14 Movie Franchises You Had No Idea Still Existed

1. Puppet Master

The Puppet Master franchise will be 30 years old next year, and by keeping its budgets low and going the straight-to-video route from the outset, it's been able to crank out 11 sequels to date, with a 12th scheduled for release later this year.

The charming puppet work and eccentric tone has managed to keep the series popular enough with the hardcore crowd to ensure its longevity and prevent it from being lumped in with the glut of other straight-to-video horror franchises.

The fact that the upcoming film, a reboot-sequel titled Puppet Master: The Littlest Reich, stars Thomas Lennon and Udo Kier, and is being written by rising Hollywood filmmaker S. Craig Zahler (Bone Tomahawk, Brawl in Cell Block 99) could signal a major resurgence for the series, especially if Netflix or another streaming platform decides to scoop it up.

Evidently, the series is doing something right to subsist as long as it has on nothing but a small-yet-dedicated cult audience.

Which seemingly immortal movie franchises surprised you the most? Shout them out in the comments!