The 15 Best Movie Marathons to Watch Any Time

A weekend movie marathon is a fantastic way to unwind. If you're looking for a fun, relaxing group activity or simply have ample free time, a movie marathon is always a winner. While many marathon options exist, focusing on a single franchise offers a cohesive and rewarding experience. Below are 15 excellent franchise options for your next binge-watching session, complete with estimated total runtimes.

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Planet of the Apes

With the recent release of Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, now's the perfect time for a classic sci-fi marathon. The franchise boasts 10 films, offering a substantial binge. While the newest films aren't directly connected to the originals (and there are three distinct timelines), it's still a fun, immersive experience. A two-day commitment is realistic for the entire series; alternatively, focus on the prequel trilogy for a single-day marathon.

Includes Digital Version Planet of the Apes Trilogy Blu-ray Collection

X-Men

Before the MCU, the X-Men franchise reigned supreme. Currently encompassing 13 films, including Deadpool and Wolverine, the chronological order can be tricky. For a shorter binge, stick to the Wolverine storyline. Excluding Deadpool, the marathon clocks in at just over 22 hours. However, let's be honest, you need to include Deadpool.

X-Men Blu-Ray Collection

Fast and Furious

With Fast X, the franchise now has 13 adrenaline-pumping installments. This action-packed marathon, focused on family, takes nearly 23.5 hours.

Blu-Ray + Digital Fast & Furious: 10 Movie Collection

Lord of the Rings

A classic marathon choice, the original Lord of the Rings trilogy is a timeless epic. Including The Hobbit trilogy and the Rings of Power series significantly extends the viewing time. The six feature films alone total approximately 19.5 hours.

The Lord of the Rings: The Motion Picture Trilogy (Extended & Theatrical)(4K Ultra HD)

Star Wars

The Star Wars saga continues to expand. Currently, 11 live-action films exist, with more on the horizon. Including animated films and series like The Clone Wars and The Mandalorian dramatically increases the runtime. The live-action films alone total over 25 hours.

Pirates of the Caribbean

This swashbuckling franchise features five films starring Johnny Depp's iconic Jack Sparrow. A one-day marathon is entirely feasible, with a total runtime of just over 12 hours.

4K UHD ### Pirates of the Caribbean 5-Movie Collection

Jurassic Park

The Jurassic Park franchise, encompassing six feature films, offers a relatively concise dinosaur-filled marathon of just over 10 hours.

Out Now Jurassic World 6-Movie Collection (Standard Edition)

Indiana Jones

Spanning four decades, the Indiana Jones series comprises five films. A one-day marathon is possible, with a combined runtime of just over 10 hours.

4K UHD + Blu-Ray ### Indiana Jones 4-Movie Collection

The Conjuring

The Conjuring universe is extensive, with nine films and five shorts. A weekend is sufficient to conquer this horror marathon, totaling under 14.5 hours.

The Conjuring 7-Film Blu-Ray Collection

Transformers

With eight feature films, the Transformers franchise delivers explosive action. This marathon requires approximately 18.5 hours, best suited for a two-day weekend commitment.

Limited Edition [Blu-Ray + 4K UHD] ### Transformers 6-Movie Steelbook Collection

Harry Potter

The Harry Potter films offer a magical marathon. Excluding Fantastic Beasts, the eight films total under 20 hours.

Harry Potter: 8 Film Collection [4K UHD + Blu-Ray]

Alien

Nine films strong, the Alien franchise provides a space-horror marathon of just over 17 hours (or about 14 hours excluding the Predator crossovers).

Alien: 6-Film Collection

Scream

The Scream franchise, with six films, offers a fun, less-serious horror marathon of just over 11.5 hours, perfect for October.

Scream: 6-Movie Collection

James Bond

With 26 films spanning decades, a complete James Bond marathon is a significant undertaking (over 54 hours). Consider focusing on a single Bond actor's films for a more manageable experience (e.g., Daniel Craig's films total 7 hours 40 minutes).

James Bond Collection

The Hunger Games

The Hunger Games series, including the prequel, offers a compelling marathon of just over 11.5 hours.

Remember to factor in breaks and snacks for optimal marathon enjoyment!