The Best Science Fiction Franchises Of All Time

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Updated October 19, 2023 43.9K votes 4.4K voters 59.6K views
Over 4.4K Ranker voters have come together to rank this list of Top Science Fiction Franchises, Ranked
Voting Rules
Top sci-fi series in film, TV, gaming, and books
Latest additions: Avatar Franchise, Warhammer 40, 000, Warhammer 40,000
Most divisive: Mass Effect

Science fiction is a very popular genre in books, films, video games, and television shows. Some of the biggest grossing movies at the box office are science fiction franchises. It is one of the few genres that can combine a rabid underground following with ultimately a mainstream. wider audience. If not for this delicate mix, franchises like Star Wars, Star Trek, and even Back to the Future and The Terminator wouldn't be as popular as they are.

When the first Star Wars movie was released in 1977, not many people expected it to become the worldwide smash that it has become as a sci-fi film franchise. The single film's popularity paved the way for five additional films and that doesn't include the reboot of the franchise that will include more episodes. The same goes for Star Trek, which has endured through many incarnations and different crews to be one of the most popular scifi franchises in all mediums. The recently rebooted Star Trek movies have been extremely popular with audiences and critics alike.

More than just the top 10 sci fi franchises, this list is your chance to vote on what is the best science fiction franchise. Remember to take all mediums into account, which includes comics, TV, film, books, and video games. These are vital elements into deciding what are the best science fiction franchises of all time.
Ranked by
  • Star Wars Franchise
    1
    This films franchise is an American epic space opera franchise centered on a film series created by George Lucas. The film series, consisting of two trilogies, has spawned an extensive media franchise called the Expanded Universe including books, television series, computer and video games, and comic books. These supplements to the franchise resulted in significant development of the series' fictional universe, keeping the franchise active in the 16-year interim between the two film trilogies. The franchise depicts a galaxy described as "far, far away" in the distant past, and commonly portrays Jedi as a representation of good, in conflict with the Sith, their evil counterpart.
  • Star Trek
    2

    Star Trek

    2,703 votes
    The Star Trek film series is the cinematic branch of the Star Trek media franchise, which began in 1966 as a weekly television series on NBC, running for three seasons until it was canceled in 1969 because of poor ratings. Reruns of the series proved to be wildly successful in syndication during the 1970s, which persuaded the series' then-owner, Paramount Pictures, to expand the franchise.
  • Back to the Future Franchise
    3
    The Back to the Future franchise is an American science fiction–comedy film series written and directed by Robert Zemeckis, produced by Bob Gale and Neil Canton for Steven Spielberg's Amblin Entertainment, and distributed by Universal Pictures. The franchise follows the adventures of a high school student, Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox), and an eccentric scientist, Dr. Emmett L. Brown (Christopher Lloyd), as they use a DeLorean time machine to time travel to different periods in the history of Hill Valley, California.
  • Alien Franchise
    4

    Alien Franchise

    1,529 votes
    Alien is a science-fiction action horror franchise centered on a film series that depicts Warrant Officer Ellen Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) and her battles with an extraterrestrial lifeform, commonly referred to as "the Alien" or "Xenomorph".
  • The Terminator Franchise
    5
    The Terminator series is a science-fiction franchise created by James Cameron and Gale Anne Hurd. It encompasses a series of films, comics, novels, and additional media concerning battles between Skynet's synthetic intelligent machine network, and John Connor's Resistance forces and the rest of the human race. Skynet's most well-known products in its genocidal goals are the various terminator models, such as the T-800 (Model 101), who was portrayed by Arnold Schwarzenegger from the first film, and similar units he also portrayed in the later films.
  • Firefly
    6

    Firefly

    1,353 votes
    In the vast expanse of the television universe, Firefly stands out as a beacon of innovative storytelling and genre-blending entertainment. This short-lived yet critically acclaimed series masterfully combines elements of science fiction, western, and drama, creating an immersive experience for its dedicated fan base. The ensemble cast, led by the charismatic Captain Malcolm Reynolds (Nathan Fillion), navigates the perils and moral quandaries of a futuristic frontier aboard their trusty vessel, Serenity. Despite its premature cancellation, Firefly's impact has been recognized through numerous award nominations, including an Emmy win for Outstanding Visual Effects. With its compelling narrative, unforgettable characters, and thought-provoking themes, Firefly continues to shine brightly in the hearts of its admirers.