Franchise fatigue

Heard in 2 episodes across 2 shows since Jul 2026

Franchise fatigue is a term used in the entertainment industry to describe the growing disinterest, exhaustion, or frustration experienced by audiences due to an overabundance of sequels, spin-offs, reboots, and interconnected cinematic universes. It often manifests as declining box office returns, lower critical ratings, and viewer burnout when media properties are over-saturated or lack creative novelty. The phenomenon has been widely discussed in relation to major intellectual properties such as the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Star Wars, and Star Trek.