| EVILDEAD | ____ Rise, 2023 horror film; the latest in a franchise that has spanned 40 years (4,4) |
| ISTANBUL | What is the present name of the city that has spanned the divide between Europe and Asia for more than 2000 years? (8) |
| ALIENROMULUS | New sci-fi horror movie that's the seventh film in a franchise that began in 1979: 2 wds. |
| FALCONS | Oldest sports franchise that has never won a championship in the "Big Four" leagues (N.F.L., N.B.A., M.L.B., N.H.L.) |
| UMPTEENTH | Match official with clout taking number -- the latest in a long line (9) |
| OREOS | "Sour Patch Kid ___ Are the Latest in a Long Line of Wacky Flavors" (Daily Beast headline) |
| JURASSIC | With 17-Across and 32-Across, 2025 installment of a franchise that began in 1993 |
| EVIL | "___ Dead Rise" (2023 horror movie sequel) |
| STARGATE | Sci-fi film (1994) based around a wormhole, starring Kurt Russell, which spawned a franchise (8) |
| ARMAMENT | A fighting group having the last word to get the latest in excellent equipment (8) |
| TOYSTORY | 1995 Pixar film that launched a franchise |
| METEORIC | A _ rise: a dazzlingly rapid rise? |
| LALAKERS | N.B.A. franchise with a famous "Showtime" era |
| HIGHTECH | The latest in gadgetry |
| ALLSPICE | The latest in fish flavouring (8) |
| RECREATE | Produce again fantastic caterer with the latest in caviare (8) |
| M3GAN | The name of the sentient robot in a 2023 horror movie, as stylized in the title |
| EXORCIST | The Pope's ___, 2023 horror film starring 16 Across, 3 Down, and 22 Down (8) |
| EMMATAMMI | Co-writer and director of the 2023 horror film Five Nights at Freddy's (4,5) |
| OFDESTINY | Latest in a long-running film series, Indiana Jones And The _ _ _ (4,2,7) |
