Few activities are as enjoyable as a movie marathon, especially when you've got a long weekend ahead or are planning a fun, relaxing group activity. Settling in to watch hours of films back-to-back is a perfect way to unwind and bond with friends.

For an immersive movie marathon, nothing beats watching a single franchise from start to finish. To help you plan your next cinematic binge, we've compiled a list of 15 of the best movie franchises to watch, complete with their total runtimes.

Planet of the Apes

With the release of "Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes" last year, now is the perfect time to dive into this classic sci-fi franchise. The Planet of the Apes series now boasts 10 films, spread across three different timelines. While the newer films aren't directly connected to the originals, they still offer a thrilling movie marathon centered around our ape overlords.

Although we don't have the exact runtime for watching all Planet of the Apes movies, you can comfortably binge them over a weekend. Alternatively, focus on the newer prequel films for a one-day marathon.

Includes Digital Version Planet of the Apes Trilogy Blu-ray Collection

36 Also available in full 4K. See it at Amazon

X-Men

Before the MCU took over, the X-Men franchise ruled the superhero movie scene. With 13 films, including the latest "Deadpool & Wolverine," the franchise offers a rich timeline, albeit one that can get confusing with time jumps and the standalone Deadpool movies. For a shorter binge, you can focus solely on the Wolverine timeline.

Excluding the Deadpool movies, you can watch all X-Men films in just over 22 hours. But, let's be honest, you'll want to include Deadpool because, well, it's Deadpool.

X-Men Blu-Ray Collection

88 Contains 10 movies. See it at Amazon

Fast and Furious

With the arrival of "Fast X" in 2023, the Fast and Furious franchise now includes 13 films. What began as a series of racing movies has evolved into an action-packed saga that even ventures into space. If you're looking for a movie marathon filled with high-octane action and themes of family, this is it.

Watching all the films takes almost 23 and a half hours. For a detailed viewing order, check out our guide to the Fast and Furious movies.

Blu-Ray + Digital Fast & Furious: 10 Movie Collection

3 See it at Amazon

Lord of the Rings

The Lord of the Rings trilogy is a timeless classic for any movie marathon. Based on J.R.R. Tolkien's epic fantasy novels, the series has captivated audiences worldwide. You can expand your marathon to include the three Hobbit movies and Amazon's "Rings of Power" TV series for a complete franchise experience.

The six feature-length films take about 19 and a half hours to watch combined. Adding in two full seasons of "Rings of Power" adds another nearly 18 hours of content. For a comprehensive guide, check out our "Lord of the Rings in order" article or explore our guide to Lord of the Rings Blu-ray sets.

The Lord of the Rings: The Motion Picture Trilogy (Extended & Theatrical)(4K Ultra HD)

3 See it at Amazon

Star Wars

The Star Wars franchise continues to grow with no end in sight. With "The Acolyte" concluding this summer and numerous upcoming projects, the series remains a juggernaut. To date, there have been 11 Star Wars movies, with more on the horizon. Including animated films and series like "The Clone Wars" and "The Mandalorian" extends the timeline even further.

A movie marathon of just the live-action films takes just over 25 hours. For a detailed timeline, see our guide to all Star Wars movies and shows in order, or delve into the Star Wars Legends books for additional lore.

Pirates of the Caribbean

Among pirate-themed films, the Pirates of the Caribbean series stands out as a true franchise. Featuring five films, all starring Johnny Depp as the iconic Jack Sparrow, this series offers a swashbuckling adventure. While we await the release of "Pirates of the Caribbean 6," you can still marathon the existing films in one day.

Watching all five Pirates of the Caribbean movies takes just a little over 12 hours.

4K UHD Pirates of the Caribbean 5-Movie Collection

2 See it at Amazon

Jurassic Park

If you're in the mood for a dinosaur movie marathon, the Jurassic Park series is your best bet. With six feature-length films, along with short films and an animated Netflix series, this franchise offers plenty of prehistoric excitement. The upcoming "Jurassic World Rebirth" is set for July 2025, but the existing films are split into the Jurassic Park and Jurassic World trilogies, all sharing the same timeline.

Watching all the movies at once takes just a little over 10 hours. For more details, see our guide on the Jurassic Park movies in order.

Out Now Jurassic World 6-Movie Collection (Standard Edition)

4 Includes all six movies in 4K UHD, Blu-ray, and digital. See it at Amazon

Indiana Jones

Spanning over four decades, the Indiana Jones franchise includes five films. With the latest release, "Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny" in 2023, and a new Indiana Jones game on the horizon, now is a great time to revisit this classic series. If you're planning a Harrison Ford movie marathon, starting with Indiana Jones is a great choice.

You can watch all five Indiana Jones movies in one day, with a total runtime of just over 10 hours.

4K UHD + Blu-Ray Indiana Jones 4-Movie Collection

1 See it at Amazon

The Conjuring

The Conjuring universe is expansive, with nine movies spanning "The Conjuring," "Annabelle," and "The Nun" series. If you're new to this horror franchise, the timeline can be quite complex.

Including all nine movies and the five shorts, you can watch the entire Conjuring universe in just under 14 and a half hours. This is a perfect weekend binge to catch up on the whole story, including "The Nun 2."

The Conjuring 7-Film Blu-Ray Collection

0 See it at Amazon

Transformers

With "Transformers One" now released, it's the perfect time for a Transformers movie marathon. The franchise now includes eight feature-length films, packed with action, explosions, and humor. "Transformers: Rise of the Beasts" takes place earlier in the timeline, so you can start with that before moving on to the original film.

Watching all Transformers movies from start to finish takes about 18 and a half hours, making it an ideal two-day weekend marathon.

Limited Edition [Blu-Ray + 4K UHD] Transformers 6-Movie Steelbook Collection

10 See it at Amazon

Harry Potter

Despite the mixed reception of the "Fantastic Beasts" series, the Harry Potter movies remain a beloved franchise for movie marathons. Filled with magic, wonder, and the unforgettable Weasley family, this series is a staple for many who grew up with the books. The recent game, "Hogwarts Legacy," also adds to the franchise's allure.

Excluding the "Fantastic Beasts" films, you can watch all eight Harry Potter movies in just under 20 hours. Adding the prequel films increases the total to another 6 hours and 49 minutes.

Harry Potter: 8 Film Collection [4K UHD + Blu-Ray]

3 See it at Amazon

Alien

With the addition of "Alien: Romulus," the Alien franchise now includes nine movies, covering six mainline films, two Predator crossovers, and two prequels. If you're looking for a space-horror movie marathon, the Alien series is a great choice.

Watching every Alien movie in order takes just a little over 17 hours, and about 14 hours if you exclude the Predator crossovers.

Alien: 6-Film Collection

4 Contains six Blu-ray discs and digital codes. See it at Walmart

Scream

The Scream franchise is enjoying renewed popularity with "Scream 5" in 2022, "Scream 6" in 2023, and "Scream 7" set for 2026. If you're looking for a horror movie marathon that's both thrilling and humorous, watching the Scream movies in order is a fantastic choice.

A marathon of all six Ghostface movies takes a little over 11 and a half hours. Find out where to watch all the Scream movies online.

Scream: 6-Movie Collection

0 See it at Amazon

James Bond

James Bond is one of the longest-running movie franchises, featuring 26 films across seven different actors. While watching every James Bond movie in release order is an ambitious endeavor, you can start with a more manageable marathon of the Daniel Craig Bond films.

Watching all 26 Bond films would take over 54 hours, but focusing on the Daniel Craig era takes just 7 hours and 40 minutes.

James Bond Collection

1 Has 24 Bond films from the classic era to the modern ones. See it at Amazon

The Hunger Games

With "The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes" now available to stream and a new Hunger Games book on the way, it's the perfect time to revisit the entire series. As a prequel, you can start with "The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes" and then move on to the other films without jumping around the timeline.

Watching all five Hunger Games films takes just over 11 and a half hours, with the prequel being the longest at 2 hours and 38 minutes.