What is the Greatest Trilogy?
An IMDb user whose nickname I forgot put a post on the page of The Dark Knight Rises that asked – apparently completely in earnest – “Is Nolan’s Batman trilogy the greatest trilogy of all time?” Now, a simple answer to this would be “no, of course not, you numnut”. A better answer would be: “No, of course not, but then again, what is?”
There are many film trilogies. Over two hundred entries according to Wikipedia. I’d still say the best one is Krystof Kieslowski’s Trois Couleurs trilogy, but those films are so unlike anything else that it’s hard to compare. That said, they are absolutely perfect in their own right, so I stand with my answer.
Here are some others, For Your Consideration:
- Sergio Leone’s Dollars trilogy (For a Fistful of Dollars; For a Few Dollars More; The Good, The Bad and The Ugly)
- Multiple, The Bourne trilogy (The Bourne Identitiy, The Bourne Suprmacy, The Bourne Ultimatum)
- Alejandro González Iñárritu’s Death trilogy (Amores Perros, 21 Grams, Babel)
- Sam Raimi’s Evil Dead trilogy (The Evil Dead, The Evil Dead II, Army of Darkness)
- Lars Von Trier’s Golden Heart trilogy (Breaking The Waves, The Idiots, Dancer in the Dark)
- Masaki Kobayashi’s The Human Condition trilogy (No Greater Love, The Road to Eternity, A Soldiers Prayer)
- Peter Jacksons Lord of the Rings trilogy (The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, The Return of the King)
- Wachowski’s The Matrix trilogy (The Matrix, Reloaded (underrated!), Revolutions)
- Robert Rodriguez’ Mexico trilogy (El Mariachi, Desperado, Once Upon a Time in Mexico)
- George Romero’s Living Dead trilogy (Night of the Living Dead, Dawn of the Dead, Day of the Dead)
- Baz Luhrman’s Red Curtain trilogy(Strictly Ballroom, Romeo + Juliet, Moulin Rouge)
- Pixar’s Toy Story trilogy (1, 2, 3)
- Park Chan Wook’s Vengeance trilogy(Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance, Oldboy, Sympathy for Lady Vengeance)
So, what do you think?
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(Note 1: I haven’t seen Satyajit Ray’s Apu trilogy yet, so that one is not listed. I also haven’t complete Ingmar Bergmans’ Silence trilogy yet, although I think that one would have been a strong contender based on Through a Glass Darkly alone.)
(Note 2: No, I haven’t listed Star Wars.)
20 Comments
Out of those, I’d have to say LotR.
I do think the original Star Wars would still trump all, even though its good name has been sullied by its prequels…
Well the apu trilogy and bergman are right up there, see Winter Light, the silence is weaker. Antonioni trilogy: L’Av(v)entura, La Notte and L’Eclisse. Even though I hate them I respect how Damn good they are.
It’s between LOTR and Toy Story for me. The first is totally epic, but the amount of heart and love and just magic in the latter, gosh cannot decide!
I don’t think i would put the Matrix trilogy as a contender here. But i’m going to agree with Fogs out of the ones on the list and go with LOTR.
For me…
1. Trois Couleurs
2. Dollars Trilogy
3. Vengeance Trilogy
4. Toy Story Trilogy
5. Red Riding Trilogy
Lord of the Rings quite easily, with Star Wars a distant second. There’s no telling how much time I’ve spent on those two trilogies.
The Dollars trilogy is probably my favorite that you mentioned.
I have written a top 5 post on this, lord of the ring has no competition for me
1. LOTR
2. Star Wars
3. Toy Story
… I’d argue that Indiana Jones is still a trilogy too, and a good one. When a film breaks the mould of what the previous ones set, even if it is in the same universe/with the same characters, then I can’t really view it as part of that set of films… This is why I see the Star Wars’ films as two trilogies, why I still see Indiana Jones as a trilogy and why, come 2014, will see the Tolkien/Jackson films as two trilogies (probably).
1. Harold and Kumar trilogy
2. Arthur and the Minimoys trilogy
3. Jurassic Park trilogy
I win, end of story.
I haven’t seen too many trilogies so for me, it’s Lord of the Rings and Toy Story as the best and the three Bourne trilogy.
Sheesh, this is what happens when one is not paying attention when leaving a comment! I meant to say that the Bourne trilogy is also very good, so that one plus LOTR and Tory Story would make my top 3.
My choices would be the Toy Story Trilogy, Lord of the Rings trilogy and the Back to the Future trilogy.
Without any doubt…Back To The Future.
Some of my favs:
Three Colors.
Human Condition.
Vengeance.
Antonioni’s L’Avventura, La Notte, and L’Eclisse
The Samurai Trilogy.
Also looking forward to the final installment of Lars Von Trier’s depression trilogy.
There is a trilogy that everysone seems to forget, and which has been a favorite of mine since 1981 when the last film of the trilogy was released. That would be Lindsay Anderson’s “Mick Travis” trilogy- (“If…”, “O Lucky Man”, and “Britannia Hospital”).
It’s such a shame these great films (Ok, Britannia Hospital, not as good as the others) seem to be forgotten.
LOTR, Bourne, Nolan’s Batman trilogy and Indiana Jones are my favourite trilogies. Favourite because they’re all so very satisfying. They tick all the boxes.
Hi, Max and company:
Interesting list!
I’m usually contrary.
I’d go for the ‘Star Wars’ trilogy.
Followed by Sergio Leone’s ‘Dollars’ trilogy.
And finally the John Ford/John Wayne ‘Cavalry’ trilogy.
el Mariachi trilogy. just throwin that out there since no one’s givin it any love. Rodriguez really did a good job, though he lost a little bit of direction in the final chapter it’s a great trilogy. Perhaps not the greatest, but great nonetheless.
I think too many people quickly give LOTR, Star Wars, and Pixar’s Toy Story a pass. (Before the boo’s and rotten tomatoes get thrown, let me say that I LOVE those trilogies) but something must be said for what other trilogies do, esp with as low of a budget as what Rodriguez had to work with for his Mariachi trilogy. THAT is impressive.
I agree. Rodriguez did an amazing job on those films…and personally, most reviewers don’t even consider them a trilogy!
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