Summary
While there are many examples of promisingmovie trilogiesthat get weakeras the series progresses, it can be harder to think of examples where the reverse is true. The brutal nature of the movie industry often means that films that fail often don’t get followed up, with potential franchises left unfulfilled. However, this isn’t always the case.
In fact, throughout film history, there are examples of series that noticeably improve after the first chapter. In some cases, it’s not that the first installment was particularly bad – just that subsequent movies manage to refine the formula and enhance the overall story. In others, later movies expand upon what was a promising idea, ironing out the kinks that were initially evident. Whatever the circumstances, it’s clear that some of the most well-known series in film history fall into the category of trilogies that improve after the first movie.
5 Best Movie Trilogies Ever
It’s hard enough to make a critically acclaimed film, yet some filmmakers are able to complete a near-perfect trilogy.
Fear Street
Based on R.L. Stine’s book series of the same name,Fear Streetis a perfect example of a franchise that initially faltered but succeeded thanks to the strength of its central idea. In many ways, however, the continual improvement of the trilogy was baked into the project from the start.
AlthoughFear Street Part One: 1994, followed somewhat derivative slasher tropes – albeit sometimes effectively –the following two movies actually made the first film’s story better.Part Twoimproved uponPart One’s slasher formula, whilePart Threeintroduced more unsettling supernatural horror, as well as employing a complex narrative that switched between past and present storylines. The result is that, while each film in isolation is worthy of praise, the final twoFear Streetmovies are both better in isolation and retrospectively makePart Onestronger.
Planet of the Apes
ThePlanet of the Apesreboot occupies an uncertain place in movie trilogy history. Not only is it part of a pre-existing franchise, but all three of the movies incorporate elements from earlier films, making its status as a distinct movie trilogy a matter of some debate. This is made even more complex by the arrival of a fourth reboot film,Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, in 2024. Nonetheless, the Caesar-led series has a distinct enough storyline, as well as consistent characters and themes, that it can be considered a separate movie trilogy.
…subsequent entriesDawnandWarboth upped the ante considerably, introducing complex political and social themes and some truly spectacular set pieces.
Beginning withRise of the Planet of the Apes,the reboot trilogy centers on Andy Serkis' Caesar– charting his childhood and early years with James Franco’s Will Rodman and his ascension to the leadership of an ape insurrection. The film offered a welcome refresh to what had become an ailing franchise. However, subsequent entriesDawnandWarboth upped the ante considerably, introducing complex political and social themes and some truly spectacular set pieces. As such, while it’s still an enjoyable movie,Rise of the Planet of the Apesranks lowest among the three films.
With the release ofToy Story 4in 2019, and the upcomingToy Story 5in 2026, the extent to whichToy Storycan still be considered a trilogy is debatable. However, the structure of the overall narrative, in which the first three movies revolve around the toys' relationship with owner Andy, helps the original movies stand apart as separate and distinct entries. Things become even more complex, however, when ranking the films.
There is no doubt thatToy Storyis a masterpiece of animation. However, despite its deserved reputation, there is a sense that, with hindsight, it still falls short ofToy Story 2andToy Story 3. Woody is a thoroughly unpleasant character for most of the runtime, and the Pixar animation that once seemed so ground-breaking has lost much of its impact. By contrast,Toy Story 2and3remain as vibrant and entertaining as ever, with the passage of time only enhancing each toy’s personality.Toy Storyremains a classic, but its follow-ups took things to a new level.
Toy Story Movies Ranked Worst To Best
Pixar’s Toy Story franchise is one of the greatest in Hollywood history, but which one is the best? We rank all four films in the series.
Star Wars
Ranking any aspect of a franchise as popular asStar Warswill inevitably cause controversy – and the prequel movies are no exception. Despite being generally regarded as a step down from the original movies, eachStar Warsprequel still has its defenders. However, while it is by no means a total failure,The Phantom Menacestands out as the weakest film in the series.
While the originalStar Warswas legendary for its propulsive storytelling, vivid practical sets, and immersive world-building,The Phantom Menacebecame a CGI-soaked thesis on the intricacies of intergalactic trade. While some scenes bucked the trend, the movie was generally turgid and plodding – punctuated by the notoriously irritating interjections of Jar Jar Binks. BothAttack of the ClonesandRevenge of the Sithhad their faults. However,Star Warswould never be as boring as it was inThe Phantom Menace.
Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance
Cast
Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance is a South Korean crime drama directed by Park Chan-wook. Released in 2002, the film follows a deaf man and his girlfriend as they take extreme actions to secure a kidney transplant for his sister, leading to an escalating cycle of violence and retribution.
While not a traditional series in a narrative sense, Park Chan-wook’s Vengeance series is a prime example of anunderappreciated thematic movie trilogy. Each installment explores a different aspect of vengeance through the eyes of three separate protagonists – all while offering a subtle social commentary. Yet while the films share a preoccupation with revenge, some installments are more well-rounded than others.
Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance, despite constituting the start of the series, is by far and away the weakest of the trilogy. Not only did the film fail to make an impact at the box office, but critics were largely disappointed with its ultraviolent content (resulting in a Rotten Tomatoes score of just 54%). By contrast,bothOldboyandLady Vengeanceimproved the balance between violence and broader themes, withOldboyin particular now regarded as a classic of South Korean cinema.
Mad Max
One of the best examples of low-budget action cinema, the originalMad Maxremains an impressive achievement. The film’s revenge narrative, suitably over-the-top performances, and impressive stuntwork have helped endear it to generations of film-lovers – even if contemporary reviews were somewhat divisive. However, even though its 90% Rotten Tomatoes rating is impressive, the originalMad Maxstill falls short of its first two sequels.
Mad Max 2(released asThe Road Warrior) in the United States arguably created the template for post-apocalyptic storytelling, introducing many of the tropes that have become genre staples.Mad Max Beyond Thunderdomecontinued the trend, creating an immersive world that the original (with its relatively minuscule budget) could never hope to replicate.Mad Maxremains a cinematic landmark,but its sequels have arguably had more of an impactwhen it comes to shaping popular understanding of what a post-apocalyptic movie should be.
Every Mad Max Movie, Ranked Worst To Best
George Miller has made five Mad Max movies in the post-apocalyptic franchise, but their quality can vary. The Mad Max movies ranked reveals the best.
Although part of a wider cinematic universe and shaped by events in different films, the threeCaptain Americamovies nonetheless constitute their own distinct trilogy. Starting withCaptain America: The First Avenger, the films follow supersoldier Steve Rogers as he battles enemies both internal and external, ranging from Nazis to fellow Avengers.
The Winter Soldieris a gripping spy thriller that benefits from the presence of other popular Marvel characters, whileCivil Waris arguably one of the great crossover movies of all time…
While by no means a disaster,the originalCaptain Americais easily the weakest of the trilogy.The Winter Soldieris a gripping spy thriller that benefits from the presence of other popular Marvel characters, whileCivil Waris arguably one of the great crossover movies of all time – featuring the likes of Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man and introducing Spider-Man to the MCU. Compared to these entries, which remain among the MCU’s best,Captain America: The First Avengerunderstandably falls short.
The extent to which the three Wolverine films can be considered a trilogy is debatable. Although they each focus on the same central character, their settings, tones, and stories are so distinctive that there is little beyond Wolverine himself to connect them. However, part of the reason for this may be that the first installment failed so comprehensively to create a narrative worth exploring further.
The first film,X-Men Origins: Wolverine, was a critical failure– rebuked for its messy story, derivative characters, and occasionally poor special effects – resulting in a mediocre Rotten Tomatoes score of 38%.The Wolverineimproved things substantially, with its Japanese-set story proving more successful with audiences and critics. However, the series really peaked withLogan– widely regarded as one of thebest superhero movies of all timeand praised for its thoughtful and mature approach to the character.
An off-shoot of the wildly successfulConjuringseries,Annabellegot off to a fairly inauspicious start. Whereas the originalConjuringwas praised for being a genuinely terrifying rejuvenation of the horror genre,Annabellefell back into derivative jump-scare territory, with a story that failed to innovate. As a result, the movie received a paltry 28% on Rotten Tomatoes, seemingly auguring poorly for theAnnabellefilms' future.
$257.6 million
28%
$306.5 million
70%
$231.3 million
64%
However, things improved substantially with the two subsequentAnnabellemovies.Annabelle: Creationcombined a gripping origin story with an unsettling atmosphere, resulting in improved reviews across the board.Annabelle Come Homecontinued the trend, earning 64% on Rotten Tomatoes and highlighting just how short the first film had fallen.
Perhaps the most recognizable Western trilogy in movie history, Sergio Leone’s Dollars trilogy is credited with introducing the world to Clint Eastwood and cementing the genre’s global popularity.Each movie is impressive on its own terms– highlighted by their enduring popularity and consistent critical acclaim. Nevertheless, there is an undeniable sense that the film that started it all,A Fistful of Dollars, is the weakest in an outstanding series.
Although expertly executed, (A Fistful of Dollars) nonetheless lacks the originality on display inFor A Few Dollars MoreandThe Good, The Bad, And The Ugly.
Part of the reason forA Fistful of Dollarsposition is thatit functions as an unofficial remake of Akira Kurosawa’s classic,Yojimbo. Although expertly executed, the movie nonetheless lacks the originality on display inFor A Few Dollars MoreandThe Good, The Bad, And The Ugly.Each movie is a cinematic classic, but the Dollars series nonetheless counts as amovie trilogythat improves after the first film.
