10 Perfect Movie Trilogies With No Bad Entries

It’s surprisingly hard to make a successful movie trilogy. Often, the third film struggles, a problem Rifftrax jokingly calls “Godfather syndrome” – examples include the X-Men and Spider-Man series. Sometimes the second movie is weaker, but the third bounces back, as seen with Iron Man and the newer Star Trek films. Other times, what starts as a trilogy just keeps going, becoming a full-blown franchise. Indiana Jones, Mad Max, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Toy Story all have five movies now, and the Planet of the Apes reboot, initially planned as a trilogy, is expanding with Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes and hopes for another three films. And occasionally, unfortunately, none of the movies really work, like the recent The Strangers trilogy.

With so many franchises being brought back with new sequels, it feels like classic, complete trilogies are a thing of the past. While it can seem like there aren’t any truly great ones anymore, there are actually 10 exceptional trilogies where all three movies are fantastic. These films – whether directly connected stories or sharing a common theme – would make a perfect series to watch, and you won’t want to miss a single one.

‘The Guardians of the Galaxy’

‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ (2014), ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2’ (2017), ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’ (2023)

Disney

Whether Guardians of the Galaxy truly forms a trilogy is open for discussion, considering the Holiday Special and the team’s involvement in several Avengers and Thor movies. Still, the three main films, all written and directed by James Gunn, tell a complete story about a group of misfits who become a family. Ultimately, the story focuses on Rocket Raccoon as its core character. When Guardians of the Galaxy premiered in 2014, it was a fresh take on the superhero genre, blending comedy, a rebellious spirit, and classic science fiction.

While Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 focused more on the characters and their feelings, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 provides a satisfying and moving conclusion to the trilogy – it’s bittersweet, yet ultimately hopeful. Regardless of what happens with the Guardians of the Galaxy in future Marvel movies, this three-film story remains the strongest trilogy in the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe.

‘The Three Flavours Cornetto’ Trilogy

‘Shaun of the Dead’ (2004), ‘Hot Fuzz’ (2007), ‘The World’s End’ (2013)

Universal Pictures

Edgar Wright’s Three Flavours Cornetto trilogy – so named because it shares a connection to another film series – is a group of three movies linked by familiar actors, shared ideas, playful takes on different genres, and the Cornetto ice cream itself. Each film is associated with a different Cornetto flavor; the first, Shaun of the Dead, a comedic take on zombie horror, is linked to the strawberry flavor, fitting with all the blood in the movie.

The films in Edgar Wright’s ‘Cornetto Trilogy’ cleverly use different Cornetto ice cream flavors as recurring symbols. In Hot Fuzz, the blue Cornetto represents the police, playfully highlighting the ‘boys in blue.’ The green mint-chocolate chip Cornetto in The World’s End symbolizes the aliens at the heart of the story. The trilogy expertly parodies and pays homage to genres like zombie films, buddy cop movies, and alien invasions, offering both humor and insightful observations about modern Britain.

‘The Dark Knight’ Trilogy

‘Batman Begins’ (2005), ‘The Dark Knight’ (2008), ‘The Dark Knight Rises’ (2012)

Warner Bros. Pictures

Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight trilogy changed what superhero movies could be. Batman Begins is considered one of the greatest origin stories in superhero cinema, and it practically invented the way studios reboot franchises today. The Dark Knight itself is a nearly flawless Batman film and a standout action/crime movie from the 2000s, largely thanks to Heath Ledger’s iconic performance as the Joker.

Although The Dark Knight might not be as groundbreaking as the first two films in the series, it’s still a fantastic and large-scale epic. It offers Batman something the comic books rarely do: a definitive and satisfying conclusion. Even after more than 20 years since the trilogy started and 14 years since it finished, its impact on popular culture remains strong, cementing its place as one of the all-time greats.

‘Back to the Future’

‘Back to the Future’ (1985), ‘Back to the Future Part II’ (1989), ‘Back to the Future Part III’ (1990)

Universal

The Back to the Future movies are considered a classic and truly define 1980s cinema. Fortunately, the creators, Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale, have resisted the urge to remake or revisit the story in any way since the original trilogy ended over three decades ago.

The Back to the Future trilogy, featuring Michael J. Fox as Marty McFly and Christopher Lloyd as Doc Brown, is a beloved and entertaining sci-fi comedy series. It playfully references the classic, fast-paced sci-fi adventures of the 1950s, but with a fresh, modern comedic style. Each film successfully builds on the original while also offering something new. Back to the Future essentially defined how time travel is portrayed in modern storytelling, and its impact can still be seen in countless movies and shows today.

‘Dollars’

‘A Fistful of Dollars’ (1964), ‘A Few Dollars More’ (1965),’ The Good, The Bad and the Ugly’ (1966)

Produzioni Europee Associati

Sergio Leone’s Dollars trilogy of spaghetti westerns – starring Clint Eastwood as the mysterious “Man with No Name” – is a landmark achievement in cinema. Though The Good, the Bad and the Ugly is often considered the standout film, the entire trilogy showcases brilliant filmmaking, including masterful editing, stunning visuals, and an unforgettable musical score.

The film A Fistful of Dollars was inspired by Akira Kurosawa’s Yojimbo without permission, leading to a lawsuit that Kurosawa and his studio, Toho, ultimately won. Surprisingly, Kurosawa ended up earning more from this Western adaptation than from his original film. This, along with the remake of The Magnificent Seven into The Dirty Dozen, created a strong connection between Westerns and samurai films. The Dollars trilogy is considered the most important series of spaghetti Westerns, and it heavily influenced filmmaking for years to come, not just within the Western genre.

‘The Lord of the Rings’

‘The Fellowship of the Ring’ (2001), ‘The Two Towers’ (2002), ‘Return of the King’ (2003)

New Line Cinema

Despite the growing number of films set in J.R.R. Tolkien’s world—including The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim, with The Hunt for Gollum on the way—the original Lord of the Rings trilogy remains special. Peter Jackson and his team achieved something remarkable: they successfully adapted Tolkien’s complex story for the big screen, making it enjoyable for a wide audience. The result was a series of hugely popular, groundbreaking blockbusters that resonated with a generation.

Even today, The Lord of the Rings continues to influence fantasy stories. The Academy Award for Best Picture won by The Return of the King wasn’t just for that one film—it recognized the entire trilogy as a landmark achievement in cinematic history, and its impact will last forever.

‘Three Colors’

‘Blue’ (1993), ‘White’ (1994), ‘Red’ (1994)

Canal+

Edgar Wright’s “Three Flavours Cornetto” trilogy takes its inspiration from Krzysztof Kieślowski’s “Three Colors” films. These films – “Blue,” “White,” and “Red” – are named after the colors of the French flag. Although they don’t have a direct, connected story, with only minor character appearances linking “Blue” and “White” to “Red,” they all explore themes related to the ideals of the French Revolution – freedom (“Blue”), equality (“White”), and brotherhood (“Red”).

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What struck me most about this trilogy wasn’t a debate about ideas, but how deeply those ideas felt. The films really dig into how these concepts play out in ordinary life. And the acting? Absolutely phenomenal. Juliette Binoche, Zbigniew Zamachowski, Julie Delpy – the whole cast, including the legendary Jean-Louis Trintignant and Irène Marie Jacob – delivered performances that resonated throughout all three films. Each movie is stunning on its own, but experiencing them together is truly something special – a gorgeous, cohesive cinematic journey.

Wong Kar Wai’s ‘Love’ trilogy

‘Days of Being Wild’ (1990), ‘In the Mood for Love’ (2000), ‘2046’ (2004)

Block 2 Pictures

The ‘Love trilogy’ by Wong Kar-Wai – consisting of Days of Being Wild, In the Mood for Love, and 2046 – shares characters and themes but isn’t a formally defined series. Maggie Cheung plays Su Lizhen throughout all three films, while Tony Leung’s character, Chow Mo-wan, is first hinted at in Days of Being Wild and then becomes a key figure in the later movies. This interconnectedness deserves greater recognition.

For me, In the Mood for Love is really the heart of what Wong Kar-wai was building with this loose trilogy. It tells the story of Su Lizhen and Chow Mo-Wan, and their complicated connection. Days of Being Wild kind of sets the stage for everything, and then 2046 jumps forward in time, showing us what happens with those characters after their affair. The amazing thing is, each film is beautiful on its own, but when you watch them all together, it feels like one huge, sweeping story about love, the things we regret, and how our pasts shape not just us, but everyone around us. It’s like all these characters are connected by a shared history, woven into this incredible, emotional tapestry.

Original ‘Star Wars’ Trilogy

‘Star Wars: A New Hope’ (1977), ‘The Empire Strikes Back’ (1980), ‘Return of the Jedi’ (1983)

20th Century Studios

The Star Wars saga is made up of three separate trilogies, meaning the first three movies can be enjoyed on their own, but also fit into a larger story. While the prequel trilogy only has one strong film (Revenge of the Sith) and the sequel trilogy has one particularly weak entry (The Rise of Skywalker), the original Star Wars trilogy is consistently good throughout. All three films remain beloved by audiences worldwide.

Star Wars wasn’t just a popular movie; it revolutionized filmmaking, and its impact sometimes makes us forget how truly enjoyable it is as a science fiction story. The Empire Strikes Back is widely considered one of the best sequels ever made. While Return of the Jedi isn’t quite as strong as the first two films, it’s still a very entertaining adventure filled with creative characters and a moving ending that solidified the original Star Wars trilogy as a defining cinematic experience for an entire generation.

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2026-02-10 02:06