Sometimes, all you need is to escape to another world, and there’s no better way to do that than by binge-watching an entire film trilogy in a day. Over the years, we’ve had some timeless films that proved sequels can be done right – not once, but twice. A Reddit user asked what the greatest film trilogy of all time is, and Redditors had some interesting answers.
Here are our best picks for film trilogies that should definitely be on your watch list, and why.
1. The Cornetto Trilogy (2004-2013)
This one is for the apocalypse enthusiasts. The three movies are actually not connected in any way except for Simon Pegg and Nick Frost in the lead roles, set against the backdrop of armageddon. Starting off with Hot Fuzz, we get two cops who find themselves in a tiny quiet village as a cloaked stranger begins attacking the residents. Shaun of the Dead is a full-blown zombie movie and arguably the best of them all. And finally, The World’s End is an alien invasion with head-exploding extra-terrestrials with blue blood. The three movies are referred to as the “The Three Flavours Cornetto” trilogy because of the ice cream company sponsoring the production!
2. The Before Trilogy (1995-2013)
The “before” trilogy follows Jesse, an American man, and Celine, a French woman falling in love over the years. The films are very slow-paced, so if you’re in the mood for some action you might want to skip this one. But they’re definitely for the hopeless romantic in you if you’re looking for something to cry your eyes to while simultaneously coming to eye-opening realisations about life. The first movie is the most well-known of them all, where we see Jesse and Celine meeting randomly on a train in Europe. They hit it off very quickly, and decide to spend the night walking around Vienna and talking about life, love and everything in between.
3. The Mexico Trilogy (1992-2003)
The Mexico Trilogy is a series of American / Mexican contemporary western action films written and directed by Robert Rodriguez. The films follow El Mariachi, who suffers alone after witnessing the death of his loved ones.
4. The Back to the Future trilogy (1985-1990)
A series of time travel comedies from the 80s, this trilogy is a classic. In the first film, Marty, a 17-year-old boy accidentally ends up back in time in his scientist friend ‘Doc’s’ machine. Before he finds a way to come back though, he’s faced with the quest to make his parents’ younger versions fall in love with each other successfully.
5. The Dark Knight Trilogy (2005-2012)
Just the mention of these Christopher Nolan classics is enough to make fans erupt into debate about why his Batman films were the best. The trilogy consists of Batman Begins (2005), The Dark Knight (2008) and The Dark Knight Rises (2012), based on the DC Comics character. One of the reasons why this series of films is still so revered by movie-goers is because it is considered a groundbreaking film that revived the character and brought a lot of attention to superhero films.
6. The Lord of the Rings Trilogy
And finally, Lord of the Rings. Considered one of the best film series ever made, Lord of the Rings is based on JRR Tolkien’s novels of the same name. The epic fantasy adventure series follows Frodo Baggins and his group of reluctant heroes who set out to save their world from evil. Its many worlds and creatures were drawn from Tolkien’s extensive knowledge of philology and folklore. It is set in Middle-earth, intended to be Earth at some time in the distant past. And there’s Orlando Bloom as Legolas – that’s all I need to convince you.
We asked our community the same question, and listed down some strong contenders for the greatest trilogy ever made:
The Chronicles of Narnia
The movies are based on the novels by C.S. Lewis, set in the fantasy world of Narnia. The films revolve around the adventures of four siblings who uncover a hidden world behind the wardrobe of their new home. Beloved by children who grew up in the 2000s, Narnia is full beautiful visuals and compelling story-telling.
The Oceans Trilogy
Although one may argue that the 2018 all-female successor starring Sandra Bullock makes for four Oceans films, the original trilogy from the 2000s is a treat for heist film enthusiasts. Starring an ensemble cast including George Clooney, Brad Pitt and Julia Roberts, the films follow debonair thief Danny Ocean and his crew of specialists pulling off elaborate heists.
The Hobbit
If you’re unfamiliar with the fantasy world of JRR Tolkien, this one might be a bit confusing. While the films came after the Lord of the Rings trilogy, the plot actually follows Frodo Baggins’ uncle Bilbo, and serves as a prequel to Lord of the Rings. The films are extensive and long, but definitely worth the watch if you’re a fantasy enthusiast.
