Trilogies are always a popular topic of discussion when it comes to movies. Some of the most iconic film series in history are set at three entries, from Peter Jackson's epic The Lord of the Rings to the superhero flicks set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe based on the likes of Captain America and Thor.
In a lot of cases, the trilogies get better with each passing entry. However, there are certainly cases where it peaks with the first installment. These films started their franchises and managed to score the highest rating of the three movies, and most are all-time classics.
Shaun Of The Dead (7.9)
One of the most interesting things about this zombie comedy is that it can stand alone as its own yet it is indeed part of a trilogy. 2004's Shaun of the Dead is the first installment of Edgar Wright's Three Flavours Cornetto trilogy, also known as the Blood and Ice Cream trilogy.
Although each film has the same director and mostly shares cast members, the characters and concepts are all unique. 2007's Hot Fuzz was nearly as good (7.8), while 2013's The World's End (7.0) disappointed a bit. The first entry is legendary and ranks as one of the best zombie flicks and comedies of the century.
Star Trek (7.9)
It's hard to fully pin this series down because there are so many Star Trek movies out there. This one covers the three films started by J.J. Abrams, collectively called The Kelvin Timeline. It all began in 2009 with the appropriately titled Star Trek, which won an Academy Award for makeup.
The cast, action sequences, and visual effects were all met with widespread acclaim. After its success, two more entries were greenlit. There was 2013's Star Trek Into Darkness (7.7) and then Star Trek Beyond (7.1) in 2016. The scores are eerily similar to the Blood and Ice Cream series.
Iron Man (7.9)
While it was the start of its own trilogy, 2008's Iron Man actually sparked an entire franchise in the MCU which is now the highest-grossing in cinema history. This film introduced Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark as he turned his life around for the better and became Iron Man.
Although the character has appeared in better films down the line, they were team-up pictures and not part of his solo trilogy. This was followed by 2010's Iron Man 2 (7.0) and Iron Man 3 (7.1) in 2013, which were good but couldn't top Downey Jr.'s rockstar performance of the original.
Star Wars: The Force Awakens (7.9)
The Skywalker Saga of Star Wars is made up of three different trilogies. There's the original, the prequels, and the sequels. Here is the start of the sequel series made by Disney. Released in 2015, Star Wars: The Force Awakens expertly blended nostalgia with new characters and great adventures.
However, the sequel was a mixed bag as 2017's The Last Jedi (7.0) was liked by critics but loathed by some fans. For 2019's The Rise of Skywalker, J.J. Abrams was brought back as director but it still had a mixed (6.6) response. There's almost no question that The Force Awakens is the best.
Amores perros (8.1)
Of everything on this list, this is easily the least well-known. It's not some huge franchise, something with a popular fanbase, or even a blockbuster of any kind. However, the work put together by director Alejandro González Iñárritu is kind of the stuff of legend.
His series is known as the "Trilogy of Death" and began with 2000's Amores perros, which connects three stories surrounding a terrible car accident. The follow-ups came with 2003's 21 Grams (7.6) and 2006's Babel (7.4). Though not as well-received, those featured more famous stars like Sean Penn and Brad Pitt.
Before Sunrise (8.1)
This was a case where nobody expected it to turn into a stellar trilogy but it did. After all, 1995's Before Sunrise tells a relatively simple story. It's just a case of two people who meet on a train in Europe, fall in love, and then realize that they won't be spending their future together.
Shockingly, Richard Linklater brought the characters back in 2004's Before Sunset (8.1) to have them discuss what could've been. It was just as good but has fewer reviews on IMDb, so it ranks behind the first. Nine more years later, 2013 saw Before Midnight (7.9) finish the story.
How To Train Your Dragon (8.1)
When it comes to animated films, most audiences will point to Disney and Pixar Studios as the cream of the crop. Though that's mostly true, Dreamworks put together a truly magnificent series that started with the release of 2010's How to Train Your Dragon.
Following a Viking who befriends the dragon he's meant to hunt, it was lauded for nearly every aspect from visuals to storytelling to its score. 2014's How to Train Your Dragon 2 (7.8) and 2019's How to Train Your Dragon: Hidden World (7.5) wrapped up an impressive trilogy in fitting fashion.
Back To The Future (8.5)
There aren't many trilogies out there more legendary and revered than Back to the Future. When the original arrived back in 1985, it felt like nothing else found in Hollywood. The beloved flick deals with the time-traveling adventures of a teen and his wacky scientist friend.
As iconic as the first installment is, the 1989 sequel managed to be nearly as good but wasn't quite as unique (7.8), even though it was cool that it sent the characters into 2015. 1990's Back to the Future Part III (7.4) was more mixed, changing the format to the Old West era.
The Matrix (8.7)
Words like groundbreaking and genre-defining are thrown out a bit too often these days and it's only sometimes actually true. It certainly is when it comes to 1999's The Matrix. Directed by The Wachowski Brothers, this sci-fi flick changed the game with its action style and unbelievable special effects.
Even if some of the CGI doesn't hold up, the film still stands as an all-time great. Unfortunately, the sequels ended up being a big step down. 2003's The Matrix Reloaded (7.2) and The Matrix Revolutions (6.8) proved to be disappointing to even the most loyal of fans.
The Godfather (9.2)
There's a reason that so many people consider 1972's The Godfather to be one of the greatest films ever made. This landmark piece of cinema history from Francis Ford Coppola focuses on the Corleone family during a pivotal time period of patriarch Vito's stint as a mafia boss.
In the eyes of most moviegoers, 1974's The Godfather: Part II (9.0) added another tremendous entry into the series. Unfortunately, the decision to return to the story over a decade later in 1990 was met with far less acclaim as The Godfather: Part III (7.6) was easily the worst reviewed.