18. Madagascar (2005-2014)
DreamWorks PicturesAnimated family features are one of the most consistently bankable genres in Hollywood, but it still comes as a bit of a surprise to discover that the three entries in the Madagascar franchise have so far earned over $1.8bn in box office receipts, with a spin-off centered on the scene-stealing penguins set for release in November. None of the movies are particularly awful, but for a genre with the potential for such universal appeal the franchise is more uninspired and painfully generic than anything else. The first movie suffered from the pitfalls of several other Dreamworks animations in that it relied too heavily on cheap gags and pop culture references, often at the expense of a coherent and engaging story. First sequel Escape 2 Africa offered more of the same, albeit with an improved sense of plot and humour, while threequel Europe's Most Wanted marked a high-point for the franchise thanks to an energetic narrative, true wit and some eye-popping visuals. With a solid voice cast and some brilliantly colourful animation, the Madagascar franchise has yet to live up to its potential but the steadily-improving quality of the series is promising.