5. Rocky Balboa (2006) 16 Years
When you mention franchises and actors who bring or keep coming back for sheer clawing of profit nothing comes to mind more than Rocky and Sylvester Stallone. The original Rocky was a classic story of the underdog, and the way it was told was an achievement of sorts. It is an iconic series that found its place weaving through cinematic history with so many sequels. The last Rocky film, Rocky V, was released in 1990, so when Rocky Balboa was announced it was natural for most to groan and wonder if there was anything left in the fuel tank.
Was it worth it? Some films just don't know when to quit, Rocky is one of them. After four previous sequels that were more or less the same, Rocky Balboa just may be based on Stallone's actual life. A washed-up has been who is past his time sees that he has a chance for reviving his former glory, again, so he decides to take on a new, young champion. Much like real life, everyone tells Rocky you should stay out of the game, there is nothing to prove. But after 16 years, Rocky doesn't care, much like Stallone. Maybe it was the one too many hits that distorted his sense of reality.