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While there are many examples of promisingmovie trilogiesthat get weakeras the series progresses , it can be hard to consider of examples where the opposite is honest . The brutal nature of the flick diligence often stand for that moving-picture show that fail often do n’t get watch over up , with potential franchise result unrealized . However , this is n’t always the case .
In fact , throughout motion picture story , 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 movie superintend to refine the formula and enhance the overall story . In others , afterwards movies expand upon what was a hopeful idea , iron out the kinks that were initially apparent . Whatever the circumstances , it ’s clean-cut that some of the most well - known series in film history come into the class of trilogies that improve after the first movie .
It ’s backbreaking enough to make a critically acclaimed film , yet some filmmakers are capable to discharge a near - arrant trilogy .
10Fear Street
Fear Street Part One: 1994, Fear Street Part Two: 1978, Fear Street Part Three: 1666
base on R.L. Stine ’s book series of the same name , Fear Streetis a perfect illustration of a franchise that initially faltered but succeeded thanks to the strength of its central thought . In many path , however , the continual improvement of the trilogy was bake into the project from the start .
AlthoughFear Street Part One : 1994 , followed somewhat derivative slasher tropes – albeit sometimes effectively – the follow two moving-picture show actually made the first film ’s story good . Part Twoimproved uponPart One ’s slasher formula , whilePart Threeintroduced more unsettling supernatural horror , as well as employ a complex narrative that switched between preceding and present storylines . The solvent is that , while each film in isolation is desirable of congratulations , the final twoFear Streetmovies are both right in closing off and retrospectively makePart Onestronger .
9Planet Of The Apes – Caesar Trilogy
Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes, Dawn Of The Planet Of The Apes, War For The Planet Of The Apes
ThePlanet of the Apesreboot occupies an uncertain post in movie trilogy account . Not only is it part of a pre - existing dealership , but all three of the picture incorporate elements from earlier films , making its position as a distinct movie trilogy a subject of some disputation . This is made even more complex by the arriver of a fourth reboot film , Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes , in 2024 . Nonetheless , the Caesar - guide series has a distinct enough plot line , as well as consistent characters and themes , that it can be considered a disjoined movie trilogy .
… subsequent entriesDawnandWarboth up the ante substantially , inaugurate complex political and societal themes and some truly dramatic determined pieces .
begin withRise of the Planet of the Apes , the reboot trilogy centers on Andy Serkis ' Caesar – chart his puerility and early years with James Franco ’s Will Rodman and his ascent to the leadership of an copycat insurrection . The movie offered a welcome refresh to what had become an ailing franchise . However , subsequent entriesDawnandWarboth upped the ante considerably , introducing complex political and societal theme and some truly striking determined piece . As such , while it ’s still an gratifying movie , Rise of the Planet of the Apesranks lowest among the three films .
8Toy Story – Andy Trilogy
Toy Story, Toy Story 2, Toy Story 3
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With the going ofToy account 4 in 2019 , and the upcomingToy Story 5 in 2026 , the extent to whichToy Storycan still be moot a trilogy is debatable . However , the structure of the overall narration , in which the first three picture revolve around the toy dog ' family relationship with owner Andy , helps the original movies stomach aside as separate and distinct entries . Things become even more complex , however , when ranking the cinema .
There is no doubt thatToy Storyis a masterpiece of animation . However , despite its deserved reputation , there is a gumption that , with hindsight , it still fall short ofToy Story 2andToy Story 3 . Woody is a soundly unpleasant part for most of the runtime , and the Pixar animation that once seemed so ground - breaking has turn a loss much of its encroachment . By contrast , Toy Story 2and3remain as vivacious and entertaining as ever , with the transition of time only enhance each toy ’s personality . Toy Storyremains a classic , but its follow - ups took things to a new level .
Pixar ’s Toy Story franchise is one of the cracking in Hollywood history , but which one is the effective ? We rate all four films in the serial publication .
7Star Wars Prequels
The Phantom Menace, Attack Of The Clones, Revenge Of The Sith
Ranking any aspect of a dealership as democratic asStar Warswill inevitably cause controversy – and the prequel movies are no elision . Despite being broadly speaking regarded as a whole tone down from the original movies , eachStar Warsprequel still has its defender . However , while it is by no agency a full failure , The Phantom Menacestands out as the weakest film in the series .
While the originalStar Warswas legendary for its propelling storytelling , vivid hardheaded sets , and immersive world - building , The Phantom Menacebecame a CGI - soaked thesis on the intricacies of intergalactic trade . While some picture buck the drift , the pic was generally turgid and plodding – punctuated by the notoriously irritating ejaculation of Jar Jar Binks . BothAttack of the ClonesandRevenge of the Sithhad their fracture . However , Star Warswould never be as boring as it was inThe Phantom Menace .
6Vengeance Trilogy
Sympathy For Mr. Vengeance, Oldboy, Lady Vengeance
Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance is a South Korean crime drama directed by Park Chan - wook . Released in 2002 , the film follow a deaf man and his girlfriend as they take extreme action mechanism to secure a kidney transplanting for his sister , leading to an escalating bike of violence and payback .
While not a traditional series in a narrative sense , Park Chan - wook ’s Vengeance series is a prime object lesson of anunderappreciated thematic movie trilogy . Each installment explores a unlike expression of vengeance through the eyes of three separate champion – all while offering a pernicious societal 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 offset of the series , is by far and off the sapless of the trilogy . Not only did the film go bad to make an wallop at the box federal agency , but critics were for the most part defeated with its ultraviolent depicted object ( result in a Rotten Tomatoes account of just 54 % ) . By contrast , bothOldboyandLady Vengeanceimproved the balance between violence and broader themes , withOldboyin exceptional now regarded as a classic of South Korean cinema .
Custom image by Debanjana Chowdhury
5Mad Max Original Trilogy
Mad Max, Mad Max 2 – The Road Warrior, Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome
One of the upright examples of low - budget activity cinema , the originalMad Maxremains an telling achievement . The motion picture ’s revenge narrative , fitly over - the - top performances , and impressive stuntwork have helped endear it to generation of photographic film - lovers – even if contemporaneous reviews were somewhat divisive . However , even though its 90 % Rotten Tomatoes rating is telling , the originalMad Maxstill go down light of its first two sequel .
Mad Max 2(released asThe Road Warrior ) in the United States arguably created the templet for post - apocalyptic storytelling , innovate many of the image that have become writing style staples . crazy Max Beyond Thunderdomecontinued the trend , produce an immersive world that the original ( with its relatively minuscule budget ) could never hope to replicate . Mad Maxremains a cinematic turning point , but its continuation have arguably had more of an impactwhen it comes to mold popular understanding of what a post - apocalyptic movie should be .
George Miller has made five Mad Max movies in the post - apocalyptic dealership , but their quality can vary . The Mad Max movies ranked discover the serious .
4Captain America
Captain America: The First Avenger, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Captain America: Civil War
Although part of a wide cinematic universe and shape by events in different films , the threeCaptain Americamovies even so institute their own distinct trilogy . protrude withCaptain America : The First Avenger , the films follow supersoldier Steve Rogers as he battle enemies both inner and external , ranging from Nazis to fellow Avengers .
The Winter Soldieris a grip undercover agent thriller that profit from the front of other democratic Marvel characters , whileCivil Waris arguably one of the outstanding crossover moving picture of all metre …
While by no substance a tragedy , the originalCaptain Americais easily the weakest of the trilogy . The Winter Soldieris a spellbind spy thriller that benefits from the presence of other pop Marvel characters , whileCivil Waris arguably one of the great crossover movies of all meter – boast the the like of Robert Downey Jr. ’s Iron Man and introducing Spider - Man to the MCU . compare to these entries , which remain among the MCU ’s good , Captain America : The First Avengerunderstandably falls short .
3The Wolverine Trilogy
X-Men Origins: Wolverine, The Wolverine, Logan
The extent to which the three Wolverine celluloid can be considered a trilogy is debatable . Although they each focus on the same fundamental character , their setting , 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 Charles Frederick Worth research further .
The first film , X - Men Origins : Wolverine , was a critical loser – rebuked for its mussy story , derivative characters , and occasionally poor special effects – result in a mediocre Rotten Tomatoes score of 38%.The Wolverineimproved thing substantially , with its Japanese - dress story proving more successful with audience and critics . However , the series really peaked withLogan – widely see as one of thebest superhero movies of all timeand praised for its thoughtful and matured approach to the reference .
2The Annabelle Trilogy
Annabelle, Annabelle: Creation, Annabelle Comes Home
An off - shoot of the wildly successfulConjuringseries , Annabellegot off to a fair inauspicious commencement . Whereas the originalConjuringwas praised for being a authentically terrific rejuvenation of the revulsion genre , Annabellefell back into derivative leap - panic attack district , with a narration that failed to introduce . As a result , the movie received a paltry 28 % on Rotten Tomatoes , seemingly augur poorly for theAnnabellefilms ' future .
pic
Box Office
Rotten Tomatoes Score
Annabelle
$ 257.6 million
28 %
Annabelle : instauration
$ 306.5 million
70 %
Annabelle Comes nursing home
$ 231.3 million
64 %
However , things improved well with the two subsequentAnnabellemovies . Annabelle : Creationcombined a gripping origin story with an unsettling atmosphere , resulting in improved brushup across the board . Annabelle Come Homecontinued the course , gain 64 % on Rotten Tomatoes and foreground just how short the first film had fallen .
1The Dollars Trilogy
A Fistful Of Dollars, For A Few Dollars More, The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly
Perhaps the most placeable Western trilogy in movie history , Sergio Leone ’s Dollars trilogy is credit with introducing the public to Clint Eastwood and cementing the musical genre ’s global popularity . Each motion-picture show is impressive on its own terms – highlighted by their hold out popularity and uniform critical acclaim . Nevertheless , there is an undeniable sense that the film that started it all , A Fistful of Dollars , is the feeble in an undischarged series .
Although like an expert execute , ( A handful of Dollars ) nonetheless lacks the originality on show inFor A Few dollar MoreandThe Good , The Bad , And The Ugly .
Part of the ground forA Fistful of Dollarsposition is thatit function as an unofficial remake of Akira Kurosawa ’s classic , Yojimbo . Although expertly executed , the movie nonetheless lack the originality on showing inFor A Few Dollars MoreandThe commodity , The Bad , And The Ugly . Each movie is a cinematic classic , but the Dollars series nevertheless weigh as amovie trilogythat amend after the first film .
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.