Is there a better way to spend a weekend than indulging in a movie marathon? Whether you're looking to fill your free time or plan a fun, relaxing group activity with friends, watching a series of films back-to-back is a fantastic choice. There's something uniquely satisfying about diving deep into a beloved franchise and experiencing the entire narrative arc in one go.
While there are numerous types of movie marathons to choose from, some of the most rewarding ones focus on a single franchise. To help you plan your next cinematic adventure, we've compiled a list of 15 top franchises perfect for binging, along with the total runtime for all the movies combined.
Planet of the Apes
With the release of "Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes" last year, now is the perfect time to embark on a classic sci-fi movie marathon. The franchise now boasts 10 films, making it a rich and rewarding experience. Although the newer films are not directly connected to the original series and there are three distinct Planet of the Apes timelines, the journey through these films is still a thrilling and enjoyable one, filled with our ape overlords.
While we don't have the exact time it would take to watch all the Planet of the Apes movies, the total number of films suggests a comfortable two-day binge. Alternatively, you could streamline your marathon by focusing on the new prequel films and finish in a single day.
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 Marvel Cinematic Universe took the world by storm, the X-Men franchise was king. With the inclusion of "Deadpool & Wolverine," there are now 13 movies in the timeline. The chronology can get a bit tricky with time jumps and the standalone Deadpool movies, but you can opt for a shorter binge by following the Wolverine timeline.
Excluding the Deadpool movies, you can watch all the X-Men movies in just over 22 hours. However, including Deadpool is highly recommended because, well, it's Deadpool.
X-Men Blu-Ray Collection
88 Contains 10 movies. See it at Amazon
Fast and Furious
The arrival of "Fast X" in 2023 brought the total number of Fast and Furious movies to 13. What started as a series of racing movies has evolved into an epic saga that even ventures into space. If you're in the mood for an action-packed marathon centered around the theme of family, the Fast and Furious series is the perfect choice.
Watching all the films back-to-back will take almost 23 and a half hours. For a detailed viewing order, check out our guide on the Fast and Furious movies in order.
Blu-Ray + Digital Fast & Furious: 10 Movie Collection
3 See it at Amazon
Lord of the Rings
The original Lord of the Rings trilogy stands as one of the most iconic movie marathons. This epic fantasy, based on J.R.R. Tolkien's beloved books, is a timeless classic. For a more comprehensive experience, you can also include the three Hobbit movies and Amazon's Rings of Power TV series.
All six feature-length films take about 19 and a half hours to watch. Adding two full seasons of Rings of Power adds another nearly 18 hours. For a detailed timeline, refer to our guide on the Lord of the Rings in order, or explore our recommendations for 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 expand with no end in sight. With "The Acolyte" wrapping up this summer and numerous upcoming Star Wars projects on the horizon, the universe keeps growing. There are currently 11 Star Wars movies, with more in development. Including animated films and series like The Clone Wars and The Mandalorian extends the timeline even further.
A movie marathon focusing solely on the live-action films totals just over 25 hours. For a complete viewing guide, see our article on all Star Wars movies and shows in order, or delve into the Star Wars Legends books for additional lore.
Pirates of the Caribbean
Among all the pirate-themed films, the Pirates of the Caribbean series stands out as a true franchise. Featuring five feature-length films and the iconic Jack Sparrow played by Johnny Depp, this series is a must-watch. While we await the release date for Pirates of the Caribbean 6, you can easily marathon the existing films in one day.
Watching all five movies in a row will take 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 franchise is your best bet. With six feature-length movies, a couple of short films, and an animated Netflix series, there's plenty to enjoy. The upcoming "Jurassic World Rebirth" is set for July 2025. The franchise spans two trilogies: the original Jurassic Park movies and the Jurassic World series, all connected on the same timeline.
The combined runtime for all the movies is just a little over 10 hours. For a detailed viewing order, 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 movies. With the release of "Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny" in 2023 and the new Indiana Jones game, it's an excellent 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 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 vast and can be confusing for newcomers. It includes nine movies, such as The Conjuring, Annabelle, and The Nun films.
Including all nine movies and the five shorts, you can complete this horror movie marathon in just under 14 and a half hours. This is an ideal weekend binge to catch up on the entire story, including The Nun 2.
The Conjuring 7-Film Blu-Ray Collection
0 See it at Amazon
Transformers
With "Transformers One" now out, it's a great time to dive into a Transformers movie marathon. The franchise now includes eight feature-length films, all packed with action, explosions, and humor. "Transformers: Rise of the Beasts" takes place earlier in the timeline, so you can start with that and then move on to the original film.
Watching all the Transformers movies from start to finish will take about 18 and a half hours, making it a perfect two-day weekend event.
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 choice for a movie marathon. Filled with magic, wonder, and memorable characters, the Harry Potter universe holds a special place in the hearts of many. The release of "Hogwarts Legacy" has reignited interest in the franchise.
Excluding the Fantastic Beasts movies, you can watch all eight Harry Potter movies in just under 20 hours. Including the prequel films adds another 6 hours and 49 minutes to the total.
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. This includes six mainline films, two Predator crossovers, and two prequels.
For a space-horror movie marathon, the Alien series is an excellent choice. Watching all the Alien movies in order will take 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 currently enjoying a resurgence in popularity following "Scream 5" in 2022 and "Scream 6" in 2023, with "Scream 7" set for 2026. If you're looking for a horror movie marathon that doesn't take itself too seriously, watching all the Scream movies in order is a fantastic way to spend your October.
A marathon of all six Ghostface movies will take a little over 11 and a half hours. You can find all the Scream movies to stream online.
Scream: 6-Movie Collection
0 See it at Amazon
James Bond
The James Bond franchise is one of the longest-running in existence, featuring 26 movies with seven different actors playing Bond. While watching every James Bond movie in release order is an ambitious undertaking, focusing on a single actor's era, such as the Daniel Craig films, makes for a more manageable marathon.
Watching all 26 Bond films would take over 54 hours, but a Daniel Craig Bond marathon is more feasible at 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, revisiting the entire series is timely. The latest film is a prequel, allowing you to watch it first and then proceed with the rest of the franchise in chronological order.
Watching all five Hunger Games films will take just over 11 and a half hours. The new prequel is the longest film in the series, clocking in at 2 hours and 38 minutes.
