Some stories are just too epic for a single film.
But not all trilogies are created equal.
Some can fall flat with a weak final installment, while others only get better with each new entry.
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These are the cinematic gems.
These are the ones we would like to pay homage to.
These are the trilogies that managed to capture lightingthree times over.
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And yes, that is the important part.
Because if this list proves anything, the best things really do come in threes.
The dichotomy between victim and perpetrator no longer mattered.
These were stories all about character complexity.
No, it’s not for the faint-hearted, but it’s undeniably entertaining and incredibly cathartic.
This trilogy is the ultimate proof of how conversation can be cinema’s most powerful tool.
Indeed, its beauty stems from its simplicity and its commitment to realism.
Each entry builds naturally on the last, with the characters deepeningtheir unfiltered dialogueand emotional vulnerability.
Anchoring the chaos is the dynamic chemistry betweenSimon PeggandNick Frost.Both deliver exceptional laughs and unexpected emotional punches.
Image via Columbia Pictures
This produces a narrative arc that feels earned and deeply affecting.
But even beyond this, the trilogy is a visual feast.
Its aerial sequences are both exciting and ethereal.
Plus, when accompanied byJohn Powell’s soaring score, no film could feel more epic in its world-building.
Let’s hope the live-action adaptation is able to follow suit.
5Dollars Trilogy (1964-1966)
Directed by Sergio Leone
There’s no denying it.
BetweenBatman Begins,The Dark KnightandThe Dark Knight Rises,each film remains grounded, gritty and emotionally resonant.
This is what elevated comic-book storytelling.
Of course, praise must be given toChristian Bale, who anchored the entire series with his brooding performance.
It also helped that he had a stellar ensemble cast who supported each other along the way.
One that wasn’t afraid of delving into the complex character arcs and challenges of humanity.
Regardless, the trilogy has already made its mark on cinematic history.
Images via Universal Pictures
It’s the kind of trilogy that rewards revisits.
And when something is that entertaining, why wouldn’t you want to experience it all over again?
As the ultimate space opera, these films were genre-defying, culture-shaping cinematic milestones that revolutionized blockbuster filmmaking.
No wonder we now live in a world where it has endless numbers of spin-offs and sequels.
If only they were able to consistently hit the same gold standard as the original trilogy.
That is yet to be fully seen.
Plus, this is a trilogy that has the awards to prove its reverence.
What other trilogy has earned a whopping 17 Academy Awards?
Next:The 10 Most Notorius Unfinished Movie Trilogies
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Image via DreamWorks
Clint Eastwood in A Fistful of Dollars
Image via Warner Bros.
Image via Paramount
Image via Twentieth Century-Fox
Image via New Line Cinema
