4. Middle-Earth (2001-2014)
New Line CinemaIf we were only talking about the Lord of the Rings trilogy, then there is a strong possibility that Peter Jackson's fantasy epic would take the top spot in these rankings. However, the questionable (read: financially motivated) decision to stretch The Hobbit from slender 300 page novel to nine hours of cinema has so far yielded a disappointing opening chapter and a much-improved, yet slightly underwhelming second movie. The Lord of the Rings is a landmark of modern cinema, and one of the greatest trilogies ever committed to film. Bringing J.R.R. Tolkien's work to life, Peter Jackson fashioned three visually stunning and emotionally powerful epics that featured a note-perfect ensemble cast that gave real substance to the spectacle on show. Racking up 17 Academy Award wins from 30 nominations including a record-tying 11 for concluding chapter Return of the King, the trilogy is a monumental and towering achievement. The Hobbit trilogy has so far brought mixed results. An Unexpected Journey suffers from a bloated running time and turgid pacing, while The Desolation of Smaug is a marked improvement that increasingly gains momentum throughout the narrative. With almost $5bn in box office takings so far, it's virtually a guarantee that December's The Battle of the Five Armies will be a monster hit. Let's just hope it lives up to the massive expectations that come with the final chance to see Middle-Earth on the big screen.