As long as there have been movies, there have been trilogies. When a movie is successful enough, or when the filmmaker wants to continue the story, it usually continues with prequels, sequels, spin-offs, etc. Here are a few of the best movie trilogies of all time.   

1. The Dollars/ Man With No Name trilogy

Sergio Leone kicked off the spaghetti western genre with his 1964 film A Fistful of Dollars, which was followed up the next year by For a Few Dollars More. The most popular and critically acclaimed film in the trilogy however is The Good The Bad and The Ugly. All three films star a young Clint Eastwood as a young, cold drifter keeping the peace and upholding justice as he sees fit. His anti-hero character became a massive influence on similar characters in other genres, such as Snake Plissken in John Carpenter’s Escape from New York. Other notable actors across the films include Eli Wallach and spaghetti western regular Lee Van Cleef. What makes these films special is they provide simple entertainment for those looking for it, and art for those who want to see what they consider to be “fine cinema”. 

2. The Godfather trilogy

Francis Ford Coppola is known for many critically acclaimed films, but his most popular and iconic is without a doubt The Godfather. Both The Godfather and The Godfather part II won Best Picture, and the trilogy as a whole gathered a total of 9 Academy Awards. Many iconic and legendary actors are featured in The Godfather movies, including Al Pacino, James Caan, Marlon Brando, Diane Keaton, John Cazale, and many more. 

3. Trilogy on Modernity and its Discontents

Michelangelo Antonioni is easily one of the best Italian directors of all time, and these three films stand out in his storied filmography. The trilogy includes L’avventura, then La notte, and finally L’eclisse. Unlike most traditional trilogies, these films do not contain the same characters, or even a continuing storyline. If you’re interested in Italian dramas, this is definitely a great place to start. 

4. The Original Trilogy

Before the dark times when Star Wars became a cynical marketing puppet used for blind consumerism, it was a trilogy of science fiction epics enjoyed by all. It began in 1977 with Star Wars, then continued into the early 80’s with The Empire Strikes Back and finally Return of the Jedi. These three together tell a brilliant, cohesive story with great characters, exotic locations, and a satisfying conclusion. 

5. The Trilogy of Imagination

You may know Terry Gilliam for his legendary work with the comedy troupe Monty Python, but he has directed many films on his own. His earliest solo work is the Trilogy of Imagination, which includes Time Bandits, then Brazil, and finally The Adventures of Baron Munchausen. These films also do not continue a singular storyline, but together they make for a fun, wacky moviegoing experience.