Ranking the Franchise - Robert Langdon

Based on the famous Robert Langdon book series, by author Dan Brown, director Ron Howard has turned three of the books in the series into movies. By the time I’m rewatching these movies, Dan Brown has just released his sixth book in this series. The books were kind of randomly turned into movies, starting with book 2, then book 1 and the last was book 4.
 

3. Inferno (2016)
This film, based on the fourth book in the series, was released six years after its last Robert Langdon film. It was clearly my least favorite of the three films and the one I remember the least about. Even though it’s the most recent film in the series. Mainly because it’s feels a lot like the other ones and unoriginal. Check our my full review HERE.
 

2. Angels & Demons (2009)
I really enjoyed the mystery here, more than its sequel. The film opens with a bang and I loved the setting. There is a lot of explaining and the runtime is fairly long, but I did enjoy this film. HERE is my full review.  
 

1. The Da Vinci Code (2006)
This is clearly my favorite. I actually first saw it in theaters and was obsessed with it for a long time. I have rewatched it many times since then, but it had been a while since I last watched it. But it still holds up. This is the only really good adaptation of one of the Robert Langdon books. It’s also very true to its source material. The performances in this movie are  very strong overall, which is not the case for the other two films. The characters in “The Da Vinci Code” are more memorable. Read my full review HERE.

Ranking the Franchise - Mission: Impossible

Ranking the Franchise – Mission: Impossible
 
With “Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part 2” that was released this year, I decided to rewatch all the films, before actually watching the newest (and last?) installment. I think I actually started really loving this series after the third or fourth movie, but since I’m not really sure which ones I love the most, I decided to rewatch them before making a final raking of all seven movies.
 

8. Mission: Impossible 2 (2000)
I did remember that I didn’t enjoy this movie very much, but I didn’t realize until my rewatch that this was actually a really bad movie. The story is silly, the villain is very unbelievable and unconvincing and it just felt like the odd one out in the series. I did like the soundtrack though, lots of guitars. Check out my full review HERE.
 

7. Mission: Impossible (1996)
The movie that started it all, our introduction to the franchise and to Ethan Hunt is an spy. The story is solid, the action is strong, the plot twists are there. It’s not yet as spectacular as the movies to come, but I have always enjoyed “Mission: Impossible”. My full review can read HERE.
 

6. Mission: Impossible 3 (2006)
I always felt like this was the rawest and most gritty film in the franchise. And it’s a good thing, because it’s the best part of the film. Perfectly calculated action. Philip Seymour Hoffman is a very convincing bad guy, one of the best in the series. Read my full review HERE.
 

5. Mission: Impossible – Death Reckoning Part One (2023)
After six films, you would think it’ll be hard to come up with any fresh ideas. As such, the plot of the seventh installment, centered around a runaway AI program, is on the bland side. Fortunately, however, this is offset by the personal mission of leading man Tom Cruise to continually outdo himself. Because yes, there are some matchless stunts and action scenes that will be very memorable. The scene on the train was amazing! Also fine addition of Hayley Atwell, as a crafty thief. Not the best in the still ongoing series, but I highly enjoyed it and it’s still a very good movie. Check out my full review HERE.
 

4. Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning (2025)
A great and satisfying ending to a long-running franchise. Again, outstanding in its action sequences. Like the underwater scene with submarine and the airplane chase and fight sequence. But, overall, a really strong action movie, with a final last hour that kept me on edge constantly. Click HERE for my full review.
 

3. Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol (2011)
Before “Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol” I just liked these films. After seeing the fourth film in the series, I became excited and looked forward to every new release. With this movie, the franchise went from being good to being amazing! I absolutely loved “Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol”. I loved the addition of Jeremy Renner and Paula Patton. Renner did another one after this, Patton unfortunately only did this one film. Simon Pegg’s role gets bigger, I love him as Benji, the comic relief. The scene where Tom Cruise’s Ethan Hunt is climbing the tallest building in the world, was my favorite. Nerve wrecking, but awesome. Check HERE my full review. 
 

2. Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation (2015)
By the time “Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation” came out, I had high expectations. And it’s always a great thing when these expectations are met. In this film we are introduced to Ilsa Faust, played by Rebecca Ferguson. One of the best characters in the entire franchise. And also Solomon Kane, portrayed by Sean Harris. Who is my favorite villain of the series. And the opening scene, with Tom Cruise literally hanging from a plane, is one of the best of the series as well. HERE you can check out my full review.
 

1. Mission: Impossible – Fall Out (2018)
Seldom movies in a franchise get better by each release. The sixth film in the series is my favorite, without a doubt. And in this case, bigger is better! This film stands out in its perfectly choreographed fight scenes. The most epic action sequence involves two helicopters and it was everything. Read my full review HERE.

Ranking the Franchise - Cloverfield

The Cloverfield franchise is a series of science-fiction/ monster movies that contains of three movies each with a different take and style. Today I will rank the three movies.
 

3. The Cloverfield Paradox (2018)
The third installment in the franchise was rather disappointing. This time, the action takes place not in New York or a mysterious bunker, but on a space station, where an international group of astronauts is conducting an important test on a particle accelerator. The film starts out as exciting, entertaining quality pulp, but gradually becomes less inventive and credible, while borrowing rom genre movies like “Alien”, “The Thing” and “Event Horizon”. “The Cloverfield Paradox” went straight to Netflix, which is understandable once you see it.
 

2. Cloverfield (2008)
During a party in New York, one of the guests decides to film everything. With his camera rolling, he captures guest, ordinary young men and women, in order to offer the party guests memories for later. Then the city is rocked by a series of explosions, and no one knows what’s going on. High expectations after a sophisticated publicity campaign were largely meet. “Cloverfield” is especially strong because the film looks like an amateur video shot in one take, creating a certain realism. The found-footage style is what makes this film unique and it stands out from other monster/ disaster movies.
 

1. 10 Cloverfield Lane (2016)
After a serious car accident, a young woman wakes up in a bomb shelter chained to the wall. Her “captor” tells her that a devastating chemical/ nuclear weapons attack has occurred and she has been locked away for her own safety. Asking for help is pointless, because outside the four walls of their bunker, everyone is probably long dead. This movie came out of nowhere, no one knew this film was in the making. “10 Cloverfield Lane” is a suspenseful and tightly written thriller, and with that the best in the franchise.
 

Ranking the Franchise - Hannibal Lecter

Hannibal Lecter is one of the most iconic and scary characters in cinema history. His charming way of conversing hides his psychotic, manipulative and violent nature. His character has a series dedicated to him, but there are five movies about Hannibal Lecter. And I decided to rank these films.
 

5. Hannibal Rising (2007)
Young Hannibal Lecter grows up in a privileged environment. In the family castle in Lithuania, he studies medicine. Then WWII breaks out, his parents and sister are murdered, and, heavily traumatized, he forges his first vengeful murder plans. “Hannibal Rising” wants to show us how he became the man remembers for his charm and eloquence, cultural savvy unmatched psychology, explosiveness and his danger. Let’s put it this way, Hannibal deserved a much better prequel.
 

4. Hannibal (2001)
In this sequel, we meet Hannibal Lecter in Florence where he feeds on art, culture and passerby. FBI agent Clarice Starling (this time played by Julianne Moore) is trying to catch him. This movie never met up with its expectations and wasn’t even close to its original. Julianne Moore replaced Jodie Foster as Starling, because Foster didn’t want to disavow the original character. And she was right, Foster was way better in her role and Moore’s version of Starling is just another detective.
 

3. Red Dragon (2002)
Aonce again Sir Anthony Hopkins takes on the role of one of the world’s most notorious and beloved movie killers. It chronologically comes before “The Silence of the Lambs” and “Hannibal”. In other words, we see the psychiatrist in the days when he was still on the loose but did acquire the nickname Hannibal the Cannibal. His help is enlisted in an FBI investigation into a serial killer called the “Tooth Fairy”. Stylishly shot, creepy and less hysterical than “Hannibal”.
 

2. Manhunter (1986)
“Manhunter” tells the same story as “Red Dragon, but was release in the late eighties. It was actually the first movie made about Hannibal Lecter. Where FBI agent Will Graham was portrayed by Edward Norton in “Red Dragon” in this early film William Petersen took on the role. And Brian Cox plays the psychotic Dr. Lecter. I believe many people have never seen this film and it’s highly overlooked and underrated in my opinion.
 

1. The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
Rookie FBI agent Clarice Starling is tasked with unblocking a stalled investigation into a serial killer. To do so, she must interrogate another serial killer in prison, Hannibal Lecter. This movie made him the iconic villain he is and is the best one in the franchise.
 

Ranking the Franchise - Back to the Future

I believe “Back to the Future” is still one of the best, for some maybe even THE best, time travel movie ever made. And the entire franchise is fun. Ranking this series was not that hard, since I knew what my favorite and least favorites were. But overall I can say it’s a solid trilogy with not one bad movie.
 

3. Back to the Future Part III
A good last part of a fun trilogy, but definitely the least of the three. This one can be seen without the knowledge of the previous films, although it is filled with references to previous evens. Marty McFly travels to the past and ends up in the Wild West. There he meets an ancestor of his arch-enemy. In the meantime, Doc Brown has become completely absorbed in it. Beautiful images of the landscapes, good special effects and a strong soundtrack. That what make this a successful adventure film.
 

2. Back to the Future Part II (1989)
The story of this second film begins seconds after part one ends. Marty McFLy has to go back to the future, says Emmett Brown, because things seem to be going completely wrong there. To solve it, he will have to jump back and forth in time. The film is more complex, because timelines cross timelines and we also revisit scenes we saw in “Back to the Future”. There are people that say this is the best time travel movie ever made, and for me it’s a close call. But it’s a strong second. And for the people who haven’t seen the films, you can’t watch “Back to the Future Part II” without seeing “Back to the Future” first.
 

1. Back to the Future (1985)
Seventeen-year-old Marty McFly travels to the past using the time machine of the remarkable Professor Emmet Brown. There he meets his clumsy father and his charming mother. He will have to pair them up, otherwise he will never be born. The brilliant, witty script by director Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale of this now classic time travel film was only approved by the Universal Studio after a long hesitation.
 

Ranking the Franchise - Harry Potter

It’s been 20 years since the first Harry Potter movie was released. Feel old yet? And since they have been showing them again on television (October is magic) I decided to take a closer look and actually rank all the eight Harry Potter movies. And it wasn’t an easy job.
 

8. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (2010)
The beginning of the end. Warner Brothers decided to split the last book into two movies. In a way the right choice, since there is a lot to be told. But because of that, the seventh film doesn’t feel finished and is just a set-up for everything that will happen in the final movie.
 

7. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)
A dark, exciting film. This part also made it clear that director David Yates was here to stay. The film was made with confidence, where everyone finally acknowledges that Voldemort is back. Together with Dumbledore, Harry tries to figure out how to defeat the evil wizard. Meanwhile, Harry, Ron and Hermione are also becoming real adolescents and slowly love blossoms here and there. And this is the part I hated and why the film is so low on the list.
 

6. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005)
Mike Newell directs this fourth film in the series and it’s one of the most complex films in the franchise. A visually good-looking film, in which the visual effects are more beautiful than ever, the characters mature slowly and the actors are completely invested. As the film begins, Harry wonders why his scar hurts from time to time. And where do these mysterious visions come from? In the fourth year of Hogwarts, Harry also has to enter the Tri-Wizard Tournament.
 

5. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)
The second Harry Potter film is worst received movie in the series. Mainly because director Chris Columbus has put just about everything from the book into the film, which makes it a bit overcrowded. For me, not less fun, since I actually really like it. It’s nice to see how the actors slowly grow into their roles. This was sadly also the final film with Richard Griffiths as Dumbledore, who I always found the better version of the iconic wizard. He had the calmness and wise nature that was described in the books. But since his passing, he needed to be recast.
 

4. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2003)
One of the very best films in the franchise. The film strikes a wonderful balance between a dark tone, a complex story and a lot of magic. The first film in the franchise that became darker in tone and content. The film introduces Sirius Black, who escapes after twelve years in Azkaban. And we meet Remus Lupin, the new Defense Agains the Dark Arts teacher. Two of my favorite characters in the franchise.
 

3. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (2001)
The very first film in the franchise and the one that started it all. Director Chris Columbus managed to adapt the amazing source material to the big screen, without overcrowding the film. This is where we meet Harry, his friends and all the great characters we came to love over the years. And I think the audience was just as amazed and overwhelmed as Harry was.
 

2. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007)
I was very surprised myself that I loved this film so much. Director David Yates was given a difficult task. He had to adapt the longest book to film. And it worked out very well. But it did result in the shortest Harry Potter film, which is therefore entertaining and full of action. Harry is distrusted in this film: Voldemort wouldn’t be back at all. Meanwhile, Dolores Umbridge is the new teacher for Defense Against the Dark Arts, and she gets the task of keeping a close eye on Dumbledore, Harry and the other students of Hogwarts. In doing so, the entire curriculum in which the wizards learn to defend themselves is immediately destroyed. Harry and his friends decide to teach themselves. Imelda Staunton is the star of this film, since she embodies the awful Umbridge so well.
 

1. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (2011)
I never expected that the eight and final film to be my favorite. Harry and his battle with the evil Voldemort had to end at the top. It is an exciting, thrilling, well-acted and visually extremely impressive film. Especially the battle of Hogwarts is an epic and unforgettable scene. But what is especially clever is that this eight-part film series is brought to a very satisfactory ending. The battle between good and evil in the magical world has broken out into a real war. Harry, tother with Ron and Hermione, has the task to end it.

Ranking the Franchise - Ocean's

To be honest, I had never seen any of the films in this franchise. Strange, since the cast of all the movies has such star power and is filled with actors and actresses I enjoy watching. I wanted to watch all four films in the franchise and rank them.
 

4. Ocean’s Twelve (2004)
Danny Ocean and his gang leave Las Vegas and decided to travel to three European countries to perform some heists: The Netherlands, Italy and France. This film was really boring at times, all though they add a completely different setting and some new cast members. I did like the scene where Julia Roberts’ character Tess has to pretend to be Julia Roberts, this was really funny. But overall, I didn’t like this film.
 

3. Ocean’s Thirteen (2007)
I’m glad that for this third movie, Danny Ocean and his team are back in Las Vegas and that casinos are the setting. After one of their own was double-crossed by casino owner Willy Banks, Danny plans to have Banks bankrupt before the grand-opening of his new casino. Like “Ocean’s Twelve” is had its dull moments, but the actually heist execution is really cool. That’s why I prefer it over the second film.
 

2. Ocean’s Eight (2018)
I think most people wouldn’t put it in second place, but this movie was highly enjoyable. Charming crook Danny Ocean turns out to have a sister: Debbie Ocean. She is just as cool, clever and criminal. With seven henchmen, all female, she plans a jewel heist at the famous Met Gala in New York. Although the formula and many scenes are exactly the same as “Ocean’s Eleven”, this film was highly entertaining and I loved the cast.  
 

1. Ocean’s Eleven (2001)
Crook Danny Ocean wants to rob three big casinos in Las Vegas and put together a team of eleven experts, each with their own specialty. It’s a stylish remake of the 1960s film of the same name and it’s filled with A-listers. The film is really good and both the build-up to and the actually execution of the heist are a joy to watch. A very entertaining heist film.
 

 

Ranking the Franchise - Indiana Jones

Indiana Jones is one of my favorite movie characters of all-time and I love the movies.  And with four films out, I decided to take a closer look and rank them.  
 

4. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
This is without a doubt the worst one in the series. The rest of the franchise is very consistent, but this one really disappointed the audience. It was criticized and I do understand why. And although the film does have its moments and I really liked the comradery between Indiana and Mutt, the film overuses CGI and not in a good way (remember that awful scene where Mutt is swinging from the trees like Tarzan).
 

3. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
“Indiana Jones and Temple of Doom” is the second film and also the darkest one. Officially this film is a prequel and is set before “Raiders of the Lost Ark” (I didn’t even realize that after having seen it already over 10 times, haha). The story follows Indiana, singer Willie Scott and the young Short Round, who visit a village that has children mysteriously disappearing. They find a cult that sacrifices humans and they kidnap children to be their slaves. Like I said, the story is dark but filled with action and adventure.
 

2. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
The story is interesting. The film starts with a young Indiana who steals a relic from a grave robber. We get a little backstory and see how he got his infamous hat and how he started fearing snakes. When we see adult Indiana, he hears that his father, Henry Jones, has been kidnapped. Sean Connery plays father Henry, a great addition and I loved the fact that is focuses on the father-son bond instead of another love interest. My favorite moment is the chair scene, where Indiana and Henry are bound to chairs and the wall turns. Inventive and very funny.
 

1. Raiders of the Lost Ark
Close call, but the first film is till my favorite and although it’s from 1981, it really holds up. This is the equivalent of an adventure movie. The Nazis are trying to find the Ark of the Covenant, which will give them powers. Indiana Jones tries to find it before they do. “Raiders of the Lost Ark” has one of the coolest opening scenes ever and I love the scene with the swordsman and how Indiana just shoots him without even bothering. A film with high rewatchability.

Ranking the Franchise - Star Wars

I rewatched all the movies in the “Star Wars” universe. Yes, all of them. I wanted to not only include the films from the “Star Wars” saga, but also films that spun-off from this series. Here is my ranking of all 11 films in the “Star Wars” franchise.

11. Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones (2002)
“Attack of the Clones” is the second step in a trilogy that builds towards the original trilogy. It features a reunion of famous characters such as the Jedi Masters Yoda and Obi-Wan Kenobi, trapped on planets dominated by CGI. In between many dialogues with explanations and the very cringeworthy romance between Anakin Skywalker and Padmé Amidala with them rolling in the grass laughing as the absolute low point of the entire franchise. The film does have a cool arena battle.

10. Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999)
Sixteen years after his last “Star Wars” film, George Lucas managed to attract a whole new generation of fans with a prequel. And he wanted it to be epic. He visualized a battle with thousands of robots, an underwater chase with monsters and an aerial car chase. This race is won by young Anakin, who will later become the dark leader Darth Vader, father of hero Luke Skywalker and Leia Organa. Jedi knight Qui-Gon Jinn discovers a lot of force in the boy and sees in him a long awaited leader. It’s not great, it leans mainly on the heavily use of CGI. The highlight of the film is Sith Lord Darth Maul, who only appears in this movie sadly enough.

9. Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)
Since Disney has been in charge of the “Star Wars” universe, every year a new film falls of the assembly line. This self-contained adventure revolves around the early years of smuggler Han Solo. Director Ron Howard turned it into a light-hearted action spectacle. Although the screenplay feels a bit rushed, it’s amusing to see how Han meets his pals Chewie and Lando and acquires the Millennium Falcon. “Solo: A Star Wars Story” is mainly enjoyable for nostalgic reasons.

8. Star Wars: Episode III – The Revenge of the Sith (2005)
In the third prequel of George Lucas’ “Star Wars” saga, Anakin Skywalker comes increasingly under the spell of the Dark Side of the Force. Still a bit of romance, but not as focused on like in “Attack of the Clones” thank goodness. It’s pretty cool to see Darth Vader being ‘born’, but it wasn't completely satisfactory.

7. Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker (2019)
The Skywalker saga comes to a definitive end in this ninth episode. And it’s good that way, since the Force hasn’t been strong in the story anymore. In terms of action and spectacle, “The Rise of Skywalker” is a good film and is very entertaining. But it lacks a lot. Since it’s predecessor was directed by a different director than “The Rise of Skywalker”, who made a critical choice of killing off the main villain, J.J. Abrams was left without a villain. He came up with an illogical twist by bringing back a well-known character. It’s understandable that he had to go all out, since this is the final film. But it just didn’t work and it angered a lot of fans.

6. Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi (2017)
The sequel to “The Force Awakens” was successful. And I liked it more after a second viewing. Characters that we met before, Rey, Kylo Ren, Finn and Po, get more depth. But it’s still Mark Hamill, from the original trilogy, who steals the show. The only thing I didn’t like about this film was the Finn and Rose storyline.

5. Star Wars: Episode VI – The Return of the Jedi (1983)
It’s the last film from the original “Star Wars” trilogy. After the empire has hit back hard in the second film, Luke Skywalker will have to confront Darth Vader. If it wasn’t for those damn ewoks, the film would be higher on this list. Otherwise, it’s a good finale to a trilogy.

4. Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens (2015)
By now we can all agree that the prequel trilogy unbalanced the “Star Wars” franchise. This was restored by “The Force Awakens”. It’s a great start to a new, long-awaited, trilogy. Officially it’s the seventh part in the saga and it makes you forget about the prequels all together. Thirty-something years after Darth Vader and his Empire were eliminated, a new realm of darkness has emerged The First Order. Meanwhile, Luke has mysteriously disappeared. “The Force Awakens” does nod to the originals films, but in terms of spectacle, humor and adventure it’s its own movie. In the words of Han Solo: ‘Chewie, we’re home’.

3. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016) “Rogue One” is presented as a stand-alone story within the “Star Wars” universe. The characters are indeed unknown and new to us, but the plot does fit in with the ongoing saga. Central is tough heroine Jyn Erso, who takes on Darth Vader and company in the period just before “Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope”. The action, effects and scenery are all excellent, and the story is certainly not predictable.

2. Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977)
Little did director and screenwriter George Lucas know, when he kicked off the franchise in 1977 with “A New Hope”. He was about to create one of the most loved movie franchises ever. Fun fact is that there were many movie companies that expected such a film to flop. But it eventually yielded a good 460 million dollars in the US alone. The culture influences should not be underestimated. Almost everyone knows that The Force is, knows Darth Vader and knows what lightsabers sound like. Even if you didn’t see the films. “A New Hope” is a great first film in a much-loved franchise.

1. Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
This fantastic sequel to the first ever “Star Wars” film succeeds in surpassing the original. The characters are further elaborated, the special effects are, especially before 1980, really dazzling and the film has an unstoppable speed and is full of adventure and excitement. In this part, Luke Skywalker is further trained by the Jedi Master Yoda, while Han Sola and his mates are engaged in a guerilla war with the Empire. The film has one of the most memorable twist in movie history (which somehow almost everyone quotes wrong).

Ranking the Franchise - John Wick

I didn’t think I would like “John Wick” when I saw the trailer of the first film. Let alone would I expect to need a full trilogy. I ended up loving “John Wick” and the sequels as well. I rewatched them all over the weekend, so the perfect time to rank the three films in “John Wick” franchise.

3. John Wick (2014)
A good old-fashioned revenge film in which former assassin John Wick goes to war when a bunch of Russian gangsters steal his card and kill his dog. Just after her buried his wife. Stylishly choreographed action scenes are alternated with the necessary cynical humor. But what remains above all is the dreamy New York in which the film takes place: a universe like that of a graphic novel, with a hotel at the center where the entire clientele consists of professional criminals.

2. John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum (2019)
The sequel to the critic’s remarkably well-received “John Wick: Chapter 2” and it means even more life and death battles for assassin John Wick. So even more stabbing, fist fighting and gun fighting. You’d think that it would get old, but director and former stuntman Chad Stahelski keeps up the pace, the battle original and provides occasional dry comedy for relief. And Keanu Reeves (who is in his fifties, whut?) continues to convince as the constantly hunted but indestructible Wick. In this case, bigger is better.

1. John Wick: Chapter 2 (2017)
A few days after the events in the first “John Wick” film, the title character wants to take it easy, but is then forced to travel to Rome to commit an assassination attempt on a mob leader. After which all hell breaks loose. Just like in the first film, the violence is exuberant and baroque, tightly choregraphed, with classical architecture in the background, beautifully lit catacombs and other photographic gems. Hardly ever is a sequel better then the original, let alone the second film in a trilogy being the best.