There are situations where the middle leg of a trilogy is forgotten. The first movie is meant to establish the world, characters, overarching story, and more. The third film is there to wrap up the saga, in a hopefully satisfying way, that brings it all together masterfully. That leaves the second part to sometimes just exist to further the plot.
However, there are those occasions where that second entry just so happens to be the best. It expands on the setup from the first and ends up telling a more compelling story than what comes next. Some of these are actually among the greatest films of all time.
Elephant (7.2)
This is from one of the lesser-known trilogies out there but it deserves more recognition than it typically gets. Directed by acclaimed and Academy Award-nominated Gus Van Sant, 2003's Elephant is actually the middle film in his "Death Trilogy."
All based on real events, it started with 2002's Gerry (6.1) and ended with 2005's Last Days (5,8). Elephant easily scored the highest and is partially based on the 1999 Colombine High School shooting. Though controversial, it did earn Van Sant the coveted Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival.
Desperado (7.2)
There are cases where the middle film in a trilogy is also the most famous and that's certainly the case with Desperado. Directed by the versatile Robert Rodriguez, this 1995 neo-western felt pretty unique at the time and helped make Antonio Banderas into a household name. It's the middle leg of the "Mexico Trilogy."
The first was 1992's El Mariachi (6.9), which was the lowest-budget movie to ever gross $1 million. The final film was 2003's Once Upon a Time in Mexico (6.4). Desperado saw El Mariachi on a quest for revenge. It also had Rodriguez work with stars like Salma Hayek, Cheech Marin, and Danny Trejo, who would become regulars for him.
Split (7.3)
Consider this an unexpected trilogy in movie history. 2000's Unbreakable (7.3) was always seen as a standalone film that was a unique take on superheroes. When M. Night Shyamalan came out with Split in 2016, nobody expected that the movies would be connected.
The end stinger revealed that Bruce Willis' David Dunn existed in the same universe. Though they're tied in score, Split has more total reviews so it gets the nod. James McAvoy was heavily praised for his performance as a man with nearly two-dozen different personalities. 2019's Glass (6.7) brought it all together for an anti-climactic finish.
John Wick: Chapter 2 (7.5)
Technically there will be more than three entries into the John Wick franchise. As of right now though, it stands at three films and there is an impressive level of consistency between them. 2014's John Wick and 2019's John Wick: Chapter 3- Parabellum have the same score (7.4).
Meanwhile, 2017's John Wick: Chapter 2 has the best rating and it's only barely above the rest. The series has received widespread acclaim for the performance of Keanu Reeves, the high-octane action scenes, and the unique world that it builds out.
The Road Warrior (7.6)
One could argue that there are four entries into the Mad Max franchise and while that's true, 2015's Mad Max: Fury Road is kind of its own story. It's an odd but glorious blend of a sequel and a spin-off. For the sake of this list, the Mel Gibson trilogy is considered.
Debuting in 1979 with Mad Max (6.9), that series wrapped in 1985 with Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (6.3). However, it was 1981's The Road Warrior that seemed to steal the show as director George Miller upped the ante and made everything bigger.
Dawn Of The Planet Of The Apes (7.6)
The decision to reboot classic franchises is often met with caution from loyal fans. Thankfully, Planet of the Apes was done justice when it returned in 2011's Rise of the Planet of the Apes (7.6). It is just barely eked out by the follow-up movie, 2014's Dawn of the Planet of the Apes.
That installment raises the stakes and puts everything in motion as Caesar (remarkably played by Andy Serkis) leads a nation of apes. The series comes to an end with 2017's War for the Planet of the Apes (7.4), which is a fitting conclusion but not above the second entry.
Evil Dead II (7.8)
In 1981, Sam Raimi blew away audiences with The Evil Dead (7.6). It was genuinely terrifying (and kind of still is), while the use of practical effects holds up today. The series has remained a staple that included a 2013 remake (6.5) and the Ash vs. Evil Dead TV show (8.4).
Six years after the original, Raimi returned with Evil Dead II in 1987. This kept the scares and the iconic Ash Williams but also debuted the franchise's trademark comedic style. It made for an expert mix and the final entry went all comedy in 1992's Army of Darkness (7.5).
Oldboy (8.4)
Even if you're someone who never watches foreign cinema, you have probably heard of 2003's Oldboy. It's widely viewed as one of the best and most influential movies to come from South Korea or anywhere during the 2000s. Based on a manga of the same name, it centers on someone who is kidnapped for over a decade, escapes, and must find his captor in just a few days.
The film was praised for almost every aspect, especially with regard to the action scenes. What some don't realize is that this was the middle leg in the "Vengeance Trilogy." 2002's Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance (7.6) and 2005's Lady Vengeance (7.6) were both also good movies.
The Empire Strikes Back (8.7)
The Skywalker Saga in Star Wars is basically broken up into three separate movie trilogies. The prequel and sequel trilogies had their merits but most fans agree that the original is the best. That included 1977's Star Wars/A New Hope (8.6), which is an all-time classic.
It came to an end with 1983's Return of the Jedi (8.3), which is also beloved. However, 1980's The Empire Strikes Back is as legendary as it gets. There was bigger action, more lore built up, and the introduction of some truly iconic characters, as well as the greatest plot twist in cinema history.
The Dark Knight (9.0)
When Christopher Nolan was given control of Batman on the big screen, he had some serious work to do. Though Tim Burton had strong entries, the Joel Schumacher era was panned, often for being too campy. Nolan put a more realistic tone on it all with 2005's Batman Begins (8.2). That debuted Christian Bale as Bruce Wayne and set the tone going forward.
The acclaimed trilogy ended with 2012's The Dark Knight Rises (8.4), which was also great. Nothing could top 2008's The Dark Knight, though. It's viewed as arguably the greatest comic book movie ever made as well as one of the best crime dramas ever. Heath Ledger won a posthumous Oscar for his portrayal of The Joker, while nearly every other performance was also widely praised.