Entertainment franchises continue to age well with critical factors that drive the interest of consumers, brands, studios, and production companies. As example:

• Established franchises tap into nostalgia such as Hasbro and Dr.Squatch using the iconic Star Wars universe to reach diverse age groups.
• Offers multiple revenue streams – the Harry Potter franchise spans across books, films, merchandising, theme park attractions, video games, and the recently announced TV series.
• Universe expansion and spin-offs offer tremendous potential, as seen with Yellowstone’s two current spin-offs (1883 and 1923) and three more planned for the future.
• Cross-media synergy is particularly fruitful for video game adaptations, achieving commercial and critical success (HBO’s The Last of Us, Netflix’s The Witcher).
• Impact on popular culture and global resonance is vast, with franchises leveraging digital and social media to create lasting touchpoints for audiences worldwide.

Using E-Score Brand we assess entertainment franchises across three revenue tiers considering key factors that impact their IP value. (Based on total revenue to date – box office, merchandising, media, etc.):

• Net Fandom: Ranking the franchises by the strongest level of fan passion
• IP Recognition: Awareness level of each franchise
• Halo Effect (popular with people I know): The level of an IPs reach
• Key Attributes: How does each franchise perform across the 8 highest scoring attributes for the Entertainment Franchise Category?

TIER 1 FRANCHISE: MORE THAN $10 BILLION

Why are these 8 franchises in Tier 1?

• These are the only franchises to post strong scores across three important metrics:
  • Passionate Fans: Each franchise has a Net Fandom score of +10 or higher
  • Strong Consumer Recognition (vs. entertainment franchise category avg): Outperforms the average by double-digits for Awareness
  • Strong Halo Effect (vs. entertainment franchise category avg): Outperforms the average by double-digits for agreement with the statement “Popular with people I know”

The 8 Highest Scoring Attributes for the Entertainment Franchise Category

How does each franchise perform across these attributes that are important to franchise success?

• Star Wars is the only franchise to outperform the average for all 8 attributes.

Super Mario Bros. vs. Entertainment Franchise Avg: Net Fandom (+45), Family-Friendly (+32), Nostalgic (+21), Classic (+19)

• Super Mario Bros. has been a dominant force in gaming since 1985 thanks to enduring characters, strong gameplay, and the high-quality adaptation due to the ever-shifting gaming landscape. The franchise universe has continued to expand through merchandising success, videogame spin-offs, a blockbuster animated film (The Super Mario Bros. Movie has grossed over $1 billion worldwide since opening in April 2023), and theme park partnerships (Super Nintendo World opened in March 2023) to create an immersive experience for fans of the franchise.

TIER 2 FRANCHISE: $5-10 BILLION

Why are these 10 franchises in Tier 2?

• While each franchise has a positive Net Fandom score, performance for Awareness and Halo Effect vary. 
  • Four of the ten franchises post strong scores for all three key metrics: Jurassic Park, X-Men, The Legend of Zelda, Fast & Furious

The 8 Highest Scoring Attributes for the Entertainment Franchise Category

How does each franchise perform across these attributes that are important to franchise success?

• Jurassic Park and The Legend of Zelda are the only two franchises to outperform the average for all 8 attributes.

Fast & Furious vs. Entertainment Franchise Avg: Net Fandom (+17), Exciting (+13), Cool (+6), Entertaining (+4)

• With its 10th installment recently premiering, the Fast & Furious franchise has captivated fans for over two decades. Mixing adrenaline-fueled stunts with compelling family dynamics, it has forged a unique identity and strong brand presence. The franchise’s diverse cast and global settings have propelled its success worldwide, making it universally relatable. Even the spin-off, Hobbs & Shaw, showcased its box office might, amassing a staggering $760 million worldwide.

TIER 3 FRANCHISE: UNDER $5 BILLION

Why are these 10 franchises in Tier 3?

• Though each franchise boasts a favorable Net Fandom score, over half fall below average in Awareness, mainly due to their recent emergence. However, promising Halo Effect scores indicate future expansion potential for these franchises.
  • Three of the ten franchises post strong scores for all three key metrics: John Wick, The Last of Us, Black Panther

The 8 Highest Scoring Attributes for the Entertainment Franchise Category

How does each franchise perform across these attributes that are important to franchise success?

• None of the Tier 3 franchises exceed the average across all 8 attributes and have room to continue growing their fan base and franchise affinity.

John Wick vs. Entertainment Franchise Avg: Net Fandom (+49), Exciting (+16), Cool (+16), Entertaining (+14)

• The 4th installment of the John Wick franchise achieved remarkable critical and commercial success by surpassing $1 billion worldwide even with an R-rating. The franchise owes its success to the star power of Keanu Reeves, the distinct “Gun Fu” combat style blending martial arts and gunplay, intricate world-building, and growing mythology. The universe will continue expanding with the anticipated spin-off, Ballerina, starring the rising talent Ana de Armas, set for release in 2024.

Entertainment franchise IPs wield significant value in the digital age, driven by nostalgia, diverse revenue streams, universe expansion, cross-media synergy, and global resonance. E-Score Brand provides valuable insight into IP value & emotional resonance, aiding in strategic decision-making and investment opportunities in the ever-evolving entertainment industry.

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