The concept of the sacred movie trilogy is all but dead. Film franchises today require the ability to reproduce forever, leading to constant content and some installments that can feel like two-hour trailers for the next movie that will be begging for your money once again.

If “The Godfather” were made today, it would go far beyond just a disappointing third chapter.

Not that studios are complaining. Marvel essentially created the idea of interconnected movie universes, and it’s paid off big-time for the company. Its films regularly gross in the ballpark of $1 billion on a worldwide scale, and now everyone is trying to emulate the never-ending franchise treatment.

Related: ‘Wonder Woman’ Film Breaks the Mold, Gambles on Male Comic Fans

Universal is setting up a similar movie universe around its classic monster characters like Frankenstein and Wolf-Man, while the producers behind “Transformers” have created a writers’ room that is constantly spitting out new ways for giant robots to fight once more on the big screen.

This weekend also brings — astonishingly — the release of the eighth “Fast and Furious” movie. The original film debuted in theaters in 2001, and there’s no way producers then would have thought it could be a never-ending special-effects extravaganza that would bring in billions.

[lz_third_party align=center width=630 includes=https://youtu.be/JwMKRevYa_M]

“The Fate of the Furious” isn’t the end, either. Star and producer Vin Diesel has mentioned the group currently has a total of 10 films in mind, along with possible spinoffs for various characters. That’s a whole lot of “Fast and Furious.”

With sequelitus having a stronger chokehold on Hollywood than ever, here’s a look at five movie franchises that simply refuse to die — though some of them probably should.

James Bond. The “James Bond” movies were in the “constant sequel” business before anyone else. The franchise consists of a remarkable 24 films, starting way back in 1964. The one benefit the super-spy movies have is that audiences have gotten used to a constant recasting of the British spy Bond — it keeps things fresh and keeps the star young.

Who do you think would win the Presidency?

By completing the poll, you agree to receive emails from LifeZette, occasional offers from our partners and that you've read and agree to our privacy policy and legal statement.

From Sean Connery to Pierce Brosnan, many actors have done their best to wow audiences with cool gadgets and to order martinis shaken, not stirred. The latest movies in the series, starring Daniel Craig, have done financially better than the rest and earned huge accolades from critics.

Don’t think the “Bond” films have even an inkling of an idea about when to stop, either. Rumors have swirled about the next installment ever since the release of “Spectre” in 2015. Craig could be back for two more chapters, or the filmmakers could be casting names as varied as Idris Elba or Michael Fassbender.

[lz_third_party align=center width=630 includes=https://youtu.be/Bpcupsxy0T8]

Transformers. Critics have never been fond of this franchise or its director, Michael Bay. A healthy number of audience members dislike it as well. Despite four successful films under the team’s belt (with a fifth hitting theaters this summer), the average Rotten Tomatoes score for the series is 32 percent. The average audience score from the review-averaging site is a little better, at 62 percent, but not great.

Those scores have very little sway over the franchise’s box office. The last film, “Age of Extinction,” pulled in over $1 billion worldwide, and Paramount has some serious confidence in the future legs of the series. The studio has created a writers’ room, which has been brainstorming ideas to further sponge the “Transformers” name for profits.

Related: Best ‘Planet of the Apes’ Moments, Old and New

Director Bay said recently that at least 14 future films were in development, including a spinoff about a character named Bumblebee hitting cinemas in 2019. “There are 14 [‘Transformers’] stories written, and there’s good stuff,” he told MTV. The lesson here? Never underestimate people’s interest in watching transforming toys punch each other.

[lz_third_party align=center width=630 includes=https://youtu.be/rW1byMeeZNA]

Alien. The original 1979 “Alien” was an innovative sci-fi horror movie with a catchy tagline: “In space, no one can hear you scream.” It made Sigourney Weaver a star and turned Ridley Scott into one of Hollywood’s favorite directors.

Everyone was shocked when a sequel, directed by James Cameron, actually worked. “Aliens” ended up grossing even more money than its predecessor. This has made 20th Century Fox salivate for another “Aliens” or “Alien” ever since.

Two lackluster sequels in the ’90s that disappointed most fans and played into the law of diminishing returns weren’t even enough to stop this franchise. The 20th Century Fox studio developed and released two more “Alien” movies, which crossed the franchise over with another series the company refuse to let die, “Predator,” in 2004 and 2007.

Related: The Five Toughest Roles of Chuck Norris, Honorary Texan

Now Ridley Scott has the reins again, and he doesn’t seem to want to let them go. Judging by his excitement for the future of the nearly 40-year old franchise, he wants a successful sequel just as much as Fox.

After a 2012 prequel of sorts — “Prometheus” — received a mixed response from critics and fans, Scott is now back with “Alien: Covenant,” set for release in May. What’s more surprising than the existing “Alien” movies is Scott’s willingness to go on. “If you really want a franchise, I can keep cranking it for another six,” the 79-year old director told the Sydney Morning Herald recently, adding that he is ready to put his talents behind the camera again before the year is up.

Six more films from a talent like Ridley Scott sound great, but is his time really best spent making his next six films “Alien” sequels?

[lz_third_party align=center width=630 includes=https://youtu.be/svnAD0TApb8]

Saw. Horror movies were once overtaken by the sub-genre of torture porn. Films like “Hostel” and “Saw” were light on character and heavy on gore. The “Saw” franchise cranked out seven movies total; the last was released in 2010 and became one of the worst grossing in the franchise.

Fans responded to each sequel with less excitement, and critics never took to the franchise about a serial killer that puts people in gruesome and impossible situations — where they either die grisly deaths or mutilate themselves in some way.

Related: Our Horror Movie Obsession

Lionsgate just won’t let the torture porn genre die. This October brings the latest installment in the series, “Saw: Legacy.” Considering the franchise’s past, we expect plenty of blood, plenty of body horror, and plenty of overcomplicated plots nobody can follow.

Tremors. Remember “Tremors,” the silly 1990 film about underground killer worms? It starred Kevin Bacon and was a modest hit, but it gained a huge cult following for its silly premise and tongue-in-cheek execution.

“Tremors” movies may not be hitting theaters these days, but the series refuses to belong to history. There have been four sequels (all direct to video) and a one-season television show. Those killer worms aren’t stopping either. A sixth film is being released next year, and Blumhouse Productions announced recently it’s helping to produce another “Tremors” TV show, to be aired on Amazon.

[lz_third_party align=center width=630 includes=https://youtu.be/Us-Moe2Iv2A]