Oscars season is almost upon us, with some of the biggest and best movies of 2025 up for awards – but which franchises have had the most success over the years?
The 2026 Academy Awards are just over two weeks away, and already the anticipation is building up ahead of the glitzy ceremony.
Horror movie Sinners has created a sensation by beating the long-held record for most nominations at the Oscars, and this has helped to increase the buzz around the ceremony, which is held on March 15.
But while Sinners, and other big movies such as One Battle After Another, are movies to watch at the Oscars, they aren’t part of big franchises, which often help to bring in big box office numbers but don’t always do well with Oscars judges – notably movies such as those in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
You can speculate on why franchises often get overlooked at the Oscars – and many have online – but which are the ones that have fared best over the years? Read on to find out.
The Lord of the Rings – 17
The Lord of the Rings trilogy is way out in front in this list – and one movie from it won more than any of the other franchises in this list on its own. The final film in the series, The Return of the King, took 11 awards, including Best Picture, Best Director and Adapted Screenplay. The first two, The Fellowship of the Ring and The Two Towers, took home four and two Oscars respectively – all non-acting categories.
Star Wars – 10
George Lucas’ iconic franchise has won 10 Oscars over the years, although the original first film from 1977 (fourth film if you count the prequels that came later) took most of the awards. Star Wars took six Oscars, including for Original Score, Sound and Visual Effects. The Empire Strikes Back also won for Best Sound. Since then, the nine films in the series released have been nominated for awards, but always come away empty handed. The most recent Oscars have all for been for Special Achievement – one has been given to each of the original trilogy.
The Godfather – 9
Giving Oscars to The Godfather trilogy proved an offer too good to refuse to the judging panel. It also seems that the Oscars panel agreed with critics and the public that the third in the series was the least good, as that is the only one not to take an Oscar.
The first two in the series both won Best Picture – a rare feat. Both also won Best Adapted Screenplay awards. The first also won Best Actor, while the sequel won Best Supporting Actor.
Indiana Jones – 7
Another franchise originated by George Lucas, Indiana Jones has received seven Oscars – although they were all from the original trilogy, which is perhaps unsurprising given the quality of the most recent movies. Raiders of the Lost Ark, the first in the series, scored eight nominsations and took home five awards – although they were all in technical categories such as Best Sound and Best Visual Effects. Sequels Temple of Doom and The Last Crusade both won one each.
Mad Max – 6
This is one of those franchises where the awards came through one film. While the original Mad Max movies starring Mel Gibson from the 80s were well thought of by movie fans, the Oscar judging panel weren’t convinced and the movies received no nominations, let alone awards.
But when the franchise was rebooted with Mad Max: Fury Road, judges were more amenable, giving it 10 nominations and wining in six categories – although none were for acting, they were in costume, sound and makeup and hairstyling.
James Bond – 5
Given that there are more than 20 James Bond movies in the franchise – made over more than 60 years – you’d think it would have won a few Oscars at least over that period. But only five times has Bond wowed the Oscars judges enough to get an award.
