The 1990s was a landmark decade, a culturally significant time, especially for film and television. It gave us some of the most memorable movies and shows and entertained us endlessly. It was a period of unbridled creativity as well as phenomenal box office success. New technologies and innovative use of special effects led directors to make movies that redefined the movie-going experience for audiences around the world.
Yet, within this anything-goes scenario, some surprises emerged. They were the first hints of something that would root itself in the blockbuster era and continue to evolve and grow for decades to come. Yes, we’re talking about movies we thought would be standalone hits but were clearly holding the potential to expand beyond just a single film and become dominant franchises in Hollywood.
Some kicked off at the start of the decade, while others walked in when the 1990s was drawing to a close. But all 8 movie franchises on this list pointed toward a future of endless sequels, reboots, and shared universes that excite audiences even today. Their popularity and ability to reinvent themselves proves just how transformational the 1990s were for cinema.
7 The Jurassic Park Franchise
Started with Jurassic Park (1993)
Released in 1993 and based on the 1990 novel of the same name by Michael Crichton, Jurassic Park kicked off a blockbuster dinosaur franchise. The movie, directed by Steven Spielberg, transported viewers to an island theme park where genetically engineered dinosaurs had been brought to life. But after the park’s electricity goes out, the prehistoric predators are let loose, leaving the tour group to survive and escape.
After setting a significant milestone in the use of CGI and innovative visual effects, shattering box-office records and becoming the highest-grossing movie of the year, it paved the way for two other films in the trilogy, namely The Lost World: Jurassic Park and Jurassic Park III, and three others under the title of Jurassic World trilogy, Jurassic World, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, and Jurassic World Dominion.
But the immense success of the original is what makes it a mainstay. It even became the first to surpass $1 billion in revenue when it was re-released in 2013. With over $5 billion earned worldwide, Jurassic Park remains one of the most successful movie franchises of all time and it’s showing no signs of slowing down. Jurassic World Rebirth is the latest upcoming project.
6 The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Franchise
Started with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990)
Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird conceived an independent comic book parody of superhero stories back in 1984, which then led to the development of an animated series and, later on, the first Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie in 1990. The movie followed four mutated turtles – Leonardo, Michelangelo, Donatello, and Raphael – trained in ninjitsu by their rat sensei, Splinter. Together, they battle evil in the sewers and streets of New York City. The movie was a surprising blockbuster, praised greatly for its action and humor.
Today, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles endures as a remarkable franchise due to its ability to power through an evolving generation of fans and serving various iterations of the turtles’ adventures. The original movie spawned two sequels, The Secret of the Ooze and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III, in 1991 and 1993, respectively. An animated movie, TMNT, and a reboot series starting with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2014) and its sequel Out of the Shadows (2016) kept the franchise alive.
The franchise’s pop culture dominance is insane. It thrives on the hilarious and action-packed escapades of the pizza-loving reptile brothers who have got each other’s backs no matter what. With the most recent Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem giving a fresh animated appeal to the franchise, its nostalgia is bound to remain strong in the future.
5 The Scream Franchise
Started with Scream (1996)
As far as horror cinema goes in the 1990s, Scream is hard to beat. The Scream franchise, created by Kevin Williamson and directed by Wes Craven, practically revolutionized the genre in 1996 with the debut film. Set in the fictional town of Woodsboro, Scream follows high schooler Sidney Prescott as she receives a threatening phone call and becomes the target of a mysterious killer known as Ghostface. The movie, which cleverly deconstructed horror tropes, combined a classic whodunit mystery to its pulse-pounding narrative.
Scream came to be known as a meta slasher with self-aware characteristics and biting social commentary. Its success set the stage for a series of numbered sequels between 1996 and 2000. Scream 4, which was released in 2011, introduced a new generation to the Ghostface legacy. To delve deeper into the lore and legacy of the slasher franchise, an anthology series was made in 2015 and it lasted three seasons. The movies were revived with Scream (2022) and Scream VI (2023), both of which reminded viewers of why Ghostface is a genre-subverting icon.
4 The Bad Boys Franchise
Started with Bad Boys (1995)
The Bad Boys franchise burst onto the scene in 1995 as an action-comedy starring Will Smith and Martin Lawrence as wildly opposite Miami detectives, Mike Lowrey and Marcus Burnett. Directed by Michael Bay, it saw the buddy cops being tasked with recovering $100 million worth of stolen heroin in 72 hours, during which time, they also had to escort a witness and protect her from an attempted assassination from a ruthless crime boss. Smith and Lawrence’s comedic timing and chemistry set the tone for a series that would explode into blockbuster success.
What keeps Bad Boys relevant is its ability to mature while retaining the core elements that made it popular in the first place. Bad Boys II upped the ante with bigger stunts and more elaborate set pieces. And it featured one of cinema’s greatest car chases. Its mixed reviews, however, led to a 17-year-long hiatus, following which Bad Boys for Life brought the iconic pair back on screen in 2020. The balance between nostalgia and modernity hit the right note and fans were graced with Bad Boys: Ride or Die. Both the recent installments captured the spirit of the flashy, jaw-dropping extravaganza that made the original a triumph.
3 The Lion King Franchise
Started with The Lion King (1994)
Disney’s multi-million dollar property, The Lion King, roared to life as an animated masterpiece in 1984 and enchanted audiences with its musical storytelling, breathtaking African vistas, and resonant themes of leaving the past behind and accepting one’s destiny. Directed by Roger Allers and Rob Minkoff, the original film tells the story of Simba, a young lion prince who is next in line to rule the Pride Lands. But after his evil uncle Scar murders Simba’s father Mufasa and exiles Simba, he’s left to fight to reclaim his rightful place as King.
The astounding animation paired with an unforgettable soundtrack composed by Elton John and Tim Rice made The Lion King an instant classic. It also became a critical and box office phenomenon, and decades later, maintains its cultural significance. The direct-to-video sequel, The Lion King II: Simba’s Pride, continued Simba’s story, while The Lion King 1½ told the same one from Timon and Pumbaa’s perspective.
In 2019, a stunning CGI remake further introduced the classic to new viewers. Additionally, the franchise includes a beloved TV series, The Lion Guard, and an upcoming prequel, Mufasa: The Lion King, which received a polarizing response, but it only suggests how passionate fans are about Disney’s biggest and most successful franchise.
2 The Toy Story Franchise
Started with Toy Story (1995)
Speaking of animated franchises, Pixar is not far behind. Another pioneering force in the medium, the franchise began with Pixar’s groundbreaking 1995 movie, Toy Story. It was the first feature-length film made entirely using computer-generated imagery (CGI) and it was boundlessly imaginative under director John Lasseter’s vision. Toy Story centered around Woody, a cowboy doll, and Buzz Lightyear, a space ranger action figure, who tackle their roles as toys in Andy’s life.
Toy Story, undoubtedly, was a hit with audiences. It juxtaposed humor, emotion, and cutting-edge emotion into a heartfelt story about belonging. A match made in heaven, we’d say. Toy Story 2 premiered in 1999 and expanded the universe of the magical toys. Toy Story 3 brought the story to a poignant climax and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Picture. The fourth installment introduced new characters and new adventures, while the spin-off, Lightyear, explored Buzz’s origins.
All the movies have maintained the heart and high standards of the franchise and proved why Toy Story is a landmark achievement in animation. A fifth movie is slated for release sometime in 2026, which means the franchise is still going pretty strong.
1 The Mission: Impossible Franchise
Started with Mission: Impossible (1996)
Known for its jaw-dropping stunts and high-stakes espionage, the Mission: Impossible franchise technically began as a tv series in the ’60s, but the movie series began in 1996 under Brian De Palma’s unparalleled gaze. It was Tom Cruise’s first outing as Ethan Hunt, an elite agent of the IMF, who is framed for the murder of his team and must uncover the real traitor that betrayed them to clear his name. The intricate plot, fast-paced action, and Cruise’s daring stunts laid the foundation of a series of movies that would redefine the action genre.
At the crux of Mission: Impossible’s success was Tom Cruise’s growing popularity and his dedication to performing all the stunts himself. The franchise delivered consistently entertaining and innovative movies in the years that followed, with John Woo’s Mission: Impossible 2 bringing more style and J.J. Abrams’ Mission: Impossible III adding emotional depth to the franchise.
2011’s Ghost Protocol and 2015’s Rogue Nation raised the bar with spectacular storytelling and amped up the action to insane new heights, making the movies a must-watch for fans. Mission: Impossible – Fallout grossed $791.1 million and became the highest-grossing entry in the series. Now, over 25 years later, the series is still going strong after the latest boundary-pushing installment, Dead Reckoning Part One, the sequel to which is on the way.
