19 Movies That Never Started Out as a Franchise

Some of the biggest movie franchises started out small, with no real intent to be franchises at all. Luckily, audiences just didn’t want to “Let It Go” and insisted on more “Fast and the Furious,” and more Pixar.

'Halloween' (1978)

Jamie Lee Curtis' career as a Scream Queen.

'Alien' (1979)

Alien: Covenant," the sixth film, opening May 19.

'Mad Max' (1979)

This gritty little post-apocalyptic Aussie movie helped catapult Mad Max: Fury Road" and (hurrah!) plans to continue the series.

'The Evil Dead' (1981)

One of the most beloved cult horror films was shot for a mere $100k by a then 20-year-old Ash vs. Evil Dead."

'Predator' (1987)

A crowd-pleasing sci-fi actioner in which Shane Black -- who co-starred inthe original film. (And the faster you forget about those, "Alien vs. Predator" films, the better.)

'Die Hard' (1988)

Our love for the original "Bruce Willis' enthusiasm for them. After five films, the series is leaning towards a reboot with a younger John McClane. That'll do, Bruce, that'll do.

'The Fugitive' (1993)

Rather than have Dr. Richard Kimble (Tommy Lee Jones. Because there are always more fugitives to catch. And Gerard still doesn't care if they're innocent or not.

'The Crow' (1994)

Tragically, Jason Momoa will be the new Crow.

'Toy Story' (1995)

Once upon a time, all Disney sequels went straight-to-video. But Pixar's enterprising group of toys was just too damn popular and 1999's "Toy Story 4" is in the works for 2019.

'The Matrix' (1999)

Maybe it would have been better if the Wachowskis had just given us the first mind-blowing "The Animatrix" and comic books, and video games.

'The Fast and the Furious' (2001)

This little hot-rod movie turned into one of the biggest franchises ever, with no signs of stopping this century. (We're still missing The Fate of the Furious," opens April 14.

'Monsters, Inc.' (2001)

Prequels with the same characters can be tricky (hello, Wolverine and Legolas), but with animation, it's a cinch! "John Goodman) first met. There are also two "Monsters" shorts: "Mike's New Car" and "Party Central."

'Ocean's 11' (2001)

Assembling this crack team of thieves proved so successful, the gang was back for two more fun-filled heists, all directed by Cate Blanchett, is due in 2018.

'Finding Nemo' (2003)

It took over a decade, but the long-in-the-works sequel to this Oscar-winning Pixar film, "Finding Dory," finally swam into theaters in 2016. "Dory" didn't even get nominated for Best Animated (*sob*), but it did out-gross the first film.

'Underworld' (2003)

When the first film opened, we weren't used to seeing Michael Sheen).

'Frozen' (2013)

When a movie is this beloved and all the little girls are still dres like Elsa and singing "Let It Go," of course a sequel is inevitable. Tragically, we'll have to wait until 2019 for it.

'Magic Mike' (2012)

Turns out, people really like it when Magic Mike XXL," and it grossed about half of the original. It's currently being adapted for Broadway, where we expect it to win ALL the Tonys.