List of highest-grossing media franchises


This is a list of the highest-grossing media franchises. This includes media franchises that started as a book, film, video game, comic book, animated film or television series and have expanded to other forms of media.
For each franchise listed below the revenue total includes revenue from movie tickets, home entertainment, video games, merchandise, and any other franchise-related products when such information is available.
The list includes the total estimated revenue figure and the revenue breakdown. Estimates are based on combined revenue from different media and merchandise, based on publicly available data.

At least $20 billion

FranchiseYear of inceptionTotal revenue Revenue breakdown Original mediaCreatorOwner
Pokémon1996
  • Licensed merchandise –
  • Video games –
  • Card game –
  • Box office –
  • Manga magazine –
  • Home entertainment –
  • Manga volumes –
Video gameSatoshi Tajiri Ken SugimoriNintendo
The Pokémon Company
Hello Kitty1974
  • Merchandise sales –
  • Manga magazine –
  • Music CD sales –
Cartoon characterYuko Shimizu Shintaro TsujiSanrio
Winnie the Pooh1924
  • Retail sales –
  • *DVD & Blu-ray
  • Box office –
BookA. A. Milne E. H. ShepardThe Walt Disney Company
Mickey Mouse & Friends1928
  • Retail sales –
  • Box office –
  • VHS & DVD
  • Comic books – $460,000
Animated cartoonWalt Disney Ub IwerksThe Walt Disney Company
Star Wars1977
  • Merchandise sales –
  • Box office –
  • Home video –
  • Video games –
  • Book sales –
  • TV revenue –
FilmGeorge LucasLucasfilm
Anpanman1973
  • Retail sales –
  • Box office –
  • Museum –
MangaTakashi YanaseFroebel-kan
Disney Princess2000
  • Retail sales –
  • Home entertainment –
  • Animated seriesAndy MooneyThe Walt Disney Company
    Jump Comics 1968
    • Manga magazines –
    • Manga volumes –
    • Video games –
    MangaShueishaShueisha Bandai Namco
    Mario1981
    • Video games –
    • Licensed merchandise –
    • Manga magazine –
    • Box office –
    Video gameShigeru Miyamoto Nintendo R&D1Nintendo
    Marvel Cinematic Universe
    2008
    • Box office –
    • Merchandise sales –
    • Home entertainment –
    • Comic volumes – $520,000
    FilmMarvel StudiosWalt Disney Studios Sony Universal Pictures
    Wizarding World
    1997
    • Box office –
    • Merchandise sales –
    • Book sales –
    • Home entertainment –
    • Video games –
    • TV revenue –
    • Stage play –
    NovelJ. K. RowlingJ. K. Rowling Warner Bros.
    Transformers
    1984
    • Merchandise sales –
    • Box office –
    • Home entertainment –
    Toy Animated seriesTakara Hasbro
    Shōji Kawamori
    Takara Tomy
    Hasbro
    Spider-Man1962
    • Merchandise sales –
    • Box office –
    • Home video sales –
    • Video games –
    • Comic sales –
    • TV revenue –
    • Pachinko sales –
    Comic bookStan Lee Steve DitkoMarvel Entertainment
    Sony
    Batman1939
    • Retail sales –
    • *Home video –
    • Box office –
    • TV revenue –
    Comic bookBob Kane Bill FingerDC Entertainment
    Gundam1979
    • Retail sales –
    • Manga magazine –
    • Pachinko sales –
    • Anime box office –
    AnimeYoshiyuki TominoSunrise
    Dragon Ball1984
    • Manga magazines –
    • Video games –
    • Merchandise sales –
    • Manga volumes –
    • Home entertainment –
    • Trading card sales –
    • Box office –
    • Music sales –
    MangaAkira ToriyamaAkira Toriyama Shueisha
    Toei Animation
    Bandai Namco
    Barbie1987
    • Merchandise sales –
    • Home video sales –
    • Box office –
    Animated filmRuth HandlerMattel
    Fist of the North Star 1983
    • Pachinko & arcades
    • Manga magazine –
    • Manga volumes –
    • Console games –
    • Anime DVD & Blu-ray –
    • Licensed merchandise –
    • Anime box office –
    MangaBuronson Tetsuo HaraBuronson
    Tetsuo Hara
    Shueisha
    Toei Animation
    Sega Sammy Holdings
    Toy Story1995
    • Retail sales –
    • Box office –
    • TV revenue –
    • VHS sales –
    • DVD & Blu-ray sales –
    Animated filmPixarThe Walt Disney Company
    Cars2006
  • Merchandise sales –
  • Box office –
  • DVD & Blu-ray sales –
  • Animated filmPixar John LasseterThe Walt Disney Company
    One Piece1997
    • Manga magazine –
    • Merchandise sales –
    • Manga volumes –
    • Video games –
    • Home entertainment –
    • Anime box office –
    MangaEiichiro OdaEiichiro Oda Shueisha
    Toei Animation
    Bandai Namco
    Yu-Gi-Oh!1996
    • Card game –
    • Merchandise sales –
    • Manga magazine –
    • Video games –
    • Manga volumes –
    • Anime TV revenue
    • Anime box office – $42million
    MangaKazuki TakahashiKazuki Takahashi Shueisha
    Konami
    Call of Duty2003
    • Video games –
    Video gameInfinity WardActivision

    At least $10 billion

    FranchiseYear of inceptionTotal revenue Revenue breakdown Original mediaCreatorOwner
    Middle-earth
    1937
    • Book sales –
    • Box office – $5.896 billion
    • Home video sales –
    • Merchandise sales –
    • Licensing –
    NovelJ. R. R. TolkienTolkien Estate Warner Bros.
    James Bond1953
    • Box office – $7.078billion
    • Home video sales – $billion
    • Merchandise & licensing – $billion
    • Book sales – $550million
    • Video games –
    NovelIan FlemingMetro-Goldwyn-Mayer
    Peanuts1950
  • Retail sales –
  • Box office –
  • DVD & Blu-ray sales –
  • Comic stripCharles M. SchulzSony Music Entertainment Japan WildBrain
    20th Century Studios
    Super Sentai
    1975
    • Retail sales –
    • *Licensed merchandise –
    • *DVD & Blu-ray –
    • Box office –
    Television seriesShotaro Ishinomori Haim Saban
    Shuki Levy
    Toei Company
    Hasbro
    Bandai Namco
    Neon Genesis Evangelion
    1994
    • Pachinko sales –
    • Merchandise sales –
    • Home entertainment –
    • Karaoke music –
    • Music CD sales –
    • Anime box office –
    • Manga sales –
    • Video games –
    • Music royalties –
    AnimeHideaki Anno Gainax
    Tatsunoko Production
    Khara
    KochiKame1976
    • Manga magazine –
    • Manga volumes –
    • Box office –
    MangaOsamu AkimotoOsamu Akimoto Shueisha
    Dora the Explorer2000
    • Retail sales –
    • Home video sales –
    • Box office –
    Animated seriesChris Gifford Valerie Walsh
    Eric Weiner
    Nickelodeon
    The Simpsons1987
    • Merchandise sales –
    • TV advertising –
    • TV syndication –
    • Home video sales –
    • Box office –
    • Video games –
    Animated seriesMatt Groening20th Century Studios
    The Lion King1994
    • Musical theatre –
    • Merchandise sales –
    • Box office –
    • Home entertainment – $1.5billion
    Animated filmRoger Allers Rob MinkoffThe Walt Disney Company
    Avengers1963
    • Box office –
    • Merchandise sales –
    • DVD & Blu-ray sales –
    • Comic sales –
    Comic bookStan Lee Jack KirbyMarvel Entertainment
    Pac-Man1980
    • Video games –
    • Merchandise & licensing –
    • Music sales –
    Video gameToru Iwatani NamcoBandai Namco Entertainment
    Looney Tunes1930
    Animated cartoonWarner Bros.Warner Bros.
    SpongeBob SquarePants1999
  • Retail sales –
  • Box office –
  • Animated seriesStephen HillenburgNickelodeon
    Wii series2006
  • Video games –
  • Video gameNintendo EADNintendo
    Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles1984
  • Merchandise sales –
  • Box office – $1.15billion
  • Video games – $450million
  • DVD & Blu-ray sales – $154million
  • Video rentals –
  • Comic bookKevin Eastman Peter LairdNickelodeon
    Sailor Moon1991
    • Merchandise sales –
    • Home entertainment –
    • Manga magazine –
    • Video games –
    • Manga volumes –
    • Anime box office –
    MangaNaoko TakeuchiNaoko Takeuchi Kodansha
    Toei Animation
    Space Invaders1978
    • Video game – $13.93 billion
    • Music single – $522,000
    Video gameTomohiro NishikadoTaito
    Frozen2013
    • Merchandise sales –
    • Box office – $2.32billion
    • DVD & Blu-ray sales – $391million
    • Musical theatre –
    Animated filmChris Buck Jennifer LeeThe Walt Disney Company
    Dungeon Fighter Online
    2005
    • Computer game – $13.4 billion
    Video gameNeopleNexon Tencent
    Dragon Quest
    1986
    • Video games –
    • Manga magazine –
    • Merchandise sales –
    • Manga volumes –
    • DVD sales –
    Video gameYuji Horii Koichi Nakamura
    Akira Toriyama
    Square Enix
    Yuji Horii
    Akira Toriyama
    Koichi Sugiyama
    Street Fighter1987
    • Video games –
    • Box office & home video –
    • Pachinko –
    • Soundtrack album –
    Video gameTakashi Nishiyama Hiroshi MatsumotoCapcom
    Final Fantasy1987
    • Video games –
    • Licensed merchandise –
    • Home video sales –
    • Book sales –
    • Music sales –
    • Box office –
    • Card game –
    Video gameHironobu Sakaguchi Hiromichi Tanaka
    Nasir Gebelli
    Square Enix
    CrossFire2007
    • Computer game –
    Video gameSmilegateSmilegate Tencent
    Warcraft1994
    • Video games –
    • Box office –
    • DVD & Blu-ray sales –
    Video gameAllen Adham Frank Pearce
    Michael Morhaime
    Blizzard Entertainment
    Ultra Series
    1966
    • Merchandise sales –
    • Pachinko sales –
    • Home video sales –
    Television seriesEiji TsuburayaTsuburaya Productions
    FIFA1993
    • Video games –
    Video gameEA CanadaElectronic Arts
    Superman1938
  • Retail sales –
  • *Merchandise sales –
  • Box office –
  • Comic issues –
  • DVD & Blu-ray sales –
  • TV revenue –
  • Comic magazine –
  • VHS sales & rentals –
  • Video game –
  • Comic bookJerry Siegel Joe ShusterDC Entertainment
    Star Trek1966
    • Retail sales –
    • TV revenue – $2.3 billion
    • Box office – $2.266billion
    • VHS sales – $1billion
    • DVD & Blu-ray –
    Television seriesGene RoddenberryViacomCBS
    Naruto1999
  • Manga magazine –
  • Manga volumes –
  • Licensed merchandise –
  • Video games –
  • Anime box office –
  • Home entertainment –
  • MangaMasashi KishimotoMasashi Kishimoto Shueisha
    Pierrot
    Bandai Namco
    League of Legends 2009
    • Video games –
    Video gameRiot GamesTencent

    At least $5 billion

    FranchiseYear of inceptionTotal revenue Revenue breakdown Original mediaCreatorOwner
    Grand Theft Auto
    1997
    • Video games –
    Video gameDavid Jones Mike DaillyRockstar Games
    JoJo's Bizarre Adventure1987
    • Manga magazine –
    • Manga volumes –
    • Video games –
    • Anime DVD & Blu-ray –
    • Licensed merchandise –
    MangaHirohiko ArakiHirohiko Araki Shueisha

    Bandai Namco
    Lineage1998
    • Video games –
    Video gameJake SongNCSoft
    Thomas & Friends1946
  • Retail sales –
  • Box office –
  • BookWilbert Awdry Christopher AwdryEgmont Group
    Mattel
    Angry Birds2009
    • Merchandise sales –
    • Box office –
    • Video games –
    • DVD & Blu-ray sales –
    Video gameJaakko IisaloRovio Entertainment
    Sesame Street 1955
    • Merchandise sales –
    • Box office –
    • TV licensing –
    • DVD & Blu-ray sales –
    • VHS sales –
    Television seriesJim Henson Joan Ganz Cooney
    Lloyd Morrisett
    The Muppets Studio

    Sesame Workshop
    Despicable Me
    2010
    • Merchandise sales –
    • Box office –
    • DVD & Blu-ray sales –
    Animated filmSergio PablosIllumination Entertainment Universal Pictures
    Monster Strike2013
    • Video games –
    • Anime box office –
    Video gameYoshiki OkamotoMixi
    Pirates of the Caribbean2003
  • Box office – $4.524billion
  • Home entertainment –
  • Merchandise sales – $1.6billion
  • FilmWalt Disney Imagineering Marc Davis
    Gore Verbinski
    Jerry Bruckheimer
    The Walt Disney Company
    Ben 102005
    • Retail sales –
    Animated seriesMan of Action StudiosCartoon Network
    Puzzle & Dragons2012
  • Video games –
  • Video gameGungHo OnlineGungHo Online
    X-Men1963
  • Box office –
  • Retail sales –
  • DVD & Blu-ray sales –
  • Comic sales –
  • Comic bookStan Lee Jack KirbyMarvel Entertainment
    20th Century Studios
    Sonic the Hedgehog1991
    • Video games –
    • Merchandise sales –
    • Box office –
    • Comic sales –
    Video gameSonic Team Yuji Naka
    Naoto Ohshima
    Hirokazu Yasuhara
    Sega
    Pretty Cure
    2004
    • Merchandise sales –
    • Video games –
    • Anime box office –
    AnimeIzumi Todo Toei AnimationToei Company
    Asahi Broadcasting Corporation
    Asatsu-DK
    Candy Crush2012
    • Mobile games –
    Video gameKingKing
    Doraemon1969
    • Licensed merchandise –
    • Anime box office –
    MangaFujiko F. FujioFujiko F. Fujio Shogakukan
    Jurassic Park1990
    • Box office –
    • Merchandise sales –
    • Home video sales –
    NovelMichael CrichtonAlfred A. Knopf Universal Pictures
    Bleach2001
    • Manga magazine –
    • Manga volumes –
    • Licensed merchandise –
    • Box office –
    • Anime DVD & Blu-ray –
    MangaTite KuboTite Kubo Shueisha
    Pierrot
    Minecraft2009
    • Merchandise sales –
    • Video games –
    Video gameMarkus PerssonMicrosoft Studios
    Kumamon2010
  • Retail sales –
  • CartoonKumamoto PrefectureKumamoto Prefecture
    PAW Patrol2013
  • Retail sales –
  • Animated seriesKeith ChapmanNickelodeon
    Donkey Kong1981
  • Video games –
  • Licensed merchandise –
  • Video gameShigeru Miyamoto Nintendo R&D1Nintendo
    The Big Bang Theory2007
    • TV advertising –
    • TV streaming –
    • TV syndication –
    Television seriesChuck Lorre Bill PradyWarner Bros.
    Westward Journey2001
    • Video games –
    Video gameNetEaseNetEase
    Halo2001
  • Games & consoles –
  • Home video & merchandise –
  • Video gameBungie 343 IndustriesMicrosoft
    DC Extended Universe
    2013
    • Box office –
    • Home video sales –
    • Merchandise sales –
    FilmDC EntertainmentDC Entertainment
    Ice Age2002
    • Box office –
    • Retail sales –
    • Home entertainment –
    Animated filmBlue Sky Studios20th Century Studios
    Twilight2005
    • Box office –
    • Book sales –
    • DVD & Blu-ray sales –
    • Merchandise sales –
    • Video rentals –
    NovelStephenie MeyerLittle, Brown and Company Summit Entertainment
    Digimon1997
    • Licensed merchandise –
    • Digital pets –
    • Manga & comic sales –
    • Anime box office –
    • Console games –
    • Home entertainment –
    Digital petAkiyoshi Hongo Toei Animation
    Bandai
    Bandai Namco Holdings
    Toei Animation
    Fast & Furious2001
    • Box office –
    • Home entertainment –
    FilmGary Scott ThompsonUniversal Pictures
    The Phantom of the Opera1986
    • Musical theatre –
    • Box office –
    Musical theatreAndrew Lloyd WebberAndrew Lloyd Webber
    Tamagotchi1996
  • Digital pets –
  • Licensed merchandise –
  • Console games –
  • Digital pet:de:Aki Maita|Aki Maita :ja:横井昭裕|Akihiro Yokoi
    Bandai
    Bandai Namco Holdings
    Pro Evolution Soccer /
    Winning Eleven
    1995
    • Video games –
    Video gameKonamiKonami
    Mortal Kombat1992
  • Video games –
  • Box office –
  • Video gameMidway Games Chicago Ed Boon
    John Tobias
    Warner Bros.
    Detective Conan
    1994
    • Manga magazine –
    • Manga volumes –
    • Anime box office –
    • Licensed merchandise –
    • Music sales –
    • Home entertainment –
    MangaGosho AoyamaGosho Aoyama Shogakukan
    TMS Entertainment
    A Song of Ice and Fire
    1996
    • TV revenue –
    • Book sales –
    • DVD & Blu-ray sales –
    • Video games –
    • Box office –
    NovelGeorge R. R. MartinRandom House WarnerMedia
    Shrek1990
    NovelWilliam Steig DreamWorks AnimationUniversal Pictures
    Resident Evil
    1996
    • Video games –
    • Box office –
    • Pachinko sales –
    • DVD & Blu-ray sales –
    Video gameShinji Mikami Tokuro FujiwaraCapcom
    Friends1994
    • TV syndication –
    • TV advertising –
    • TV streaming –
    • Box office – $445,037
    Television seriesDavid Crane Marta KauffmanBright/Kauffman/Crane Productions
    Warner Bros.
    Madden NFL1998
    • Video games –
    Video gameElectronic ArtsElectronic Arts
    Care Bears1981
  • Retail sales –
  • Box office –
  • Greeting cardAmerican GreetingsAmerican Greetings
    The Sims2000
  • Video games –
  • Video gameWill WrightElectronic Arts
    Bob the Builder1998
  • Retail sales –
  • Animated seriesKeith ChapmanWildBrain

    At least $4 billion

    FranchiseYear of inceptionTotal revenue Revenue breakdown Original mediaCreatorOwner
    My Little Pony1984
    • Retail sales –
    • Box office –
    • DVD & Blu-ray sales –
    Animated cartoonLauren Faust Bonnie ZacherleHasbro
    Slam Dunk1990
    • Manga magazine –
    • Manga volumes –
    • Anime box office –
    • Anime DVD & Blu-ray –
    MangaTakehiko InoueTakehiko Inoue Shueisha
    Fate2004
    • Video games –
    • Home entertainment –
    • Licensed merchandise –
    • Manga magazine –
    • Anime box office –
    Visual novelType-MoonType-Moon Aniplex

    Beyblade1999
    • Merchandise sales –
    • Box office –
    MangaTakao AokiTakao Aoki Shogakukan
    Aladdin1992
    • Box office –
    • Home video sales –
    • Merchandise sales –
    • Broadway musical –
    • Video games – $200million
    • Soundtrack album –
    Animated filmWalt Disney Animation Hanna DiyabThe Walt Disney Company
    Seinfeld1989
    • TV revenue – $4.06 billion
    • TV streaming –
    Television seriesLarry David Jerry SeinfeldSony Pictures Television
    Kamen Rider
    1971
    • Licensed merchandise –
    • Box office –
    Television seriesShotaro Ishinomori Ishimori Productions
    Toei Company
    Ishimori Productions
    Toei Company
    TV Asahi
    Asatsu-DK
    Yo-kai Watch2013
    • Merchandise sales –
    • Video games –
    • Anime box office –
    • Pachinko sales –
    • Home entertainment –
    Video gameLevel-5Level-5
    Assassin's Creed2007
  • Video games – $4.091billion
  • Box office – $241 million
  • DVD & Blu-ray sales – $12.4million
  • Video gamePatrice Désilets Jade Raymond
    Corey May
    Ubisoft
    Rurouni Kenshin
    1994
    • Manga magazine –
    • Manga volumes –
    • Box office –
    • Anime video sales –
    MangaNobuhiro WatsukiNobuhiro Watsuki Shueisha
    Fortnite2017
    • Video games –
    Video gameEpic GamesEpic Games
    Hunter × Hunter1998
  • Manga magazine –
  • Manga volumes –
  • Anime box office –
  • Anime DVD & Blu-ray –
  • MangaYoshihiro TogashiYoshihiro Togashi Shueisha
    Need for Speed
    1994
    • Video games –
    • Box office –
    • DVD & Blu-ray sales –
    Video gameEA CanadaElectronic Arts
    The Hunger Games2008
  • Box office –
  • DVD & Blu-ray –
  • NovelSuzanne CollinsScholastic Corporation Lionsgate
    The Legend of Zelda
    1986
    • Video games –
    • Merchandise sales –
    • Manga sales –
    Video gameShigeru Miyamoto Takashi Tezuka
    Nintendo EAD
    Nintendo
    '1993
    • Card game –
    Card gameRichard GarfieldWizards of the Coast
    '1966
    Television seriesBruce GellerParamount Pictures
    Strawberry Shortcake1979
  • Retail sales –
  • DVD sales –
  • Greeting cardAmerican GreetingsWildBrain
    Gran Turismo1997
  • Video games –
  • Video gameKazunori Yamauchi Polyphony DigitalSony