Even in a modern world where film series, extensive TV shows and miniseries, and even ever-expanding cinematic universes flood the market, there is something uniquely captivating about a film trilogy. Regardless of if it’s a set story with a narrative through line or a trio of films tied together by thematic exploration and a cohesive creative vision that goes beyond mere plotting, the very best movie trilogies offerimmense yet contained viewing experiences, many of which have become defining icons of cinema.
It does need to be stated that the focus of this list will be solely on trilogies, meaning the likes of the first threeIndiana Jonesmovies and the initial part of theToy Storysaga will not feature. However, there are still plenty of exceptional trilogies to enjoy, ranging from timeless blockbuster classics to underrated gems of international cinema.
13’Austin Powers' Trilogy
‘International Man of Mystery’ (1997), ‘The Spy Who Shagged Me’ (1999) & ‘Goldmember’ (2002)
Mike Myers' take on James Bondwas a phenomenon in the late 90s and into the 21st century. His portrayal of the snaggletooth, screwball British spy took the country by storm and left us with a collection of hilarious characters that are still popular today. Who could forget Dr. Evil (Myers), Fat Bastard (also Myers), Mini-Me (Verne Troyer), Number 2 (Rob Lowe), and Alotta Fagina (Fabiana Udenio)?
This trilogy gave us quotes that have become part of our cultural vernacular like “Yeah, baby!”, “One Miiiilllllion Dollars”, and “Get in my belly!“It is one of the best comedy trilogies everand is in the same company as the next entry on this list.
Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery
12’The Naked Gun' Trilogy
‘The Naked Gun’ (1988), ‘Naked Gun 2 1/2: The Smell of Fear’ (1991) & ‘Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult’ (1994)
The Naked Gunis the second comedy treasure and makes the list at 9. Frank Drebin (Leslie Nielsen) stumbled and bumbled his way through three sidesplitting entries from 1988 to 1994. Created by the same creative team that brought usAirplane!, (David Zucker,Jim Abrahams,Jerry Zucker) the Los Angeles detective had a knack for falling back-asswards into collaring all kinds of bad guys.
The films work so well because of Nielsen’s earnestly inept portrayal of Drebinand the collection of visual gags, puns, and other comedy gold plot devices that had us all falling out of chairs with laughter. Whether it was the Queen of England or baseball slugger Reggie Jackson involved in the crime, Drebin always got his man/woman and is absolutely the best clueless/dangerous detective to ever holster a gun.
The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!
11Sam Raimi’s ‘Spider-Man’ Trilogy
‘Spider-Man 1’ (2002), ‘Spider-Man 2’ (2004), and ‘Spider-Man 3’ (2007)
With all the talk about the new Spider-Man (Tom Holland) and his spot in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, discussion aboutthe three originalSpider-Manfilmsby master filmmaker,Sam Raimi, has waned a little bit. Well, we’re here to give the films the kudos they deserve.Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man trilogy hit theaters from 2002-2007 and is one of the finest trilogies ever made.
Raimi’s films about Peter Parker and his web-slinging superhero alter ego introduced some new and spectacular visualsthat were far and away some of the best special effects we have ever seen on screen up until that point. Maguire andKirsten Dunstshare terrific chemistry and the villains - especially Doc Oc (Alfred Molina) - had Spidey’s senses tingling in an era before MCU titans like Thanos and Ultron bullied their way into theaters.
Spider-Man
10The Millennium Trilogy
‘The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo’ (2009), ‘The Girl Who Played with Fire’ (2009) & ‘The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest’ (2009)
A couple of years beforeDavid Fincher’s brilliant take onSteig Larsson’sThe Girl with the Dragon Tattoonovel came to fruition, the Swedes tackled the dark and complex crime mystery stories with aplomb.Noomi Rapacemakes for a perfect Lisbeth Salander, a brilliant computer hacker who is herself a perfect heroine for the 21st century. The trilogy follows her work alongside a disgraced though admirable investigative journalist as they investigate crimes and confront issues from their pasts.
Complemented by fantastic performances from both Rapace andMikal Nyqvist, the trilogy does an exceptional job of realizing the complicated though caring bond between the two characters. Themovie’s Scandi-noir aestheticis entirely arresting, even when the films tackle some distressing subject matter.All three films maintain an impressive quality, withThe Girl with the Dragon Tattooparticularly brilliant, while the finale,The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest, delivers a rewarding conclusion to the trilogy.
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
9The ‘Three Colours’ Trilogy
‘Three Colours: Blue’ (1993), ‘Three Colours: White’ (1994) & ‘Three Colours: Blue’ (1994)
So named as a basis on the tricolor of the French flag (due to French financing), theThree Colourstrilogy is an ambitious yet powerful film series WhileKrzysztof Kieślowskidirected and co-wrote all three films, the trilogy features a revolving door of on-camera talent.Juliette Binochéstars inBlueas a bereaved wife coming to terms with the death of her family. The more comicalWhitefollows a disgruntled Polish immigrant plotting revenge against his French wife. WhileRedfocuses on the unlikely yet touching friendship between a retired judge and an aspiring model.
With the three films having a loose thematic basis on the motto of the French Republic,Liberté, égalité, fraternité(liberty, equality, fraternity), theThree Colourstrilogy is a somewhat wafting yetentirely arresting arthouse explorationof humanity and national identity. WhileWhitemay lose some punch with its more comedic approach,BlueandRedare insightful and contemplative journeys. However,all three films are buoyed by sublime filmmaking and Kieślowski’s commanding use of color.
Three Colors: Red
8The ‘Before…’ Trilogy
‘Before Sunrise’ (1995), ‘Before Sunset’ (2004) & ‘Before Midnight’ (2013)
Another trilogy that makes exceptional use of Julie Delpy’s extraordinary talents and natural charisma,Richard Linklater’s romantic ‘Before…‘trilogy follows a relationship over the course of decades. It makes exceptional use of insightful and beautifully delivered dialogue to offer a profound and rewarding depiction of true love and human connection. It starts with 1995’sBefore Sunrisewhich follows a fateful one-night encounter between an American tourist and a French woman.
2004’sBefore Sunsetsees the duo meet again for the second time nine years later, while 2013’sBefore Midnightrevisits them as a married couple with twin daughters. It’s a terrific exploration of the mystery and complexity of modern romance, one that coasts on the performances and emotional intelligence of stars Delpy andEthan Hawketo deliver three profoundly moving and introspective films that make a rare yet welcome romantic trilogy full of heart-warming charm and grounded drama.
Before Sunrise
7The ‘Dollars’ Trilogy
While only being loosely connected, the Dollars trilogy goes a long way todefining the adventure, grit, and arresting narrative style of spaghetti Western cinema. All three films starClint Eastwoodas the nameless antagonist, seeing his drifting gunslinger become embroiled in a town’s criminal feud, hunt down a ruthless criminal to collect a bounty, and form an uneasy truce with a Mexican outlaw to track down a stash of buried Confederate gold.
Interestingly,Sergio Leonereportedly never envisioned the three films as formulating one whole experience, they have come to be celebrated as one of cinema’s greatest trilogies courtesy of their coarse aesthetic, engrossing character dynamics, and, of course,Ennio Morricone’s fantastic music. One of the great things about the trilogy is how it goes from strength to strength as Leone becomes more comfortable in the genre.A Fistful of Dollarsis a tightly plotted thriller.For a Few Dollars Moreelevates the spectacle as a vengeful manhunt. AndThe Good, the Bad and the Uglystands as a sweeping epic and, arguably, the single greatest Western of all time.
A Fistful of Dollars
6The ‘Back to the Future’ Trilogy
‘Back to the Future’ (1985), ‘Back to the Future Part II’ (1989) & ‘Back to the Future Part III’ (1990)
Adventure, romance, comedy, and scintillating sci-fi excitement abound in this trilogy, which is quintessentially 80s and remains among the most electrifying and fun-filled filmic spectacles the medium has ever produced. Helmed byRobert Zemeckis, theBack to the Futuremovies follow the time-traveling antics of 17-year-old Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox), and his slightly crazed friend, inventor ‘Doc’ (Christopher Lloyd). The three films take them to 1955, with Marty’s parents in high school, the distant future of 2015, and even the Old West.
While 1985’s originalBack to the Futureis a definitive high point of the trilogy, both of its predecessors still incorporate its inviting charm, its rousing adventure, and its fun-loving effervescence. Marty, Doc, and the DeLorean remain cultural icons 40 years after the release of the first film,cementing theBack to the Futuretrilogy as one of the most joyous and entertainingthat audiences have ever had the pleasure to see.
Back to the Future
5’The Godfather’ Trilogy
‘The Godfather’ (1972), ‘The Godfather Part II’ (1974) & ‘The Godfather Part III’ (1990)
Following the rise and fall of the Corleone crime family from Vito Corleone’s (Marlon Brando&Robert De Niro) life as a career criminal to Michael’s (Al Pacino) expansive tenure as the boss,The Godfathermarks one of the most decorated and revered titles in cinematic history. Both of the first two films are astounding masterpieces, mesmerizing epics of crime drama that remain just as artistically magnificent and awe-inspiring today as they were upon release 50 years ago.The Godfather Part IIIhas little value beyond making the first two films eligible for selection on ‘Best Movie Trilogy’ lists on the internet.
As a whole, the trilogy is rightfully remembered as one of the best stories ever put to screen, and, to give the third installment some credit, it does round out Michael’s story to completea generations-spanning epic of American crimein the 20th century. In the eyes of many, the trilogy, when operating at its best,represents the greatest feats in cinematic history.
The Godfather
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4Original ‘Star Wars’ Trilogy
‘Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope’ (1977), ‘Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back’ (1980) & ‘Star Wars: Episode VI - The Return of the Jedi’ (1983)
While there have been plenty of expansions and spin-offs exploring other aspects of theStar Warsuniverse, the original trilogy still stands as its own, self-contained saga following the rise of Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) to stand against Darth Vader (David Prowse&James Earl Jones). A pioneering achievement that completely re-shaped the possibilities for cinematic entertainment,George Lucas’ space opera broke box office records en masse to consolidate the then growing craze of blockbuster movies.
Rife with ideas from Japan’s samurai films, the science-fiction B-movies of the 50s, and the gritty aesthetic of the spaghetti Westerns,the original trilogy is a divine petri dish of cinematic influencethat, even today, feels enormous and inspired.Star War: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Backis widely regarded as the pick of the bunch, butStar Wars: Episode IV - A New Hopestill excels as the wondrous originating triumph, whileStar Wars: Episode VI – The Return of the Jedirounds out the trilogy in sensational fashion.
