3 science fiction franchises that can challenge Star Trek for the title of 'greatest of all time'

Star Trek is a brilliant franchise. One that has been around for a long time. Nearly 60 years at this point. It's a science fiction franchise that influenced the world, and many creators are looking to create a universe as dynamic as it is—one with an ocean of opportunity, and hopefully, financial success.

Yet, few, if any, are on part with Star Trek. While others came before it, and some have out-earned it, few have had the same cultural impact this touchtone property has created. It is one of one. Yet, if we were to look at challengers for Star Trek's throne, who would it be?

Well, firstly, let's just exclude any comic book franchise. No disrespect intended, but they are comic book movies and shows, not science fiction. While each may borrow from the other, they are separate creations. Let's admit that being around a long time or making a lot of money doesn't mean you're in contention.

Avatar has had two films; we're not entirely sure who's watching them. The Alien franchise has been around for around 50 years, but it's a hit-or-miss series. Up until recently, we would have included Star Wars. While it's more popular than Star Trek, it doesn't appear to have the same consistency with its creations.

So what franchises can lay claim to the best science fiction franchises?

Doctor Who

Let's start with the obvious one, Doctor Who. The series debuted before Star Trek and did the same thing for British science fiction as Star Trek did for American sci-fi. Its reach has been well documented and its revival in the mid-2000s arguably made it a bigger success than at any point. While newer seasons (or series in the UK) have had mixed reviews, it's still among the most celebrated and beloved series out there.

Planet of the Apes

It's not a film franchise I care about, but boy, fans do love these war-mongering monkeys; eh? It has had 10 films, is nearly as old as Star Trek, and has out-earned it. It's a multi-media franchise as well, with two television series from the 1970s. It's still going strong today, with the latest film; Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, grossing nearly $400 million in box office sales.

Back to the Future

Some franchises are popular because of when they happened, like the Hunger Games franchise. Others are popular because of what it's based on, like Resident Evil. Then there are financially successful and we're not quite sure why, like Dune. Yet, all of those franchises have had duds, and others in contention may lack the significance of their work. Not Back to the Future. A three-film series that taught all of us to dream big. A multi-platform franchise that has produced comics, video games, comics, and more, and continues to be a major factor in pop culture even to this day. And all without the problematic rebooting that has come out of Hollywood these days.