Now, you want to determine which of your favorite film franchises is genuinely superior to the others in terms of quality. It’s an enjoyable, occasionally difficult, but ultimately fruitful exercise. Establishing a few important criteria that are important to you, applying them uniformly to all entries in each franchise, and then adding up the “scores” is the fastest way to accomplish this. It’s more about creating a framework for your own assessment than it is about a definitive, objective ranking (good luck with that!). Establishing Your Standards: What Does “Quality” Even Mean?
It’s important to know exactly what you’re ranking on before you rank anything. “Quality” is a subjective concept, so what appeals to one person may not appeal to another. Let’s examine a few typical elements of film quality that you may want to think about. The basis is the plot & story.
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This is where most conversations start. An engaging story should make sense and, ideally, have an impact. Structure and Pacing.
Does the narrative flow smoothly? Does it seem hurried or drag at certain points? Does the structure work well?
Does it create tension, surprise you, or live up to expectations? Does it avoid plot holes, or at the very least, does it prevent them from being so obvious? Innovation and originality. Does the narrative feel new, or is it just another version of something we’ve seen a million times? Does it take chances? Does it experiment with its characters or genre?
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Do you find yourself thinking about it long after it’s over, or does it leave a lasting impression? uniformity within the franchise. Does the story respect earlier entries, or does it go against accepted character development and lore? Does it feel like a stand-alone, unimportant addition, or does it significantly advance the overall story? Characters: The core of the narrative.
Without compelling characters, even the most intricate plot may fail. Character growth and storylines. Do characters develop and evolve, pick up lessons, or experience actual repercussions? Do you understand why they act the way they do, even if they are antagonists?
Are their motivations convincing and obvious? Do you identify with them in any way? Are they aspirational or relatable? Performances by actors. Do you believe in the characters because of the actors’ convincing portrayals of their parts? Do their performances have depth and subtlety, or do they seem monotonous?
Are supporting characters merely plot devices, or do they feel fully realized? memorable and iconic status. Do characters become iconic?
Do they become instantly recognizable & the subject of much discussion? Do people quote their lines or dress up as them? Do they have a lasting impact on popular culture? The universe itself: world-building and lore.
The world that franchises, in particular, inhabit is frequently a character unto itself. both richness and depth. Are there details that give the world a sense of authenticity and a sense of being lived in? Does the lore make sense within its own rules? Is it coherent & well-considered?
Does it pique your curiosity & make you want to know more about this world? Images and Beauty. Is the world visually unique? Does it have a distinct appearance and feel? Are the visual effects merely for show, or do they contribute to the plot? Does the production design add to the overall mood and is it impressive?
impact on the narrative. Does the world-building improve the story? Does it present new possibilities or challenges? Can the same story be told anywhere, or does it feel essential to the franchise’s identity?
Technical Execution: Direction and Craft. This is where more than just the script is involved in the artistic process of filmmaking. Visual storytelling & cinematography. Are the shots well-composed? Does the camera work improve the mood and story?
Does the film’s identity stem from its unique visual style? Are there any standout scenes or individual shots? Editing & timing.
Are you captivated by the editing? Is it clear and efficient, or is it awkward and unclear? Does the film’s rhythm make sense? Does it appropriately create tension or excitement?
Does it avoid feeling too long or too short? Score and Sound Design. Are the effects realistic & powerful, and does the sound design fully immerse you in the world? Is the musical score effective and memorable? Does it evoke strong feelings without being overbearing?
Does the soundtrack turn into a recognizable aspect of the franchise? Thematic & Emotional Resonance: The “Why”. What do you think or feel about the movie, aside from its technical aspects? emotional effects. Does it arouse strong feelings like fear, excitement, laughter, or tears?
Do you still feel something after the credits have rolled? Does it produce awe or catharsis? depth of a theme. Does it pose thought-provoking questions or explore intriguing concepts?
Do the themes feel superfluous or well-integrated into the narrative? Does it provide fresh viewpoints or insights? Re-watchability and enduring appeal.
Does it hold up over time? Do you want to watch it again? Does it seem timeless or quickly out of style? When you watch it again, do new details or layers emerge? Creating Your Ranking System: A Workable Method.
After you’ve chosen your criteria, you need to figure out how to use them. Here is a simple way to do it. Step 1: Make a list of your franchises and their movies. Record everything in a spreadsheet or on paper. Enumerate each franchise, followed by each film in that franchise.
Although it may seem apparent, this aids in task visualization. Step 2: Give Each Criteria a Point Scale. Choose your scoring system for each criterion. Usually, a straightforward 1–5 scale is most effective.
Poor/nonexistent = 1.
2 is less than average.
3 = Average/Skilled.
4 = Above Average/Good.
5 = Superb/Excellent. Also, criteria can be weighted. You could multiply story points if “Story and Plot” is more important to you than “Sound Design.”.
However, equal weighting is frequently simpler for a first pass. Step 3: Assess Every Film separately. The most important but time-consuming part is this. Examine each movie in each franchise and assign a score based on the criteria you have selected.
Be truthful to yourself. Don’t let your general fondness for a franchise cause you to overlook a subpar entry. A simplified example is as follows.
**Movie 1 of Franchise A (e.
The g. A New Hope)**. Pacing of Story and Plot: 4. Development of Characters: 5. Depth of World-Building: 5.
Cinematography: 4. Impact of Emotional Resonance: 5. Movie 1’s total is 23.
**Franchise A: Film 2 (e. (g). Attack of the Clones)**. Plot and Story (Speed): 2.
Development of Characters: 2. Depth of World-Building: 3. Cinematography: 3. Impact on Emotional Resonance: 2. Movie 2’s total is twelve.
Determine Franchise Averages in Step Four. Determine the average score for each franchise once you have scores for each movie. Divide the total score of each movie in a franchise by the total number of movies. For instance. Franchise A… Video 1: 23.
Video 2: 12. Video 3: 20. Franchise A’s total is 55.
18.33 is the average for Franchise A (55 out of 3 films).
For each of your franchises, repeat these steps. This average will serve as your starting point. Think about the “Worst Entry” and “Best Entry” in step five. Even though the average is a good place to start, a franchise can occasionally be elevated by an absolute masterpiece or brought down by a truly awful movie.
The “Weakest Link” element. To what extent does a bad movie harm the franchise as a whole? Does one awful movie make you doubt your love for the entire series? Does the franchise bounce back from its darkest moments?
Some franchises do, while others never do.
“High Point” Factor. How high are the highs? Are there any truly transcendent movies in the franchise that raise its profile as a whole?
Does one great movie make up for a number of mediocre ones? This is where taste really matters. If you think it’s necessary, you could add an extra subjective “worst film penalty” or “best film bonus” to your average scores.
For instance, you might lower a franchise’s final score by one or two points if it has an average of 18-point-33 but one of its movies is genuinely awful. Subjectivity and Nuance: Improving Your Rankings. There is always space for individual judgment, even in structured systems. The element of “feeling”.
A movie or franchise may feel right at times. It speaks to you on an indescribable level. Don’t completely disregard that feeling. You own your ranking, after all. Examine the reasons behind your intuition if your score indicates that Franchise X is superior to Franchise Y.
Is there an intangible factor at work, or did you receive a lower score on a criterion that truly matters to you? reassessment & iteration. Your initial ranking may not be your last one.
Go to sleep on it. Go over your scores again. You may discover that you were too critical of one movie or too forgiving of another. Don’t be scared to adjust your scores or your criteria.
This is a journey of appreciation rather than a science test. The “Impact on Me” criterion. Think about the personal impact in addition to objective qualities. nostalgia & initial impressions. To what extent does nostalgia affect your opinion?
Does this affect your evaluation of quality in a positive or negative way? Did you have an amazing first encounter with the franchise? Relevance & Personal Connection. Do the franchise’s themes or characters resonate with your own experiences? Does it speak to you personally?
Has it changed your perspective or areas of interest? It is frequently possible to close the gap between objective analysis and subjective affection by adding a “Personal Impact” score (perhaps out of 10 or as a bonus multiplier). Typical Traps to Avoid. To make sure your ranking is as equitable and consistent as possible, bear these in mind.
“Recency Bias” Trap.
Because it’s still fresh in your mind, it’s easy to overappreciate or overcriticize a franchise’s latest release. If you can, rewatch older movies to gain a new viewpoint.
“Rose-Tinted Glasses” is a problem. On the other hand, nostalgia may cause us to ignore shortcomings in movies that we adored as kids. Even if a movie has a special place in your heart, make an effort to analyze it critically.
It simply indicates that you are being truthful about their workmanship, not that you don’t love them as much. Letting Hype or Anti-Hype Influence You. Don’t let internet debate or popular opinion determine your grades. It’s okay if everyone else loves a movie you think is mediocre or detests one you truly enjoy. You are in charge of your ranking.
The fallacy of “Genre Comparison.”. The “quality” of a superhero franchise should not be directly compared to that of a horror franchise using the same exact criteria. The goals of a successful superhero movie and a successful horror movie are different.
You may need to create distinct sets of criteria for each genre, or your criteria should be adaptable enough to take genre variations into consideration. By following these steps, you’ll not only create a personal ranking of your favorite movie franchises based on quality, but you’ll also have a better understanding of what you really value in storytelling & filmmaking, as well as a deeper appreciation for the individual films within them. Cheers to ranking!
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