25 Best Reviewed Franchise Films Of The 21st Century (According To Metacritic)

19. Star Wars: The Force Awakens (80)

War For The Planet Of The Apes Cornelius
Lucasfilm

When Disney acquired Lucasfilm and signaled their intent to create a further trilogy to conclude George Lucas' original vision for the Skywalker saga, Episode VII looked to have the odds stacked with the weight of expectation - but to paraphrase Han Solo, nobody told director JJ Abrams.

The first true Star Wars foray for a decade was met with dazzling commercial success and critical acclaim - and though its merits as something of a retread of A New Hope's key themes remains well-contested, it remains generally agreed that it took the franchise back to its near-best.

Contributor

Something of a culture vulture, Mr Steel can historically be found in three places; the local cinema, the local stadium or the local chip shop. He is an avowed fan of franchise films, amateur cricket and power-chords.