It is a truth universally acknowledged that with every addition to a film series, the quality gets progressively worse. However, every so often the gods look kindly upon the film world and bless us with a film trilogy that’s actually pretty good. Here’s a list of ten of the best trilogies, where you can be fairly certain that you won’t find a dud along the way!
10 – Terminator 1-3
The Terminator film franchise comprises five films so far, but the first three are definitely the best. Starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, this trilogy focuses on the battle between humans and human-like cyborg machines.
09 – Indiana Jones 1-3
Raiders of the Lost Ark, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade are all fantastic films from the Indiana Jones film franchise. The series, which comprises five films in total, was directed by George Lucas and stars Harrison Ford. It has become a classic amongst both film and adventure lovers worldwide.
08 – The Three Flavours Cornetto Trilogy
One of the most brilliant things about this trilogy is that most people don’t even realise that the individual films form part of a series. The three films are Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz and The World’s End, all of which star Simon Pegg and Nick Frost. Each film features a Cornetto ice cream in a different flavour, although they do all explore similar themes and subjects, as well.
07 – The Dark Knight Trilogy
All too often superhero films can seem a little contrived and cheesy, but the Dark Knight trilogy portrays Batman in a slightly darker, action-packed way. Directed by Christopher Nolan and starring Christian Bale, Batman Begins, The Dark Knight and The Dark Knight Rises make up one of the best, most watchable film trilogies of all time.
06 – The Bourne Trilogy
Matt Damon plays Jason Bourne, the protagonist in The Bourne Identity, The Bourne Supremacy and The Bourne Ultimatum. This franchise is actually based on a series of books by Robert Ludlum, but the films have proved to be even more popular and successful.
05 – Toy Story 1-3
Toy Story was the first feature-length film ever to be made entirely using CGI, and it has become a firm favourite amongst children and adults alike. It was released in 1995; there was a four year wait for the sequel, but the third film in the series was only released in 2010. Each film has been hotly anticipated, and they’ve all received rave reviews. Luckily for Toy Story fans, a fourth film in the series is already in the pipeline!
04 – The Dollars Trilogy
The three films that make up the Dollars trilogy (A Fistful of Dollars, For a Few Dollars More and The Good, the Bad and the Ugly) have all become classic films in their own rights. Directed by Sergio Leone, these films are all Spaghetti Westerns starring Clint Eastwood. They may be roughly 50 years old, but they’re still just as popular as they ever were!
03 – The Godfather Trilogy
Mario Puzo’s Godfather trilogy of books has become a classic series within the literary world, and the film adaptations starring Al Pacino are no different. This franchise follows the story of the Corleone family, an Italian Mafia family living in America.
02 – Star Wars 1-3
The three original Star Wars films are by far the best of the seven-strong film franchise (so far). Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi are cult classics, drawing fans of all ages from around the world. They may have been made during the 1970s and ‘80s, but their fan base is still growing steadily, even amongst the younger generations who weren’t alive to see the films when they were first released!
01 – The Lord of the Rings Trilogy
Three epic fantasy films make up the Lord of the Rings series, all of which are based on classic novels by J.R.R. Tolkien. The films have an all-star cast, including some of the biggest names in Hollywood. As a result, this has become one of the most successful film franchises of all time, in terms of both earnings and awards received.