Earlier in the week, I went to the movies to watch ‘The Batman’ with some friends. I adored the film, blown away by elements such as the performances, the score, and the cinematography. Upon leaving the theater, I suddenly wondered where I would rank it all-time amongst the many Batman films. I decided the best way to go about this was to rewatch what is my (and perhaps almost everyone else’s) favorite Batman movie, ‘The Dark Knight’.
After rewatching said film and some of my other favorites, I decidedly ranked ‘The Batman’ around the second place following ‘The Dark Knight’. Perhaps this is a case of recency bias, but it is my opinion right now nonetheless. But rewatching the trilogy it belonged to sparked something in me; it led to me wondering where I would place it among all-time great movie trilogies.
We, the audience, are drawn to the concept of a series of movies that chronicle the continued adventures of fictional characters. We become invested by seeing their plights over the years in multiple films, at times more so than we would if they starred in an individual movie.
All one has to do is glance at the Marvel Cinematic Universe to better grasp society’s fascination with ‘series’. Most moviegoers love sequels. They love seeing the fictional world that captivated them branch out and grow from the foundation set by the original film.
Movie trilogies are perhaps the best form of telling a story over several films. Often, a trilogy is an apt amount of screentime to tell a full story without it feeling too dragged out. Of these, there are of course some trilogies that stand above others as the cream of the crop.
Today, I decided to put together my top 15 movie trilogies in history. These trilogies connected to me on a deep level, commanding my attention like no other. Some are great across all three films, whereas a few had all-time great films along with one or so decidedly average or good movies. In either case, these trilogies are in my opinion the best of the best.
15. Pirates of the Caribbean Trilogy
When the first Pirates of the Caribbean was released, it took the world by storm. While the films vary in quality, few would argue this iconic trilogy carries a swagger to it unlike any other. While the sequels may not match the first installment, they nonetheless do a good job of building upon the foundation set down by the original and actually improve on some elements.
Perhaps most synonymous with the fame and acclaim forwarded towards this trilogy is the iconic Jack Sparrow, magnificently brought to life by Johnny Depp in what many say is his career-defining role. Orlando Bloom’s Will Turner and Kiera Knightley’s Elizabeth Swan balance out the wise-cracking and antics and swagger of Sparrow, with the three coming together to create an iconic trio.
When combining the impeccable cast with CGI that puts many modern movies to shame, and a score that will no doubt remain recognizable and nostalgic for decades to come, we are presented with one of the greatest movie trilogies of all time.
14. Evil Dead Trilogy
The Evil Dead is an under-the-radar horror franchise that many modern audiences underrate despite it remaining relevant today. The films shot director Sam Raimi to stardom and pioneered many iconic horror techniques used to this day.
This is all without mentioning one of the most iconic everyman heroes in cinematic history in Bruce Campbell’s Ash Williams.The first installment may be dated, but still holds up as a creepy movie due to the sense of isolation it exhibits.
The second film is one of the most iconic horror-comedy hybrids of all time, and the third turned everything on its head and brought the franchise into the realm of fantasy. Across the board, this is one of the most consistent horror trilogies of all time.
13. Kung Fu Panda Trilogy
Before the first Kung Fu Panda was released, nobody could have realized that it would spawn one of the greatest animated movie trilogies of all time. At face value, the concept of “goofy panda voiced by Jack Black learns kung fu” sounds stupid.
Somehow, the films manage to defy all expectations. This is a thrilling tale of a morally grey world, full of multi-dimensional anthropomorphic characters that go through both hardship and suffering. These are surprisingly dark films, dealing with issues such as genocide and murder consistently.
There is a true depth to the world, with fully fleshed-out characters often dealing with traumatic childhoods and tragic backstories. The series has strong emotional themes that feel natural without feeling forced, incredible fight choreography, and a stellar storyline.
12. Mad Max Trilogy
The original Mad Max trilogy is nothing short of revolutionary, presenting a post-apocalyptic world full of both horror and beauty. The films are tense undertakings even to this day, full of action and dread in equal measure. The filmmaking and camera work by George Miller was incredible, redefinining what was possible with practical effects.
Mel Gibson turned the titular Max into an iconic movie character, and audiences loved following him through his ruined world. An honorable mention must also go out to the fourth film, ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’, for not only continuing the legacy of the originals but by many accounts bettering them on it’s way to becoming one of the best action movies of the 21st century.
11. Toy Story Trilogy
The Toy Story trilogy resonated with audiences in a way many films could not dream of achieving. As audiences watched the journey of the toys over the trilogy, many of us ourselves grew up with their owner Andy. By the time of Toy Story 3, as Andy leaves behind his toys and lets go of his childhood as he goes forth towards adulthood, many were going through the exact same things and emotions in real life.
Toy Story is a story of growth and acceptance. In a way, we all grew up with Buzz and Woody. To many of us, they were our childhood toys. We grew connected with the characters over the films, watching them develop and become better. This trilogy is a love letter to the beauty and simplicity of childhood, but also to the exciting and endless possibly of adulthood.
When Andy tearfully drives away from Woody, Buzz, and the rest, he symbolizes us leaving behind the familiar in our journey towards the unknown, not knowing where it will lead us but always cherishing the childhood that lead us to where we are now.
10. The Cornetto Trilogy
The Cornetto trilogy is possibly the greatest comedy trilogy in movie history, with each film leaving a huge mark on the genre it is set in. The trilogy shot director Edgar Wright to stardom, and both tore apart and built upon the foundations set in the genres the three films span.
Not only that, but each film has a solid argument to not only being the best film in the trilogy, but in the case of Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz, the films have a case for being the best movies from the genre their lampooning, period. ‘Shaun of the Dead’ is a riff on the zombie genre, ‘Hot Fuzz’ is a take on the buddy cop movie archetype, and ‘The Worlds End’ is set in a end of the world scenerio.
Simon Pegg and Nick Frost had some of the best chemistry on screen of any comedic duo in cinema, leading to many hilarious moments scattered through the films. The films are a love letter to the genres they span, providing some of the most memorable moments in comedy movie history.
9. Planet of the Apes Trilogy
Often, the greatest and most impactful movies are the ones that take you by surprise. The ability of a film to turn a concept on it’s head and turn it into something greater is something to be admired. Nobody couldve expected the modern Planet of the Apes movies to be as great as they are. Despite the fact the audience often find themselves following the journey of the titular apes, the films are often deeper and more emotionally resonant than many other films could dream of.
This is largely due to the groundbreaking motion capture work the films achieved, setting the standard for what is possible in the realm. Andy Serkis is legendary as the main character of Caesar, evoking great pain and emotion through his subdued performance as the main ape.
These is a very dark trilogy, dealing with depressing themes and horiffying subject matter that would not be amiss in a horror movie. However, I believe the main theme of this trilogy is hope, and the ability of hope for a better world to persevere in even the darkest of times.
8. How to Train Your Dragon Trilogy
Each film within the How to Train Your Dragon series is magnificent in its own right, but one has to view the trilogy as a whole to recognize its true brilliance. As we follow Hiccup through his journey from childhood to manhood, we experience what is perhaps the most well-rounded animated trilogy of all time.
The animation, music, and voice-acting are top of the line, but perhaps the single greatest quality present through the trilogy is how the characters grow and evolve through the film’s story. The foremost example of this character development is the main character Hiccup, as he goes from a shy and weak teenager who bonds with a dragon to a strong and brave man who must let go of this bond for the good of his people.
What could have been a simple story of a boy’s friendship with a dragon turns into something more, mirroring the real-life growth and loss we all experience throughout our lives. This ability to connect with the character allows these films to transcend into something greater.
7. Captain America Trilogy
The Captain America trilogy is widely considered to be the best to come out of the MCU, with each film standing as some of the best comic book movies ever. The second installment specifically, ‘Captain America: The Winter Soldier,’ is regarded by many to be the best movie to have spawned out of this franchise.
The Captain America trilogy not only serves as an engaging story for Steve Roger’s character, but the three films weave together to enhance the greater tapestry that is the MCU, while also still standing on their own as individual films. The filmmakers managed to balance the existence of the movies within a wider universe perfectly, complementing the Avengers movies they are connected to without ever sacrificing their own quality.
Chris Evan’s take on the Captain America character is already iconic, and the audience becomes connected with his character as we follow him through a period piece, a political thriller, and a full-on action movie. Without a doubt, this trilogy is the most well-balanced and cohesive MCU trilogy, and perhaps the best superhero trilogy this side of the Dark Knight films.
6. Back to the Future Trilogy
The Back to the Future Films, chronicling the continued adventures of Marty McFly and Doc Brown, are some of the most original movies of their kind. The trilogy is a unique spin of the fabled time travel story trope, turning it on its head into something wholly new, adventurous, and very funny.
Perhaps the trilogy’s greatest strength is its originality. The films are each science fiction comedies, but each is unique in its premise. The first is primarily a period piece, the second leans more into science fiction and fantasy, and the third takes a u-turn straight into the western genre.
All of these elements contribute to why the trilogy is so beloved. Add in one of the most iconic movie duos of all time in the aforementioned McFly and Doc Brown, and we have some of the funniest and most memorable franchises ever.
5. Star Wars Trilogy (Original)
George Lucas crafted what some consider to be the most iconic movie franchise on earth from virtually nothing in the late 1970s. It was a trilogy that had no precedent, no foundation to build from. It was an original creation unlike no other, opening the door for many films in subsequent decades. But through it all, many would argue these later creations could not match the innovation and ingenuity present within the trilogy that inspired them all.
The trilogy contains some of the most beloved fictional heroes in history, in the core trio of Mark Hamill’s Luke Skywalker, Harrison Ford’s Han Solo, and Carrie Fisher’s Princess Leia, along with many supporting characters such as Obi-Wan Kenobi, Yoda, C-3PO, and R2-D2. Perhaps even beyond all of them, however, is by many metrics the most iconic movie villain in cinematic history in Darth Vader. It is a character that has transcended generations, living on in the hearts and minds of generations of fans.
In the end, what makes the original trilogy, is it takes a class story archetype and turns it on its head, and makes it into something greater. It is a story of a simple hero who comes from humble beginnings and goes on to fight and end a greater evil that is terrorizing the world. The original trilogy is what happens when a visionary takes something old and turns it into something new, turns it into something beautiful.
4. Indiana Jones Trilogy
There is a charm to the Indiana Jones franchise that is unique across the film industry. The films are sweeping adventures that evoke classic action movies of the past, while also presenting a humble element and everyman charm that grounds the films and allows the average viewer to put themselves in Harrison Ford’s iconic character’s shoes.
The trilogy balances action and humor effortlessly, presenting endlessly likable characters and exotic locales for them to traverse in their grand quest for treasure and artifacts. The films would be a shadow of themselves, however, without Harrison Ford’s performance, in which he breathes life and an effortless charm into a character that otherwise could have fallen flat.
3. The Godfather Trilogy
The Godfather Trilogy is widely considered the greatest creation of Francis Ford Coppola, himself one of the most celebrated and iconic movie directors of all time. While the third installment falls short of its predecessors, the magnificence to be found in the first two parts more than warrants its place on any list of the best movie trilogies ever.
By some moviegoer’s account, both the first and second films have an argument to be proclaimed the greatest movie of all time. The movies were some of the most innovative films ever, coming together to paint a picture of American culture that had been stereotyped beforehand. Without a doubt, the Godfather changed cinema forever, leaving a legacy that lasts till this day.
2. The Dark Knight Trilogy
A little more than a decade ago, the brilliant Christopher Nolan created what is to this day considered by many fans to be the definitive adaptation of Batman in his movie trilogy. Not only that, his take on the character is widely considered to the greatest comic book movie trilogy in history.
Every installment managed to be incredible in its own way, with each telling a contained story about a period of Bruce Wayne’s life while still connecting and continuing the overarching story throughout. Fans worldwide were captivated by the beginning, fall, and eventual rise of Batman over the trilogy.
The trilogy is filled with iconic performances, such as Christian Bale’s multifaceted Batman, Michael Cane’s clever and caring Alfred, Gary Oldman’s goodhearted James Gordon, and of course the iconic take on the Joker by the departed Heath Ledger. When combined with the epic story, excellent cinematography, and iconic score, it all comes together to create what is considered by many to be one of the greatest movie trilogies of all time.
1. The Lord of the Rings Trilogy
Peter Jackson managed to do the unthinkable back in the early 2000s, adapting one of the most beloved book series of all time into the magnum opus of movie trilogies. Unlike many other iconic movie trilogies, the Lord of the Rings managed to create three movies of virtually equal quality.
Each film is considered a masterpiece in its own right, weaving together to create a timeless story that will no doubt be treasured for decades to come. The trilogy is filled to the brim with iconic performances, an incredible score and visuals, and epic moments on such a scale that even modern films with twice the budget struggle to match.
Jackson managed to strike gold with his adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s book trilogy to such a degree, many moviegoers consider the films to be one of the greatest cinematic experiences of all time, and in my personal opinion the single best movie trilogy ever.
