It’s a Betweenisode! Join Nick & Scott as they discuss/rank the Superman franchise, talk about next year’s Superman from director James Gunn, and announce our next mini-series! Next week: Our next franchise begins! FRANCHISE POTENTIAL: Black Adam (2022) episode now … Continue reading →

Believing they had struck gold, Warner Bros wasted no time putting JUSTICE LEAGUE into production with Zack Snyder at the helm once again for a release the following year, before Batman v Superman was even released in March of 2016. … Continue reading →

It’s a Betweenisode! Join Nick & Scott as they discuss/rank the Shrek franchise, speculate about where the franchise could go from here, and announce our next mini-series! Next week: Our next franchise begins! FRANCHISE POTENTIAL: Antz (1998) / Shark Tale … Continue reading →

Disney began the 2010s at the start of a very different era than the one it found itself in just eight years prior. Marvel was in its clutches, a deal with LucasFilm was on the horizon and its seminal PIRATES … Continue reading →

If you thought Dead Man’s Chest was too long, too weird, and too convoluted, we have terrible news about PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: AT WORLD’S END. Director Gore Verbinski ends his gonzo pirate trilogy in typical maximalist fashion: Gigantic sets, … Continue reading →

In the wake of The Curse of the Black Pearl’s unexpected success, Disney was finally in the live-action blockbuster game. Two sequels were commissioned to shoot back-to-back, and director Gore Verbinski and Oscar-nominated star Johnny Depp were given carte balance … Continue reading →

Set sail for adventure on the high seas as the latest series of FRANCHISOGRAPHY begins. It’s 2003’s PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: THE CURSE OF THE BLACK OF PEARL. In the early 2000’s, Walt Disney Pictures was in a very different … Continue reading →

It’s a Betweenisode! Join Nick & Scott as they discuss the conclusion of the Matrix mini-series, prepare for the start of the Pirates of the Caribbean mini-series next week, and make some announcements about the future of the podcast. Franchise … Continue reading →

FRANCHISOGRAPHY concludes its dizzying Matrix series with the unexpected and sometimes baffling epilogue to the series that changed reality as we know it: Lana Wachowski’s THE MATRIX RESURRECTIONS. After over a decade of pestering from a restless Warner Bros., Wachowski … Continue reading →

Just six months after THE MATRIX RELOADED divided audiences and blew up the box office, The Wachowskis concluded their trilogy with the most complex, dizzying chapter yet, THE MATRIX REVOLUTIONS. The Path of The One is clear; Neo must journey … Continue reading →

In January of 2003, Newsweek Magazine proclaimed it to be The Year of The Matrix, with two sequels, a video game and a straight-to-DVD anthology all to be released within months of each other. The world was waiting to be … Continue reading →

This episode description cannot tell you what Franchisography uncovers about 1999’s The Matrix. You have to listen for yourself. Join Scott, Nick and special guest Jonfen Parker as they jack into a world of landlines, flip phones and guns, lots … Continue reading →

It’s a Betweenisode! Join Nick & Scott as they discuss the conclusion of the Twilight Saga mini-series, their rankings, and the announcement of the mini-series that will follow The Matrix. Franchise Potential: Beautiful Creatures (2013) episode now available on PATREON! … Continue reading →

Although a critical and box office success, the first Puss In Boots did not linger long in the zeitgeist, and the culture seemed to have moved on from the Shrek franchise in general. And so it was that over a … Continue reading →

After their main competition, Harry Potter, dropped the mic the previous Summer with a billion-dollar-grossing finale, Summit Entertainment was determined to end their Twilight series on a high note with 2012’s THE TWILIGHT SAGA: BREAKING DAWN, PT 2. Meme Darling … Continue reading →

The Twilight franchise is in peril. A creative rift between screenwriter Melissa Rosenberg and series author Stephanie Meyer risks a major shake up just as work has begun on adapting the controversial and polarizing final novel. Hired to stick the … Continue reading →

When Summit Entertainment went all-in on adapting the entire Twilight series for cinemas, a decision was made to hire a new director for each sequel to help make the ambitious annual release plan a reality. For the third chapter, HARD … Continue reading →

We interrupt our regularly scheduled mini-series with a BONUS FEATURE as we return to the Scream franchise for a look at its latest entry, 2022’s SCREAM. 11 years after Scream 4, following the death of Wes Craven and the dissolution … Continue reading →

After the first film grossed $407 million off a $37 million budget, Summit Entertainment was suddenly very intent on adapting the entire Twilight series. That would mean making big changes to ensure future sequels would release annually. Catherine Hardwicke was … Continue reading →

When Stephanie Meyer awoke one morning in 2003, she had no idea her dream the night before about a young couple lying together in a meadow would birth a franchise that would shape the world of film and publishing forever. … Continue reading →

It’s a Betweenisode! Join Nick & Scott as they discuss the conclusion of the Wes Anderson mini-series, their rankings, and the announcement of their next mini-series! Franchise Potential: Garden State (2004) episode now available on PATREON! Follow us on TWITTER to vote … Continue reading →

Our mini-series devoted to the live action films of Wes Anderson comes to a close with his tenth feature-length film after a seven year absense, 2021’s The French Dispatch. How does the most stylistically and thematically “Wes Anderson-y” film keep … Continue reading →

Our mini-series devoted to the live action films of Wes Anderson continues with Anderson’s biggest success story, 2014’s The Grand Budapest Hotel. Both a culmination and arguably a masterwork for Wes Anderson as a filmmaker, his eighth feature was also … Continue reading →

Our mini-series devoted to the live action films of Wes Anderson continues after a five year break with 2012’s Moonrise Kingdom. After a run of flops, Anderson needed a fresh start, so he turned to his producing partners to find … Continue reading →

The animators behind Shrek 2 were the first to fall in love with Puss In Boots, quickly sensing the potential this mysterious feline had to lead his own animated adventure. Originally developed to be released on home video, but soon … Continue reading →

Our mini-series devoted to the live action films of Wes Anderson continues with a move from sea travel to train travel in 2007’s The Darjeeling Limited. It all started with a short film starring his friends the Wilson brothers that … Continue reading →

Our mini-series devoted to the live action films of Wes Anderson continues with his biggest financial flop, 2004’s The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou. After the success of The Royal Tenenbaums, Touchstone Pictures was ready to give Wes Anderson as … Continue reading →

Our mini-series devoted to the live action films of Wes Anderson continues with his first hit, 2001’s The Royal Tenenbaums. With a pop culture sensation under his belt, Anderson turned to his idea for a “New York Family Saga” film … Continue reading →

Our mini-series devoted to the live action films of Wes Anderson continues with his sophomore effort, the 1998 cult classic, Rushmore. The failure of Bottle Rocket lead director Wes Anderson to something more important than financial success: a “cool” factor. … Continue reading →

Nick and Scott are back with a brand new mini-series devoted to the live action films of director Wes Anderson, and it all begins with Anderson’s 1996 debut feature, Bottle Rocket. It all started with a short film starring his … Continue reading →

It’s a Betweenisode! Join Nick & Scott as they look back at Spy Kids, discuss Robert Rodriguez as a filmmaker, and figure out what the future of the franchise should look like in an inevitable reboot. Follow us on TWITTER to vote … Continue reading →

The SPY KIDS era comes to a thrilling conclusion as Nick and Scott take on their toughest mission yet! Inspired by working with Jessica Alba on 2010’s MACHETE, Writer-Director-Guitarist Robert Rodriguez crafted a starring vehicle for the actress and attempted … Continue reading →

Our SPY KIDS mini-series enters a new dimension as the franchise takes things to the NEXT LEVEL. After being shown the future of 3D by James Cameron, Writer- Director- Editor- Composer- Production Designer- Visual Effects Supervisor Robert Rodriguez decided to … Continue reading →

Who, what, when, where and why? This week’s FRANCHISOGRAPHY answers all these questions and MORE. After the first SPY KIDS became a surprise smash, Writer-Director-Editor-Cinematographer-Production Designer Robert Rodriguez decided to get bigger and weirder with the sequel, 2002’s ISLAND OF … Continue reading →

The SPY KIDS era starts NOW. Nick and Scott kick off a brand new mini-series with 2001’s Spy Kids. Writer-Director-Editor-Cinematographer Robert Rodriguez was ready to get back to his home movie roots after directing action/horror studio flicks like FROM DUSK … Continue reading →

Jeffery Katzenberg was rarely accused of thinking too small. Back in 2004, before Shrek 2 had even hit theaters, the mastermind of DreamWorks Animation announced no less than three more adventures starring the beloved grumpy and horny ogre. But despite … Continue reading →

It’s a Betweenisode! Join Nick & Scott as they discuss the conclusion of Hot Mutant Summer™, rank all thirteen X-Men movies, and look to the future of the franchise in the hands of Marvel Studios. Follow us on TWITTER to vote in … Continue reading →

Our X-MEN mini-series comes to a close after thirteen films with the culmination of a nearly 20 year journey, whether you like it or not, 2019’s Dark Phoenix! After the chaos on set caused by Bryan Singer on Apocalypse, franchise … Continue reading →

Our X-MEN mini-series continues as we investigate the trouble YA horror spin-off originally set to be released in 2018, The New Mutants. When Fox execuitves greenlit three “experimental” X-Men movies, they paid off big time in the form of 2016’s … Continue reading →

Our X-MEN mini-series continues as we take a look at the sequel to the R-rated mega-hit, 2018’s Deadpool 2. When an incredibly successful first film gets a sequel greenlit, the last thing you would do is fire the director, right? … Continue reading →

Our X-MEN mini-series continues as we take a look at the final film to feature Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine, 2017’s Logan. After his lead role in Days of Future Past, Hugh Jackman knew it was time to hang up the adamantium … Continue reading →

Our X-MEN mini-series continues as we investigate the 80s set sequel to Days of Future Past, 2016’s X-Men: Apocalypse! After the back-to-back massive success of Days of Future Past and Deadpool, there was only one place for the franchise to … Continue reading →

Our X-MEN mini-series continues with the Ryan Reynolds passion project, 2016’s Deadpool! Beginning development in the early 2000s, Ryan Reynolds had been trying and failing to get a Deadpool solo film off the ground for over a decade when 2011’s … Continue reading →

Our X-MEN mini-series continues as we investigate 2014’s timeline straddling event film, X-Men: Days of Future Past! After the modest success of First Class, only one thing could come next: a generation spanning crossover film, of course! Much to the … Continue reading →

Our X-MEN mini-series continues as we revisit the sequel to X-Men Origins, 2013’s The Wolverine! The first proper X-Men sequel in 7 years, The Wolverine is a loose adaptation of the seminal Wolverine comic book mini-series by Chris Claremount and … Continue reading →

Our X-MEN mini-series continues as we launch a new timeline to discuss 2011’s X-Men: First Class. After the poor reception of the last two X-Men movies, a new direction was needed to get the franchise back on track. Enter (or … Continue reading →

The son of a bitch had done it again. Shrek 2 may have lost the Best Animated Feature Oscar to The Incredibles, but the film was another massive success both with critics and at the worldwide box office. DreamWorks co-founder … Continue reading →

Our X-MEN mini-series continues as we take a look at the franchise’s first prequel, 2009’s X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Fans had high hopes for a Wolverine solo film, but for a while the High Jackman and the producers struggled to find … Continue reading →

Our X-MEN mini-series continues as we analyze the conclusion to the first trilogy of films, 2006’s X-Men: The Last Stand. Anticipation was high for the follow-up to the acclaimed X2, but with Bryan Singer leaving the franchise to direct Superman … Continue reading →

Our X-MEN mini-series continues as we take a look 2003’s sequel, X2! By the summer of 2003, the blockbuster landscape had been drastically changed with the release of Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man the previous year. Moviegoers wanted comic book movies, and … Continue reading →