The 20 best movie trilogies of all time

Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather is one of the most influential films of all time, giving audiences a peek into the violent world of the mafia through the powerful and ruthless Vito Corleone. The original film and its sequel are considered masterpieces and are two of the highest-rated films of all time. While the third film is not on the same level as its predecessors, it is still worth watching and does not detract from one of the greatest cinematic works ever released. 

The first Planet of the Apes film was released in 1968, but the long-running series was later revamped with a new trilogy of Rise, Dawn of, and War for The Planet of the Apes. Following chimp Caesar as he leads an ape uprising against humans, the films use groundbreaking motion capture technology to bring Andy Serkis’ performance to life. The trilogy changed the VFX industry and brought much deeper and more complex themes to the series.

Referred to by many as the greatest movie trilogy of all time, it really doesn’t get much better than The Lord of the Rings. All three entries — The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King — are filled with breathtaking spectacle, epic battles, meticulous world-building, brilliant characters, and plenty of heart at their core. Peter Jackson brings Middle-earth to life with the highest of care, and Frodo’s journey offers a thrilling quest for fans to ride along with.

There have been countless movies about DC’s caped crusader, but none have captured the world of Gotham City with as much grit and prestige as Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight trilogy. Featuring the most popular portrayal of Batman to date, Nolan’s films are dark, brooding, and grounded in reality, revolutionizing the superhero genre. The trilogy also gave audiences one of the greatest movie villains of all time in Heath Ledger’s Joker, the highlight of all three films.

While there are technically four Toy Story movies, 2019’s Toy Story 4 stands on its own and focuses on a different narrative. The original trilogy, which follows Andy as he grows up with his beloved toys, Woody and Buzz, is Pixar’s best work. The Toy Story movies changed the animation landscape by introducing computer animation to the feature film world and proved that family films can connect to adults on a deeper level. The series continues to have a special place in viewers' hearts. 

Marvel Studios has had its hits and misses, but fans can agree that the Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy is among, if not their best work. The films follow a ragtag group of space criminals who eventually become defenders of their galaxy. Thanks to its quirky characters, comedic tone, and strong emotional core, the trilogy became an unexpected triumph within the genre and even converted superhero cynics. With three excellent entries, Guardians is top-tier MCU. 

Richard Linklater’s Before… films make up the unlikeliest of successful trilogies. You won’t find action or high stakes here, but instead, deeply thoughtful and profound depictions of love and connection. The three films were released nine years apart, following the romance between Jesse and Celine. Featuring Before Sunrise, Before Sunset, and Before Midnight , the trilogy is renowned for its compelling dialogue and the chemistry between Julie Delpy and Ethan Hawke.

Star Wars has been a cultural juggernaut since the ‘70s, with countless films and TV shows set in George Lucas’ universe. There has been a prequel trilogy and a sequel trilogy, but nothing will ever come close to the original trilogy. Lucas captured the imaginations of fans worldwide when he introduced Luke Skywalker, the Jedi, and the Empire. From the empowering Princess Leia to the evil Darth Vader, the Skywalker saga is one of epic proportions and changed pop culture forever.

Hollywood’s obsession with time travel movies kicked off at its peak in the ‘80s, thanks to the success of the Back to the Future  trilogy. The three films see Doc Brown and teen Marty McFly travel to the past, the future, and even the Wild West. Michael J. Fox’s charming portrayal of McFly made him a household name, and the films asked questions such as what it would be like to meet the younger versions of your parents or if we’d get flying cars by 2015 (spoiler alert: we didn't).

Spider-Man has taken many forms in media over the years, but the most nostalgic and beloved iteration of the web-slinger is found in Sam Raimi’s 2000s trilogy. Raimi’s films see teen Parker Parker develop powers after being bitten by a radioactive spider and learning that with great power comes great responsibility. Tobey Maguire’s nerdy and awkward portrayal of Peter is a fan favorite and memorable villains like Green Goblin. While Spider-Man 3 feels more like an unintentional comedy, it still has plenty of entertainment value.

The Evil Dead trilogy is one of the most unconventional of its kind, adding to why it is so great. The Evil Dead is an all-out horror with flesh-possessing demons, while its sequel, Evil Dead II, takes an unexpected comedic route. The final film, Army of Darkness, moves away from the cabin in the woods and takes viewers to medieval England. All three films couldn’t be more different, and their distinctiveness makes them so bold. What they have in common is a tone of gore that is not for the faint of heart. 

No film has been more influential within the sci-fi genre than The Matrix. The Wachowskis' breakthrough hit is a visually distinctive and innovative masterpiece, exploring themes of reality and perception that are relevant today, especially with the rise of artificial intelligence. The Matrix trilogy gave Keanu Reeves one of the most prolific roles of his career. While the second and third films failed to reach the genius of the original, they are still fun and thrilling additions. 

DreamWorks Animation has released several trilogies over the years, and How to Train Your Dragon is the very best one. Set in the fictional Viking village of Berk, the series sees the unlikely bond between Hiccup and his Night Fury dragon Toothless, who Hiccup was originally supposed to kill, change the way society sees dragons. The relationship between Hiccup and Toothless is too wholesome for this world, and the soaring visuals and animation in all three films are magical.

Peter Jackson’s decision to split The Hobbit into three films has always been controversial, as the original novel is only over three hundred pages long. While The Lord of the Rings will always remain superior, The Hobbit films offer another whimsical and visually dazzling Middle-earth adventure. Martin Freeman as Bilbo Baggins is an example of pitch-perfect casting, and there are plenty of memorable new characters like Thorin Oakenshield and Smaug the dragon. 

When it seemed like Sylvester Stallone was completely done with Rocky , he and Michael B. Jordan breathed new life into the franchise with the Creed films. Jordan plays Adonis, son of the late Apollo Creed, who is trained by Rocky and must deal with his father’s legacy. While paying homage to the Rocky films, the Creed trilogy brings a fresh, sleek, and modern touch to the series. Gone is the camp and cheesiness, replaced by a highly moving and satisfying narrative. 

Edgar Wright’s Three Flavours Cornetto trilogy is not your typical movie trilogy. Made up of Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, and The World’s End , Wright’s British comedies have no narrative relation to each other. They feature completely different characters in completely different settings. However, what connects all these hilarious films is that a character buys a Cornetto ice cream in each, with the color symbolizing a theme within the film. All three films star Simon Pegg and Nick Frost.

Several Avengers in the MCU have had their own film trilogies, but the strongest of the bunch are Steve Rogers' adventures in the Captain America films. The First Avenger is a fascinating origin story set during World War II, The Winter Soldier an intelligent spy thriller, and Civil War is an epic superhero crossover. Aside from Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark, Chris Evans as Steve is the center point and emotional core of the Infinity Saga. He’s a hero worthy of the title.

Before David Fincher’s 2011 version of The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, Sweden released their own film adaptations in 2009 of three of the Millennium books by Stieg Larsson, which include Dragon Tattoo, The Girl Who Played With Fire, and The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets’ Nest. Noomi Rapace plays Lisabeth Sandler, a computer hacker, alongside Michael Nyqvist as investigative journalist Mikael Blomkvist. The trilogy does an excellent job of developing the fascinating relationship between Lisabeth and Mikael.

Before Fury Road and Furiosa, George Miller brought audiences to post-apocalyptic Australia with the original Mad Max trilogy. Set in an Australian wasteland post-war, the films follow Max, an ex-policeman and lone drifter who eventually liberates others. The films have had a huge impact on action and dystopian movies, thanks to thrilling set pieces and practical effects. While the second film is considered the best, all three entries are incredibly strong and entertaining.

The Madagascar trilogy offers some of the best comedy and wit you’ll find in any family-friendly film. Following a group of New York zoo animals who are accidentally shipped off to Madagascar, each movie puts the group into a bizarre and hilariously unique situation, whether reuniting with family in Africa or performing in a circus in Europe. Thanks to bold character designs, memorable jokes, and catchy tunes like "I Like to Move It," Madagascar is a whole lot of fun.