For film lovers, the holiday season is the perfect time for a movie marathon. This guide highlights popular series like the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Star Wars, Harry Potter, James Bond, Star Trek, Fast & Furious, The Lord of the Rings, and Terminator. Each section details viewing orders, total runtime, and includes recommendations for an enjoyable binge-watching experience, ensuring you make the most of your cinematic journey while taking breaks for movement.
Get Ready for the Ultimate Movie Marathon
For movie enthusiasts, there’s a timeless challenge: too many films and not enough time! This dilemma resonates not only with die-hard cinephiles but also with casual viewers who can find themselves overwhelmed by the plethora of blockbuster franchises available. As the holiday season approaches, the perfect opportunity arises for a movie marathon!
Between Christmas and New Year’s, you can indulge in festive films while also catching up on cinematic masterpieces or revisiting old favorites. Why not dive into those epic film series you’ve always wanted to explore? Now is the ideal moment to immerse yourself in hours of entertainment!
Epic Movie Series to Binge-Watch This Holiday Season
With our curated list, you can discover the best series to enjoy during your downtime. We’ve even included the sequence in which to watch the films and how long each series will take. Enjoy your holiday binge-watching experience, and remember to take regular movement breaks!
The Marvel Cinematic Universe
Spanning 33 films, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has achieved what many franchises take decades to accomplish in just 14 years! The superhero genre continues to thrive, and all these titles are available for streaming, primarily on Disney+. While most Marvel films feature hidden scenes in the credits, you can fast-forward through them to save some time.
It’s worth noting that we’ve excluded the Marvel series from this count, as they extend the viewing time significantly and are best enjoyed in conjunction with the films rather than as standalone experiences.
Star Wars
The iconic ‘Star Wars’ series centers around the Skywalker saga, culminating in nine films. Additionally, ‘Solo: A Star Wars Story’ and ‘Rogue One: A Star Wars Story’ serve as enriching expansions to the universe. For a comprehensive viewing experience, check out our guide detailing various ways to watch these films for the first time or as a nostalgic revisit.
If you find yourself captivated by ‘Star Wars’ after your marathon, you can easily extend your binge with series like ‘The Mandalorian’, ‘Star Wars: The Bad Batch’, ‘The Clone Wars’, and ‘Rebels’. For ‘The Clone Wars’, prepare for an investment of 2 days, 18 hours, and 30 minutes, while ‘Rebels’ will take about a day, 13 hours, and 30 minutes.
Harry Potter
The ‘Harry Potter’ series is beloved year-round, but during Christmas, its enchanting magic truly shines. The saga comprises eight films, with the ‘Fantastic Beasts’ series providing a prequel expansion to the wizarding world. While the ‘Fantastic Beasts’ films serve as an interesting add-on, they aren’t the best starting point for newcomers. Be sure to check our guide for the correct viewing order of the ‘Harry Potter’ films!
James Bond
A James Bond marathon stands as one of the most thrilling cinematic journeys, rivaling even the Marvel films. Aiming for four films a day, you can navigate through the suave world of shaken martinis in just over six days. Watching the Bond films in a specific order enhances the experience, so we recommend following a structured viewing sequence rather than a random mix.
Star Trek
The ‘Star Trek’ universe is vast, and focusing solely on the films will still offer you several days of captivating viewing. Our guide helps you navigate the correct order of the films while allowing for some flexibility. However, if you’re feeling adventurous, consider tackling the entire ‘Star Trek’ series! It’s a significant commitment, requiring just under 800 hours, or approximately 33 days of continuous watching!
Fast & Furious
With 10 installments in the main ‘Fast & Furious’ series and a spin-off titled ‘Hobbs & Shaw’, this franchise has plenty to offer. The release of part 11 is anticipated to conclude the main storyline, but spin-offs could still be on the horizon. The series’ chronological order can be surprisingly intricate, making our guide essential for a thrilling movie marathon.
The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit
When embarking on a ‘The Lord of the Rings’ marathon, don’t forget to include ‘The Hobbit’ series—preferably in their extended versions. These versions offer a deeper look into the characters and storylines, making your viewing experience richer. Watching all six Middle-earth films can take longer than nine ‘Fast & Furious’ movies, but it’s a rewarding journey!
Terminator
The first two ‘Terminator’ films are iconic, while the sequels have received mixed reviews. However, if you’re a fan of action, time travel, and Arnold Schwarzenegger, you won’t want to miss this series. Navigating the correct chronological order can be tricky, especially with the time travel aspect, but it’s part of the fun!