10 Huge Movie Franchises That Don't Have A 5 Star Entry

9. Transformers (2007-2012)

Michael Bay's Transformers is the embodiment of a critic-proof franchise; none of the four movies have so far earned anything better than a mixed critical reaction, but have continued to dominate the box office. This year's Age of Extinction is currently the highest-grossing movie of 2014 by quite some distance, with the franchise's total earnings well over $3.7bn and counting. The potential is definitely there to create a great, effects-laden sci-fi actioner but the series is more than happy to stick to its formula of a redundant plot and stock characters stuck in the middle of some massive-scale action sequences. At least these set-pieces are undeniably impressive, which is the least you would expect from one of the best visual directors in the business. The worldwide appeal of the Transformers franchise comes squarely from the escapism to be had in watching giant alien robots beating the living hell out of each other, creating chaos and destroying cities in their wake. Each movie has suffered from the same problems in terms of a nonsensical story, terrible writing and an unnecessarily long running time, but have still ranked amongst the highest-earners of their respective years with the original Transformers being the best, introducing both the characters and the mythology while also delivering in the action stakes. Since then, the franchise has settled into its mind-numbing formula, although the last two movies have at least been marginally better than undisputed low point Revenge of the Fallen.