15 Actors With the Most Franchises, Ranked

Some performers seem to step from one cinematic universe straight into another. For this list, a franchise counts as any film series or shared universe with at least two entries where the actor has a credited role, including voice work, sequels, prequels, and spinoffs. Cameos inside a franchise count as participation, but we only counted each distinct franchise once per actor.

This countdown focuses on clear, verifiable appearances across big recurring properties. It includes live action and animation, and it treats connected series as one franchise when they share the same world. The goal is simple and useful for readers who track the busiest franchise regulars across modern cinema.

15. Keanu Reeves

Keanu Reeves anchors multiple long running series. He leads ‘John Wick’ across four films, headlines ‘The Matrix’ through its quartet, and returns to comedy with ‘Bill & Ted’ in three entries. He also joins the ‘Toy Story’ franchise as Duke Caboom, adding animation to his list of repeat universes.

Beyond those mainstays, Reeves appears in franchise adjacent projects and game tie ins that keep his characters active in pop culture. The breadth covers action, sci fi, comedy, and family animation, showing sustained roles in worlds that keep expanding with new installments.

14. Chris Pratt

Chris Pratt plays Star Lord in the ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’, appearing across team ups and solo series chapters that interconnect. He also headlines the ‘Jurassic World’ trilogy, carrying that revival through three films and related tie ins.

Pratt’s voice roles add two more active worlds. He leads ‘The Lego Movie’ series as Emmet in two features and cameos within that brick built universe, and he voices Mario in ‘The Super Mario Bros. Movie’ with ongoing franchise plans already in motion.

13. Michelle Yeoh

Michelle Yeoh’s franchise work spans East and West. She co stars in ‘James Bond’ with a major role in ‘Tomorrow Never Dies’, returns to wuxia with ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’ and its sequel, and joins the ‘The Mummy’ series in a key supporting role. She steps into the ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ with appearances that connect multiple corners of that world.

Yeoh also adds notable parts in other long running properties. She appears in ‘Star Trek’ on the television side, and she voices a character in ‘Transformers’ with ‘Rise of the Beasts’, extending her franchise reach into animation and live action hybrids.

12. Nicolas Cage

Nicolas Cage fronts ‘National Treasure’ with two films and ongoing development for more. He leads ‘Ghost Rider’ across two entries and returns to family animation with ‘The Croods’ in a pair of features.

Cage’s franchise footprint widens with key roles in other universes. He plays Big Daddy in ‘Kick Ass’, voices Spider Man Noir in the ‘Spider Verse’ series, and turns up in DC animation with ‘Teen Titans GO To the Movies’. The mix spans adventure, superheroes, and animated family hits.

11. Idris Elba

Idris Elba appears in the ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ as Heimdall across multiple films including ensemble chapters. He plays the antagonist in ‘Fast and Furious Presents Hobbs and Shaw’, adding that long running street racing universe to his resume, and he leads ‘Pacific Rim’ in the first entry.

Elba’s franchise work also covers ‘Star Trek’ with a lead villain, DC with a central role in ‘The Suicide Squad’, and the ‘Sonic the Hedgehog’ series where he voices Knuckles in two films and a spinoff show. That combination covers superheroes, sci fi, and game based worlds.

10. Andy Serkis

Andy Serkis defines performance capture across several pillars of modern cinema. He plays Gollum in ‘The Lord of the Rings’ and returns in ‘The Hobbit’, then leads the ‘Planet of the Apes’ reboot trilogy as Caesar with landmark digital work.

Serkis continues the franchise streak with roles in ‘Star Wars’ as Supreme Leader Snoke, the ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ as Ulysses Klaue, and DC with ‘The Batman’ as Alfred. Those parts place him inside the biggest shared universes on both sides of the superhero aisle.

9. Bruce Willis

Bruce Willis headlines ‘Die Hard’ across five films, establishing one of the longest running action series led by a single character. He anchors the ‘Unbreakable’ trilogy as David Dunn, connecting to ‘Split’ and ‘Glass’ inside a shared world.

Willis also appears in other established series. He co leads ‘RED’ in two entries, takes on ‘G I Joe Retaliation’, joins ‘The Expendables 2’, and returns to the stylized crime world of ‘Sin City’ across both films. The result is a broad footprint across action, comics, and ensemble franchises.

8. Willem Dafoe

Willem Dafoe’s turn as Green Goblin spans the ‘Spider Man’ trilogy and returns in ‘Spider Man No Way Home’, bridging eras within the same franchise. He appears in ‘John Wick’ with a pivotal role that connects to its underworld of assassins.

Dafoe also joins the ‘Aquaman’ series within the DC universe, voices Gill in ‘Finding Nemo’ and ‘Finding Dory’, and co stars in ‘The Boondock Saints’ across two films. His roles move between live action and animation while remaining within well established worlds.

7. Harrison Ford

Harrison Ford’s franchise history covers multiple decades. He stars in ‘Star Wars’ as Han Solo across the original trilogy and later entries, and he leads the ‘Indiana Jones’ series through five films. He returns to ‘Blade Runner’ with a second chapter that continues the original story.

Ford expands his franchise list with ‘Jack Ryan’ in two films, steps into ensemble action with ‘The Expendables 3’, and joins the ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ as Thaddeus Ross. That set places him across space opera, adventure serials, cyberpunk, espionage, and superheroes.

6. Vin Diesel

Vin Diesel’s longest running commitment is ‘Fast and Furious’, where he appears in most entries and anchors the core family storyline. He also fronts the ‘Riddick’ series through multiple films and shorts that build a consistent sci fi world.

Diesel adds ‘xXx’ with several outings as Xander Cage and voices Groot across the ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’, including ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ and ensemble chapters. The mix combines live action leadership with a signature voice role that recurs across many films.

5. Sylvester Stallone

Sylvester Stallone leads ‘Rocky’ and continues that universe through the ‘Creed’ series, appearing on both sides of the mentor and fighter arc. He also fronts ‘Rambo’ across multiple entries that follow the same character over time.

Stallone formed ‘The Expendables’ as an ongoing ensemble action series and added another trilogy with ‘Escape Plan’. He appears in the ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ as Stakar and turns up in the ‘Spy Kids’ series, which further extends his presence inside long running properties.

4. Liam Neeson

Liam Neeson headlines the ‘Taken’ trilogy as Bryan Mills and provides the voice of Aslan throughout ‘The Chronicles of Narnia’. He plays Ra’s al Ghul across the ‘Batman’ films in that era and returns to ‘Star Wars’ as Qui Gon Jinn in film and related entries.

Neeson also features in the ‘Clash of the Titans’ duology as Zeus and appears in ‘Men in Black International’. He voices a major character in ‘The Lego Movie’ series, giving him continued presence in animation alongside his live action franchise roles.

3. Dwayne Johnson

Dwayne Johnson enters ‘Fast and Furious’ as Luke Hobbs and leads the spinoff that bears his character’s name. He co leads the revived ‘Jumanji’ series across two films with more in active development, then adds ‘G I Joe Retaliation’ to his list.

Johnson’s franchise slate continues with the ‘Journey’ adventure series, ‘Moana’ with a return as Maui, and the DC world as Black Adam. He also began in ‘The Mummy’ universe as the Scorpion King, which spun into its own action line, giving him franchise credits across live action and animation.

2. Jackie Chan

Jackie Chan has led or co led more distinct film series than most stars working today. His Hong Kong runs include ‘Police Story’, ‘Armour of God’, ‘Project A’, and ‘Drunken Master’, each with multiple entries that span different eras of his career.

Chan’s international franchises add ‘Rush Hour’ with three films, the ‘Shanghai Noon’ and ‘Shanghai Knights’ duo, and voice work in ‘Kung Fu Panda’ across multiple entries. He also stars in the modern ‘The Karate Kid’ continuity and returns for the new chapter, further extending a classic martial arts brand.

1. Samuel L. Jackson

Samuel L. Jackson appears across an unmatched range of franchises. He plays Nick Fury throughout the ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’, Mace Windu in ‘Star Wars’, John Shaft in ‘Shaft’, and Agent Augustus Gibbons in ‘xXx’. He voices Frozone in ‘The Incredibles’ and appears in ‘Kingsman’ as a primary antagonist.

Jackson’s franchise reach goes even wider with roles in the ‘Unbreakable’ shared world, the ‘Jurassic Park’ universe, the MonsterVerse via ‘Kong Skull Island’, and the ‘Hitman’s Bodyguard’ films. That collection covers superheroes, sci fi, animation, espionage, and action across many separate series.

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