Battle of the Sci-Fi Mega Franchises

[Trey of Diamonds]

Which mega sci-fi franchise do you think is best and why. Out of all the different sci-fi franchises, I only count 6 as mega franchises because they have longevity in television, movies, books and comic books. Those 6 are:

Babylon 5
Battlestar Galactica
Doctor Who
Firefly
Stargate (edit add. Chose other and post)
Star Trek
Star Wars
Terminator (edit add. Chose other and post)

I know some would argue that Babylon 5, Battlestar and Doctor Who don't count because their movies were made for TV instead of the big screen but it's my thread and I say they count.

So, what is your pick and why? Tell us how you judged each, was it the science, the plots, the characters? Was it the series, the movies, book or comics that were your favorites.

As a bonus, what were your favorites from the minors and which do you wish had made it to the big leagues. Some examples.

Blake's 7
Farscape
Red Dwarf
Seaquest DSV
Space 1999

 

[Trey of Diamonds]

BTW, I purposefully left out the superhero franchises as they are their own genre.

 

[Engyo]

I was really PO'ed when they cancelled Farscape.

 

[Trey of Diamonds]

I was really PO'ed when they cancelled Farscape.

Me too, that's one of the minors I would have liked to see make it to the big leagues.

 

[Phasmid]

Where the hell is Stargate!? >: (

 

[Father Heathen]

You forgot Stargate SG-1

 

[ChristineES]

I am a loyal Trekkie, I couldn't vote for anything else.

 

[Kilgore Trout]

I'd count Dune before half of those.

 

[Engyo]

I'd count Dune before half of those.

Yeah, but which version?

 

[Halcyon]

Firefly. Shiny.

 

[Kilgore Trout]

Yeah, but which version?

The franchise as a whole.

 

[Trey of Diamonds]

Rats, you're right about Stargate. But Dune is hardly franchise material. It's a series of books with a couple movies. There's no TV series and as far as I know, the only comic books were adaptations of the movie, not their own series.

 

[Kilgore Trout]

Rats, you're right about Stargate. But Dune is hardly franchise material. It's a series of books with a couple movies. There's no TV series and as far as I know, the only comic books were adaptations of the movie, not their own series.

Well, actually, with the new books, there are 16 novels spanning four series from 1965 to 2008, along with a number of short stories as well (Dune being the best selling science fiction novel of all time). There is the 1984 version of Dune along with two mini-series done by the SciFi channel. Another Dune movie is slated for 2010. There have also been a number of games/video games based on the Dune universe.

If the absence of a television series is the defining factor, then so be it. But, if you talk about sheer popularity and the massive influence it's had on all aspects of the science fiction genre for going on 50 years, I don't think B-TV shows like Babylon5 and Firefly can really compare to Dune as a science fiction franchise.

 

[Trey of Diamonds]

But, if you talk about sheer popularity and the massive influence it's had on all aspects of the science fiction genre for going on 50 years, I don't think B-TV shows like Babylon5 and Firefly can really compare to Dune as a science fiction franchise.

The term franchise seems to imply multiple forms of media and Dune is uber-popular in only one. If we were discussing sci-fi stories in general there are a number that I would hold up against the shows listed. Heinlein's Future History story line for instance or Isamov's Foundation. But we aren't discussing that kind of popularity.

 

[Storm]

Which mega sci-fi franchise do you think is best and why. Out of all the different sci-fi franchises, I only count 6 as mega franchises because they have longevity in television, movies, books and comic books. Those 6 are:

Babylon 5
Battlestar Galactica
Doctor Who
Firefly
Star Trek
Star Wars

I know some would argue that Babylon 5, Battlestar and Doctor Who don't count because their movies were made for TV instead of the big screen but it's my thread and I say they count.

So, what is your pick and why? Tell us how you judged each, was it the science, the plots, the characters? Was it the series, the movies, book or comics that were your favorites.

As a bonus, what were your favorites from the minors and which do you wish had made it to the big leagues. Some examples.

Blake's 7
Red Dwarf
Seaquest DSV
Space 1999

I can't cloose between B5, BSG, and Firefly, you sadist!

I'm curious, though, as to how any of those three qualify as "mega-franchises," especially if Farscape doesn't. Firefly didn't even get a full season, even if Joss did manage to get the Big Damn Movie made through sheer force of will.

 

[Trey of Diamonds]

I can't cloose between B5, BSG, and Firefly, you sadist!

I'm curious, though, as to how any of those three qualify as "mega-franchises," especially if Farscape doesn't. Firefly didn't even get a full season, even if Joss did manage to get the Big Damn Movie made through sheer force of will.

Farscape is a hard one and part of why I left it out was I'm not sure of how high it peaked. I was overseas when it was on and didn't get to experience it while it was new. Firefly barely fits with the rest but it does cross over all the media. There are books, movies, series and comic books. Farscape didn't branch out into movies and the comics were pretty sparse.

I'm still upset that I missed the obvious Stargate franchise.

 

[Don Penguinoini]

Star Wars.

 

[Storm]

Farscape is a hard one and part of why I left it out was I'm not sure of how high it peaked. I was overseas when it was on and didn't get to experience it while it was new. Firefly barely fits with the rest but it does cross over all the media. There are books, movies, series and comic books. Farscape didn't branch out into movies and the comics were pretty sparse.

Oh, ok. That makes sense.

 

[J Bryson]

I have a fondness for all of them, but Star Trek holds a special place in my heart. Among the minors, I'll pick the sentimental favorite of Blake's 7 for showing me that cheesy special effects need not stand in the way of a good story.

 

[rojse]

Firefly. Shiny.

As much as I loved Firefly, all it has is a television series, a movie, and some comic books. It's hardly a major SF Mega-Franchise,.