Above all others..THIS

[RobertScorpio]

So there are several scif/fantasy/hero franchises. From STAR WARS to POTTER to LOTR to INDIAN JONES, and even our own STAR TREK, and all the others out there...

What ONE franchise, of at least four movies or more, has set the standard of 'quality' that leaves all the others behind?

And on the flip side; what franchise is the MOST overated?

Rob

 

[Jetfire]

Superman. Quality...I like the first 4 films(Chris Reeve adds most of the quality)...SR not so much though...even if Brandon Routh wasn't half bad.

Most overrated...so many I don't like...I will just leave it at that.

 

[MeanJoePhaser]

Indiana Jones is most overrated. There was a great idea for one movie, a mediocre idea for a second, and the next two were phoned-in self-parodies.

 

[Temis the Vorta]

Star Trek is the one franchise that has kept going throughout the years, creating new details and expanding on its cosmos across movies, TV, novels, games, etc. Its had its ups and downs but overall, it's an amazing and impressive achievement. How many franchises could realistically support their own theme park? Star Trek could.

Star Wars could have done the same if they hadn't frakked up with the prequels. I guess it's still possible but they might have to wait for George Lucas to kick the bucket before someone can take over and create a DS9 to the OT's TOS. (Dontcha love how we can speak in code here? )

I could never get into Harry Potter and LOTR's story is pretty hollow when you strip away all the frou frou. Those two are also inherently self-limiting - you really can't keep going and going with them.

But the most overrated: Batman. Who gives a frak? This just may be my Marvel vs. DC loyalty talking. Marvel all the way, baby!

 

[crouteru]

I really enjoy the ALIEN franchise. The four films are all unique in their own way, each made by gifted directors. I realise the third and fourth films aren't exactly loved by many, but they're at the very least fascinating takes on the sci-fi horror genre. I'm not counting the terrible AVP films in my assessment though!

Most overrated franchise for me is Harry Potter. I just don't get why it's so popular. It's too light weight for me.

 

[Starbreaker]

Quality, Lord of the Rings.

Most overrated, Pirates of the Caribbean.

 

[Mr Light]

Star Wars is always my favorite franchise, even with the prequels. Most overrated? Twilight!

 

[sojourner]

I vote the James Bond movies for both categories.

 

[RobertScorpio]

I vote the James Bond movies for both categories.

Yeah..I could see that too...

I'm going to go with Star Trek as best overall...barely. I am neither a fan of LOTR or POTTER. I really do like MOST of the Star Wars movies, but they are batting 3-6 with Star trek, Imo, is batting 6-10, giving it a slightly better average...

Batman movies just dont hold up (though the new series does. Two more to go before it is eligible)..

Alien and Aliens were good, but I didn't care for the others...

Superman 1-2 and Returns were good...but 3 and 4 torpedo it in my mind...

Rob

 

[Neroon]

The OP did specify franchise of 4 films or more. Of sci-fi films, that is. Consequently, that leaves out LOTR ... at least until "The Hobbit" comes out. Once that happens, all best are off. But the 4 film requirement ... this makes it tougher when naming best and overrated franchises.

For my part, I'd have to say that the Star Wars is the top franchise considering the wild success of the movies - all inter-trilogy arguments aside. It covers films, books, toys, parodies, pop culture and more. It crosses generations and is still going strong. When it comes to costuming, there is no more fruitful ground for sheer dazzle and beauty in what is created. And the music? None is more iconic than the opening fanfare and the Imperial March.

As for overrated... much as it pains me to say this, I'd have to say "Star Trek". Its TV/film success has been wildly uneven at best. And this is even in the fanbase. And there is another point. The franchise's longevity I would have to attribute to the fans themselves. There wouldn't be the extended run of TV/films without that fanbase. What has kept Trek in the SFF circles' eye, barely on life-support is the once voluminous number of clubs and websites and fan created activity. IF this next film can be successful, the Trek franchise may live long enough to challenge Star Wars.

 

[RobertScorpio]

The OP did specify franchise of 4 films or more. Of sci-fi films, that is. Consequently, that leaves out LOTR ... at least until "The Hobbit" comes out. Once that happens, all best are off. But the 4 film requirement ... this makes it tougher when naming best and overrated franchises.

For my part, I'd have to say that the Star Wars is the top franchise considering the wild success of the movies - all inter-trilogy arguments aside. It covers films, books, toys, parodies, pop culture and more. It crosses generations and is still going strong. When it comes to costuming, there is no more fruitful ground for sheer dazzle and beauty in what is created. And the music? None is more iconic than the opening fanfare and the Imperial March.

As for overrated... much as it pains me to say this, I'd have to say "Star Trek". Its TV/film success has been wildly uneven at best. And this is even in the fanbase. And there is another point. The franchise's longevity I would have to attribute to the fans themselves. There wouldn't be the extended run of TV/films without that fanbase. What has kept Trek in the SFF circles' eye, barely on life-support is the once voluminous number of clubs and websites and fan created activity. IF this next film can be successful, the Trek franchise may live long enough to challenge Star Wars.

I can't argue with your logic. But STAR WARS's own fans bash those prequals as much as anyone else does. And those awful EWOK tv movies of the 80s are hard to forget too...and give Star war's tv tenure a failing grade (even when factoring in the CLONE WARS cartoons currently running on CARTOON NETWORK)

Rob

 

[Jetfire]

If only there was a 4th Matrix...that could be on the list for Quality & Overrated.

I think it set the bar which I am guessing is now broken by Avatar...but it was also very overrated...I enjoyed all 3 movies though.

 

[sidious618]

The OP did specify franchise of 4 films or more. Of sci-fi films, that is. Consequently, that leaves out LOTR ... at least until "The Hobbit" comes out. Once that happens, all best are off. But the 4 film requirement ... this makes it tougher when naming best and overrated franchises.

For my part, I'd have to say that the Star Wars is the top franchise considering the wild success of the movies - all inter-trilogy arguments aside. It covers films, books, toys, parodies, pop culture and more. It crosses generations and is still going strong. When it comes to costuming, there is no more fruitful ground for sheer dazzle and beauty in what is created. And the music? None is more iconic than the opening fanfare and the Imperial March.

As for overrated... much as it pains me to say this, I'd have to say "Star Trek". Its TV/film success has been wildly uneven at best. And this is even in the fanbase. And there is another point. The franchise's longevity I would have to attribute to the fans themselves. There wouldn't be the extended run of TV/films without that fanbase. What has kept Trek in the SFF circles' eye, barely on life-support is the once voluminous number of clubs and websites and fan created activity. IF this next film can be successful, the Trek franchise may live long enough to challenge Star Wars.

This. All of this. Very well said.

 

[RobertScorpio]

The OP did specify franchise of 4 films or more. Of sci-fi films, that is. Consequently, that leaves out LOTR ... at least until "The Hobbit" comes out. Once that happens, all best are off. But the 4 film requirement ... this makes it tougher when naming best and overrated franchises.

For my part, I'd have to say that the Star Wars is the top franchise considering the wild success of the movies - all inter-trilogy arguments aside. It covers films, books, toys, parodies, pop culture and more. It crosses generations and is still going strong. When it comes to costuming, there is no more fruitful ground for sheer dazzle and beauty in what is created. And the music? None is more iconic than the opening fanfare and the Imperial March.

As for overrated... much as it pains me to say this, I'd have to say "Star Trek". Its TV/film success has been wildly uneven at best. And this is even in the fanbase. And there is another point. The franchise's longevity I would have to attribute to the fans themselves. There wouldn't be the extended run of TV/films without that fanbase. What has kept Trek in the SFF circles' eye, barely on life-support is the once voluminous number of clubs and websites and fan created activity. IF this next film can be successful, the Trek franchise may live long enough to challenge Star Wars.

This. All of this. Very well said.

I say again..all of my STAR WARS friends utterly HATE all three of those prequels...The mere mention of them can almost get me killed. If they are really THAT bad, then that means the STAR WARS franchise is 50/50 (and less, since i dont care for much of JEDI either)...

Rob

 

[sidious618]

I love the prequals. Plotting wise I think they hold together better than the original three.

 

[crouteru]

I'm sorry, but I'm one of those who loved the original Star Wars trilogy and hated the new trilogy. It seems that everything Star Wars related Lucas puts out now just dilutes the greatness of those original three films even more.

 

[Neroon]

I love the prequals. Plotting wise I think they hold together better than the original three.

I'm sorry, but I'm one of those who loved the original Star Wars trilogy and hated the new trilogy. It seems that everything Star Wars related Lucas puts out now just dilutes the greatness of those original three films even more.

And this encapsulates the SW fandom. You have large contingents of each sub-fandom praising one and being critical of the other. However, that split doesn't change the overall presence and impact that "Star Wars" as whole franchise has had and still has on pop culture, entertainment, etc. When my son & I attended "Star Wars In Concert" last December, it was amazing for many reasons, not the least of which was seeing fans of each period enjoying the whole thing together. Costumes of characters from Episode 3, as much as Episode 6. Cheers and amazement from everyone. It didn't matter.

The various Trek installments barely rated much reaction at all in the average person, until this last movie. Hence why I think that the next one could make or break Trek's potential on a list like this thread discsses.

 

[Nowhere Man]

Star Trek is my favorite and the overrated one would be I guess Alien series. I loved the first 2,but the last 2 I didn't like as much.

 

[T'Baio]

I say again..all of my STAR WARS friends utterly HATE all three of those prequels...The mere mention of them can almost get me killed. If they are really THAT bad, then that means the STAR WARS franchise is 50/50 (and less, since i dont care for much of JEDI either)...

Just because everyone you know hates the prequels, doesn't mean that's universal. After all, I and everyone I know love them.

Best: Star Wars

Most Overrated: The Matrix / Pirates of the Carribean, both great first movies with catastrophic declines thereafter.

Possible Future Best: Avatar. Yeah, I said it.

 

[Nowhere Man]

I say again..all of my STAR WARS friends utterly HATE all three of those prequels...The mere mention of them can almost get me killed. If they are really THAT bad, then that means the STAR WARS franchise is 50/50 (and less, since i dont care for much of JEDI either)...

Just because everyone you know hates the prequels, doesn't mean that's universal. After all, I and everyone I know love them.

Best: Star Wars

Most Overrated: The Matrix / Pirates of the Carribean, both great first movies with catastrophic declines thereafter.

Possible Future Best: Avatar. Yeah, I said it.

There are only 3 Matrix movies, but none the less thank you for reminding me how much i think the Matrix is retarted. They should have resolved the issue in 2 movies. There are also only 3 POTC movies so far and I will defend them with sword in hand till the day I die. I love POTC despite any flaws.