Top Movie Trilogies

I did something for the first time and went to the movies on Christmas. I was looking to kill a couple of hours and what better way than at the multiplex. Of course Christmas is a big release date for many movies, especially for films looking to contend for Oscars (Unbroken, American Sniper, Selma). I wasn’t in the mood for a heavy drama, so is settled for The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies and all of its visual effects. Overall, it was pretty much what I expected.

I would have to say that the final installment to The Hobbit trilogy is the worst of all of director Peter Jackson’s ventures to Middle-earth. You could argue that the relatively short novel would have been better as one or even two movies, but it wouldn’t be Hollywood if a franchise wasn’t milked and dragged out for as long as possible. Some cases work better than others, although it’s always nice to have more opportunities to see characters and stories that we enjoy. Maybe I’m just bummed that I don’t have any more Peter Jackson movies about Middle-earth to look forward to.

So what makes a quality trilogy? Many times, the second film is better than the first, and the series is closed out with a strong third film. Other times, a good concept is just beaten to death and takes away from an exceptionally good first film (did we really need two sequels of The Hangover?). Obviously the three films have to link together, but it also helps if each film can stand convincingly on its own.

I originally wrote and compiled the following list after seeing The Dark Knight Rises in the summer of 2012 before I established this blog. I eventually posted it on its own personal page that earned little to no web traffic. I have made some minor adjustments in the rankings and have added additional commentary where necessary based on current events. Despite any changes, the core of the list still holds true since I compiled it two years ago. Although they were all decent and entertaining movies, unfortunately The Hobbit series didn’t make the cut. But agree or disagree, here’s a take on the top ten movie trilogies of all time.

Honorable Mention: Alien, Die Hard, The Evil Dead, Mad Max, The Matrix, Rocky, Spider-Man, Superman, X-Men.

All of these film series have provided us with memorable characters (Ridley, Ash, John McClane, Neo, Rocky Balboa), and could be considered in an argument of cracking the top ten of movie trilogies. In most cases, one film in the series does not live up to the other two (Alien 3, Spider-Man 3, Superman III, X-Men: The Last Stand, both Matrix sequels), but are worth mentioning and were taken into consideration.

10. Terminator

One could argue that this series belongs in the honorable mention for the reasons I just mentioned. Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines is a sub-par film compared to its predecessors, and is missing both James Cameron’s direction and Linda Hamilton’s aggressive presence as Sarah Connor. But it is still a decent film. The original Terminator is a sci-fi film before its time, and introduced Arnold Schwarzenner as an action star. Terminator 2: Judgment Day is one of the best movie sequels ever and an overall great action movie. The series went on to spawn 2009’s Terminator Salvation and the short lived television series Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, becoming one of the most influential movie series of all time. Its impact is still being felt with next year’s Terminator Genisys, which will reboot the series and bring Arnold back to the signature role. And with Khaleesi Emilia Clarke as Sarah Connor, I’m all in.

9. The Bourne Trilogy

Twelve years ago in the wake of such films as The Talented Mr. Ripley, The Legend of Bagger Vance and All the Pretty Horses, could you have envisioned Matt Damon as an action star? Me neither. But he pulls it off as Jason Bourne, everyone’s favorite rouge assassin suffering from a bad case of amnesia. For spy films, these movies have it all; fast-paced action, suspense, and some pretty ridiculous car chases. You can’t go wrong with any of these films.

  8. Back to the Future

You can’t come across one person who grew up in the 80s that dislikes these films. Robert Zemeckis’s saga brings action, adventure, comedy, romance and loads of fun as we follow Marty McFly and his travels through time, played with brilliant charm by the always delightful Michael J. Fox. You might ask yourself why a teenager that is aspiring to be a rock star is hanging out with a crazy wild-eyed scientist in the first place. Who cares. Pick up a copy of the twenty-fifth anniversary edition, sit back and enjoy the ride.

7. The Dollars Trilogy

The plots and characters in A Fistful of Dollars, For a Few Dollars More, and The Good, the Bad and the Ugly are not connected in any way. The only exception is Clint Eastwood’s character, considered the “Man with No Name.” Even though he has a different name in each film, he wears the same clothes and portrays each character the same way. And he’s always out looking for a way to make a buck, no matter how dangerous. What they did do was introduce the “Spaghetti Western”, a genre based on Sergio Leone’s much imitated directing style that changed cinema. They were also the first leading roles for Eastwood, helping him reach his eventual superstar and tough guy status. Even though they’re not considered a trilogy in the traditional sense, these films will be linked together forever, and have a lasting impression on modern cinema.

6. Toy Story

These films might be catered towards a younger audience, but there filled with creative storytelling and loads of fun. The original Toy Story was the first all computer generated film brought to us by Pixar, and was a ground breaking achievement in animation. The sequel is equally good, and even though Toy Story 3 wasn’t released for another 10 years, it was well worth the wait, bringing a resounding and warm conclusion to the trilogy. The voice work on these memorable characters is spot on, and these films should be treasured for many years.

5. Indiana Jones

I’m referring to Raiders of the Lost Ark, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. It’s unfortunate we have to associate Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull with its predecessors, but we still have the first three to fall back on. Harrison Ford strikes gold as Indiana Jones, the whip-wielding, Nazi foiling archeologist. Bringing in Sean Connery as Indiana’s disapproving father and River Phoenix as a young Indiana Jones in Last Crusade gave it more a comic twist than the previous films. But Raiders is a classic and the best of the three, and it’s evident the more times you watch it.

4. The Dark Knight Trilogy

Christopher Nolan’s films provide the best portrayal of Batman onscreen in any format thus far, while also surpassing every other superhero trilogy. These films also delve the most into the psyche and determination of Bruce Wayne, played to perfection by Christian Bale. Beginning with the excellent and underrated Batman Begins, we experience the full background of what motivates the billionaire playboy to don the bat suit, which is only touched upon in Tim Burton’s Batman and Joel Shumacher’s Batman Forever. The action continues from the opening frame all the way through the ending credits in The Dark Knight, highlighted by the late Heath Ledger’s academy award winning performance as Batman’s psychotic arch nemesis, The Joker. The epic force that is The Dark Knight Rises vaults this trilogy to this position. We learn the final fate of Batman as he meets the ultimate rival in Bane, the mercenary terrorist hell-bent on bringing down Gotham City, and the ending does not disappoint.

3. The Godfather

This was a tough choice. I almost put Batman here, and the main reason is for the unwarranted The Godfather III. But when two of the three films are two of the top movies of all time, you have to show some respect, especially to the Don of all mob movies. The Godfather and The Godfather II are epic films that both won best picture, with some arguing that the sequel is better than the original. Regardless, the saga of the Corleone family is the mecca of crime stories. Based on Mario Puzo’s best-selling novel, they’re family dramas as much as they are movies about the mafia underworld. Filled with stellar acting, beautiful scenery and brilliant directing from Francis Ford Coppola, these films are cornerstones of American cinema.

2. Star Wars Episodes IV-VI

The series that took us to a galaxy far, far away, George Lucas’s visionary saga changed filmmaking history. The original Star Wars enthralled audiences upon its release in 1977, only to be topped with The Empire Strikes Back, with Darth Vader becoming one of the most sinister villains we’ve ever seen on screen. All of our questions are answered in Return of the Jedi, definitely the weakest of the three films. Jedi has a strong start, until the Imperial Army armed with laser guns and blasters are defeated by a group of walking teddy bears using sticks and rocks. It was apparent Lucas had other money making notions on his mind when ending his trilogy. And it worked. Star Wars has become one of the most influential trilogies in not only film history but in popular culture, spawning the prequel trilogy along with numerous books, toys, comic books, and multiple animated television series. The franchise is in good hands with J.J. Abrams, who has done a quality job with the Star Trek reboot. Only time will tell if Abrams's trilogy will someday earn a spot on this list.

1. The Lord of the Rings

J.R.R. Tolkien’s epic tale of good versus evil is the first great work of fantasy literature. Without it there might not have been villainous characters such as Darth Vader and Lord Voldemort. Director Peter Jackson’s does a spectacular job of bringing Tolkien’s story to the big screen, providing dazzling effects on the backdrop of breathtaking scenery. All of Tolkien’s memorable characters are brought to life by a perfect ensemble cast. The friendship and bonds that were developed between the cast members over the year of filming in New Zealand is translated onto the screen. The only weakness is that The Return of the King doesn’t feel like it’s going to end, but it’s the emotional appeal in these films that ultimately vault them to the top spot.