Samuel L. Jackson is not only a legendary actor; he’s an entire cinematic universe. For more than 50 years, he’s brought his unstoppable energy, legendary voice, and no-nonsense attitude to some of the biggest movie franchises ever made. From Marvel to Star Wars, he’s proven time and time again that when Samuel L. Jackson shows up, something memorable is about to go down in film history.
Let’s break down every iconic franchise that has Samuel L. Jackson’s iconic style all over it, plus some wild facts you may not have known.
7. Quentin Tarantino’s Cinematic Universe
Tarantino might not have a traditional franchise, but his films connect through style, themes, and a vibe, and Samuel L. Jackson is a constant MVP.
In Pulp Fiction (1994), Jackson’s Jules Winnfield is one of cinema’s most quoted characters ever, with his Ezekiel 25:17 speech ranking among the most legendary monologues in movie history. He returned for Jackie Brown (1997) as Ordell Robbie, Kill Bill: Vol. 2 as Rufus, Django Unchained (2012) as the cunning Stephen, and The Hateful Eight (2015) as Major Marquis Warren.
Without Jackson’s voice, Tarantino’s movies would just hit differently. They’re cinematic soulmates at this point.
6. The Incredibles
“Where is my super suit?!” If you quote Frozone once, you’ll quote him forever. In Pixar’s The Incredibles (2004) and Incredibles 2 (2018), Jackson voices Lucius Best, better known as Frozone, the effortlessly cool ice-powered hero and best friend to Mr. Incredible.
Frozone’s chill powers and quick wit made him a standout in both movies. The running joke about his wife hiding his super suit is a fan favorite to this day.
5. Shaft
Can you dig it? Jackson revived the legendary blaxploitation icon Shaft in 2000, playing John Shaft II, nephew of the original detective John Shaft, played by Richard Roundtree. The 2000 reboot mixed 70s grit with a modern edge, and Jackson’s Shaft didn’t pull any punches while chasing corrupt cops and criminals through New York City.
In 2019’s Shaft, Jackson reprised the role, now playing the father of an FBI agent (played by Jessie T. Usher) and sharing the screen once again with Roundtree. Three generations of Shaft in one movie? Only Samuel L. Jackson could make that feel so smooth.
4. Kingsman: The Secret Service
In Matthew Vaughn’s Kingsman: The Secret Service (2014), Jackson stole the show as Valentine, a billionaire tech genius with a plan to “save” the world by unleashing chaos. His lisp, fear of blood, and evil laughs made Valentine one of the most unforgettable modern spy villains.
He played opposite Colin Firth and Taron Egerton, proving that even in a franchise filled with suave super-spies and exploding heads, Jackson’s presence can steal every scene.
3. Snakes on a Plane
This one movie became a meme empire overnight. Snakes on a Plane (2006) might not have sequels, but it’s forever cemented as a cult franchise in pop culture.
Jackson plays FBI agent Neville Flynn, who must save an entire flight from hundreds of deadly snakes unleashed midair by an assassin. The movie’s over-the-top title, absurd plot, and that iconic line, you know the one, made it an instant internet legend. Even people who haven’t seen the movie know the quote by heart.
2. Star Wars: The Prequel Trilogy
In the galaxy far, far away, Jackson brought Jedi Master Mace Windu to life in George Lucas’s Star Wars prequels. Mace was one of the few Jedi bold enough to stand up to Anakin Skywalker and even confront Chancellor Palpatine directly.
Jackson is famous for insisting his lightsaber be purple so he could spot himself in the massive battle scenes. As he once said on The Graham Norton Show: “I just wanted to be able to find myself in the middle of all those lightsabers.” Now, Mace Windu’s purple blade is one of the coolest weapons in the Star Wars universe, and fans still debate if he really died when Palpatine blasted him out that window.
1. The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU)
When you think of the MCU, you probably picture Iron Man, Captain America, Black Panther, or Spider-Man, but none of them would have teamed up if it weren’t for Nick Fury. Samuel L. Jackson’s surprise cameo in the post-credit scene of Iron Man (2008) changed the game forever.
Fun fact: Marvel liked Jackson’s vibe so much that they literally redesigned Nick Fury in the comics in 2002 to look like him before he was ever cast.
He went on to appear in Iron Man 2, Thor, Captain America: The First Avenger, The Avengers, Captain Marvel, Spider-Man: Far From Home, and the Disney+ series Secret Invasion and What If…?. His version of Fury is tough, sarcastic, and always one step ahead, the ultimate secret agent who pulls Earth’s Mightiest Heroes together when they are needed the most.
Honorable Mention: The MCU of Animated TV
Many people forget that Jackson also voiced Nick Fury in The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, Ultimate Spider-Man, and other Marvel animated shows. He truly made Fury his own, across big screen, small screen, and every dimension in between.
No Franchise Too Big
Whether he’s corralling superheroes, dropping F-bombs at venomous reptiles, or swinging a purple lightsaber in a galaxy far, far away, Samuel L. Jackson never phones it in. He elevates every franchise he touches and leaves audiences wanting more.
No one else could seamlessly move from Marvel to Star Wars to Tarantino’s twisted playgrounds and make it look easy. He is, in every sense, the ultimate franchise legend.
Which Franchise Role Is Your Favorite?
Is it Nick Fury’s world-saving plans? Mace Windu’s Jedi wisdom? Frozone’s icy charm? Or Jules Winnfield’s righteous anger? Drop your pick in the comments, and tell us which Samuel L. Jackson scene you could rewatch a thousand times.
