Part of the joy of movies is the fact that they can transport us to other worlds where fantastical things happen. Sometimes, movies become about more than just one group of characters and their struggles -- the worlds they create take on a life of their own and become just as memorable and varied as the people that inhabit them. In honor of our return to Mad Max's post-apocalyptic milieu in Fury Road, we've picked 10 movie franchises that have done a great job of fleshing out an entire world.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe

What began in 2008's Iron Man has grown into a massive franchise centered on some of the biggest comic book heroes ever made. The Marvel Cinematic Universe ranges from the early days of World War II to the present. Its heroes fight in gritty back alleys, atop towering skyscrapers. The MCU has even shown us other worlds entirely, such as Thor’s mythical kingdom of Asgard and the alien worlds glimpsed in 2014's Guardians of the Galaxy.

The Worlds of the Matrix

1999’s The Matrix gave us a world of two faces. Inside the Matrix, the world resembles our own, only with leather-clad cyberpunk heroes waging kung-fu battles with humanoid computer programs. Outside, the world is a desolate wasteland where hungry robots work to exterminate the last ragged remnants of humanity. Either way, the battle for survival remains the same.

The Star Wars Universe

Star Wars is the franchise that has left countless fans wishing they could travel to a galaxy far, far away. Part of what makes this galaxy so memorable is the fact that there's so much variety. There are desert worlds and water worlds and ice worlds and worlds where one city covers the entire planet. It's a big galaxy, and it's linked by a truly mythic conflict.

Panem from The Hunger Games Films

As much has some people love to compare the Hunger Games franchise to Battle Royale and similar fare, the movies (and books before them) stand out because of the haunting world they showcase. Panem is a realm built on the ruins of modern America, where the elite relax in a city of wondrous technology while the 99% are segregated in a series of 12 districts.

Mad Max’s Post-Apocalyptic Wasteland

The Mad Max franchise set the gold standard when it comes to post-apocalyptic movie wastelands. In this world, civilization is all but gone, colorful gangs roam the desert and water and gas are equally precious commodities. It's enough to drive any hero mad. 

Fantasia from The Neverending Story (1984)

A good book has the power to transport the reader to another world -- literally, in the case of this fantasy movie. Story introduced viewers to Fantasia, a unique and vibrant fantasy landscape in danger of being wiped out by a massive storm called “The Nothing.” It's little wonder the original 1984 film inspired two more sequels.

Middle-earth from the Lord of the Rings Films

Writer J.R.R. Tolkien spent the majority of his adult life exploring the ancient realm of Middle-earth and fleshing out its history, its peoples and its cultures. Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings trilogy finally brought that intricately detailed world to life on the big screen as it chronicled the epic journey to destroy the One Ring and end the reign of the evil Sauron.

Space, the Final Frontier…

We have plenty of love for the two previous Star Trek series, starring William Shatner's Captain Kirk and then Patrick Stewart's Jean-Luc Picard. However, it's the 2009 reboot and its 2013 sequel that have rekindled our love for all things phasers and warp speed, as they've taken Chris Pine’s Kirk and the new Enterprise crew from one end of the galaxy to the other.

The Dark Knight Trilogy

While previous Batman films had their merits, Christopher Nolan's trilogy was the first to take a cohesive look at Batman's world and its villains, and the first to make Gotham itself an integral part of the conflict. The emphasis on real-world locations gave this Gotham a greater sense of authenticity.

The World of the Terminator Films

The Terminator franchise offers a worst-case scenario when it comes to artificial intelligence and man's relationship with machines. The original two movies built up a fascinating conflict that spanned from 1984 to 2029. It's little wonder Hollywood keeps returning to this war between man and machine, even if it's been a case of diminishing returns lately.