We ’re tackling the heavy picture trilogy in the history of cinema today , but before we proceeded to list what we think are the greatest three - peats around , we wanted to tell our esteemed reader just how we take the trilogy you ’ll learn about . While we ’ve tried our damnedest to check that the films here subsist in trilogy form , in today ’s contemporary ethnical climate ( where sequels and reboots reign supreme ) , there ’s nothing that movie studios love more than bastardize treasured rational holding with gibberish sequels produce only as a quick cash grab . While we ’ve done our beneficial to perfect in on series that turn well as trilogies , do remember that we ca n’t control studio EXEC and their wanton avarice any better than we can convince Nicholas Cage to start taking real movie roles again . With that in mind , we remember there are some great trilogy list here , and if nothing else they will give you some binge watching option for those dire time in life sentence .
So without further ado , here are 15 of the greatest trilogies ever made . Enjoy !
15. Terminator Trilogy
Series contains : The Terminator(1984),Terminator 2 : Judgement Day(1991),Terminator 3 : Rise of the Machines(2003 )
One of the greatest sci - fi action serial publication to emerge out of the 1980s , the Terminator enfranchisement has descend off a drop-off in recent age , with bothTerminator Salvation(2009 ) andTerminator Genisys(2015 ) failing to live up to the stock go under by James Cameron ’s first two installment . bring out in 1984,The Terminatorwas not only an impressive natural process movie made on a small budget but also receive a way to tell a surprisingly worked up tarradiddle regard a killer bionic man sent back through time to polish off the mother of a human ohmic resistance drawing card from the time to come . The flick can be accredit with helping turn former Mr. Universe Arnold Schwarzenegger into a logical action movie star and for tackle cultural fears about artificial intelligence operation and the rise of computing equipment technology .
Seven year later , Cameron land back Schwarzenegger and atomic number 27 - prima Lina Hamilton forTerminator 2 : Judgement Day , which stay one of the most influential natural action movies ever made . A sequel that best its predecessor in nearly every fashion , T2expanded the setting of the Terminator universe and lore while taking the wild glide slope of turning the franchise ’s villain into its hero , as Schwarzenegger play a reprogrammed terminator sent back through time to protect the Logos of Hamilton ’s Sarah Connor . speak of Hamilton , she ’s almost unrecognizable as the struggle - hardened Connor — a far cry from the destitute young waitress we meet in the first film . Sarah Connor has since become one of the most democratic action movie heroines of all time and it can all be traced back to Hamilton ’s telling translation inT2 .
Terminator 3 : climb of the Machinesis easy the rickety of the first three Terminator picture show but it still has some redeeming qualities . The film pick up with John Connor ( Nick Stahl ) about a decennium after the events ofT2 . In a surprising wrench , Connor expect and act nothing like the electrical resistance leader he ’ll one day become , as he ’s living off the power grid and in constant fear of judgment day involve place . Claire Danes came middling close to stealing the whole movie as John ’s future wife Kate Brewster , who inadvertently joins up with John after a new Terminator model , the T - X , begins hunting him down . Arnold Schwarzenegger turns in a reliably competent performance as yet another T-1000 modeling sent back to protect Connor , even if he ’s a fleck long in the tooth . It ’s a number derivative but worth it for the ending alone , which take a in earnest shameful twist .
Source : Screenshot via Orion Pictures
14. Before Trilogy
Series arrest : Before Sunrise(1995),Before Sunset(2004),Before Midnight(2013 )
Richard Linklater is a movie maker preoccupied with metre and how it shapes human experience , and no part of his filmography better illustrate this than the Before Trilogy , which is easily his crowning achievement . Each installment checks in with the same two characters at a specific point in their life , tracking their Latinian language over the yoke of decades . The first picture , Before Sunrise , introduce us to Jesse ( Ethan Hawke ) and Celine ( Julie Delpy ) , two young dreamers who divvy up a chance run into on a train and decide to spend the solar day and night together wandering Vienna . Through many unlike conversations involving topics such as instruction , past relationships , puerility and pretty much any other subject a brace of twenty - somethings would have , we catch as Jesse and Celine divvy up a abbreviated , acute romance before being squeeze to part company .
Before Midnightstrikes a considerably dissimilar tint than the previous two plastic film in Linklater ’s trilogy , exploring the world of love once the honeymoon phase is over . We learn that Jesse and Celine are now married and are raise twin girl together , but are now dealing with mundane , daylight - to - Clarence Shepard Day Jr. rather than flights of fancy . Midnight is definitely the most downcast film in the trilogy , with an dead brutal third act . However , there is still hope to be found here and when pair with the other photographic film , it ’s an essential part of the story Linklater and his star ( who helped save most of their own dialogue for each film ) have crafted . While some may scoff at the whimsey of watching a trilogy of picture show about “ people walking and talking , ” Linklater ’s work is arguably one of the finest achievement in modern cinema and merit to be experienced by anyone with an interestingness in nontextual matter that explore beloved and the human consideration .
Source : Screenshot via Columbia Pictures
13. Iron Man
Series Contains : Iron Man(2008),Iron humanity 2(2010),Iron Man 3(2013 )
There would be no Marvel Cinematic Universe without Iron Man , so it ’s meet that the core trilogy of Iron Man films are some of the better titles within the larger MCU franchise . Looking back , the original film now look positively quaint when compared to the mammoth ensemble pictures that would come to define Marvel Studios ’ outturn in previous years , but it ’s still one of the best standalone picture show in the dealership . Anchored by a charismatic functioning from Robert Downey Jr. , who experienced an unlimited career revitalisation thanks to his function as Tony Stark , Iron Manis a great origin story and helped set the tone for many succeeding Marvel movies with its advance mixture of spectacular and comedic moments . Of naturally , many subsequent Marvel flicks would also adopt Iron Man ’s weak third act and baddie template , but the film still stands as a blueprint for how to craft an piquant superhero introduction .
Iron Man 2is well the weak installment in the trilogy , suffering from a rush production agenda that forced come back director Jon Favreau to stuff a bunch of Avengers localise - up material into the film while also trying to continue Tony Stark ’s narration . The termination is a wildly spotty film that stumbles just as often as it succeeds , with another forgettable villain ( Mickey Rourke ’s Whiplash ) and far too many subplots that do n’t really go anywhere ( we ’re still await for the return of Sam Rockwell ’s Justin Hammer ) . Still , Iron Man 2did precede us to Scarlett Johansson ’s Black Widow , who would go on to become one of the MCU ’s most prominent female part , as well as finally allow Rhodey ( Don Cheadle , replacing Terrence Howard ) to climb into an Iron Man suit of clothes of his own and battle alongside his best buddy Tony .
For our money , Iron Man 3is the best instalment in the trilogy , successfully pick up Tony Stark ’s story from where it left off inThe Avengersand read a surprisingly insightful look at the outcome of PTSD in the process . author / director Shane Black takes over for Favreau and the film is arguably expert for it , with Black ’s script savvy deeply into Stark ’s psyche while also generating some big laughs in the process . It also eventually ( mostly ) fixes the trilogy ’s third act curse , featuring an explosive battle against a halfway decent villain for a variety . Overall , the Iron Man trilogy is n’t the best the MCU has to offer but it still offers one of the undecomposed three - film arcs for a superhero this side of Christopher Nolan ’s Dark Knight trilogy .
beginning : Screenshot via Marvel Studios
12. Pirates of the Caribbean Trilogy
Series Contains : Pirates of the Caribbean : The Curse of the Black Pearl(2003),Pirates of the Caribbean : Dead Man ’s Chest(2006),Pirates of the Caribbean : At World ’s End(2007 )
It ’s a passably commonly accept fact that the first film in a serial publication is unremarkably the strongest ; while that is n’t always the compositor’s case ( as we ’ll see on this leaning ) , most of the time a trilogy ’s sequels die to top what was produce in the original film . That ’s most definitely the case with thePirates of the Caribbeantrilogy , which get in 2003 withPirates of the Caribbean : The therapeutic of the Black Pearl . That cinema , while remain one of the biggest surprise smasher in flick history , also introduced us to Johnny Depp ’s life history define Captain Jack Sparrow , a pirate with light morals who finds his style into a series of shenanigans over the course of this trilogy . Also starring Orlando Bloom , Kiera Knightley and Geoffrey Rush , thePirates of the Caribbeantrilogy gets worse as it come along , with each film upping spectacle at the expense of plot of ground , but they remain fantastically fun films which boast some of the most telling visual effects in the history of cinema .
Source : Screenshot via Disney
11. Spider-Man
Series Contains : Spider - Man(2002),Spider - Man 2(2004),Spider - humanity 3(2007 )
Sam Raimi ’s Spider - Man trilogy seems to have diminished middling in the popular consciousness since the series ’ mid-2000s heyday but alongside Christopher Nolan ’s Dark Knight trilogy , Raimi ’s films helped regenerate the stale superhero movie genre after it basically implode in the 90s . The first instalment , 2002’sSpider - Man , remains one of the estimable superhero bloodline movies , with Tobey Maguire ’s Peter Parker transitioning from put - upon high school dweeb to overconfident hero at a steady and entertaining step , all while learn some harsh lessons about responsibility along the way .
Spider - Man 2remains the trilogy ’s high watermark and indeed one of the greatest superhero movie ever made , take everything that worked in the first film and upping the stakes considerably . For as much fun asSpider - Man2is to view , it ’s a surprisingly downbeat picture , as we see Maguire ’s Parker scramble powerful to have any semblance of a normal biography in the cheek of his overwhelming responsibilities as New York ’s favored web - slinger . Alfred Molina also turns in a fantastic performance as the villainous Doc Ock , making this an wanton film to go back and find out to this day .
Spider - Man 3is the trilogy ’s black sheep and while it definitely takes a obtrusive whole tone back in quality compared to its predecessors — Raimi famously was forced to bow to studio demands and include fan - favorite villain Venom , much to his own personal displeasure — it ’s not as bad as its reputation would suggest . Thomas Haden Church does what he can to make Sandman a visually - stunning , sympathetic villain while James Franco goes “ full Franco ” in his all bonkers performance as Harry Osborn / New Goblin . It ’s an acquired taste to be sure , butSpider - Man 3is by no substance a gearing wreck — it just could n’t quantify up to the preposterously high stock set bySpider - Man 2 .
Source : Screenshot via Sony Pictures
10. The Bourne Trilogy
Series Contains : The Bourne Identity(2002),The Bourne Supremacy(2004),The Bourne Ultimatum(2007 )
There are few picture admirer capable of kicking as much backside as Jason Bourne , the titular assassin of the Bourne trilogy , as play by Matt Damon . As such , it seduce sense that a series of motion-picture show featuring Bourne might make it on to a list such as this , especially when the films are chock - full of awesome beatings laid out on big guys , the thwarting of governance conspiracy , assassin on assassin furiousness and more elevator car chases than anyone trilogy rightly needs ( not that we ’re complaining , mind you ) . A ripe series of action films that refuse to sacrifice character in the name of explosions , the Bourne trilogy remain one of the good blue-pencil , tightly crafted and strongly written action trilogies of all prison term , just beating out the first threeDie Hardfilms for this smirch on the list .
Source : Screenshot via Universal Pictures
9. Captain America
Series Contains : Captain America : The First Avenger(2011),Captain America : The Winter Soldier(2014),Captain America : Civil War(2016 )
If you had told us primitively that Captain America of all characters would have the best self - entitle serial publication of movies within the Marvel Cinematic Universe , we probably would have express joy you out of the way . Prior to the release ofCaptain America : The First Avengerin 2011 , it was doubtful whether a character as apparently outdated as a human being who prune up in a genius - spangled case would even work on screen , let alone really make for a caliber moving picture . Fortunately , The First Avengerproved us faulty , as director Joe Johnston took the right feeler in craft a World War II reversion film featuring a heavy VD of nostalgia . It also facilitate that Chris Evans was perfectly cast in the lead role , hue his Steve Rogers with an implacable sense of moral character that felt completely unfeigned and unpretending .
Somehow , the next movie in the series was even better . The Winter Soldiertransplants Captain America to the modern day and charts how the character ’s values make him ill - equipped to cover the modern geopolitical landscape , where it ’s not always percipient who your enemies are . The movie works as a political thriller with a superhero veneer but is also a deeply personal story involving Steve ’s past , here taking the form of his former best - friend - turn - foe Bucky Barnes , who is now a brainwashed bravo . The Winter Solideralso gravely shakes up the full MCU , something that its sequel would only double down on .
Captain America : Civil Waris the most ambitious movie in the Cap trilogy , roping in a number of characters from the relaxation of the MCU for a account that regard the Avengers oppose against each other in a war over the part of superheroes in a switch human beings . While the film is essentially an Avengers moving picture in all but name , it ’s still very much Cap ’s story and picks up where the previous film leave off , with Bucky still on the run and Steve desperate to clear his friend ’s name . have as a whole , the Captain America moving-picture show constitute arguably the inviolable trilogy in superhero filmmaking ( Dark Knight notwithstanding ) . Not bad for a character many thought would turn out to be an on - screen joke .
Source : Marvel Studios
8. The Dark Knight Trilogy
Series Contains : Batman Begins(2005),The Dark Knight(2008),The Dark Knight Rises(2012 )
Like we said before , most of the time a trilogy ’s first photographic film is its best . Of course , in Christopher Nolan’sDark Knighttrilogy , it ’s 2008’sThe Dark Knightwhich will be remembered as the trilogy ’s strong entry . While 2005’sBatman Beginsdid an excellent job infix the new , gritty and naturalistic world that Bruce Wayne / Batman ( played by Christian Bale ) would dwell , it wasThe Dark Knightthat flesh this world out , render it character and a flavour all its own , while enter a marque of villain inHeath Ledger’sJoker that will remain among cinema ’s most iconic for as long as movies are being made . The untimely last of Ledger will persist a factor in the trilogy ’s legacy , as will the movie ’s more or less anti - climactic closing entryThe Dark Knight Rises , but overall this trilogy remains one of the strong ever produced ( and certainly the potent superhero trilogy ever produce ) .
Source : Screenshot via Warner Bros. Pictures
7. Indiana Jones Trilogy
Series Contains : Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark ( 1981),Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom(1984),Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade(1989 )
Were this trilogy ’s second cinema , Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom , a stronger film , there ’s a good chance it ’d rank near the very top of this list , and any other lists of this form . With bothIndiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost ArkandIndiana Jones and the Last Crusaderemaining some of the best adventure movies ever made , a hard second entry would have really press this trilogy towards the top of the heap . As it place upright , theIndiana Jonestrilogy is an awful film sandwiched inside two legendary one , and that ’s whole alright given the setting here and the reason that nobody , nobody recognise the ill - advised quaternary film released by the studio in 2008 .
reservoir : Screenshot via Paramount Pictures
6. The Lord of the Rings Trilogy
Series Contains : The Lord of the Rings : The Fellowship of the Ring(2001),The Lord of the Rings : The Two Towers(2002),The Lord of the Rings : Return of the King(2003 )
The first big shocker on our list sees Peter Jackson’sLord of the Ringstrilogy ranked far lower than it ’s normally seen on these listing ; what can we say , we just are n’t the biggest lover of the flicks so many seem to go ga - ga over , and despite logical ridicule from our friends , that ’s our opinion and we ’re amaze to it . While Jackson no doubt crafted an exquisite fantasy take in experience and did J.R.R. Tolkien ’s original work jurist with his dedication to detail and tale , The Lord of the Ringstrilogy rest a middling tedious view experience with short tempo and some ridiculously punk dialogue and dissemble . We understand these are treasured films for some , and we are n’t in any way seek to undo the magic present in the films , there are just other trilogies we feel extend a more succinct and fulfill viewing experience . That said , if you desire to lose yourself in Middle Earth for eleven or twelve hours , there ’s no better way to do it than with these film .
informant : Screenshot via New Line Cinema
4. The Toy Story Trilogy
Series Contains : Toy Story(1995),Toy Story 2(1999),Toy Story 3(2010 )
It ’s strange to call back a trilogy of pic meant originally for children could become one of the most esteemed and beloved of all time , but that ’s the magic of Pixar and theirToy Storytrilogy . Proving that there really is a Thomas Kid in all of us , theToy Storytrilogy played on the unspoken belief of individuals everywhere that their toy could come to life after they ’ve left the room , and we like to think we ’re better multitude for having visualise these films . A rock solid trilogy that might not sport so much as a poor scene over the class of its three films , theToy Storymovies asterisk the interpreter gift of Tim Allen and Tom Hanks and continue a arrant premix of childlike marvel and potent , emotive writing that play for both small fry and adult .
Source : Screenshot via Pixar
3. The Dollars Trilogy
Series Contains : A Fistful of Dollars(1964),For a Few dollar sign More(1965),The Good , The Bad & The Ugly(1966 )
Also known as theMan With No NameTrilogy ( speaking to Clint Eastwood ’s fictitious character in these outstanding Westerns ) , the Dollars trilogy makes its way into the third spot on our inclination on the strength of the trilogy ’s amusement factor and its wide reaching influence in the Western and Spaghetti Western genres . direct by Sergio Leone and asterisk Clint Eastwood , these three film are creditworthy for the much of the popularization of the Spaghetti westerly genre and are commonly cite as some of the keen flick ever produce in the storied Western genre . Also starring Lee van Cleef , the Dollars trilogy is about as pure as trilogies get .
reference : Sceenshot via Constantin Film
2. The Godfather Trilogy
Series Contains : The Godfather(1972),The Godfather : Part II(1974),The Godfather : Part III(1990 )
While we ’re not go to have the audacity to sit here and tell youThe Godfather : Part IIIis a bad film ( especially not in lighter of what gets passed off for celluloid these days ) , we do think thatThe Godfathertrilogy suffers from something alike to theIndiana Jonestrilogy , wherein two unbelievable films are chunk in with a third , somewhat second-rate film that seems to irrigate down the stupendous element of the trilogy just enough to add a petite glimmer of uncertainty to its legacy . While it ’s quite possible thatThe GodfatherandThe Godfather : Part IIare the good overall plastic film of any two on this lean , we just could n’t bring ourselves to place this trilogy at number one withThe Godfather : Part IIIas the close chapter in the franchise , specially when the routine one trilogy rocks so firmly it land us in a Galax urceolata far , far away …
1. Star Wars Trilogy
Series Contains : Star state of war : A New Hope(1977),The Empire Strikes Back(1980),Return of the Jedi(1983 )
Could this have been any trilogy butStar Wars ? Not including George Lucas ’s preposterous prequel trilogy , the originalStar Warsfilms have captivated the essence and minds of meg of viewing audience worldwide since their original release , and their rule cultural presence is felt now more than ever with nerd acculturation maintaining such an ubiquitous role in the filmmaking world . Starring Mark Hamill , Carrie Fisher and Harrison Ford ( like you did n’t already fuck that ) , theStar Warsfilms stay the ultimate trilogy regard experience . And if you ’re one of the seventeen people on major planet Earth who has n’t already experience these films , then we ’re both glad and lamentable for you all at once ; pitiful that you ’ve experience this much of your life without seeingStar Wars , and felicitous since you get to posture down and experience the joy of watching them all for the first time . Enjoy , folk . Enjoy .
Source : Screenshot via Lucasfilm/20th Century Fox
