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10 Most Ambitious Movie Franchises of All Time, Ranked

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Eddie Brock, played by Tom Hardy, sternly speaks to the head of Venom in 'Venom: Let There Be Carnage'.

Movie franchises are the bread and butter for every movie studio. These movies are mass entertainers and can bring a boatload of money that can power the studio for years to come. Take Star Wars, which started in 1977 and remains a recognizable title almost 50 years later. The right franchise can spark a new trend in cinema. Just a decade ago, Hollywood was in the fantasy-adventure era with movies like Harry Potter and Pirates of the Caribbean, then it went to the young adult era with Twilight and The Hunger Games, and now it is still firmly in the superhero trend.

Here, we take a look at some of the most ambitious film franchises of all time. Some reshaped filmmaking through technological breakthroughs, and a few aimed high before ultimately collapsing under their own weight. Whether they succeeded, stumbled, or did a bit of both, each reflects a moment where ambition, and maybe the promise of box office gold, is the driving power.

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10

‘Sony’s Spider-Man Universe’ (2018–2024)

Eddie Brock, played by Tom Hardy, sternly speaks to the head of Venom in 'Venom: Let There Be Carnage'.
Eddie Brock, played by Tom Hardy, sternly speaks to the head of Venom in Venom: Let There Be Carnage.
Image via Sony Pictures Releasing

Sony’s Spider-Man Universe set out to build an MCU-inspired franchise centered on the hero’s rogue gallery of villains, beginning with Venom. The idea was to establish a parallel universe that could eventually intersect with Spider-Man himself. The franchise released six movies, including Morbius, Madame Web, and Kraven the Hunter, without Spider-Man ever appearing.

Sony must be appreciated for its (blind) ambition to build a cinematic universe to rival the MCU. While Venom went on to conclude its trilogy, the other movies mostly became memes and laughingstocks, with Morbius and Madame Web struggling with tone and narrative coherence. The franchise aimed to replicate the interconnected success of the MCU, but without clarity. For example, the end of Venom: Let There Be Carnage promised that Tom Hardy’s Eddie Brock would seek out Tom Holland‘s Spider-Man, but that was quickly dismissed. Madame Web also teased the appearance of Peter Parker, but the timeline wasn’t clear. After diminishing returns, Sony finally came to its senses and seemingly cancelled the universe.

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9

‘DC Extended Universe’ (2013–2023)

A crowd surrounding and touching Superman in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice
A crowd surrounding and touching Superman in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice
Image via Warner Bros. Pictures

Playing catch-up to the success of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, DC aimed to create a darker, more mythic version with the DC Extended Universe. Turning the standalone Man of Steel into the franchise starter, it expanded quickly with Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, which not only featured Batman and Wonder Woman but also teased other heroes and future storylines. A total of 11 films were planned afterwards, but only five were released. Ten other films in the franchise were not part of the original slate.

With Zack Snyder as its main architect, it’s clear that the DCEU would never be similar to its Marvel counterpart. However, Warner Bros. caved in after the unexpected reception of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, and they started to tinker with Suicide Squad and Justice League, trying to make them lighter and fun, resulting in an uneven mess that couldn’t be repaired. There are great, successful movies in the franchise, like Wonder Woman or James Gunn‘s The Suicide Squad, but ultimately, studio interference and creative clashes killed the DCEU.

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8

‘Dune’ (2021–2026)

Timothée Chalamet as Paul Atreides in the desert with an apparatus up his nose in Dune: Part Two.
Timothée Chalamet as Paul Atreides in the desert with an apparatus up his nose in Dune: Part Two.
Image via Warner Bros.

After David Lynch‘s attempt in 1986, Denis Villeneuve adapted Frank Herbert’s dense, politically charged Dune with a measured, atmospheric approach. Rather than condensing the rich story into a single film, Villeneuve opted to split the story into two to give its world and ideas room to breathe. With a star-studded ensemble led by Timothée Chalamet, the film quickly became a critics’ and audiences’ favorite.

Villeneuve made a huge gamble with Dune. The first film literally ends at the midpoint of the story, and the sequel was not filmed back-to-back. If critics rejected the film or if it didn’t turn enough profit, the follow-up would not see the light of day. To make things worse, it was released post-COVID, released simultaneously in theaters and on HBO Max. However, Dune was a commercial success and was nominated for a whopping ten Oscars, winning six. The sequel, which offers the payoff, was equally beloved by audiences and critics. After making two films that can be considered among the best sci-fi films in recent memory, Villeneuve and the cast are now prepping the third film, which is due to be released in December 2026.

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7

‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ (2003–2017)

Captain Barbossa, Jack Sparrow, and Elizabeth Swann talking in Pirates of the Caribbean At World's End
Geoffrey Rush as Captain Barbossa Johnny Depp as Jack Sparrow and Keira Knightley as Elizabeth Swann in Pirates of the Caribbean At World’s End
Image via Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

Based on a Disneyland theme park ride, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl defied the odds and became a runaway hit. Two sequels, Dead Man’s Chest and At World’s End, were greenlit soon after with Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, and Keira Knightley returning alongside director Gore Verbinski. The sequels followed the trio as Davy Jones (Bill Nighy) demands that Jack Sparrow pay his debt, and the East India Trading Company attempts to eradicate piracy.

The Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy is blockbuster filmmaking at its finest. The films are not interested in simple storylines, but they have a complex, ambitious plot that sees each character team up and betray one another. Some may say it’s unnecessarily convoluted, yet it’s riveting and unexpected until the end. The production of the second and third films was notoriously intricate as they were filmed back-to-back. With lots of on-location shoots, enormous practical sets, and amazing CGI effects, the budget was high, with At World’s End becoming the most expensive film at its time. All of that paid off with a spectacular box office gross. The next two sequels, however, opted for the safe route and were far less exciting.

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6

‘Star Wars’ (1977–present)

Luke, Leia, and Han Solo posing in a hallway in the original Star Wars
Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, and Carrie Fisher in Star Wars (1977)
Image via Lucasfilm

From the very first film in 1977, Star Wars has always been ambitious. From pioneering revolutionary effects and sound design to intricate world-building. The main story is about the Skywalker Saga, following Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) and later Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen). The franchise is expanding even more with spin-offs like Rogue One and acclaimed series like Andor and The Clone Wars.

Each new Star Wars project carries the burden of decades of lore and fan expectations. The team behind each Star Wars entry tries to keep it fresh while also respecting what came before. The projects usually have top-tier talent and spare no budget (currently, The Force Awakens holds the title of being the most expensive film of all time). Some have argued that currently the franchise is in a limbo, but considering how beloved and relevant it is, it’s unlikely that Star Wars is retiring any time soon.

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5

‘The Matrix’ (1999–2021)

Carrie-Anne Moss and Keanu Reeves in The Matrix
Carrie-Anne Moss and Keanu Reeves in The Matrix
Image via Warner Bros. Pictures

The Matrix introduced a cyberpunk world where reality itself is a simulation by following Neo’s (Keanu Reeves) journey to fulfill his destiny as The One. The first film is a generational achievement, blending philosophy and sci-fi action in a seamless manner, and its success led to sequels that expanded the mythology and criticized popular culture.

The franchise’s complex storyline is already ambitious for its time, but then The Wachowskis also pushed the envelope by pioneering visual techniques like the famous bullet time. The sequels, The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions, were filmed back-to-back with bigger ideas and even bigger action sequences. The highway chase in Reloaded is still regarded as one of the best action sequences of all time. Recently, instead of crafting an easy legacy sequel, Lana Wachowski created a subversive film in The Matrix Resurrections that defies audiences’ expectations, showing that ambition is still in the franchise’s DNA.

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4

‘Harry Potter’ (2001–2011)

Voldemort, played by Ralph Fiennes, with Harry, played by Daniel Radcliffe, in 'Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.'
Voldemort, played by Ralph Fiennes, with Harry, played by Daniel Radcliffe, in ‘Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.’
Image via Warner Bros. Pictures

The Harry Potter series chronicles the journey of the titular young wizard as he studies at Hogwarts and confronts the darkness in the magical world. Over eight films, the franchise matured alongside its audience, transitioning from whimsical, family-friendly fantasy to a coming-of-age drama with a darker plot. The main trio is played by Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson, but the series also boasts the best of British actors in the supporting roles.

Releasing eight films within the span of ten years is almost unheard of today. The franchise’s ambition is evident in how it committed to long-term planning and commitment. The pre-production of the next film usually started when the previous film had not even finished filming, and the production process could take up to a year for each movie. It was also able to retain the same core actors across the decade, reflecting the actual growth of the characters. As a result, the Potter movies are beloved all over the world. The franchise has been a merchandising gold mine and immortalized in theme parks and massive studio tours.

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3

‘Avatar’ (2009–present)

Sam Worthington as Jake Sulley with a fire behind him in 'Avatar: Fire and Ash'
Sam Worthington as Jake Sulley in ‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’
Image via 20th Century Studios

James Cameron’s Avatar franchise is set on the lush alien world of Pandora and follows Jake Sully (Sam Worthington), who integrates with the native community through the avatar technology. The films may have familiar plots, but the technological aspects of the franchise are simply mindblowing. The films utilized revolutionary performance capture for the actors playing the Na’Vi and created the whole planet from scratch through CGI.

Avatar is deeply ambitious for its innovation and also linguistic aspects, with the franchise creating a whole new language system for the Na’Vi people. The sequels, Avatar: The Way of Water and Avatar: Fire and Ash, featured even more complicated effects where the actors had to act underwater and have their performances translated into their CG characters. Entire workflows were created specifically for this franchise, from virtual production to 3D exhibition standards. Considering the intricate production process, it’s no wonder that the final film is slated to be released in 2031.

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2

‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ (2008–present)

The Marvel Cinematic Universe began modestly with Iron Man, but with a sneaky post-credit scene that teased future team-up films, it evolved into an interconnected web of films and characters. Over time, it introduced dozens of heroes and villains while building toward large-scale crossover events like The Avengers and Avengers: Endgame. The franchise expanded even bigger with TV series like Agents of SHIELD and various Disney+ shows.

Across five game-changing phases, Kevin Feige’s approach to the MCU turned blockbuster filmmaking into something similar to long-form television, but with massive budgets and A-list talent showcased in cinemas. No franchise had ever attempted serialized storytelling across so many films with such narrative continuity. The scheduling of the actors in Avengers: Endgame alone seems like a nightmare, and they’re attempting a bigger one with Avengers: Doomsday. This kind of cinematic universe sparked a lot of imitators, but so far, none have come close to replicating Marvel’s overwhelming success.

1

‘The Lord of the Rings’ Trilogy (2001–2003)

A still from The Return of the King of Frodo, played by actor Elijah Wood, holding the One Ring over the fires of Mount Doom. 
A still from The Return of the King of Frodo, played by actor Elijah Wood, holding the One Ring over the fires of Mount Doom.
Image via New Line Cinema
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Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy adapts J.R.R. Tolkien’s monumental fantasy book, following the journey of Frodo Baggins (Elijah Wood) and the Fellowship as they attempt to destroy the One Ring. Jackson was not a household name when the movie started production, nor were the actors in the ensemble, making it a risky yet ambitious production.

All three films in the trilogy were shot back-to-back, showing the studio’s confidence in the property. The shooting schedule, which is not in chronological order, was also an ambitious feat. The most famous example is when Ian McKellen shot his farewell with the Hobbits in his first week of filming. Jackson and his team benefited greatly from his ongoing partnership with Weta Workshop and Weta Digital, which are now among the best at making practical effects and CGI. The trilogy is considered among the best fantasy films and is considered a masterpiece in cinema.

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Neighbors react to Joseph and Kendra Duggar's arrests: 'What else don't we know about the Duggars?'

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One Tontitown, Ark. resident said “19 Kids and Counting” star Joseph — now charged with molesting a 9-year-old girl — “seemed like a nice guy”

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Rebel Wilson Give Candid Update On GLP-1 Use For Weight Loss

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Rebel Wilson

Rebel Wilson is not afraid to keep it real with herself about her weight-loss journey.

The “Bridesmaids” actress has always been open about her weight and the steps she has taken to pursue a healthier lifestyle. Now, she’s sharing even more candid reflections as she navigates her body transformation.

While continuing to focus on her wellness, Wilson is also dealing with an ongoing legal battle tied to her film “The Deb.”

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Rebel Wilson Gets Candid  About Never Getting A Bikini Body

Rebel Wilson
Instagram Stories | Rebel Wilson

The “Senior Year” actress did not sugarcoat where she’s at recently with her fitness, admitting she may never look a certain way. 

Taking to Instagram Stories, Wilson shared a photo of herself in a sports bra and shorts, confidently showing her midsection while embracing her reality in the caption.

“I don’t think I’ll ever have a bikini body – that’s just not me,” Wilson wrote. “But my body has carried me through this life, and I am so grateful for it!”

The soon-to-be mom of two followed up her candid admission with a glimpse into her wellness routine. “I’m trying to get in my daily steps, do a Pilates class once or twice a week, some strength training when I can – eat as healthy as I can,” she explained.  

Wilson also chimed in on her use of medication to support slimming down, writing, “But let’s face it, I love sweets – so I need those GLPs [sic] from time to time to give a little help.”

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The ‘Pitch Perfect’ Star Turned To GLP-1 For Weight Loss 

Rebel Wilson at The Women's Cancer Research Fund's An Unforgettable Evening Benefit Gala 2023
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Wilson’s latest update comes about six months after she revealed she was considering GLP-1 medications as part of her weight management plan.

As The Blast reported at that time, she had partnered with Noom as its Chief Wellness Ambassador, describing the medication as a complementary tool alongside proper nutrition and exercise.

Wilson had revealed back then that she was struggling to stay in shape due to her busy schedule, from motherhood to her career. However, getting on board with the Noom program helped her still keep her fitness in check. 

How Rebel Wilson’s ‘Year of Health’ Reshaped Her Career 

Rebel Wilson at The amfAR Cannes Gala 2023 at Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc
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Throughout her transformation, Wilson has been an open book. In 2020, embarked on a strict routine, famously dubbed her “year of health,” shedding nearly 80 pounds in the process.

According to the Australian actress, the change was not just physical; it also shifted how she was perceived in the industry, opening doors to a wider range of roles.

“That weirdly made me more versatile as an actress, even though I had the same skills,” the 46-year-old explained per The Blast

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She added, “I think people see you differently [after weight loss] and can imagine you more easily in different roles. So I think that probably had the biggest effect.”

Wilson’s ‘The Deb’ Film Lawsuit Took a New Messy Turn

Rebel Wilson in a gold dress
MEGA

Putting her fitness journey aside, the “Jojo Rabbit” actress is currently in the middle of a legal showdown involving her directorial debut.

The dispute began in 2024 after Wilson accused members of the production team of embezzlement and other misconduct. In response, the producers hit back with a lawsuit, alleging her claims were false.

The case has now taken a new twist. Weeks ago, an audio surfaced as part of the evidence, reportedly suggesting that Wilson may have been involved in orchestrating a smear campaign against producer Amanda Ghost.

According to The Blast, the recording features crisis management professional Jed Wallace discussing ways to spread false claims against Ghost, including that she was getting hookers for Sir Len Blavatnik. 

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Wallace also mentioned Wilson’s attorney, Bryan Freedman, in his plans against Ghost.

Rebel Wilson Spoke Out Amid Legal Battle

Rebel Wilson runs errands in West Hollywood
BG020/Bauergriffin.com / MEGA

Following the release of the recording, Wilson spoke out, making it clear she is fully prepared to say her truth. As The Blast reported, the comedian revealed that she was waiting until she testified. However, the increasing allegations against her made her speak up. 

She disclosed that there were “powerful people” who wanted her silenced after reporting what she saw as “dodgy behavior” from the producers on set.

Wilson called out Blavatnik to take action before noting she won’t be quiet. She added that when “push comes to shove,” she would take the stand and “tell it as it is.”

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10 Nearly Perfect Action Shows, Ranked

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Andrew Koji and Joe Taslim fighting in Warrior Season 3

Action shows get praised for the wrong things all the time. People talk about body counts, cool shots, big fights, shock deaths, and who looked the toughest walking away from an explosion. None of that means much on its own. Great action television is about sustained pressure.

It is about whether the violence changes the story, whether the fights expose character, whether escalation feels earned, and whether the show can keep making danger feel immediate instead of routine. That is where the nearly perfect ones separate themselves. The ten shows here all get that. They do not all work the same way, but every one of them knows how to make action feel like a story instead of decoration.

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10

‘Warrior’ (2019–2023)

Andrew Koji and Joe Taslim fighting in Warrior Season 3
Andrew Koji and Joe Taslim fighting in Warrior Season 3
Image via Max

Warrior hits so hard and it never treats action as a side attraction. The fights are the language of the world. Territory, respect, class tension, family resentment, political opportunism, racial violence, personal shame, all of it keeps finding its way into physical confrontation. That is why the show stays alive even when nobody is punching anybody. You always feel like somebody is about to test somebody else’s claim to space.

Ah Sahm (Andrew Koji) gives the show an aura, but the real strength is that Warrior never traps itself inside one kind of cool. Ah Sahm can fight like a demon, yes, but the show also has to deal with Mai Ling (Dianne Doan)’s ambition, Young Jun (Jason Tobin)’s instability, Ah Toy (Olivia Cheng)’s cold-blooded precision, and the way the city itself keeps pressurizing every faction inside it. The result is a series where the action scenes matter because the grudges underneath them are always active. When the show really gets rolling, it feels less like a string of fights and more like a city-wide chain reaction.

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9

‘Reacher’ (2022– )

Alan Ritchson as Jack Reacher, looking down from a height with a wounded face in Reacher.
Alan Ritchson as Jack Reacher, looking down from a height with a wounded face in Reacher.
Image via Prime Video

What Reacher understands better than a lot of prestige-minded action series is the pleasure of directness. This is a show built around a giant human problem walking into corrupt systems and deciding he is not going to tolerate any of it. That sounds simple because it is simple, and the show is smarter for not apologizing about that. Reacher’s whole appeal is that he reads a room fast, clocks the lie inside it, and turns physical force into moral clarity.

But the reason it works beyond the basic premise is that Alan Ritchson does not play Jack Reacher like a robot. Reacher is blunt, observant, dryly funny, and weirdly patient right up until the moment patience is no longer useful. He’s stoic and unapologetic. That’s a weird combo these days. That makes the bursts of violence land better. And the show knows how to build around him: small-town conspiracies, military baggage, bad men who mistake size for invulnerability, allies who are useful without becoming dead weight. A lot of action shows waste time trying to convince you they are deeper than they are. Reacher does not. It just keeps delivering satisfying escalation with enough intelligence in the mechanics to keep you fully locked in.

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8

‘Banshee’ (2013–2016)

Antony Starr impersonating Lucas Hood in 'Banshee'
Antony Starr impersonating Lucas Hood in ‘Banshee’
Image via Cinemax

Banshee is what happens when a show looks at the idea of too much and decides that is exactly the right amount. The violence is savage, the sex is reckless, the grudges are old, the criminal energy is everywhere, and every major character seems about one bad decision away from detonating the whole town. That could have turned into nonsense. Instead, the show commits so hard that its madness becomes structured.

The genius of Banshee is that Lucas Hood (Antony Starr) being an impostor is not just a hook. It poisons every interaction he has. He is constantly improvising authority he does not really own while dealing with Carrie Hopewell (Ivana Miličević)’s history, Rabbit (Ben Cross)’s shadow, Kai Proctor (Ulrich Thomsen)’s local dominance, and a town full of people who all seem to have private reasons for snapping. The fights are famous for good reason. They do not feel neat. They feel exhausting, painful, ugly, and personal. That is what gives the show its bite.

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7

’24’ (2001–2010)

Kiefer Sutherland as Jack Bauer holding out a gun in 24.
Kiefer Sutherland as Jack Bauer holding out a gun in 24.
Image via FOX

There are action shows with better individual fight scenes than 24. There are action shows with prettier filmmaking. There are action shows less absurd from season to season. But if we are talking about pure compulsion, pure “I need the next episode now,” 24 still belongs near the top because it understands velocity on a level most television never touches. Every hour ends with a fresh emergency, a betrayal, a clock problem, a political complication, or a new layer of catastrophe.

Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) is the engine, obviously, and Sutherland plays him with exactly the right approach. Jack is not cool in a relaxed way. He is desperate, half-broken, relentless, and always one second away from doing something extreme because the alternative looks even worse. That is what makes the show work. It does not present action as controlled mastery. It presents it as triage under impossible pressure. Even when the plotting strains credibility, the show’s sense of pace keeps dragging you forward.

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6

‘Daredevil’ (2015–2018)

Charlie Cox as Matt Murdock in 'Daredevil'
Charlie Cox as Matt Murdock in ‘Daredevil’
Image via Netflix

What separates Daredevil from most superhero action shows is that it actually understands what a beating costs. Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox) gets battered, staggered, slammed into walls, thrown down hallways, and pushed into the kind of exhaustion that changes how a scene feels. That physical vulnerability gives the action real dramatic value. And then there is the mood.

Hell’s Kitchen feels claustrophobic, wounded, and morally cornered. Fisk (Vincent D’Onofrio) reshapes the entire show’s sense of threat because his presence makes every criminal and civic layer feel connected. Charlie Cox brings the right tension to Matt: intelligence, restraint, guilt, anger, and a self-destructive need to carry too much himself. The famous hallway fights embody what the show is about. Matt wins, but never cleanly. Every victory leaves damage behind. That is why the action means something.

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5

‘The Punisher’ (2017–2019)

Jon Bernthal stares into the camera with a beaten face and a skull t-shirt for The Punisher.
Jon Bernthal stares into the camera with a beaten face and a skull t-shirt for The Punisher.
Image via Netflix

A lot of adaptations get seduced by the iconography of the character and stop there. This one is strongest when it remembers that Frank (Jon Bernthal) is not just efficient. He is torn open and functioning anyway. The Punisher follows a man whose grief has hardened into method without ever fully losing the raw wound underneath it.

When the show is in full form, it is ruthless.The action is tied to Frank’s psychology and the damage done to everyone around him. His scenes with Micro (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) help because they create contrast without softening him into something he is not. Billy Russo (Ben Barnes) matters because their history turns conflict into betrayal instead of generic opposition. And when Frank goes to work, it is ugly, efficient, punishing force carried out by a man who has stopped pretending he belongs to ordinary life. That clarity is what keeps the series from feeling like empty punishment porn.

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4

‘Strike Back’ (2010–2020)

Two men in camouflage fatigues walk through a jungle and hold weapons in Strike Back.
Two men in camouflage fatigues walk through a jungle and hold weapons in Strike Back.
Image via Cinemax

Strike Back might be one of the purest action-delivery systems television has ever produced, and that is meant as praise. The show knows exactly what it is built to do: throw damaged, hyper-capable operators into one hot zone after another, keep the missions nasty and unstable, and make every operation feel like it can spiral in six different directions before anybody gets out. There is no bloat in the appeal. It is precision, momentum, and constant tactical pressure.

What makes it better than lesser military action shows is that it does not go soft in the connective tissue. The banter matters. The exhaustion matters. The improvisation matters. Scott (Sullivan Stapleton) and Stonebridge (Philip Winchester), in particular, work because their chemistry gives the show something to lean on between firefights. One is chaos with a pulse, the other is discipline holding itself together, and that friction keeps scenes from going flat. Then the set pieces hit, and the show delivers with frightening consistency. Raids, ambushes, extractions, reversals, close-quarters scrambles, Strike Back understands that action television can be artfully simple if the execution is sharp enough. Here, it usually is.

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3

‘Spartacus’ (2010–2013)

Liam McIntyre appears as Spartacus in the television series.
Liam McIntyre appears as Spartacus in the television series.
Image via Starz

Very few shows understand escalation the way Spartacus does. It starts hot and then keeps finding ways to become hotter without losing narrative shape. That is the trick. Plenty of series can go loud. Very few can go loud while still making every new betrayal, revolt, alliance, humiliation, and revenge beat feel like it belongs exactly where it lands. Spartacus is operating at full emotional volume almost all the time, and somehow that becomes a strength rather than a weakness.

The show’s action is nearly perfect because it is fused to suffering, pride, spectacle, and payback. Spartacus (Andy Whitfield) is fighting and clawing his way through systems that stripped him of home, wife, name, and control. Batiatus (John Hannah) is one of the great chaos engines in TV because he can make a room dangerous without drawing a blade. Crixus (Manu Bennett), Gannicus (Dustin Clare), Lucretia (Lucy Lawless), Ashur (Nick E. Tarabay), Oenomaus (Peter Mensah), these are not decorative figures orbiting the hero. They all sharpen the stakes in different ways. And when the series goes into battle mode, you feel the accumulated insult behind every strike. That emotional backlog is why the action in Spartacus lands so hard.

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2

‘Gangs of London’ (2020– )

Sope Dirisu in Gangs of London Season 3
Sope Dirisu in Gangs of London Season 3
Image via AMC

Gangs of London feels like a show made by people who took it personally when television action got lazy. The fight scenes are not just good. They are viciously imagined, spatially clear, physically punishing, and committed to consequences in a way that makes a lot of expensive action TV look fake and timid. The series understands that the audience should not just admire violence. They should wince at it, dread it, and still be unable to look away from it.

But the reason it rises this high is that the show is not only a collection of astonishing beatdowns and shootouts. It is a power struggle full of unstable loyalties, family fractures, strategic misreads, and men convincing themselves they are in control right before somebody tears that illusion apart. Elliot Carter (Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù) works because he is never allowed to settle into simple hero mode. Sean Wallace (Joe Cole) is compelling because grief, entitlement, rage, and insecurity are all fighting inside him at once. And when the show decides to explode, it really explodes. Safe houses become slaughterhouses. Negotiations collapse into carnage. Whole alliances get rewritten in minutes. It is some of the most ferocious action television ever made.

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1

‘Shōgun’ (2024– )

Toranaga looking serious standing by the water in Shogun.
Toranaga looking serious standing by the water in Shogun.
Image via FX Networks

Putting Shōgun at number one on an action list is exactly the kind of choice people only question if they think action begins when swords come out. That is far too small a definition. Shōgun is nearly perfect action television because it understands that action starts much earlier than impact. It starts with positioning. It starts with reading a room correctly. It starts with knowing who is cornered, who is bluffing, who is buying time, who is sacrificing a piece to save the board, and who is quietly steering everybody else toward a confrontation they will not survive.

That is why the show is so overwhelming. When violence happens, it matters because the tension feeding into it has been built with terrifying patience. Toranaga (Hiroyuki Sanada) does not dominate the series by constantly raising his voice or swinging his authority around. He dominates it by turning thought into motion and motion into inevitability. Mariko (Anna Sawai) gives the story its deepest force because her restraint, duty, faith, intelligence, and pain make every scene around her denser. Blackthorne (Cosmo Jarvis) is useful not as an action avatar for the audience, but as a destabilizing presence inside a system already trembling with calculation and mistrust. And when Shōgun does unleash kinetic force, it lands with unusual weight because the show has already done the harder work.


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Shogun
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Release Date

2024 – 2026-00-00

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Directors

Fred Toye, Jonathan van Tulleken, Charlotte Brändström, Takeshi Fukunaga, Hiromi Kamata

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Writers

Rachel Kondo

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“Real Housewives of Salt Lake City” alum Jen Shah was on 'poop duty' with Elizabeth Holmes in prison

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One Star Wars Actor Hated Every Second of His Fan-Favorite Role

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Closeup of Obi-Wan Kenobi (Sir Alec Guinness) with his lightsaber in Star Wars IV: A New Hope.

For millions of Star Wars fans, Obi-Wan Kenobi represents wisdom, calm, and the moral center of the original trilogy. He is the mentor archetype perfected. Part samurai master, part space wizard, part philosophical guide leading Luke Skywalker toward his destiny. Without him, Star Wars simply would not feel the same. Ironically, the man who made the character iconic never fully understood the obsession.

Sir Alec Guinness had a famously complicated relationship with the role that made him recognizable to generations of moviegoers. While Star Wars made him extraordinarily wealthy and introduced him to the largest audience of his career, it also became the role he spent decades trying to separate himself from. But the real story is not just that Guinness disliked Star Wars, it is why his presence in the film was so important in the first place. Because without Guinness, Star Wars might not have worked the way it did.

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Guinness Helped Make Star Wars Feel Legitimate

Closeup of Obi-Wan Kenobi (Sir Alec Guinness) with his lightsaber in Star Wars IV: A New Hope.
Closeup of Obi-Wan Kenobi (Sir Alec Guinness) with his lightsaber in Star Wars IV: A New Hope.
Image via Lucasfilm

When Star Wars released in 1977, it was far from guaranteed to become the cultural phenomenon it is today. Science fiction was not widely considered prestige filmmaking, and the genre often struggled to be taken seriously aside from a few exceptions. George Lucas understood this, which is part of why casting Guinness mattered so much. Guinness was an Academy Award winner for The Bridge on the River Kwai, known for serious dramatic work and classical stage performances. His presence alone signaled that Star Wars was trying to be more than just spectacle. More importantly, he treated the role with complete sincerity.

Rather than leaning into the pulpy nature of the material, Guinness approached Obi-Wan like a classical mentor figure. He delivered exposition about the Force and the Jedi with the quiet confidence of someone discussing philosophy rather than fantasy. His performance gives the impression that this galaxy has a real history instead of just invented lore. That choice helped audiences accept the film’s mythology. It is easy to imagine a version of Star Wars where Obi-Wan feels campy or overly theatrical. In the wrong hands, the character could have felt like a stock fantasy wizard. Guinness instead gave him restraint, sadness, and a sense of lived experience. He made Obi-Wan feel like someone who had already lived through a lost golden age. That emotional grounding helped make the entire story feel more real.

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Guinness’ Performance Grounded the Film’s Biggest Ideas

One of Guinness’ greatest contributions to Star Wars is how he handles the film’s most difficult material. Much of A New Hope depends on the audience accepting abstract ideas like the Force, the fall of the Jedi, and the moral battle between light and dark. Guinness makes those ideas believable simply through how seriously he takes them. The calm conviction in his delivery gives the idea emotional credibility. It turns what could have been technobabble into something closer to mythology.

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His famous sacrifice on the Death Star works for the same reason. Guinness plays the moment with quiet acceptance rather than dramatic spectacle. Obi-Wan does not die like an action hero, he dies like someone fulfilling a purpose he has already accepted. That performance choice reinforces the idea that Star Wars is operating on mythic storytelling rules rather than simple adventure logic. Without that tone, the moment risks feeling confusing or anticlimactic. Instead, it becomes one of the most important turning points in the trilogy. It also helped establish one of the franchise’s most important storytelling ideas. In Star Wars, victory does not always come from power. Sometimes it comes from belief and sacrifice. Guinness communicates that theme through performance more than dialogue. That may be his most important contribution to the film.

Guinness Never Loved What Obi-Wan Became

The Force Ghosts of Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christiansen), Yoda (Frank Oz), and Obi-Wan Kenobi (Alec Guinness) stand together looking proud in Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi.
The Force Ghosts of Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christiansen), Yoda (Frank Oz), and Obi-Wan Kenobi (Alec Guinness) stand together looking proud in Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi.
Image via Lucasfilm

Despite how essential his performance was, Guinness never fully embraced the role. Unlike many actors who later grow tired of their most famous characters, Guinness had doubts from the beginning. He reportedly struggled with some of the dialogue and was unsure how the film would be received. While he respected Lucas’ ambition, he did not share the same excitement for the genre. His decision to join the film was partly practical. His contract included a percentage of the film’s backend profits, estimated at around 2.25 percent, which ultimately earned him millions as Star Wars became a global success.

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Financially, it was one of the smartest decisions he ever made. Artistically, it was more complicated. Guinness spent decades building a reputation as a transformative actor known for his range. After Star Wars, he increasingly found himself defined by a single role. In his memoir A Positively Final Appearance, he recalled throwing away Obi-Wan fan mail without reading it. One frequently repeated story describes him agreeing to sign an autograph for a young fan only if the boy promised to stop watching Star Wars. These stories may sound harsh, but they reflect a real fear: Guinness worried that his most popular role would overshadow the rest of his career. In some ways, he was right. But there is also a deep irony here. The qualities Guinness valued most as an actor are exactly what made Obi-Wan so beloved. His restraint, discipline, and seriousness helped elevate the film beyond simple genre entertainment. His commitment to treating the story seriously is what helped make it timeless.

Whether he liked it or not, he became part of cinematic mythology through Obi-Wan, and in the end, that may be the clearest measure of his impact. Guinness did not just play Obi-Wan Kenobi: he helped convince audiences that Star Wars was worth believing in, even if he never fully understood why they believed in it so much.

Star Wars A New Hope 1977 Poster
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His partner on the show, Libby, had a similar outlook on the backlash.

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Age of Attraction is now streaming on Netflix.

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