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10 Movie Franchises That Really Need a Break

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Ignacio Weil

Entertainment - September 26th 2025, 17:00 GMT+2

Cropped Venom The Last Dance — Sony’s Spider-Man Universe (SPUMC)

At some point, the Sony Pictures Universe of Marvel Characters (yes, that’s really what “SPUMC” stands for) became less about telling compelling Spider-Man stories and more about squeezing every possible side character into their own spinoff. *Venom* was fun in a messy, chaotic way, but projects like *Morbius* quickly showed the cracks in the plan. Instead of feeling like a natural extension of Spider-Man’s world, most of these films seem like awkward attempts to cash in on Marvel’s success without the charm that makes the MCU click. Do we really need a *Madame Web* or a *Kraven the Hunter* franchise starter? Probably not. Sometimes the best way to save a cinematic universe is to let it breathe instead of forcing it to expand. | © Sony Pictures

Cropped terminator dark fate — Terminator

Few sci-fi franchises have had such a spectacular rise – and such a painful decline – as *Terminator*. James Cameron’s first two films are practically untouchable classics, but since then, the series has been rebooted, retconned, and relaunched so many times that even Skynet would have trouble keeping track of the timeline. Each new movie promises a fresh start, but ends up feeling like déjà vu, rehashing the same “the machines are rising” formula with diminishing returns. Fans are tired of watching Arnie come back again and again with the same catchphrases while the story sputters. Honestly, maybe the only way for *Terminator* to be relevant again is to do the unthinkable – stop making *Terminator* movies. | © Orion Pictures / Carolco Pictures (original), now Paramount Pictures

Cropped fast x — The Fast and the Furious

What started as a street-racing cult hit has turned into a high-octane soap opera where cars defy the laws of physics and the word “family” gets said more than in an entire Thanksgiving dinner. By the time F9 sent a Pontiac Fiero into space, even die-hard fans were laughing at the sheer absurdity. Sure, the series has delivered some fun blockbusters, but the longer it goes, the harder it is to take Vin Diesel’s gravelly sincerity seriously when everything around him feels like a cartoon. Maybe it’s time to hit the brakes, let Dom and the crew finally enjoy their Corona-filled barbecues in peace, and retire before things get even more ridiculous. | © Universal Pictures

Cropped Jurassic World rebirth — Jurassic World

Dinosaurs will never stop being cool – that much is undeniable. But when *Jurassic World Dominion* rolled out in 2022, audiences couldn’t help but feel like the magic had worn off. Instead of a thrilling adventure about humans vs. dinosaurs, we got a messy plot about locusts, cloning, and way too many characters competing for screen time. The awe of seeing a T. rex on the big screen just doesn’t hit as hard when it’s the fifth time we’ve been told “man shouldn’t play God.” There’s only so much genetic engineering gone wrong a franchise can milk before it goes extinct creatively. Maybe the dinos should finally be allowed to roam free – without another sequel chasing after them. | © Universal Pictures

Cropped ballerina — John Wick

It’s hard to believe that *John Wick* started out as a simple revenge flick about a man avenging his dog. Now, four films later, we’re deep into a labyrinth of assassin lore, underground councils, and increasingly over-the-top action sequences. While Keanu Reeves remains endlessly watchable, each installment has tried to outdo the last to the point where the story feels stretched thin. The universe keeps expanding with spinoffs like *The Continental* and *Ballerina*, but maybe all this world-building is diluting what made the original so special: a tight, emotional story wrapped in stylish gun-fu. Even Baba Yaga deserves a rest. | © Lionsgate

Cropped indiana jones — Indiana Jones

When *Raiders of the Lost Ark* premiered in 1981, it gave us one of cinema’s most iconic heroes and set the gold standard for adventure movies. Fast-forward four decades, and poor Indy is still getting dragged out of retirement – most recently in *Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny*. While Harrison Ford still brings the charm, watching an 80-year-old man crack whips and outrun danger feels more exhausting than thrilling. The franchise hasn’t lost its spirit entirely, but it has lost its sense of timing. Sometimes, letting a legend rest is the only way to keep it legendary. | © Lucasfilm

Cropped star wars rise of the jedi — Star Wars

The galaxy far, far away has given us some of the greatest cinematic moments of all time, but lately, it’s starting to feel like a never-ending homework assignment. Between sequels, prequels, spinoffs, Disney+ shows, and animated tie-ins, even hardcore fans are struggling to keep up. The *Skywalker Saga* already wrapped up (for better or worse), but new installments keep showing up, often retreading the same themes of “chosen ones” and “dark sides.” A breather wouldn’t kill the franchise – in fact, it might even make the next big-screen adventure feel exciting again instead of obligatory. | © Lucasfilm

Cropped halloween — Halloween

Michael Myers just won’t die – and at this point, neither will the franchise. Since John Carpenter’s 1978 masterpiece, the *Halloween* series has been rebooted, remade, reimagined, and “definitively concluded” more times than anyone can count. Every new timeline promises to end the saga once and for all, only for another masked killing spree to pop up a few years later. By the time *Halloween Ends* hit theaters, fans were split between laughing and groaning at how convoluted things had become. Maybe the scariest thing the franchise could do now is… actually stay dead. | © Compass International Pictures (original), now Universal Pictures / Blumhouse

Cropped Mission Impossible the final reckoning — Mission: Impossible

Let’s be honest: Tom Cruise has turned *Mission: Impossible* into his personal playground of death-defying stunts. From climbing the Burj Khalifa to hanging off airplanes, each movie tries to top the last with increasingly insane set pieces. And while the adrenaline rush is real, the formula is starting to show its age after nearly 30 years. The convoluted plots often feel like filler between “look what crazy thing Tom did this time” moments. Maybe it’s time to accept that the impossible has been accomplished – and give Ethan Hunt a chance to finally retire without another mission dangling in front of him. | © Paramount Pictures

Cropped The Wizarding World — The Wizarding World

The *Harry Potter* films ended on a high note in 2011, but Warner Bros. just couldn’t resist diving back into the Wizarding World. Enter the *Fantastic Beasts* spinoffs, which tried to recapture the magic and instead delivered confusing plots, underwhelming characters, and a sense that the franchise was running on fumes. Add to that the endless merchandising, theme parks, and upcoming reboot series, and it feels less like a story that enchanted a generation and more like a cash cow that refuses to quit. Sometimes, the best spell is knowing when to say “finite incantatem.” | © Warner Bros. Pictures

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Hollywood loves a successful formula – and nothing proves that more than the endless stream of sequels, reboots, and spin-offs. While some franchises manage to keep audiences hooked with fresh ideas, others have long overstayed their welcome. From once-beloved sagas that lost their spark to series milked purely for box office numbers, it’s clear that not every story needs to be told again (and again).

In this list, we’ll take a closer look at 10 movie franchises that really need a break, exploring how fatigue has set in and why pressing pause might be the best way to revive audience excitement in the future.

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Hollywood loves a successful formula – and nothing proves that more than the endless stream of sequels, reboots, and spin-offs. While some franchises manage to keep audiences hooked with fresh ideas, others have long overstayed their welcome. From once-beloved sagas that lost their spark to series milked purely for box office numbers, it’s clear that not every story needs to be told again (and again).

In this list, we’ll take a closer look at 10 movie franchises that really need a break, exploring how fatigue has set in and why pressing pause might be the best way to revive audience excitement in the future.