Following the exciting news that The Gray Man has already proven to be one of Netflix's most successful and popular projects to date, with its $200m budget clearly working wonders with audiences (via IndieWire).
It's not entirely clear where the franchise will go from here, but with Gosling returning in the lead role, it's sure to be a hit. Of course, Netflix popular movies, like The Old Guard, also deserve the same franchise treatment as The Gray Man.
I Am Mother (2019)
Original sci-fi movies are becoming rarer and rarer in today's cinematic climate, so it's somewhat of a miracle that Netflix decided to provide audiences with something as wholly original as I Am Mother. Whilst it remains one of the streaming service's lesser-known titles, there's reason to believe that a sequel or spin-off could be a huge success.
Although it's not immediately clear which direction a potential sequel would take, that doesn't mean that there isn't an opportunity. The movie's ending opened the doors to uncover the dystopian world and witness how humanity will evolve, given the assistance from Mother. Whether it's a prequel, a spin-off, or even a completely unrelated story set in the same universe, there's definitely room to explore the rich world of I Am Mother.
The Harder They Fall (2021)
Jaymes Samuel's The Harder They Fall was a huge hit with audiences from the moment it dropped on Netflix last year, with its extensive ensemble cast being one of its strongest selling points. Starring Idris Elba, Jonathan Majors, Regina King and so many more, Samuel's film was one of the most entertaining modern Westerns ever made.
Although the main conflict of The Harder They Fall was resolved in a fitting and satisfying way, the film's huge cast of characters leaves room for plenty of new stories to be told in this universe. A direct sequel is unlikely, but there's nothing stopping some of the film's side characters from telling their own stories.
Bird Box (2018)
Bird Box is not only one of the best thrillers on Netflix, but also one of the best examples of how a simple story can explode into a worldwide phenomenon when it's told effectively. Susanne Bier's astute direction and Sandra Bullock's demanding lead performance made Bird Box an incredibly compelling watch from start to finish.
It's surprising that Netflix hasn't already capitalized on the success of Bird Box and begun work on an adaptation of 'Malorie' - the literary sequel to Josh Malerman's original source material for the film. There's a lot of potential success there, and it wouldn't be surprising at all to see Netflix grab the rights for this exciting story.
The Babysitter (2017)
Killer Queen already constitutes a franchise, there's still plenty of room for development before this universe reaches its full potential.
If Netflix is looking for a constant stream of success, they needn't look any further than The Babysitter. As Killer Queen proved, audiences will keep coming back to this universe for a reliable source of retro horror - which means there's no limit on the number of sequels and spin-offs that this current duology could become.
6 Underground (2019)
Although 6 Underground wasn't a huge hit with critics, there was still a huge portion of Netflix's viewership that fell hard for Michael Bay's unapologetically explosive action thriller. It's one of the most high-octane films of the past few years, reveling in its own intensity with explosions and car crashes at every turn.
Despite Netflix's claims that 6 Underground will not be receiving a sequel, many fans believe that there are plenty of other subplots in the film that could be entertainingly explored in a potential spin-off. Though Reynolds was the film's main draw, an unrelated sub-story could still succeed with Bay at the helm.
Hustle (2022)
One of the most recent entries on this list, Hustle has already proven itself to be Netflix's next big success. Adam Sandler provides one of his most compelling performances as basketball scout Stan Sugerman, brought alive by Jeremiah Zagar's astutely engaging direction.
Sugarman is an incredibly fun character to watch, and although Sandler has often expressed his distaste for sequels and franchises, it doesn't seem too unlikely that he'd agree to stick around with this critical and commercial dynamite. A potential franchise could showcase more of Sugarman's new venture as an assistant coach and update his relationship with Bo on the court, perhaps becoming its own sports series in Rocky-style but with basketball.
The Old Guard (2020)
It's not often that Netflix produces such creative fantasy projects as The Old Guard, but the decision surely paid off when the film reached huge levels of success in 2020. Charlize Theron brought the film to life alongside an eccentric ing cast that remained unpredictable from start to finish.
Plans are already underway for a sequel to The Old Guard, but this is such an expansive story that it would be a shame to stop there. If given the chance to explore some of the more outlandish corners of its universe, The Old Guard could become Netflix's next major franchise.
Enola Holmes (2020)
Filming for Stranger Things, and she'll surely be searching for the next prosperous franchise to keep her career soaring.
Enola Holmes could definitely be this next franchise. Arthur Conan Doyle's characters offer so much material to explore that it would be surprisingly easy to find the ideas for multiple installments in this series. Its distinct style and youthful charm allow it to stand out from the crowd and develop its own clear identity, which helps audiences differentiate the film from all the other Sherlock Holmes adaptations out there.
Fear Street (2021)
All three Fear Street movies were widely praised upon their release in 2021, mostly thanks to their nostalgic approach to the horror genre and creatively-plotted narratives. Although the three films' stories tackled their own individual stories, the separate narratives clashed together in an explosive finale that many audiences loved.
Fear Street is a perfect example of how movies don't have to directly connect to each other in order to make a successful franchise. As long as there's something connecting them, audiences will have a fun time exploring this shared universe - which gives the series a lot of potential for franchising, as there are endless stories that could be told in this world. It appears that may be the case after author R.L. Stine addressed the rumors of more Fear Street movies, which means this limited three-part series could become a long-lasting franchise after all.
The Mitchells Vs. The Machines (2021)
one of the best animated movies of 2021, so it's extremely surprising that Netflix hasn't already expressed interest in a sequel or spin-off. It was a huge hit with both audiences and critics alike, with many relating strongly to its bittersweet family dynamic.
Although the story resolved itself fairly confidently, there's definitely room to explore the Mitchell family even further in a potential sequel. Whether that's as a more family-focused drama or another outlandish adventure, The Mitchells vs. The Machines definitely deserves to be Netflix's next big franchise.
