15 Best Movie Trilogies

There's something special about a trilogy of movies, am I right? Although plenty of trilogies have failed (Iron Man, The Matrix, and the Star Wars prequels, to name a few), others have succeeded. Fantastically, too. So here are, in my opinion, the 15 best. Read this list, hunt down these movies, and have yourself a marathon! Have 15 marathons!

*Special Note: I'm undeniably going to get some flack for this list, as I've elected to choose a few franchises that have over 3 entries, but I'm ignoring the superfluous duds as I see fit. What I'm doing with this list is trying to create an awesome viewing experience. I'm trimming the fat a little - playing judge, jury, and executioner. So skip the inferior sequels, and stick with the 3-act masterpieces I'm suggesting. Trust me. You'll be happy you did.

15.) Frankenstein: Although the Universal machine of the 30's, 40's, and 50's spat out a whole host of monster movies, the flicks about Frankenstein and his abominable creation are the cream of the crop. And of all those movies, the first 3 - in which actor Boris Karloff plays the creature - are best of all. The 1st, Frankenstein, is a must-watch for any lover of classic cinema. The 2nd, The Bride of Frankenstein, is surprisingly deep, and has some of the silver screen's best horror moments. The 3rd, Son of Frankenstein, lacks the depth of its predecessors, but more than makes up for it with fun action and a scene-stealing performance by Dracula star Bela Lugosi. Together, these movies form a trilogy of fantastic fright.

14.) Toy Story: They're fun, they're innovative, but most of all? They're genuinely touching. Yes, this popular children's franchise may just be Disney/Pixar's crowning achievement. I was a kid when the first one came out, and it blew me away - the animation, the characters, the everything. Even more impressive, though? With each entry, the series gets better. The 2nd is tons of fun. And the 3rd? Wow. Be ready to cry. Together, they form a trilogy of heart and humor.

13.) The Hunger Games: Alright, this one requires a bit of cheating. Although the 3rd installment is technically split into 2 films, they fit so snugly together (and share the same title, for Christ's sake), that I'm counting them as one movie. Just hear me out: This series, based on the brilliant novels by Suzanne Collins, is incredible. The 1st, The Hunger Games, is like viewing a Pollack through a pinhole. What I mean is, you only see a fraction of a fully-realized dystopian future, following two kids fight to survive a vicious tournament. The 2nd movie, Catching Fire, broadens the scope, and ramps up the thrills. The 3rd, Mockingjay, is a sprawling story of war, love, and revenge. Together, they form a trilogy of apocalyptic action.

12.) Captain America: Honestly, I didn't think these 3 movies would be as terrific as they actually are. But Marvel has really done Cap the justice he deserves, and I'm certainly grateful for it. The 1st installment, The First Avenger, is silly popcorn fun with a heart of gold. The 2nd, The Winter Soldier, is a paranoid political thriller on steroids. The 3rd, Civil War, is a chess-match of betrayal and intrigue, with heroes fighting heroes and some of the most satisfying action sequences in recent memory. Together, they form a trilogy of guts, gusto, and glory.

11.) James Bond: Okay - yet again, I've got to bend the rules a bit. But I'm telling you, the first 3 times Daniel Craig played 007 are the best outings the super-spy ever had, and tell a brilliant story arc. Over the course of these movies, you get a perfect portrait of a very flawed character. The 1st, Casino Royale, is a real corker, full of sarcasm and sadism. The 2nd, Quantum of Solace, is better than everyone remembers - with a slithery villain and a fabulous finale. The 3rd, Skyfall, has the best Bond villain ever, and some truly haunting cinematography. Together, they form a trilogy of hefty, hedonistic heroism. (The 4th in the series, Spectre, is...fine. Consider it a bonus outing if you really want to.)

10.) Indiana Jones: If you're looking for fun, then look no further than Spielberg's homage to serialized cinema with this, the infamous Indiana Jones trilogy. The 1st, Raiders of the Lost Ark, is a great stand-alone action flick. The 2nd, Temple of Doom, is an outrageous pseudo-comedy. The 3rd, The Last Crusade, is my favorite, showcasing Indiana Jones's past and, as he rides off into the sunset, hopes for the future. Together, they form a trilogy of fabulous fun. (And yeah, I'm one of those people who actually enjoys the 4th movie in the franchise, Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. If you enjoyed the first 3, there's little reason to hate the 4th.)

9.) The Dead: I'm pretty bummed that writer/director George Romero, the genius behind these 3 movies, has only recently passed away. However, I'm happy to still sing his praises. The so-called "Trilogy of the Dead" is groundbreaking horror at its most atmospheric, and also its most influential. The 1st, Night of the Living Dead, is a black-and-white masterpiece of classic chills. The 2nd, Dawn of the Dead, is scathing social satire soaked in buckets of blood. The 3rd, Day of the Dead, is a gore-fest with compelling characters and one of horror's most enduring zombies, named Bub. Together, they form a trilogy of insight and insanity. (The 4th entry, Land of the Dead, is great too. But after that? It goes off the rails quick. Steer clear.)

8.) Back to the Future: Goodness gracious, do I love these 3 movies. With iconic imagery, inventive storytelling, and a pair of characters you can't help but love, the Back to the Future films are, simply put, essential viewing. The 1st is a humble tale of time travel and traumatic romance. The 2nd is a twisty head-trip of past, present, and future. The 3rd is a throwback Western with more wackiness than it knows what to do with. Together, they form a trilogy of slick yet silly science-fiction.

7.) Planet of the Apes: I never, never expected these 3 films to be as terrific as they actually are. Yet this modern sci-fi trilogy is definitely the sharpest, smartest trilogy of this decade. Where the original series from the 60's and 70's was cheesy and perpetually goofy, the reboots are serious and, frankly, stunning. The 1st, Rise of the Planet of the Apes, is a painful watch, imbued with a dour melancholia that seeps into most scenes. But it's satisfying, and a compelling watch. The 2nd, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, has some of the best cinematography and special effects of the decade. The 3rd, War for the Planet of the Apes, is a gut-punch of pure catharsis. These 3 movies are superlative. Together, they form a trilogy of humility, humanity, and hope.

6.) Evil Dead: This one is a bit hard to explain, so honestly, I'm not even going to try. Just imagine 3 of the zaniest, bloodiest, funniest horror movies you can think of, and you'll still only be within shouting distance of Sam Raimi's Evil Dead movies. How great are they? Well, horror master Stephen King is a massive fan, and described the first film as "ferociously original." And they are all certainly that. The 1st is one the scariest, and most earnest, horror flicks of the 80's. It's also a clever homage to George Romero and Night of the Living Dead. The 2nd is an adrenaline shot straight to the heart, and my personal favorite of the bunch. The 3rd, called Army of Darkness, has some of the best one-liners in movie history, and cements protagonist Ash Williams in my mind as one of the coolest characters ever put to film. Together, they form a trilogy of campy, crazy carnage. (The remake/sequel from 2013 is also awesome, as is the sequel television series, Ash vs. Evil Dead.)

5.) The Dark Knight: Here it is, folks: the superhero trilogy to end all superhero trilogies. Thanks to Christopher Nolan, we get a series of Batman movies so pitch-perfect in every conceivable aspect that it makes all other incarnations of the character laughable. The 1st, Batman Begins, is the reboot that spawned a hundred others - it is gritty, somber, but undeniably entertaining. The 2nd, The Dark Knight, needs no introduction and no further adulation. Just understand that every ounce of praise that's been slathered all over it is completely valid. The 3rd, The Dark Knight Rises, is a big budget cacophony that ties all the thematic strands of the previous entries tightly and tautly together. Yes, these 3 movies are still the pinnacle of comic book storytelling on the big screen, rife with incredible performances, intense action sequences, and inventive special effects. Together, they form a trilogy of superb, sophisticated storytelling.

4.) The Godfather: It doesn't get much better than this, right? Here we have the sweeping 3-part epic about organized crime from writer/director Francis Ford Coppola. These movies have won countless awards, received reviews of incomparable praise, and are often considered to be some of the best films of all time. Well...are they? Yes! Why would you even ask that? The 1st is a thrilling character study. The 2nd is epic in every sense of the word - thematically, emotionally, historically, you name it. The 3rd, although oft-maligned, is still quite good, offering up an introspective epilogue on the story of Michael Corleone. Together, they form an intimate, intelligent, and infamous trilogy.

3.) The Lord of the Rings: I've never been a big fan of fantasy, let alone high fantasy, but here? It's too wonderful to deny, too inspiring and infectious to ignore. The Lord of the Rings is the larger-than-life quest to rid the world of evil, told from multiple viewpoints and across countless countries and generations. Each entry in the series was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture (among many others), and the final installment took home a whopping 11 Oscars. Impressive, yes, but also well deserved. The 1st film, The Fellowship of the Ring, is a bit meandering, but ultimately magnificent. The 2nd, The Two Towers, is a fascinating foray into adventure and the unknown. The 3rd, The Return of the King, is an over-the-top visual extravaganza, and holds some of the most poignant cinematic moments ever filmed. Together, they form a trilogy that is graceful yet grandiose. (For a real treat? Watch the extended editions. It's like watching 6 movies instead of 3. And the prequel trilogy, The Hobbit? It sure has its moments, but is best avoided.)

2.) Three Flavours Cornetto: What we have here is pure, unleaded awesomeness courtesy of writer/director Edgar Wright. These are 3 supremely satisfying movies, which perfectly balance wit, heart, and everything in between. They are classified as a "loose" trilogy, meaning the installments have no interlocking plots and characters, but share close similarities in other ways: they are built by the same production team, inhabited by the same actors, specific jokes and scenes appear in each film; and yes, who can forget Frost's cornetto leaving its grand impression on each one. However, this is the tightest "loose" trilogy I've ever seen. It's a kaleidoscope of interconnecting jokes, references, and archetypes. They fit snugly alongside one another, resonating like a major chord on a grand piano. There is no dissonance, no bum key - just pure harmony.

The 1st, Shaun of the Dead, is a snarky zombie kill-fest. The 2nd, Hot Fuzz, is the best buddy cop movie ever made. The 3rd, The World's End (my personal favorite), is about aliens and, more importantly, alienation. These three films make you laugh as well as lament, cringe but also cry. They are three of the best movies of the last twenty years, and have accomplished this not by conforming to rigid Hollywood archetypes but by transcending them - parodying the very films they celebrate, deepening our cultural consciousness by adding weight and emotion to the mundane. Together, they form a trilogy of considerable artistic and cinematic merit. 

1.) Star Wars: I've written these 3 films to death, so excuse me from writing another tome about this exquisite space-opera series. I even have a bit of fondness for the prequels (God help me), and the newest additions by Disney have been excellent. But honestly, it all boils down to these 3 movies: A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back, and Return of the Jedi. If you want to know my in-depth thoughts on these films, check out my detailed reviews. I'll link them here: for Hope, for Empire, and for Jedi. Just know that, together, they form the single greatest movie trilogy of all time. I cannot recommend them enough.