What Film and TV Franchises Paramount Owns

Paramount's Major Film and Television Franchises

Paramount Global owns dozens of film and television franchises across its studios, streaming service, and production companies. The company controls some of the largest entertainment properties in the world, including Star Trek, Mission: Impossible, Transformers, and Sonic the Hedgehog. These franchises span movies, television series, animated content, and spin-offs that appear across Paramount+, theatrical releases, and other networks.

Paramount's franchise portfolio grew significantly after the 2019 merger between CBS Corporation and Viacom, which brought together their separate libraries and production capabilities. The company now operates multiple studios—Paramount Pictures, CBS Studios, Nickelodeon, MTV Entertainment, and Pluto TV—each managing its own set of franchises and intellectual property.

Key Takeaways

Paramount owns major film franchises including Mission: Impossible, Transformers, Star Trek, and Sonic the Hedgehog, which release theatrical movies and streaming content.
Television franchises under Paramount include NCIS, Yellowstone, Halo, and Sherlock Holmes properties, distributed across Paramount+, CBS, and other networks.
Nickelodeon franchises like SpongeBob SquarePants, Avatar, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are owned by Paramount and appear in films, series, and merchandise.
Paramount acquired many franchises through major deals, including the purchase of Pluto TV and the merger with CBS, which brought shows like Star Trek into the company.
Some franchises appear exclusively on Paramount+, while others release in theaters or air on traditional networks like CBS, depending on the property and release strategy.

Mission: Impossible and Action Film Franchises

The Mission: Impossible franchise is one of Paramount's most valuable theatrical properties. The series has released eight films since 1996, with the most recent entries appearing in 2023 and 2024. Tom Cruise stars in and produces the films, which are known for large budgets and practical stunts. These movies release in theaters rather than on Paramount+, though they eventually move to the streaming service after their theatrical run.

Transformers is another major Paramount action franchise with multiple film series. The original live-action Transformers films ran from 2007 to 2017, followed by the spin-off Bumblebee in 2018 and Rise of the Beasts in 2023. Paramount also produces Transformers animated series and content for various platforms. The franchise generates revenue through theatrical releases, streaming, and merchandise licensing.

Star Trek Television and Film Properties

Paramount owns the entire Star Trek franchise, which includes the original 1960s television series, nine theatrical films, and multiple modern streaming series. The streaming shows—Discovery, Picard, Lower Decks, Prodigy, and Strange New Worlds—all appear on Paramount+. These series represent a major investment in original content for the streaming service and continue to expand the Star Trek universe with new characters and storylines.

The Star Trek franchise also includes films that release theatrically before moving to streaming. Paramount treats Star Trek as a cornerstone property for Paramount+, using it to attract and retain subscribers. The company has announced additional Star Trek projects in development, making it one of the most actively produced franchises in its portfolio.

Nickelodeon Animated and Family Franchises

SpongeBob SquarePants is Paramount's longest-running animated series and one of its most profitable franchises. The show has aired continuously since 1999 and spawned theatrical films, spin-off series, merchandise, and theme park attractions. Paramount owns all rights to the character and universe, and the content appears across Nickelodeon, Paramount+, and theatrical releases.

Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra are animated franchises owned by Paramount through Nickelodeon. Paramount is developing live-action adaptations of these properties, with a live-action Avatar film in development and a live-action Korra series announced for Paramount+. The company also owns Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, which includes animated series, theatrical films, and merchandise.

Other Nickelodeon franchises under Paramount include Rugrats, The Loud House, and Dora the Explorer. These properties generate revenue through television broadcasts, streaming content, theatrical releases, and licensing deals with toy manufacturers and retailers.

NCIS and Crime Drama Franchises

NCIS is Paramount's most successful television franchise, with the original series running since 2003 and multiple spin-offs including NCIS: Los Angeles, NCIS: New Orleans, NCIS: Hawai'i, and NCIS: Sydney. These shows air on CBS and stream on Paramount+. The NCIS universe generates consistent viewership and advertising revenue, making it one of Paramount's most valuable television properties.

Paramount also owns other crime and drama franchises that air on CBS, including The Equalizer (which has a theatrical film and television series), Magnum P.I., and Blue Bloods. These shows represent traditional television content that Paramount distributes across CBS and Paramount+, reaching both broadcast audiences and streaming subscribers.

Sonic the Hedgehog and Video Game Franchises

Sonic the Hedgehog is a franchise Paramount acquired through its relationship with Sega. The company has released two theatrical films (2020 and 2022) with a third in development. Paramount also produces animated series based on Sonic, including Sonic Prime on Netflix and other projects. The franchise spans theatrical releases, streaming content, and merchandise.

Halo is another video game franchise Paramount adapted for television. The live-action Halo series appears on Paramount+ and represents the company's strategy of converting popular gaming properties into streaming content. Paramount has invested in multiple seasons of the show and treats it as a tentpole series for the streaming platform.

Sherlock Holmes and Literary Adaptations

Paramount owns the rights to Sherlock Holmes properties, including theatrical films starring Robert Downey Jr. (2009 and 2011) and the television series Elementary, which aired on CBS. The company continues to develop new Sherlock Holmes content and has announced additional projects based on the character. These adaptations represent Paramount's ownership of classic literary properties that can be reimagined across different formats.

Paramount also owns other literary and character-based franchises, including Yellowstone, which aired on the Paramount Network and streams on Paramount+. The company is expanding the Yellowstone universe with spin-off series like 1883 and 1923, creating a multi-generational franchise from a single property.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Paramount own all Star Trek content?

Yes, Paramount owns the entire Star Trek franchise, including the original 1960s series, all theatrical films, and all modern streaming shows on Paramount+. The company controls the characters, storylines, and universe across all formats and platforms.

Are Mission: Impossible movies only on Paramount+?

Mission: Impossible films release in theaters first, then move to Paramount+ after their theatrical run ends. They are not exclusive to streaming—Paramount releases them as major theatrical events before making them available on the streaming service.

Does Paramount own SpongeBob SquarePants?

Yes, Paramount owns SpongeBob SquarePants completely. The character and universe are Nickelodeon properties, which Paramount owns through its Nickelodeon division. The show appears on Nickelodeon, Paramount+, and in theatrical films.

What happened to franchises Paramount owned before the CBS-Viacom merger?

Paramount retained franchises from both CBS Corporation and Viacom after the 2019 merger. This included Star Trek from CBS, Nickelodeon properties from Viacom, and theatrical franchises from Paramount Pictures. The merger consolidated these separate libraries under one company.

Does Paramount own the Transformers franchise forever?

Paramount has long-term rights to Transformers through its deal with Hasbro, but the exact terms of the licensing agreement determine how long the company can produce new content. Paramount continues to develop Transformers films and series, indicating the partnership remains active.

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