Franchises are a nuanced business, and when done right, filmmakers and audiences will reap the benefits of good storytelling and movie-going experience. Done wrong, and it could be curtains for the director or the studio couldpull the plug on the entire series. In some instances, long-standing franchises have the same director for every installment, while others rotate in and out a selection of talented artists to deliver their vision for fans.
These directors understood the assignment when it came to setting the tone,passing the torch, or picking up the gauntlet. From iconic installments in cinematic history to fan favorites,these franchises continue to deliver again and again from the consistency of the same director for more than one movie.
10Michael Bay
‘Transformers’ (2007-2017)
Directing five of the seven franchise movies, the nameMichael Bayis synonymous withTransformers.For over a decade, action fans have equated Bay’s name with the expectation of showstopping CGI and lots of explosions, leaving lots to be desired for critics regarding the storyline. Bay has a knack for high-intensity action sequences that requireblockbuster budgets and results to continuously bring them to the screen.
The only two movies he did not direct wereBumblebeeandRise of the Beasts. One of which is certified fresh—Bumblebee—and a stand-out film in the franchise. Every Michael Bay-directedTransformerinstallment isdecidedly rotten in the eyes of critics, but audiences love a good car chase and robot fight sequence to justify each movie.Bay does exactly what he’s expected to do: bring a feature so action-packed there’s little room for anything else.
Transformers
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9Justin Lin
The Fast & the Furious Franchise (2006-2021)
Of the 10 features in the franchise,Justin Linis the only filmmaker to direct more than one installment. He began with the third movie,The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift, and ended withF9,directing movies four, five, and six in between. Lin departed the franchise a week into the production ofFast X, with creative differences the alleged reasoning behind his exit.
Lin’s directional leadership and guidance transitioned the franchise from street racing flicks to over-the-top action heist films with a myriad of star-studded characters.He also served as producer or executive producer on four of the films.Lin’s role in this franchise was instrumentalin making these movies for the fans and not the critics.
The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift
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8Chris Columbus
‘Home Alone’ (1990-1992), ‘Harry Potter’ (2001-2002)
Chris Columbusis responsible for kick-starting two separate franchises that are still consistently revisited decades later by moviegoers of all ages. An iconic holiday movie classic,Home Alonewas only the third feature Columbus directed. Very early in his career, he established that he could successfully navigate the world of family fun without diminishing the talent of its child actors or the storyline. Two years later,Home Alone 2: Lost in New Yorkswept audiences away againasMacaulay Culkinreturned as the mischievous Kevin McCallister. The 1992 sequel would be the last film in the franchise for both.
After a stint with movies likeMrs. DoubtfireandStepmom, Columbus returned to kid-centered cinema by directing the first two adaptations ofHarry Potter.Once again, he put his craftsmanship and patience into a set of films that would captivate the younger audience and their parents, ushering a franchise into the long-running genre where future directors could create their own unique vision.
Home Alone
Watch on Disney+
7Wes Craven
‘Scream’ (1996-2011)
An established horror icon beforeScreamgraced the screen,Wes Cravendirected the first four films, teaming up withKevin Williamsonto pen each of them. This horror franchise was like nothing audiences had seen before, thanks toCraven’s terrifying opening sequence.It set the tone and laid a foundation to compete with other iconic horror films chomping at the bit to become franchises.The first two installments were a hit with critics and audiences, while three and four flopped with critics but still maintained a captive horror audience.
Scream 4was the final film he directed,reportedly “miserable throughout,“in the franchise and the final film he directed at all before his death in 2015. Following Craven’s departure from the director’s chair, the reboots found success as cast members returned, and new faces emerged to lead the future of what Craven started.
Watch on Max
6Francis Lawrence
AfterGary Rossdeparted from the first film due to scheduling,Francis Lawrencestepped in to take over, finishing out the remaining installments and the recent prequel. The page-to-screen adaptation ofThe Hunger Gameswas widely anticipated and a defining franchise for the 2010s dystopian genre. WhileCatching Fireand the twoMockingjayinstallments had a different feel than the first film, teen audiences remained highly invested in the story of Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence).
A decade after he joined the franchise, Lawrence returned to helm the prequel film starringRachel Zegleras Lucy Gray Baird, this generation’s dystopian heroine.As there are no immediate plans or source material to adapt,The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakesappears to be the final end of an era for Lawrenceas he gears up to return to theI Am Legendworld and anotherpopular franchise prequel,The Constantine 2.
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
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5David Yates
‘Harry Potter’ (2007-2011), ‘Fantastic Beasts’ (2016-)
Finishing the last half of the belovedHarry Potterfranchise with movies five through seven, Warner Brothers entrusted the prequel franchise toDavid Yates. After Chris Columbus,Alfonso Cuarón, andMike Newellrounded out the first four films, Yates was tapped to carry out a much darker, mature version of Harry’s (Daniel Radcliffe) wizarding journey.The tonal shift is obvious from the first scenes inOrder of the Phoenix, one that grows much heavier by the time theDeathly Hallowsinstallmentsarrive.
Following the fans' craving for more magical adventures and backstory within the universe, Yates answered the call to directFantastic Beasts. Despite some hiccups, including casting issues,filming delays, and a decline in reviews, he is still slated to direct all five films.
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
In 1926, British magizoologist Newt Scamander travels to New York City in his ongoing field research into magical creatures. Here, he finds himself caught up in some trouble involving a No-Maj, local wizarding law enforcement, and the Dark Wizard Grindelwald.
4Gore Verbinski
‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ (2003-2007)
Before the franchise shipwrecked in the high seas of too many movies,Pirates of the Caribbeanhad directorGore Verbinskiat the helm. He directedThe Curse of the Black Pearl,Dead Man’s Chest, andAt World’s End, each earning multiple Oscar nominations in the technical categories, withJohnny Deppearning a Best Actor nod for the first installment.Verbinski didn’t returnforOn Stranger TidesorDead Men Tell No Tales.
The trilogy (as many fans refuse to acknowledge the fourth and fifth installments) was cohesive from the style to the acting.Under Verbinski’s leadership, thePiratesfranchise captivates audiences and critics with its gritty nature and comedic timing.Dead Man’s Chestholds the top spot forhighest lifetime gross at the box office,withAt World’s Endin second andThe Curse of the Black Pearlthird.
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
3Christopher McQuarrie
‘Mission: Impossible’ (2015-2025)
After rotating through four directors for the first four installments,Mission: Impossiblefinally found its franchise director withChristopher McQuarriein 2015 withRogue Nation. From there, it’s been smooth sailing, pushing the envelope withTom Cruise’s testing the stunt and action limits. McQuarrie’s three released films are the best of the franchise,all certified fresh by Rotten Tomatoes, with 2025’sDead Reckoning Part Twosure to follow suit.
As the size and scale increase with each production, McQuarrie has yet to shy away or fail to deliver to the large fanbase surroundingCruise’s action career.Mission: Impossibleis one of the most iconic action franchises led by an iconic action star, and under McQuarrie’s direction, will continue to reach new heights as long as the audience calls for it.
Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation
Watch on Paramount+
‘John Wick’ (2014-2023)
A stuntman turned director,Chad Stahelski, proves that real-life action experience can translate beautifully behind the camera. TheJohn Wickfranchisestunned critics and audiences with its spectacular deliveryof such a simple premise: a retired hitman (Keanu Reeves) seeking revenge after his car is stolen, and his dog is killed. Not only does Stahelski direct the movies, but he produces them too.
Each film gets better and better as Stahelski carefully crafts plot-driven action that eliminates the need to sacrifice one or the other for entertainment value. With the highly successful franchise consistentlyperforming well at the box office, theJohn Wickuniverse unveiled its first two expansions withBallerinaandThe Continental.
Watch on Netflix
1Steven Spielberg
‘Indiana Jones’ (1981-2008)
It’s hard to name a more iconic franchise director thanSteven Spielberg. His legendary films have captivated audiences for decades; theIndiana Jonesseries is no exception. He directed the original three films and returned to the fourth (and his last outing with Indy) in 2008. While Harrison Ford became the franchise actor playing Indy and Han Solo in Star Wars,Spielberg dominated the 80s behind the lens, bringing moviegoers blockbuster adventure films that still entertain today.
He gracefully passed the torchto a new generation of Indiana Jones fans and filmmakers in 2023 forIndiana Jones and the Dial of Destinyas Ford donned the hat for one final adventure. Spielberg remained tied to the franchise as an executive producer. If a sixth installment were to ever come to fruition, who knows if Spielberg would take the reins back after movies 4 and 5 failed to match the caliber of the originals?
Raiders of the Lost Ark
In 1936, archaeologist and adventurer Indiana Jones is hired by the U.S. government to find the Ark of the Covenant before the Nazis can obtain its awesome powers.
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