Sticking the landing when it comes to a movie trilogy is a difficult balancing act; you are trying to outdo the previous installment whilst ensuring you don't tread familiar paths at the same time. Thus, great movie trilogies are so rare that we can probably count them on one hand. As a result, we saw it best to dig up the 7 best movie trilogies of all time. Let’s dive into the 7 Best Movie Trilogies of All Time.
7. Toy Story
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Few might have expected the Toy Story trilogy to land in this list, but the truth remains that this Pixar franchise is so good that we would be doing ourselves a disservice if we didn't include it here. From pioneering CG animation to infusing heart and soul into a tale of sentient toys, the Toy Story films are not only storytelling masterpieces, but they have singlehandedly put Pixar on the map as the best studio for original, heartwarming features. What begins as a tale of Andy and his toys quickly turns into an introspection of loss and the frailty of a toy’s life by the third film, and you will find yourself sobbing uncontrollably by the end.
6. The Godfather
Francis Ford Coppola’s gangster classic is perhaps the most famous movie trilogy of all time and remains unbeaten to this day. Still the benchmark of flawless filmmaking, the Godfather films are both masterful stories and the pinnacle of the gangster genre. From putting legendary thespians Al Pacino and Robert De Niro on the map, The Godfather trilogy infuses the complexities of running a criminal empire with genuine human drama. While Part III is often considered the weakest link, it nevertheless brings Michael Corleone’s tragic story full circle, highlighting that in the world of crime, no one gets a happy ending. Not only is this one of the greatest film trilogies ever accomplished, but it remains a monumental achievement of filmmaking talents that is becoming rarer by the day.
5. The Vengeance Trilogy
Best Movie Trilogies
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Korean director Park Chan Wook’s triad of films (Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance, Oldboy, and Lady Vengeance) is loosely connected but nevertheless provides a peek into how revenge can make humans do the most cruel of things to each other. Each entry is masterful, and Wook weaves complex stories of crime and passion that will blow you away. While Oldboy is rightly considered a masterpiece, Mr. Vengeance and Lady Vengeance are each fascinating in their own right. With a commentary on the societal rot taking place in Korean society infused within these stories, these films are definitely not for the faint of heart and show the Korean society from a unique perspective that few are familiar with.
4. Star Wars
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The original Star Wars trilogy remains the benchmark when it comes to blockbuster filmmaking. George Lucas not only made the quintessential American blockbuster but also provided a blueprint for all future filmmakers to rip off. A commentary on the dangers of fascism and how it slowly takes over democracy, Star Wars is as much about slavery, cloning, and genocide as it is about telekinetic Jedi and aliens. Lucas manages to seamlessly combine the two diametrically opposed themes here, making the first widespread crowdpleaser of the 20th century that went on to become the highest-grossing film of all time until it was taken over by E.T. some time later. Who knew introducing lightsabers and space fighters in 1977 would turn into the greatest film franchise ever made?
3. The Bourne Trilogy
Best Movie Trilogies
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Who would have thought that a trilogy of spy thrillers would find its way into the hall of fame of the greatest trilogies of all time? Matt Damon and Paul Greengrass turned the Bourne films into highly layered and emotionally complex spy thrillers that pushed the boundaries of the genre and changed it forever. Jason Bourne is a former CIA spy with amnesia struggling to piece together his past. As the CIA dispatches wave after wave of assassins to end him, Bourne will chart a globe-trotting journey with unexpected allies to bring the organization to its knees. Each installment is better than the last, and The Bourne Ultimatum, released in 2007, is a flawless action film that proudly stands amongst the giants of blockbuster filmmaking. Two more Bourne installments would later be released, but would fail to capture the essence of the original trilogy.
2. The Dark Knight Trilogy
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Any talk of the best trilogies of all time is incomplete without including Nolan’s Batman outing. Not only did Nolan resurrect the character from the depths of mockery that it found itself in the 90s, but managed to create such great films that other studios couldn't help but ‘Nolanize’ their respective characters as well, leading to grim reboots for characters as diverse as Superman and Bond. In the Dark Knight trilogy, Christian Bale’s Batman goes up against a litany of bad guys as he seeks to bring Gotham back from the abyss. A towering cinematic achievement, the Dark Knight trilogy remains the greatest superhero trilogy of all time with fantastic performances, impressive villains, and poignant stories that do justice to the character. Speaking of performances, The Dark Knight has probably the most iconic comic book performance of all time: Heath Ledger’s timeless Joker.
1. The Lord of the Rings
Best Movie Trilogies
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Rarely will anyone disagree that the crown of the best trilogy of all time should rest on Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings. A monumental cinematic achievement, the trilogy not only gets better with each installment but manages to immerse the viewer into its world with such ease that one is hard-pressed not to watch the entire trilogy in one sitting. Featuring breathtaking locations, fantastic creatures, and characters that remain memorable to this day, Peter Jackson’s tale of men, dwarves, and elves joining together to defeat the evil forces of Sauron is a tale unlike any other. Widely considered to be the only flawless trilogy ever made, The Lord of the Rings does justice to Tolkien’s seminal work and more.
Let us know in the comments below what your favourite movie trilogies of all time are.
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