Top 10 Characters Who Saved a Movie Franchise

Top 10 Characters Who Saved a Franchise

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today were counting down our picks for the MVPs who gave these struggling movie franchises a necessary win with audiences.

James Bond franchise (1962-)

Given that countless iconic actors have played this character over the decades, youd think Bond would always be a popular property. Unfortunately, even Mr. 007 cant escape the occasional rut or two. During Pierce Brosnans tenure, the agent became a joke. Goofy gadgets, campy characters, tired tropes - Bond was suddenly a caricature of himself. So, when Daniel Craig took over, it was a satisfying return to form. The spy went back to his darker roots and, in turn, brought the franchise back to glory. His debut film, Casino Royale, broke all kinds of records at the box office and was nearly universally praised. Turning a property dark and gritty isnt always a fix, but in this instance, it was.

Saw franchise (2004-)

This beautifully chaotic franchise started incredibly strong as a series of films rooted in psychological warfare and trickery. Eventually, Jigsaws death traps devolved into just a bunch of gore for the sake of gore. The franchise all about sinister games needed a new game plan. Thats why they brought Dr. Gordon back into the fray. A Saw OG, Lawrence came back in the 7th movie. You know, the one that was in 3D and marketed as the final chapter even though it wasnt. Anyway, his return got all of the fans talking, giving the movie a much-needed boost at the box office. He might not have been the best doctor, but he was certainly an interesting character!

Predator franchise (1987-)

In a series where the Predators are the main attraction, the film about the prey would ironically be this franchises saving grace. Naru was a breath of fresh air for this IP. The Comanche warrior fought a predator in the 1700s and managed to kill it. Prey was just the kind of project this brand needed after 2018s The Predator received mixed reviews. The pivot to Naru was also an innovative choice. By making her story a period piece, it showed that Predator could work in any era. In fact, future installments might follow suit and take the Predators to other different points in history. Naru isnt just a badass warrior, shes potentially the blueprint for how this franchise can print money.

Mission: Impossible franchise (1996-)

Heroes are great, but sometimes the villains are the real stars of the show. While Mission: Impossible got off to a promising start, a disappointing sequel could have killed this franchise. Thats why the third movie had to succeed. Thanks to Owen Davian, it did. The menacing bad guy, played by legendary actor Philip Seymour Hoffman, utterly changed the game. To say he knocked it out of the park would be an understatement. Owen created chaos unlike any other and is widely considered one of the best villains Mission: Impossible ever had. Keeping this franchise going couldve been an impossible mission, but its continued to live on.

Transformers franchise (2007-)

Though hes always been a popular fixture of the live-action Transformers movies, Bumblebee would become a standout once he received his own film in 2018. While the movies had varying degrees of success, Bumblebees spinoff was the shot in the robotic arm this franchise needed. His movie was a triumph and signaled a shift from Michael Bays vision to something new. The quirky Autobot showed the critics that theres more than meets the eye with Transformers IP. The 80s-themed, heartwarming coming-of-age project would be the perfect vehicle (pun intended) for him. Now with more movies on the way, the brand has a chance to evolve into something greater.

Mad Max franchise (1979-)

Centered around an apocalyptic future where car culture has been taken to the next level, its either ride or die. There was a lot to love about Mad Max, but after Beyond Thunderdome, the IP drifted into obscurity. When the franchise was revived with Fury Road, Furiosa helped set things back on track, showing there was still some gas left in the tank. A woman always forced to make the best out of bad situations, she gave audiences a different kind of action hero. While shes not the only factor for the success of Mad Max, her reception in Fury Road and the release of her prequel in 2024 proves that shes a hot commodity.

Fast & Furious franchise (2001-)

This action-packed franchise has always served as great popcorn flicks, but things went into overdrive with the introduction of Luke Hobbs in Fast Five. The special agent has played both ally and adversary to Dom Torettos crew, entertaining the masses ever since. His introduction marked a real shift from what the Fast & Furious was to what it is now. Instead of just high-speed races, now there were death-defying heists and evil organizations to fight. In short, Hobbs was like a nitro boost for the IP. With the spinoff Hobbs & Shaw, hes shown that hes a valuable asset for the brand.

Star Trek franchise (1966-)

The first Star Trek film didnt necessarily tank, but the franchise clearly had taken a misstep. So, to course correct, fans were treated to the sequel, The Wrath of Khan. As soon as audiences saw the titular Khan up on the big screen, they basically couldnt get enough of him. It wasnt just that his film was considered the best one Star Trek ever did. Khan also became the measuring stick for all other Trek bad guys. He was a villain who was simply a cut above the rest, and his stories elevated Star Trek like no other. Its safe to say that Khans a pretty big deal.

DC Extended Universe (2013-23)

While the DCEU ultimately ended earlier than Warner Bros. probably wouldve wanted, its undeniable how much of a light in the darkness Wonder Woman was for them. She was a welcome change of pace. Her debut movie was a roaring success at a time when they had major duds, giving fans glimpses of the potential this cinematic universe had. The only other hero who arguably came close to saving the DCEU was Aquaman. His own movie garnered critical praise and over a billion dollars at the box office! At the end of the day, Wonder Woman is a character who lifts people up. That positivity was such a necessary difference from all of the grimdark we were treated to before.

X-Men franchise (2000-20) & MCU (2008-)

The Merc with a Mouth is a character unlike any other. The fourth-wall-breaking menace proved to be a major highlight for Foxs X-Men universe. The franchise definitely had many hits, but it also had some absolute misfires. Thats why when Deadpool came onto the scene, it gave Fox a clear leg-up on the competition, providing the superhero genre with an innovative R-rated edge. Deadpools so successful that you can argue hes saved two franchises at the same time. With the release of the third Deadpool movie, he and Wolverine gave a satisfying send-off to the Foxverse while simultaneously giving the MCU some much-needed adrenaline. If you really think about it, Deadpool is basically the savior of multiple flagship IPs.

Are there any other blockbuster-saving superstars we missed? Put some respect on their names in the comments!