This Day In Movies: May 2 Helped Launch The Future Of Film Franchises

With as many movies as there are in the world, every day is likely the release of something major. Today, May 2, is different. When you look back through the history of movies, May 2 is responsible for helping to create the Film Franchise as we know it today.

When looking back on May 2, it’s easy to see how it’s a significant date. On this day in 1997, the first Austin Powers movie was released. Back in 2008, Iron Man hit theaters for the first time.

On their own, these two films are nothing more than a couple of great movies. However, when you look at where they led, you can see a pattern.

We live in the age of the film franchise, and these two movies, on this one day, helped to build today’s Hollywood.

Austin Powers – 1997

20 years ago, the first Austin Powers movie hit theaters. Most critics enjoyed the film, and it did well enough in the box office to spawn two successful sequels.

With this franchise, the world learned that, as long as you had a solid lead actor, a goofy character could lead an entire franchise. The gimmick of the Austin Powers movies may have worn thin by the end of the trilogy, but people couldn’t get enough of the title character.

The techniques used in writing the Austin Powers sequels were taken from the James Bond series, but they were brought into a comedic setting. This brought a brand new way of thinking to the genre, and helped bring in the money for franchises in the future.

The most notable franchise to follow in these footsteps was The Hangover. While some people were sick of Phil and the guys by the end of the third movie, the money kept coming in.

Iron Man – 2008

Iron Man did much more than alter the way studios looked at franchises. Kevin Feige, Jon Favreau, and the good folks at Marvel used this film to launch the Cinematic Universe.

Marvel has accomplished something that seemed impossible, and managed to create an entire world within its films. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 marks the 15th entry into this franchise, and each one still finds a way to connect back to some of the other movies of themes. 

The MCU doesn’t just hide Easter Eggs to tie the films together, but they actually have plots that carry over. Decisions made in one movie will affect the events of a later film. All of these stories culminate in the Avengers movies, with Infinity War said to be the biggest event in the franchise’s history. Each movie that has been made so far, will have a hand in molding the final film.

Nothing like this had been done before the MCU, but every studio is actively trying to jump on the bandwagon. DC Comics, Hasbro Toys, classic monsters, Aliens & Predators – all of these properties are now creating connected universes because of the work Marvel has done.

And that work began in 2008, when Tony Stark became a household name.