Few activities beat the joy of a movie marathon over a weekend. Whether you're looking to fill your time or plan a fun, relaxing group activity, watching movies back-to-back is an excellent choice. Dive into the immersive world of film franchises for a truly engaging experience. To help you plan the perfect movie marathon, we've curated a list of 15 top franchises, 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 indulge in a classic sci-fi movie marathon. The franchise boasts 10 films across three different timelines, making for a thrilling and engaging binge session. While the exact runtime for all Planet of the Apes movies isn't available, you can comfortably complete the series over a weekend. For a shorter session, consider streaming just the new prequel films, which can be finished in a single day.
Includes Digital Version Planet of the Apes Trilogy Blu-ray Collection
36Also available in full 4K. See it at Amazon
X-Men
Before the Marvel Cinematic Universe dominated the box office, the X-Men franchise was king. With 13 movies, including Deadpool & Wolverine, the timeline can get complex due to time jumps and alternate realities. For a more streamlined experience, you might choose to follow the Wolverine timeline. Without the Deadpool movies, you can watch all X-Men films in just over 22 hours, but including Deadpool adds more fun to your marathon.
X-Men Blu-Ray Collection
88Contains 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 action-packed films. Starting as a series of racing movies, it has evolved into a saga that even ventures into space, all while emphasizing the importance of family. A marathon of all the films will take nearly 23 and a half hours. For more detailed viewing, check our guide to watching the Fast and Furious movies in order.
Blu-Ray + Digital Fast & Furious: 10 Movie Collection
3See it at Amazon
Lord of the Rings
The Lord of the Rings trilogy offers one of the most iconic movie marathons, based on J.R.R. Tolkien's timeless books. You can extend your binge with the Hobbit trilogy and Amazon's Rings of Power series for a comprehensive journey through Middle-earth. The combined runtime of all six feature films is about 19 and a half hours, while adding two seasons of Rings of Power adds another nearly 18 hours. Our guide to watching the Lord of the Rings in order and our recommendations for Lord of the Rings Blu-ray sets can help you plan your marathon.
The Lord of the Rings: The Motion Picture Trilogy (Extended & Theatrical)(4K Ultra HD)
3See it at Amazon
Star Wars
Star Wars is a franchise that continues to expand with new projects on the horizon. With 11 live-action films released and more in the works, not to mention numerous animated series and shows like The Mandalorian, the universe is vast. A marathon of just the live-action films takes just over 25 hours. For more detailed information, see our guide to watching all Star Wars movies and shows in order, or explore the Star Wars Legends books for additional lore.
Pirates of the Caribbean
Among pirate-themed films, the Pirates of the Caribbean series stands out with its five feature-length movies featuring Johnny Depp's iconic Jack Sparrow. While we await news on "Pirates of the Caribbean 6," you can enjoy a marathon of all current films in just over 12 hours.
4K UHD### Pirates of the Caribbean 5-Movie Collection
2See it at Amazon
Jurassic Park
For fans of dinosaur movies, the Jurassic Park franchise is a must-watch. With six feature-length films, plus short films and an animated Netflix series, and the upcoming "Jurassic World Rebirth" set for July 2025, there's plenty to enjoy. The combined runtime for all movies is just over 10 hours. Our guide on the Jurassic Park movies in order provides further details on where to watch them.
Out Now Jurassic World 6-Movie Collection (Standard Edition)
4Includes all six movies in 4K UHD, Blu-ray, and digital. See it at Amazon
Indiana Jones
Spanning over four decades, the Indiana Jones franchise comprises five movies, with the latest, "Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny," released in 2023. A new Indiana Jones game also adds to the excitement. A marathon of all five films will take just over 10 hours, making it a perfect one-day binge.
4K UHD + Blu-Ray### Indiana Jones 4-Movie Collection
1See it at Amazon
The Conjuring
The Conjuring universe is expansive, with a complex timeline that includes nine movies and five shorts. A comprehensive horror movie marathon, including all of these, will take just under 14 and a half hours. You can catch up on the entire story, including "The Nun 2," over a weekend.
The Conjuring 7-Film Blu-Ray Collection
0See it at Amazon
Transformers
With "Transformers One" now out, it's a great time for a Transformers movie marathon. The franchise includes eight feature films filled with action, humor, and Michael Bay's signature style. "Transformers: Rise of the Beasts" fits earlier in the timeline, so you can start there before moving to the original. Watching all the movies will take about 18 and a half hours, perfect for a weekend binge.
Limited Edition [Blu-Ray + 4K UHD]### Transformers 6-Movie Steelbook Collection
10See it at Amazon
Harry Potter
Despite the Fantastic Beasts series' mixed reception, the Harry Potter movies remain a beloved choice for a movie marathon. With magic, wonder, and unforgettable characters, these films are classics. The new game, Hogwarts Legacy, adds more depth to the universe. Excluding the Fantastic Beasts movies, you can watch all eight Harry Potter films in just under 20 hours. Including the prequels adds another 6 hours and 49 minutes.
Harry Potter: 8 Film Collection [4K UHD + Blu-Ray]
3See it at Amazon
Alien
With "Alien: Romulus" added to the mix, the Alien franchise now totals nine movies, including six mainline films, two Predator crossovers, and two prequels. For a space-horror movie marathon, watching all Alien movies will take just over 17 hours, or about 14 hours without the Predator crossovers.
Alien: 6-Film Collection
4Contains six Blu-ray discs and digital codes. See it at Walmart
Scream
The Scream franchise is currently thriving with "Scream 5" in 2022, "Scream 6" in 2023, and "Scream 7" set for 2026. For a fun horror movie marathon that doesn't take itself too seriously, watching all six Scream movies will take a little over 11 and a half hours. Find out where to watch all the Scream movies online.
Scream: 6-Movie Collection
0See it at Amazon
James Bond
As one of the longest-running franchises, James Bond has 26 films across seven actors. While watching all Bond films in order would take over 54 hours, focusing on the Daniel Craig era provides a more manageable marathon of 7 hours and 40 minutes.
James Bond Collection
1Has 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 an ideal time to revisit the series. The prequel sets the stage for the other films, making for a straightforward viewing experience. Watching all five Hunger Games movies will take just over 11 and a half hours, with the prequel being the longest at 2 hours and 38 minutes.
