National Treasure (franchise)

The National Treasure franchise consists of American historical fiction action-adventures, including two released theatrical films, a prequel book series, and a television series set 20 years after the films. Future installments, notably a third film, have been under consideration for many years. The plot of the films and books centers around the Gates family – treasure hunters who search for and preserve lost valuables from the history of the United States of America – while the TV series references this background and features some common characters.

The first film was a financial success at the box office. While it was met with mixed reviews by critics, who compared the movie unfavorably to Indiana Jones and The Da Vinci Code, audience response was positive, and the film has gained a positive legacy. The second film was also met with mixed critical reception, and had specific criticism directed at its use of similar plot devices, believability, and pacing. The film was met with positive response from audiences and made significant ticket revenue at the box office, and profit then and from further distribution for The Walt Disney Company.

The television series for Disney+ was developed in the 2020s, releasing globally in mid-December 2022, while a third film has been under discussion for more than ten years.