Contrary to popular opinion, fandom as we know it is not a new development. From gladiators to pop stars, celebrities, and their respective projects have always amassed legions of followers dedicated to dissecting, uplifting, and defending their favorite television shows, sports teams, books, movies, and music releases.
Just like the creation of a loyal community of fans,subsequent fan warsare just as ancient. Despite fan bases varying in size, these fandoms arguably enter the public sphere and the online space with the same amount of fervor. These have enabled endless debates about a product’s originality, its purpose in the grand scheme of entertainment, as well as behind-the-scenes intentions and the impact of the completed, consumable project.
With the advent of the internet, millions of voices were given a platform to further question and explore storylines once revered. Whether it includes in-fighting among fans of a specific franchise or conflict between various fan communities, these clashes have produced some of the most interesting debates online.
10Dune and Star Wars
Two iconoclasts of the science fiction genre,DuneandStar Warshave earned their respective amounts of rave reviews, editorial evaluations, and adoration from fans.
Frank Herbert’s fantastical franchise follows a messianic figure rising from infinite grains of sand with the responsibility of liberating trillions of sentient beings from the clutches of a corrupt, galactic empire. Filled with feuding houses, a strong Islamic influence, and technological advancements that still seem extraordinary to contemporary readers and film fanatics, Dune’s influence can be seen in television franchises like HBO’s original seriesGame of Thronesand controversially,Star Wars.
Star Warsis still seen by many as the preeminent science fiction franchise. With characters like Yoda, Padme Amidala, and Darth Vader being etched into the fabric of mainstream media, it would be ludicrous to suggest otherwise. The story follows a struggle between the morally-upright Jedi and the forever-looming darkness of the empire. A former slave from the world of Tatooine receives tutelage from said Jedi and rises to become one of the universe’s most prolific figures.
With the subsequent release and popularity ofStar Wars,several fandoms voiced concerns about the franchise, one of which beingDunefans.From the importance of desert planets as the birthplace of both protagonists, the strong religious influences, and the striking similarities between the Bene Gesserit and the Jedi, these commonalities also serve as points of contention between the two fan bases. The feud never really erupted into a full-on fan war but speculation about the originality ofStar Warshave since simmered down, possibly due to the shared success of both film franchises and George Lucas' acknowledgment ofDuneas a major influence on his works.
9Pokémon v. Digimon
Two animated franchises to come out of the 1990s,PokémonandDigimondebuted to a world ready to enjoy but also compare the both of them. With charismatic heroes accompanied by powerful creatures ranging from adorable to fearsome, it should come as a shock to no one that both shows earned comparisons to one another. While television and video game adaptations of Pokémon have gone onto become themore iconic of the two, DIgimon and Pokémon fans regularly argue about which show was a derivative attempt to imitate the other. Pokémon debuted to fans everyone in 1996, with Digimon arriving just a year later.
While Pokemon clearly exceeds Digimon in commercial success, fans of the latter proclaim that the series handled much darker topics and provided viewers with engaging storylines compared to Pokemon’s cyclical and predictable plot format.
8Star Wars and Star Trek
WhatStar Warsmanaged to accomplish in the box office is whatStar Trekmanaged to achieve within the small screen. Released in 1977, almost a decade after the premiere of Star Trek,Star Warsdebuted in theaters. Similar to Dune fans, there was a lingering feeling of resentment among Trekkies who envied the film for exploring themes and topics thatStar Trekpreviously attempted to translate for a television audience.
Nevertheless, as the years went on, many found huge overlap in the fans of the two franchises. Trekkies and Star Wars fans differentiate between the core characteristics and themes of the projects, with the former describing the series as a science-fiction and the latter being defined as science-fantasy.
7Marvel and DC
Two of the most recognizable comic universes,MarvelandDC,might be the most famous fan war listed. Since their respective inceptions, fans of either franchise would boast about their collections of heroes, anti-heroes, villains, and story arcs.
Discussions pitting Bruce Wayne against Tony Stark, Clark Kent and Steve Rogers, Diana of Themyscira and Thor, have been widely circulated around the internet. However, their origins can be found long before the advent of social media. The feud between the two comic fanatics came to a boiling point in the 2010s, following the success ofThe Avengers. Marvel fans routinely ridicule their DCEU counterparts for their lack of success at the box office and behind-the-scenes drama that ranges between messy and disastrous.
Related:Explained: Why Superhero Movies Are So Popular
Conversely, DCEU fans find Marvel films to be overrated, saturating the market with CGI-assisted films that fail to capture some of the key components that made Marvel story arcs shine. As Marvel heads into Phase 5 and Warner Bros. reshaping the DCEU, the 2020s might be one of the most interesting decades for both franchises and their respective fans.
6Korean Manhwa, Japanese Manga, and Chinese Manhua
Following the popularity of anime and manga, Japan rose to its current status as the most recognizable East Asian art and media form internationally. Series such asPokémon,Naruto,Sailor Moon,andDragon Ball Zwere monumental successes in both Asia and internationally. Not only were they widely consumed, but they also contributed to Japan’s soft power.
Reasonably, Korean manhwa fans and Chinese manhua fans are offended when their favorite works are lumped into the anime genre. With the success of K-Pop, and C-Pop garnering acclaim among international reviewers, there could be an impending wave of manhua and manhwa that could complicate anime and manga’s unquestionable domination.
5Pirates of the Caribbean and Lord of the Rings
These two fantastical franchises were widely successful during their run in the 2000s, almost inescapable to anyone who spent their formative years in the aforementioned. TheLord of the Ringsfranchise was a magical epic, with viewers left in awe as they watched Elijah Wood, Liv Tyler, and, Sir Ian McKellen explore Middle-Earth as some of the series' most beloved characters.
Similarly,Pirates of the Caribbeanwas a fantasy adventure starring Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, and Keira Knightley. The film saw Captain Jack Sparrow and his loyal crew of swashbucklers explore the Caribbean, fighting off like-minded enemies in search of treasure.
As the two movies existed in two different worlds, that did not prevent fans of both series from debating the quality, characterization, and setting of the respective franchises. Furthermore, the fan war also saw Bloom pit against Depp, especially when the former was cast in theLord of the Ringsas Legolas. Fervid fans accused both men of trying to imitate one another given their resemblance at the time.
Nonetheless, both franchises, for better or for worse, are remembered fondly by fans.
4Harry Potter and Percy Jackson
Both stories centered around magical teenage boys,Harry PotterandPercy Jacksonfans have heavily discussed the commonalities between the two series as well as their respective commercial success, or lack thereof at the box office.
While every installment of theHarry Potterfilm franchise dominated the box office,Percy Jackson and The Olympiansandits sequel,The Lightning Thiefwere both commercial flops and critically panned. Comparisons between both franchises typically suggested that Percy Jackson enjoyed a perfect balance of comedy and drama compared to Harry Potter, which looked dreary.
Considering J.K. Rowling’s flirtations with the far-right and unabashed transphobia and tepid reactions to the news of an HBO-max producedHarry Potterseries, the tides might turn Camp Half-Blood’s favor. With author Rick Riordan leading the highly anticipatedPercy Jacksontelevision series, many fans of the books believe that the televised adaptations would redeem the franchise in the eyes of the general public.
3Hunger Games and Battle Royale
In an interview withJimmy Kimmel Live, acclaimed director Quentin Tarantino echoed the sentiments of thousands when he claimed that theHunger Gamesfilm franchise wasa rip-offof the Japanese filmBattle Royale.
The 2000 Japanese film followed a group of adolescents who were essentially shipped off to a remote island and left to fight to the death for resources. Much like TheHunger Games,the film was based on a 1999 novel written by Koushun Takami. Suzanne Collins, author of theHunger Gamesseries published her debut novel in 2008.
Distinct events, characters, and worldbuilding did not prevent fans of both films from butting heads over plagiarism allegations and which film employed the shared tropes better
2Lord of the Rings and Game of Thrones
The different formats of consumption did not prevent fans ofLord of the RingsandGame of Thronesfrom feuding in the 2010s. Following the release and subsequent success of the HBO series, many saw similarities between the world of Ice and Fire and Middle-Earth. Both contain kingdoms thrown in discord, an impending great evil, and mythical creatures such as witches, fairies, and dragons.
The fan war, however, took several years to rise to the surface, spilling over in the summer of 2022. Amazon Prime Video’s Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Powerand HBO Max’sHouse Of The Dragonpremiered to generally success. The latter, however, enjoyed rave reviews and a stellar award season, despite initial complaints many fans had with the initial season. With both being prequel series, various articles came in the wake of their respective premieres contributing to the already inevitable discourse.
1Avatar: The Last Airbender and Legend Of Korra
Bryan Konietzko and Michael Dimartino’sAvatar: The Last Airbenderdebuted in 2005 on Nickelodeon and grew to become one of the most beloved franchises. Reimagining the earth as a world divided by four nations, the series heavily relies on traditionally Asian and Native American fighting styles, couture, and philosophies. Exploring dark yet real topics such as imperialism, genocide, and survivor’s guilt,the series was a marvelas it pertains to children’s animation.
Avatar: The Last Airbenderfollows (1)12-year-old Aang and his friends Katara, Sokka, and Toph in their journey to help the former learn all four elements (water, fire, earth, and air) to defeat the Fire Lord and conclude a century-long war. The epic animated series was successful during its original run and grew to become one of the most impactful series with its strong narrative, alluring worldbuilding, and excellent characterization.
Gifs celebrating ships such as Kataang, Zutara, and Taang continue to flood Tumblr dashboards while discourse about their favorite relationships continuously goes viral on Twitter. However, like all great franchises,Avatar: The Last Airbenderand TheLegend Of Korraprovide plenty of prompts to discuss the politics, culture, and dynamics of the universe and its characters.
Related:Every Avatar in the Animated Franchise We’ve Been Introduced to (So Far), Explained
In 2012,The Legend of Korrapremiered on Nickelodeon and introduced avid fans to Avatar Korra, Republic City, and reintroduced fans to the world of Avatar 75 years after the Hundred-Year War. As Korra, master of three elements, navigates new environments while learning air bending, she comes across grand conspiracies, and performative yet powerful radicals, and unlocks previously unearthed secrets that ultimately enrich the overall franchise.
Providing story arcs with themes surrounding mental health, fascism, queerness, anarchy, and weapons of mass destruction, the series builds on its predecessor and leads the franchise into new terrain. Despite initial reservations, many fondly look back onLegend Of Korraas a worthy continuation and a success on its own.
Nevertheless, that has not prevented infighting between fans. Although it remains civil for the most part, Aang and Korra are frequently pitted against one another, with fans wondering who is the superior Avatar. Aang supports commonly cites Korra’s stubbornness and lack of discipline alongside her age as reasons why she lacks in comparison to Aang. Korra fans typically reference Aang’s dedication to defeating Fire Lord Ozai, a man deemed by many as the show’s preeminent villain, while Korra had to defeat four exceptionally skilled antagonists to save the world. Out of most fandom feuds, discussions about both shows seem almost intentional, as many would agree that Korra is a foil to Aang. Their personality is meant to reflect the imperative imperfections and feats of excellence both characters possess, widening the scope of what an Avatar can look like.
