standalone movie sparks a franchise.Whereas some movies are conceived with shrewd foresight and their franchise potential already in mind, others aren’t born with that prophetic intuition. A chance stumble into outstanding audience support and love refuses to let them stay small, and they become bigger than just a movie; they become a universe.We are going to look at 10 such films that started as contained, stand-alone movies, but managed to catch lightning in a bottle.10 Movies That Spawned Franchises1. Star Wars (1977)Written & Directed by: George Lucas In an alternate universe, Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) is a simple farm boy on the planet Tatooine. He comes across droids from another planet and, through a holographic message, learns of an intergalactic rebellion that’s underway. He joins forces with Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) and Han Solo (Harrison Ford) to find hope for a galaxy in trouble.With the vast expanse of the movie’s bold and unique worldbuilding, coupled with a simple hero’s epic journey, George Lucas was aware that Star Wars was brimming with franchise potential. So, he took the chance and acquired the merchandising rights for the movie before it hit theaters. The movie’s phenomenal success convinced the studio that this idea was a gold...
Published By: NoFilmSchool - Today