The 25 Greatest Trilogies Of All Time

There are hundreds of “best of” lists you can create that rank movies in all different kinds of ways, from genre to directors to themes. But there’s something special about a trilogy, about a director’s ability to make not just one great movie, but three that tie together for an epic story or a grand thematic observation. Truly great trilogies with three stellar entires are hard to come by, but I believe I’ve put together a list that recognizes the best of the best. In this article, we’ll not only cover the highest grossing and most significant trilogies of all time, but my personal favorites as well.

Famous Trilogy Movies

The “best” trilogies of all time will be determined by me and my personal criteria (which I’ll go over at the end of this section), and in this list you’ll find just about every genre imaginable, from drama to science fiction to thrillers to horror flicks. No director appears more than once on this list, while the only actor who appears in more than three films on this list is Julie Delpy, who starred in all three movies of the Before Trilogy (Before Sunrise, Before Sunset and Before Midnight) as well as the second movie of the Three Colours Trilogy, White. Other than Delpy, several actors make appearances in all three entries of a trilogy, from Clint Eastwood (in the Dollar Trilogy) to Tony Leung Chiu-Wai (in the Love Trilogy) to Bruce Campbell (in the Evil Dead Trilogy), while other actors like Monica Vitti and Marcello Mastroianni appear in three films across multiple trilogies.

Let’s also review the highest grossing trilogies of all time. At the global box office, ahead of everybody is the Sequel Trilogy of the Star Wars franchise, which grossed an unbelievable $4.4 billion between its three movies: The Force Awakens (2015), The Last Jedi (2017) and The Rise of Skywalker (2019). Next in line would be the Lord of the Rings Trilogy, which earned just under $3 billion between 2001-2003, followed by the Hobbit Trilogy with $2.9 billion, Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man Trilogy with $2.5 billion and the Star Wars Prequel Trilogy with $2.5 billion.

After adjusting for inflation at the domestic box office, the three Star Wars trilogies own the top three spots, with the Original Trilogy’s total standing above the rest with $3.3 billion in earnings, followed by the Sequel Trilogy with $2.3 billion and the Prequel Trilogy with $1.7 billion. Next in line are the first three Indiana Jones movies with $1.6 billion, Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man Trilogy with $1.6 billion and the Lord of the Rings Trilogy with $1.5 billion.

Finally, we can move onto my rankings of the greatest trilogies ever made. First and foremost, we should acknowledge these rankings are based on my personal tastes. In addition to popular franchises I enjoy like the Lord of the Rings Trilogy and the Evil Dead Trilogy, I also greatly enjoy world cinema, meaning you’ll find several trilogies from master directors like Antonio Michelangelo and Yasujirō Ozu in these rankings. I also allowed “informal trilogies” to be eligible for this list, meaning three films that are tied together by their director and a common theme, as opposed to repeating characters and a specific setting.

I also had to impose some guidelines for choosing movies for this list, as trilogies can take on many forms. For instance, only trilogies with three entries from a single director were eligible, meaning the Star Wars Sequel Trilogy (which was comprised of two different directors) and the original Indiana Jones Trilogy (Steven Spielberg directed a fourth film years later) weren’t eligible. The most notable exclusions were George A. Romero’s original Night of the Living Dead Trilogy, Steven Soderbergh’s Ocean’s Trilogy, John Carpenter’s Apocalypse Trilogy and Baz Luhrmann’s Red Curtain Trilogy, all of which I absolutely love. There are many other great trilogies, from the Bourne Trilogy to the Guardians of the Galaxy Trilogy, as well as Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man Trilogy and the Back to the Future Trilogy, that I greatly admire but just didn’t make the cut for this list. So, without further ado, let’s get onto to it.

25. The Pusher Trilogy

Nicolas Winding Refn didn’t waste any time announcing his presence to the movie world, choosing to begin his filmmaking career with the Pusher Trilogy. Conceived as a gritty exploration of Copenhagen’s criminal underworld, the trilogy’s original film, Pusher (1996), was shot on an incredibly tight budget. That movie’s success on the festival circuit eventually paved the way for Pusher II (2004) and Pusher 3 (2005), which expanded the original narrative by focusing on different characters mixed up in the same cutthroat universe. This three-part series provides a holistic view of drug dealers, enforcers and gangsters in Denmark’s capital, with each character struggling to survive in a brutal world where loyalty and betrayal are two sides of the same coin. The series established Refn’s immersive, gritty, unfiltered approach to his multi-dimensional characters.

Directed by Nicolas Winding Refn (who also produced) and produced by Henrik Danstrup and Johnny Andersen, the Pusher Trilogy stars Kim Bodnia, Mads Mikkelsen, Zlatko Burić, Laura Drasbæk and Levino Jensen.

Here’s where you can stream Pusher, Pusher II and Pusher 3.

24. The Oslo Trilogy

While not originally planned to be a series, the Oslo Trilogy evolved organically as director Joachim Trier explored the existential struggles of young adults living in Norway’s capital. The trilogy opened with Trier’s debut feature film, Reprise (2006), which was based on his struggles growing up in Oslo as an aspiring young writer. The film’s critical success established Trier as a major talent in Scandinavian cinema, and was followed five years later was his most critically revered film, Oslo, August 31st (2011), which focused on a day in the life of a recovering drug addict. Then the final movie of the trilogy, The Worst Person in the World (2021), tied the trilogy together through an intimate character study that offered a contemplative study of relationships in a rapidly changing world. If one theme binds these magnificent films together, its the disillusionment that often accompanies adulthood in our modern world.

Directed by Joachim Trier (who also produced) and produced by Thomas Robsahm and Yngve Sæther, the Oslo Trilogy stars Anders Danielsen Lie, Renate Reinsve, Hans Olav Brenner, Herbert Nordrum and Maria Bonnevie.

Here’s where you can stream Reprise, Oslo, August 31st and The Worst Person in the World.

23. The Road Trilogy

The Road Trilogy marks a period of time when director Wim Wenders was fascinated by the concept of the journey—both literal and metaphorical. The first film in this series, Alice in the Cities (1974), was inspired by the director’s experiences when traveling through the United States and Europe. This movie’s use of black-and-white aesthetic became a defining element of the series that reflected the characters’ meandering exploration, and the critical success of that film led Wenders to further indulge in that journey with Wrong Move (1975). Based on German writer Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s novel “Wilhelm Meister’s Apprenticeship,” this film continues to use the open road as a source of self discovery by focusing on a young writer’s travels across Germany. The trilogy concluded with Kings of the Road (1976), which follows two men traveling along the border between East and West Germany, reflecting on the changing landscape of post-war Europe. These three films played a crucial role in establishing Wenders as a leading figure in the New German Cinema movement.

Directed by Wim Wenders (who also produced) and produced by Peter Genée and Joachim von Mengershausen, the Road Trilogy stars Rüdiger Vogler, Yella Rottländer and Hanns Zischler.

Here’s where you can stream Alice in the Cities, Wrong Move and Kings of the Road.

22. The Vengeance Trilogy

Director Park Chan-wook is no stranger to complex characters with shaky moral compasses, nor is he shy about exploring the psychological impact of rage and revenge. And he gained that reputation between 2002-2005 thanks to what has now been dubbed the Vengeance Trilogy. Park was inspired to make the first film in this triptych, Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance (2002), after reading horrific news stories that highlighted the cruelty of human nature. This led him to craft a narrative that delved into the cyclical nature of violence—a theme that repeated in the trilogy’s two other films. The rabid response from a cult fanbase, despite the movie’s commercial failure, pushed Park to continue such a thematic exploration with Oldboy (2003). Loosely based on a Japanese manga, this landmark venture became an international sensation and the defining film of his career, winning the Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festival and cementing Park’s reputation as a master of suspense and psychological drama. The trilogy concluded with Lady Vengeance (2005), which added a layer of feminist critique to the revenge narrative. All three films question if justice can ever truly be achieved through violence and vengeance.

Directed by Park Chan-wook (who also produced) and produced by Lim Seung-yong, Ahn Soo-hyun and Kim Dong-joo, the Vengeance Trilogy stars Song Kang-ho, Choi Min-sik and Lee Young-ae.

Here’s where you can stream Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance, Oldboy and Lady Vengeance.

21. The Three Flavours Cornetto Trilogy

Legendary movie geek Edgar Wright, who famously created a list of his 1,000 favorite movies, explored his obsession with film genres through what is now known as the Three Flavours Cornetto Trilogy (a reference to Krzysztof Kieślowski’s Three Colours Trilogy). Co-conceived by Simon Pegg, who stars in all three films, the idea for the trilogy began with Shaun of the Dead (2004), a zombie rom-com that combined George A. Romero-esque horror with modern British humor. The success of the film led Wright and Pegg to continue their collaboration with Hot Fuzz (2007), a parody of action movies that also served as a loving tribute to the buddy-cop genre. Then the final film, The World’s End (2013), added a science fiction twist to the mix, focusing on a group of friends who encounter an alien invasion during a pub crawl. If one constant unites these three films, besides the recognizable actors that populate all three, it’s the theme of the power of friendship and camaraderie as one struggles to mature and grow up. Each movie features a protagonist caught in a rut, unwilling or unable to move forward in their lives.

Directed by Edgar Wright (who also produced The World’s End) and produced by Nira Park, the Three Flavours Cornetto Trilogy stars Simon Pegg, Nick Frost and Martin Freeman.

Here’s where you can stream Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz and The World’s End.

20. The BRD Trilogy

In the 1960s and 1970s, many filmmakers in West Germany were dealing with the trauma and guilt associated with World War II and the Holocaust. Perhaps the most notable set of films came from Rainer Werner Fassbinder in the form of the BRD Trilogy (which stands for Bundesrepublik Deutschland, the official name of the united contemporary Germany). These three movies now stand a critical, confrontational exposé that directly questions the moral and ethical failures of the German people in the aftermath of war. The trilogy began with The Marriage of Maria Braun (1979), which tells the story of a woman’s rise to power during the country’s “economic miracle.” The film was a critical and commercial success, becoming one of Fassbinder’s most famous works. Following this, Fassbinder directed Lola (1981), a reimagining of the classic German musical The Blue Angel, set against the backdrop of the reconstruction of West Germany. The trilogy concluded with Veronika Voss (1982), a film loosely based on the life of actress Sybille Schmitz, which examined the darker side of fame and the destructive impact of the Nazi past on post-war German society. The complex melodrama of this trilogy, as well as Fassbinder’s fascination with identity and gender, offered a unique yet penetrating perspective on Germany’s most morally trying period.

Directed by Rainer Werner Fassbinder (who also produced) and produced by Michael Fengler and Eberhard Junkersdorf, the BRD Trilogy stars Hanna Schygulla, Barbara Sukowa and Armin Mueller-Stahl.

Here’s where you can stream The Marriage of Maria Braun, Lola and Veronika Voss.

19. The Apu Trilogy

Lyrical realism, deep humanism, subtle yet impossibly impactful storytelling—these were all trademarks of Satyajit Ray’s revered Apu Trilogy. Inspired by Italian neorealism greats like Roberto Rossellini and Vittorio De Sica, this cornerstone of Indian cinema follows the life of a young boy named Apu from childhood to adulthood. Apu’s story began with Ray’s debut feature film Pather Panchali (1955), which was made on a shoestring budget and populated with non-professional actors. Despite financial difficulties, the film was completed and went on to win numerous international awards, including Best Human Document at Cannes. The success of Pather Panchali led to the continuation of Apu’s story in Aparajito (1956) and Apur Sansar (1959). What stands out about these three films grounded in the everyday realities of life in Bengal is the poetic sensibility with which they are infused, a flow and energy that captures the beauty and melancholy of existence. The tone of the trilogy is remarkably compassionate and intimate, inviting the audience to connect with the characters on a deeply personal level.

Directed by Satyajit Ray (who also produced) and produced by the Government of West Bengal, the Apu Trilogy stars Soumitra Chatterjee, Sharmila Tagore and Karuna Banerjee.

Here’s where you can stream Pather Panchali, Aparajito and Apur Sansar.

18. The Matrix Trilogy

If you saw The Matrix in theaters back in 1999, then you instantly knew you had witnessed one of the greatest sci-fi movies ever made. Deeply philosophical and wildly inventive with its groundbreaking camerawork and stunts, this touchstone film would go on to inspire two sequels—two movies that weren’t regarded nearly as highly, yet also allowed Lana and Lilly Wachowski to further embrace their steampunk aesthetic and more deeply explore free will versus determination and the concept of simulation. The Matrix (1999) introduces us to the trilogy’s hero, a hacker named Neo who discovers that the world he knows is an artificial reality created by machines to subdue humanity. After instantly becoming a box office sensation and a cultural phenomenon, the Wachowskis quickly began work on the sequels, The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions (both released in 2003), which were filmed simultaneously. Despite the latter two films’ mixed reviews, they nonetheless pushed this trilogy’s cinematic universe to new grounds, carrying Neo’s awakening in the first film beyond to his ultimate confrontation with the Architect and the machines. (Note: because the fourth film of the series, The Matrix: Resurrections, wasn’t directed by Lilly Wachowski, the original Matrix Trilogy is eligible for this list.)

Directed by Lilly and Lana Wachowski (who also produced) and produced by Joel Silver, the Matrix Trilogy stars Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne and Carrie-Anne Moss.

Here’s where you can stream The Matrix, The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions.

17. The Love Trilogy

Wong Kar-wai has established a fervent following of mega-fans thanks to his lush visual aesthetics that make his films feel intensely romantic yet melancholic, as well as his unforgettable characters that yearn for deep connection, but suffer from unrequited love. Almost all of his movies own this aesthetic, but three films in particular carry that aesthetic into new territory—hence, the Love Trilogy. The second feature film of Wong’s career, Days of Being Wild (1990), set the tone for the series with its cast of lovelorn individuals, and marked the beginning of his important collaboration with cinematographer Christopher Doyle. What followed ten years later was what arguably became Wong’s definitive work, In the Mood for Love (2000), which centered on a married man and another married woman who flirt with the possibility of running away together. The film’s international success, including its recognition at the Cannes Film Festival, paved the way for 2046 (2004), originally conceived as a loose sequel to In the Mood for Love. None of the same characters repeat in name throughout the trilogy, yet you’ll recognize the pains and troubles that afflict all these desperate souls searching for love.

Directed by Wong Kar-Wai (who also produced) and produced by Jeffrey Lau and Wong Kar-Wai, the Love Trilogy stars Tony Leung Chiu-wai, Maggie Cheung and Zhang Ziyi.

Here’s where you can stream Days of Being Wild, In the Mood for Love and 2046.

16. The Dark Knight Trilogy

Imagine Batman, but instead of the colorful, flashy caped crusader of the 1990s, it’s the morally wavering dystopia of Blade Runner mixed with the gritty realism of The French Connection—that’s the recipe for Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight Trilogy. This defining series for the superhero genre started with Batman Begins (2005), a reimagining of the Batman franchise that focused on the psychological and moral dimensions of the famed character. This opening film traces billionaire Bruce Wayne’s ascension into crimefighting, with Scarecrow serving as the main villain. The film’s success led to The Dark Knight (2008), which was instantly named one of the best superhero movies of all time and introduced the iconic character of the Joker (with Heath Ledger giving what many consider to be the greatest performance of the 21st century). The trilogy concluded with The Dark Knight Rises (2012), which found Bane as the main villain and brought the story full circle, bringing resolve to Bruce Wayne’s struggle with redemption. These three films shined a light on modern society, on the economic disparity and social unrest that plagues our divided world.

Directed by Christopher Nolan (who also produced) and produced by Emma Thomas and Charles Roven, the Dark Knight Trilogy stars Christian Bale, Heath Ledger and Michael Caine.

Here’s where you can stream Batman Begins, The Dark Knight and The Dark Knight Rises.

15. The Faith Trilogy

No filmmaker in the history of cinema explored the psychological depths of the human soul quite like the Swedish master Ingmar Bergman, who embraced a particular set of existential and theological questions in his Faith Trilogy. Bergman, who had been grappling with his own doubts about faith and the existence of God, used these three films released between 1961-1963 to examine the human condition in the face of spiritual crisis. First came Through a Glass Darkly (1961), which won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film and set the tone for the trilogy. The film focuses on the psychological turmoil of a woman suffering from mental illness and the impact it has on her family. The trilogy’s second film, Winter Light (1963), was more austere in its approach, centering on a pastor’s crisis of faith in a bleak, rural setting. The trilogy then concluded with The Silence (1963), which concentrated on the strained relationship between two sisters during a trying hotel stay. Bergman’s minimalist approach allows his symbolic storytelling to take center stage as his characters, often depicted as being isolated from both the mortal and spiritual world, are unable to communicate their fears and doubts about existence and the afterlife.

Directed by Ingmar Bergman (who also produced) and produced by Allan Ekelund, the Faith Trilogy stars Gunnar Björnstrand, Max von Sydow and Ingrid Thulin.

Here’s where you can stream Through a Glass Darkly, Winter Light and The Silence.

14. The Evil Dead Trilogy

Next to George A. Romero’s revolutionary Night of the Living Dead, no horror film had quite as big of an impact on low-budget horror than Ram Raimi’s The Evil Dead—a film that spawned several more sequels, but only two from Raimi that made up his personal Evil Dead Trilogy. Characterized by their innovative blend of horror and comedy, kinetic camera work, over-the-top gore and a distinctive, playful visual style, these three films distinctly birthed from the mind of Raimi and separated themselves from others in the series. It all began with The Evil Dead (1981), which was shot on a shoestring budget in a remote cabin in the woods and quickly became a cult classic. The film’s success led to Evil Dead II (1987), which was conceived as a “requel” (a mix of remake and sequel) that introduced more comedic elements and became a touchstone of Raimi’s signature aesthetic. The director, along with the trilogy’s lead actor, Bruce Campbell, embraced the film’s campy tone, resulting in a unique blend of horror and slapstick comedy that carried into the trilogy’s conclusion, Army of Darkness (1992). This absolutely unhinged film took the series in a completely different direction, placing the protagonist, Ash Williams, in a medieval setting where he battles an army of the undead. Few trilogies are as fun and exhilarating as this one.

Directed by Sam Raimi (who also produced) and produced by Robert Tapert, the Evil Dead Trilogy stars Bruce Campbell, Ellen Sandweiss and Betsy Baker.

Here’s where you can stream The Evil Dead, Evil Dead II and Army of Darkness.

13. The Human Condition Trilogy

There is probably no trilogy on this list that is more ambitious than Masaki Kobayashi’s Human Condition Trilogy, which was based on the six-volume novel “The Human Condition” by Junpei Gomikawa. Kobayashi, who had served in the Japanese military during World War II and was a staunch pacifist, saw the trilogy as an opportunity to depict the moral and ethical dilemmas faced by people during times of war through the protagonist of Kaji. The first film, No Greater Love (1959), was released to critical acclaim, and was followed by Road to Eternity (1959) and A Soldier’s Prayer (1961). Considered one of the greatest achievements in Japanese cinema, the trilogy is notable for its epic scale, spanning over nine hours, and its unflinching portrayal of the horrors of war, of forced labor, of the dehumanizing effects of militarism. The debilitating journey faced by Kaji is grueling, laborious and, ultimately, tragic, with Kobayashi’s approach never once flinching at the disgusting reality of war and those who suffered from it. Many regard Kaji as one of the most realized characters in the history of cinema, as we fully experience his internal conflicts, his evolving beliefs, his ultimate disillusionment with the world around him.

Directed by Masaki Kobayashi and produced by Masayuki Takagi, the Human Condition Trilogy stars Tatsuya Nakadai, Michiyo Aratama and Ineko Arima.

Here’s where you can stream No Greater Love, Road to Eternity and A Soldier’s Prayer.

12. The Trilogy of Loneliness

While many trilogies aim to turn the camera back on society and challenge the viewer’s worldview, Federico Fellini notably turned the camera inwards towards the artist and questions what art is capable of. The result is the Trilogy of Loneliness, a set of movies that are filled with surreal, dreamlike imagery that constantly blurs the lines between fiction and fantasy, creating an immersive cinematic experience that mirrors the chaos and fluidity of one’s subconscious mind. This thematic trilogy began with the film that stablished Fellini as a major figure in international cinema, La Dolce Vita (1960), which was conceived as a critique of Rome’s hedonistic society and became a landmark film for its episodic structure, for its hypnotic exploration of spiritual emptiness. Then 8½ (1963) was born from a creative block faced by the director after an existential crisis, leading Fellini to create a film about a filmmaker struggling to find inspiration. The film is widely regarded as one of the greatest films ever made about filmmaking and is a quintessential example of the director’s signature blend of autobiography and fantasy. Finally, Juliet of the Spirits (1965) served as Fellini’s first color film and continued his fascination with personal identity, focusing on a woman’s journey into her subconscious as she confronts her fears and desires.

Directed by Federico Fellini (who also produced) and produced by Angelo Rizzoli, the Trilogy of Loneliness stars Marcello Mastroianni, Anouk Aimée and Giulietta Masina.

Here’s where you can stream La Dolce Vita, 8½ and Juliet of the Spirits.

11. The Depression Trilogy

When it comes to controversial trilogies, there’s no filmmaker better suited than the Danish provocateur Lars von Trier, who, between 2009-2013, delved deep into the darkest corners of the human psyche to explore human suffering and despair in the Depression Trilogy. Within each film of this set, you can very much feel von Trier, who claimed each film served as a cathartic expression of his inner turmoil, working through his personal demons. It all started with Antichrist (2009), a terrifying film filled with graphic violence that features the psychological collapse of a grieving mother. What followed next was Melancholia (2011), which was inspired by von Trier’s experiences with depression and his belief that those who suffer from the condition might be better equipped to face the world’s end. Finally, the trilogy concluded with Nymphomaniac (2013), a two-part, four-hour film that tells the tale of a woman recounting her sexual experiences, an experience that ultimately comes to reflect her attempt to navigate personal trauma, to reclaim her identity. As you can see, “depression” is the key word here, as these movies don’t flinch at the sight of mental anguish, of existential dread—they confront these true-to-life experiences in a visceral, almost surreal manner that feels both exaggerated and frighteningly familiar.

Directed by Lars von Trier (who also produced) and produced by Meta Louise Foldager and Louise Vesth, the Depression Trilogy stars Charlotte Gainsbourg, Kirsten Dunst and Willem Dafoe.

Here’s where you can stream Antichrist, Melancholia and Nymphomaniac.

10. The Trilogy on Modernity and Discontent

Of all the trilogies on this list, Michelangelo Antonioni’s Trilogy on Modernity and Discontent is the one that hits harder and harder as I get older. Originally conceived as a response to the changing social and cultural landscape of post-war Italy, this trilogy is marked by its use of visual composition and space conveys the emotional isolation of his characters, an aesthetic that serves as a critique of the materialism and emotional emptiness of modern society, that invites reflection on life’s most burning existential questions.

L’Avventura (1960), the first film in the trilogy (and one of my favorite movies ever), starts on a rocky, barren island where a woman named Anna disappears, sending her lover and friends into emotional turmoil as they search for her, yet never find her. A film all about ennui, alienation and our inherent inability to communicate, La Notte (1961) continued this exploration, focusing on the disintegration of a marriage against the backdrop of Milan’s social elite, highlighting the alienating effects of urban life. Then L’Eclisse (1962), the final film in the trilogy, took these themes to their logical conclusion through a woman who splits from her writer boyfriend for a lively stockbroker—a transition that serves as a critiques of the idea that material success can provide meaning, when in fact it fosters a deeper sense of alienation. As dire as these movies seem, they ultimately offer positive, life-affirming reflection, forcing us to question the heart of human existence, to cherish the meaningful relationships in our lives. What hits hardest about this trilogy is its unwillingness to provide clean, easy answers to ambiguous, open-ended questions—disappearances are never solved, relationships are never mended, and humans fail to reconnect with the natural world. The tone of this trilogy is one of uncertainty, inviting the viewer to mirror these characters’ journeys back onto themselves and find their own answers.

Directed by Michelangelo Antonioni and produced by Robert Hakim and Raymond Hakim, the Trilogy on Modernity and Discontent stars Monica Vitti, Marcello Mastroianni and Alain Delon.

Here’s where you can stream L’Avventura, La Notte and L’Eclisse.

9. The Three Mothers Trilogy

There’s no trilogy in the history of cinema that serves as a better introduction to giallo, a brand of horror and murder mystery first embraced by Italian directors in the 1960s and 1970s, than the Three Mothers Trilogy. This series is helmed by none other than Dario Argento, the king of giallo cinema, who sought to create a set of stories that revolved around the ancient and powerful “Three Mothers,” aka witches who bring death and chaos. He was inspired by Thomas De Quincey’s essay Suspiria de Profundis, which references three mythical sorrows: Mater Lachrymarum, Mater Suspiriorum, and Mater Tenebrarum.

Suspiria (1977), the first film in the trilogy and largely considered one of the greatest movies ever, was a landmark in horror cinema, known for its vivid use of color, stylized violence and a haunting score by the band Goblin. The movie follows a young woman named Suzy who attends a ballet school, only to learn it is a front for a coven of witches. The film’s success led to the creation of Inferno (1980), which follows a brother who investigates the murder of his sister, who was mysteriously killed after reading a Latin book that told the story of the Three Mothers. The trilogy was not completed until nearly three decades later with Mother of Tears (2007), which explored the awakening of the final Mother and her attempt to bring about the end of the world. This series—and Argento’s entire career, for that matter—was defined by its bold, expressionistic use of color, its operatic embracement of heightened violence, its terrifying gothic atmosphere, its fascination with myths and how evil forces can often feel like they’re dictating our lives. Of all the trilogies on this list, none are as visually arresting as the Three Mothers Trilogy.

Directed by Dario Argento (who also produced) and produced by Claudio Argento, the Three Mothers Trilogy stars Jessica Harper, Stefania Casini and Asia Argento.

Here’s where you can stream Suspiria, Inferno and Mother of Tears.

8. The Koker Trilogy

You’ve never quite experienced a movie like an Abbas Kiarostami movie. Widely considered to be the greatest and most important Iranian director of our time, his minimalist stories, which opt for reflection and contemplation over plot and dialogue, are rife with philosophical quandaries. Blending fiction with reality as the characters—and, often, the director himself—his movies engage with the audience in a very meta manner, and Kiarostami’s crowing achievement when it came to this aesthetic was the Koker Trilogy.

The first film of this collection, Where Is the Friend’s House? (1987), sets the table for what will become a constantly unfurling meta-narrative. This movie’s simple story was inspired by a real-life incident in which a young boy mistakenly took his classmate’s notebook and set out to return it. The film’s success at international film festivals brought Kiarostami widespread recognition and led him to revisit the village featured in Where Is the Friend’s House? after a devastating earthquake in the trilogy’s second film, Life, and Nothing More… (1992). This movie carried a very different tone, blurring the lines between documentary and fiction as Kiarostami recounted his own journey to the village to discover the fate of the previous film’s actors. The trilogy concluded with Through the Olive Trees (1994), serving as a “documentary” on the making of Life, and Nothing More…, further blurring the boundaries between reality and storytelling. Over the course of three films, Kiarostami deconstructs the filmmaking process itself, showing actors performing scenes from previous films while also exploring their real lives. In the end, this magnificent trilogy becomes a deep reflection on the relationship between cinema and life, on how we connect with our art, engage with our art, become one with our art.

Directed by Abbas Kiarostami (who also produced) and produced by Ali Reza Zarrin, The Koker Trilogy stars Babak Ahmadpoor, Ahmed Ahmadpoor, Hossein Rezai, Mohamad Ali Keshavarz and Farhad Kheradmand.

Here’s where you can stream Where Is the Friend’s House?, Life, and Nothing More… and Through the Olive Trees.

7. The Before Trilogy

As the year 2022 approached, movie lovers anxiously awaited the fourth installment of what, up to that point, was known as the Before Trilogy. Every nine years, Richard Linklater would meet with the films’ two main actors, Julie Delpy and Ethan Hawke, to discuss the next phase of the series’ love story. But after that ninth year came and went, it became clear that the story would not continue. Now set in stone as a trilogy, these three films spin a weaving tale about the patterns of love, about how relationships can flourish, struggle, wither and, ultimately, survive—even thrive—when two people are committed to one another. And as much as a fourth film would have been welcome, the story feels perfectly capped at three.

The first film, Before Sunrise (1995), was inspired by a chance encounter Linklater had with a woman in Philadelphia, which led him to create a story about two strangers, Jesse and Céline, who meet on a train and spend a night together in Vienna. The film’s naturalistic dialogue and its intimate portrayal of a budding romance felt so honest and familiar to audiences that it instantly became a classic romance. Next up was Before Sunset (2004), which was conceived after the cast and crew reunited nine years later to explore what happened to the characters after their brief encounter. With the sun slowly setting in the background as Jesse and Céline reconnect, the film was shot in real-time, adding to its sense of immediacy and vitality as these two enliven the love they shared on that fateful night nine years earlier. Then Before Midnight (2013) completed the trilogy, delving into the complexities of long-term relationships and the challenges of maintaining love over time, bringing closure to a story about two world-weary adults who met in a moment of youthful infatuation. In the end, the authenticity of Jesse and Céline’s relationship shines through, with Linklater’s understated, minimalist approach allowing the undeniable chemistry between the two leads and the natural love between the two protagonists to shine through and live on beyond the credits.

Directed by Richard Linklater and produced by Anne Walker-McBay and Céline Rattray, the Before Trilogy stars Ethan Hawke, Julie Delpy, Vernon Dobtcheff, Seamus Davey-Fitzpatrick and Albert Delpy.

Here’s where you can stream Before Sunrise, Before Sunset and Before Midnight.

6. The Noriko Trilogy

Besides Akira Kurosawa, there is no Japanese filmmaker more historically revered and adored by cinephiles than Yasujirō Ozu, who arguably captured his nation’s culture and approach to living more vividly than any other director. His restrained style, his focus on family dynamics and his exploration of generational conflict were all tenets of an artist who was introspective both personally and culturally. This aesthetic was most brilliantly on display in his Tokyo Trilogy, which consists of three legendary films in Japanese cinema whose titles signify the slow, inevitable, cyclical passage of time.

The connective tissue between each movie is the character of Noriko, played by Setsuko Hara in all three—although each movie presents a different “Noriko” character. The trilogy kicked off with Ozu’s first post-war film to receive widespread recognition, Late Spring (1949), which was adapted from the novel “Father and Daughter” by Kazuo Hirotsu. This version of Noriko lives a happy life at home taking care of her father. But after Noriko’s aunt convinces her father that Noriko must be married while young, he feels compelled to deceive his daughter to get her out of the house. Early Summer (1951) was then conceived as a companion piece, focusing on a different Noriko character who defies her family’s wishes for whom she will marry and must deal with the social fallout. The trilogy then concluded with what is undoubtedly Ozu’s masterwork, Tokyo Story, which was loosely inspired by the American 1937 film Make Way for Tomorrow. Offering a poignant reflection on the generational divide and the changing roles of family in post-war Japan, Tokyo Story becomes a natural conclusion to this trilogy, with its story about a family reunion displaying the disconnection between elderly parents and their grown children in an increasingly modernized society. What stands out most about the Noriko Trilogy is its subtle decisions, both narratively and stylistically speaking, which matches the emotional restraint constantly on display with its characters, who quietly deal with melancholy and grief without imposing upon others.

Directed by Yasujirō Ozu and produced by Takeshi Yamamoto, the Noriko Trilogy stars Setsuko Hara, Chishū Ryū, Haruko Sugimura, Sō Yamamura and Kuniko Miyake.

Here’s where you can stream Late Spring, Early Summer and Tokyo Story.

5. The Los Angeles Trilogy

It seems fitting that three of the final four films David Lynch made (at least at this point in his career) were about the city where movies are born. The Los Angeles Trilogy has gained a reputation amongst cinephiles over the years as one of the most biting and incisive critiques of Hollywood, offering a dark, surreal observation of the City of Angels bolstered by elements of film noir, psychological horror and dream logic. In each film, characters constantly swap identities (much like actors do) and you’re never sure who is who.

The first entry into his trilogy was Lost Highway (1997), which showcased Lynch’s later-career obsession with fragmented, non-linear narratives, as the film’s protagonist transforms into another man halfway through the story, reflecting his psychological desire to escape guilt and self-loathing. Then there was Mulholland Drive, a film many consider to be one of the greatest ever made, which features an aspiring actress, Betty, whose existence constantly feels like a dream that’s slowly turning into a nightmare. While in Hollywood, she becomes entrenched in a search for a missing woman—a woman whose identity will shock her and completely upend her sense of identity. Finally, Inland Empire, Lynch’s most experimental work, further blurs the boundaries between reality and fiction, using a fragmented narrative and digital video to create an immersive, nightmarish experience as a woman named Susan becomes lost on a movie set. As she tries to find her way home and reclaim her former life as a successful actress, she finds herself becoming different characters and starring in different movies. The constant between all three movies is Los Angeles—a city that serves as a place of both glamour and darkness, as a dream factory where fantasies are made but also where they crumble into nightmares.

Directed by David Lynch (who also produced) and produced by Mary Sweeney, Neal Edelstein and Alain Sarde, the Los Angeles Trilogy stars Bill Pullman, Patricia Arquette, Laura Dern, Justin Theroux and Naomi Watts.

Here’s where you can stream Lost Highway, Mulholland Drive and Inland Empire.

4. The Lord of the Rings Trilogy

Of all the trilogies on this list, none are as epic than the Lord of the Rings Trilogy. This sprawling adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s beloved fantasy novels was characterized by its grand scale and meticulous world building, blending director Peter Jackson’s penchant for practical effects with cutting-edge digital technology that brought Middle-earth to cinematic life. But above all, it was the characters that won audiences over, as their journeys over the course of three movies captivated an entire movie-loving world between 2001-2003.

The opening film of the series, The Fellowship of the Ring (2001), follows the hobbit Frodo Baggins, who is entrusted with a powerful ring that must be destroyed to prevent the dark lord Sauron from conquering his land. Frodo learns he must travel to Mount Doom, the only place where the ring can be destroyed, accompanied by his hobbit friends and several other warriors as allies. The second film, The Two Towers, continues this trek, with Frodo and his buddy Sam continuing on their way to Mordor, now guided by the deceitful creature Gollum. Meanwhile, the warriors Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli fight to defend the Rohan kingdom from Sauron’s ally forces of Saruman. Finally, in the Best Picture-winning The Return of the King, the forces of Middle-earth unite to face Sauron’s army in a final stand, all while Frodo and Sam press forward to Mount Doom, where the fate of the world will be decided. From timeless characters like Frodo and Gandalf to the sweeping, award-winning cinematography to the absolutely breathtaking battle sequences, the Lord of the Rings Trilogy—one of the most captivating stories ever told across three awe-inspiring sequences— truly has it all.

Directed by Peter Jackson (who also produced) and produced by Barrie M. Osborne, Fran Walsh and Tim Sanders, the Lord of the Rings Trilogy stars Elijah Wood, Viggo Mortensen, Ian McKellen, Orlando Bloom and Liv Tyler.

Here’s where you can stream The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers and The Return of the King.

3. The Three Colours Trilogy

The French flag has three colors—blue, white and red—that define the political ideals of the French Revolution: liberty, equality and fraternity. Those three colors became the thematic core of Krzysztof Kieślowski’s legendary Three Colours Trilogy. As might be expected from the French auteur and self-proclaimed pessimist, this trilogy was tinged with irony, as his three interweaving stories about several different characters embroiled by life’s natural woes and tragedies came to serve as critiques of how these French ideals are interpreted or experienced in everyday life.

In Blue (1993), the first film of this triptych, the ideal of liberty is explored through the journey of Julie, who does not desire political freedom, but personal freedom in the face of her husband’s tragic death. But rather than finding peace in her isolation, her “freedom,” Julie only becomes more attached to those she has lost, suggesting that the ideal of absolute freedom or liberty is unattainable, that one can simply “choose” to be free from life’s burdens. The second film of the trilogy, White (1994), took on the ideal of equality through Karol, a Polish immigrant in France whose French wife, Dominique, divorces him, leaving him destitute and tempting him with the thought of personal “justice” via revenge and manipulation. Thus, Karol’s pursuit of social “equality” in human relationships highlights the absurdity and futility of such aspirations when driven by selfish motives, how such a pursuit can lead to exploitation and a perversion of the very value it seeks to uphold. Finally, Red (1994) takes on the fraternity aspect of the flag through the unlikely bond between a young woman named Valentine and a retired judge named Kern who spies on his neighbors. Kern’s isolation and voyeurism stand in stark contrast to the idea of community and brotherhood, while Valenine’s emotional bond with him questions whether such connections are based on true fraternity or simply the need for companionship in an alienated world. The depth of each individual story in this trilogy allows for a sweeping and honest assessment of French ideals, resulting in what may be the best theme-based trilogy of all time.

Directed by Krzysztof Kieślowski (who also produced) and produced by Marin Karmitz, the Three Colours Trilogy stars Juliette Binoche, Julie Delpy, Zbigniew Zamachowski, Irène Jacob and Jean-Louis Trintignant.

Here’s where you can stream Blue, White and Red.

2. The Dollar Trilogy

It’s rare for a trilogy to redefine an entire genre, but that’s certainly what happened when director Sergio Leone embarked upon the Dollar Trilogy, aka the “Man with No Name Trilogy.” The star of this series is that man with no name (played by Clint Eastwood), a cowboy who travels Spain’s arid, sand-swept landscapes in a manner that evokes the American West. The people and places he encounters offer an highly stylized vision of moral ambiguity, of how our decisions and actions can either enliven the world around us or contribute to its decay.

The series kicked off with A Fistful of Dollars (1964), a loose remake of Akira Kurosawa’s Yojimbo (1961) that introduced the iconic, mysterious, tight-lipped drifter that connects all three films. This man happens upon the small Mexican border town of San Miguel, where he finds that he can secretly exploit two warring factions for his own personal gain. But before long, he finds himself compelled to save an innocent family caught in the conflict, challenging his ideals. Then came For a Few Dollars More (1965), where the unnamed man forms an uneasy alliance with Colonel Douglas Mortimer to track down and capture the vicious bandit El Indio and his gang. With Mortimer driven by revenge and the Man with No Name driven by money, these two navigate a series of near-death battles as they inch closer and closer to El Indio. Finally, the inarguable pinnacle of the Spaghetti Western genre, The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966), closes out the trilogy by following the story of three men searching for a hidden fortune of gold buried in a graveyard. Because each man has a piece of information that leads to the treasure’s location, they are forced to team up, all the while dealing with double-crosses and shifting alliances amidst the chaos of war. Altogether, this trilogy offers a visual spectacle unlike any trilogy ever made, immersing the viewer in the story of a man who has no name, a self-reliant antihero who rejects traditional heroic values projected by the Western genre.

Directed by Sergio Leone (who also produced) and produced by Alberto Grimaldi, the Dollar Trilogy stars Clint Eastwood, Lee Van Cleef, Gian Maria Volonté, Eli Wallach and Luigi Pistilli.

Here’s where you can stream A Fistful of Dollars, For a Few Dollars More and The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.

1. The Godfather Trilogy

Alas, we have arrived at the most expected conclusion of any list ranking the greatest trilogies of all time: Francis Ford Coppola’s Godfather Trilogy. And rightly so. As much as it may seem a cliché, there simply is no other trilogy in existence that matches the breadth of this crime-ridden classic’s decades-spanning social commentary. Not only did Coppola and his band of actors redefine the gangster genre—through rich, atmosphere cinematography, through operatic, tragic storytelling, through the timeless, memorable soundtrack by Nino Rota—but they did so through a morally complex narrative that comments on the American Dream and the consequences of the search for power that such a dream inspires.

Serving as an adaptation of Mario Puzo’s treasured book series, The Godfather (1972) opens the trilogy on the powerful Corleone family, led by its patriarch Vito Corleone. After an assassination attempt on Vito’s life, his youngest son, Michael, who previously wanted no part in the family business, is pulled into the mafia world. As Michael takes revenge on those who attacked his father, he slowly becomes involved in the family’s operations, eventually embracing his role as the new “Godfather.” This leads into The Godfather Part II (1974), which follows two parallel storylines: one of the rise of a young Vito in the early 20th century as he built his mafia empire, and the other of Michael as he struggles to maintain and expand the family’s power in the 1950s. As Michael’s control over the business grows and he continually faces threats and betrayal, Michael becomes increasingly ruthless, leading to devastating consequences for himself and his family. Finally, The Godfather Part III (1990) jumps ahead two decades to center on an aging Michael, who is seeking to legitimize the Corleone family business and atone for his violent past. Despite Michael’s attempts to distance the family from its criminal roots, his past continually comes back to haunt him. Meanwhile, we also follow Michale’s protégé, Vincent Mancini, as he rises through the ranks and becomes involved in the mafia’s internal struggles. Despite the unfortunate reputation of the trilogy’s conclusion (I, in fact, quite love The Godfather Part III), the trilogy stands as an incredible piece of work, possibly the greatest assessment of American values cinematic history, and solidified Coppola as one of the greatest directors of all time.

Directed by Francis Ford Coppola (who also produced) and produced by Albert S. Ruddy and Fred Roos, the Godfather Trilogy stars Al Pacino, Marlon Brando, Robert De Niro, Diane Keaton, James Caan and Andy Garcia.

Here’s where you can stream The Godfather, The Godfather Part II and The Godfather Part III.

Bottom Line

If you’re interested in the most important trilogies of all time, then this list has you covered. Spanning dozens of genres and 25 different legendary directors, these trilogies offer the best of the best.