10 Movie Trilogies That Are Impossible to Hate

Image via Universal Pictures Published Sep 5, 2026, 4:53 PM EDT Daniel is a 27-year-old List Writer for Collider living in the south suburbs of Chicago, Illinois. As an avid film buff, he watches and analyzes many films and TV shows, especially in the horror genre, and regularly attends movie screenings. Sign in to your Collider account Trilogies: they don't always work, but boy do we love them. Cinema is full of these franchises that stand out by being emotional, compelling, and ultimately powerful stories, all told over the span of three incredible films. They've become a bit of a rarity most days due to the rise of expanding franchises or films just being one and done, but they're still present, and they're plenty of iconic examples. No trilogy is perfect. In fact, for some of the film series featured below, you may have a few issues with one or maybe two of their installments. But let's be real here, these are still beloved and considered some of the best trilogies of all time. They're wildly popular today, whether they've changed the course of cinema history or they were box office darlings that nearly everybody saw. They're so enjoyable and recognizable that we can look past some of their faults and can never hate them. 10 The Dark Knight (2005-2012) Image via Warner Bros. Pictures Before taking us on exciting space adventures in Interstellar or retelling Homer's epic poem The Odyssey, Academy Award-winning filmmaker Sir Christopher Nolan redefined the superhero genre with his grounded, psychologically intense The Dark Knight Trilogy. Composed of Batman Begins, The Dark Knight, and The Dark Knight Rises, this series trades over-the-top comic book thrills for mature action and complex storytelling, showing the Caped Crusader Batman (Christian Bale) as he fights internally and externally as he rises to become Gotham City's savior. These three tell pulse-pounding narratives with excellent stunts and action sequences and are balanced out by talented casts and remarkable acting. The second film, The Dark Knight, is widely considered the peak of the trilogy, a flawless action masterpiece that has kept this series wildly praised for more than a decade now. Though admittedly fans have their issues with The Dark Knight Rises and its failure to live up to its status as the second one, it's still a near perfect franchise with a lot of rewatchability. 9 The Before Trilogy (1995-2013) Hailed for its gripping story that gives a thoughtful insight into the realities of seeking romance, Richard Linklater's The Before trilogy is truly a wonder of the drama genre. It's one of the most beloved romantic drama franchises today, a heartwarming but also tragic collection of stories that offer a more realistic look at love and how relationships evolve over time. Across its three films, which take place over a short time across several decades, we follow two people forming an unshakable love for each other but who can never truly be together for long. It's a thought-provoking and excellently told tale that's not your typical love story. It deals with a lot of complexities and complications with maintaining relationships. It shows that two people can still have feelings for each other, even though they're on separate life paths. This is a trilogy anyone can get behind, as its writing is perfect, Linklater's direction and message are clear, and the chemistry and believability between the two leads, played by Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy, are undeniably incredible. Overall, a solid series that no one can say isn't worth watching. 8 Trilogy of the Dead (1968-1985) Image via United Film Distribution Company Horror has many beloved trilogies; most are just alright, but this next one is truly something special. Created by the late filmmaker George A. Romero, his widely praised Trilogy of the Dead influenced our modern fascination with zombies and has turned them into a global sensation. Night of the Living Dead, Dawn of the Dead, and Day of the Dead turned the undead into cinematic legends, giving the zombie subgenre a huge boost and turning it into the juggernaut we know it today. We can't seem to get enough of zombies in the media, and it's thanks to Romero and these three unique and spine-chilling masterpieces. Night of the Living Dead in particular rewrote the definition of a zombie, evolving the undead from their Haitian voodoo origins into supernatural or scientific monsters. Without this trilogy, we arguably wouldn't have 28 Days Later, The Walking Dead, Train to Busan, and so many more. It's a groundbreaking series that every zombie lover and casual movie-goer can get behind. 7 The Dollars (1964-1966) Image via United Artists When it comes to Westerns, hardly any film series is more iconic than Sergio Leone's Dollars trilogy, sometimes referred to as the Man with No Name trilogy. This beloved spaghetti western franchise changed the face of the genre forever, becoming a massive influence on Westerns that are still relevant even today. It's a trilogy that movie lovers instantly recognize, from its legendary style and tone to badass gunfights and, of course, Clint Eastwood's career-defining performance as the titular gunslinger without a name. It's a trilogy that's been referenced, parodied, and praised throughout the decades. The Dollars trilogy combines the epic feel of a Western adventure coupled with great acting, exciting action, and memorable lines. While the Western genre has slowed in momentum and popularity in recent years, this trilogy hasn't been forgotten. It's still just as iconic and beloved as ever before, and will continue to be a staple of pop culture. 6 The Evil Dead (1981-1992) Image via Rosebud Releasing Corporation Arguably the most enjoyable horror franchise of all time is The Evil Dead trilogy, cult horror filmmaker Sam Raimi's beloved splatter series that's become a landmark of cinema. We follow along with three gory and spectacular films that go from dark and disgusting one moment to wacky and darkly hilarious the next. The Evil Dead, Evil Dead II, and Army of Darkness provide fans with an endless blood-soaked roller-coaster ride, featuring iconic monsters, memorable one-liners, tons of blood and gore, and the legendary B-movie star himself, Bruce Campbell, shining as the heroic everyman Ash Williams. These are impossible not to enjoy. They combine genuine terror and uncomfortable body horror with zany, over-the-top action and comedy. Bruce Campbell takes much of the credit for how hilarious and amusing these are, as he puts everything into the role of Ash, one of cinema's all-time greatest horror heroes, as he's capable and badass, but also cocky and goofy at times. Everything else about these films, from Raimi's unique directing style to the campy practical effects, have made the Evil Dead trilogy truly the best that the horror genre has to offer. 5 The Godfather (1972-1990) Image via Paramount Pictures Of course, we can't talk about the greatest, or even the most beloved, trilogies without mentioning Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather series. Admittedly, it's a bit tough to place on this list, considering its first two are masterpieces and its inferior third film continues to be debated for its quality even now, but there's no denying every movie lover has seen this trilogy. The Godfather and its sequel, The Godfather Part II, are truly considered two of the greatest achievements in cinema, some of the best in the history of filmmaking, as they're flawlessly written, greatly directed, and featuring some of the most revered and timeless performances ever shown on screen. But the third film, which many know to be the worst, does have weaknesses, but it's not the worst movie ever made, and compared to other bad third movies, it honestly holds up better than it gets credit for. Overall, it may not be perfect all the way through, but The Godfather trilogy is still wildly beloved. 4 Sam Raimi's Spider-Man (2002-2007) Image via Sony Pictures Releasing Sam Raimi returns here with a trilogy so recognizable and beloved we honestly can't stop watching it. Early 2000s cinema saw what the superhero genre would eventually become thanks to Raimi's Spider-Man trilogy, a wildly fun and pulse-pounding action franchise that seems to get more popular with age. It was a box office titan that showed movie studios superhero movies' greatest potential, which eventually led to the birth of the MCU in 2008. Spider-Man 2 is arguably the peak of this series, combining riveting action, a kick-ass subway fight sequence, thought-provoking themes, inspiring messages, and a brilliant villain performance by Oscar nominee Alfred Molina, who completely stole the show as Doctor Octopus. But, we, of course, have to address the elephant in the room: Spider-Man 3, the weakest of the trilogy. While yes, it was panned at first for its messy tone and story and for having way too many villains crammed in, it's slowly gaining better recognition in recent years. Now it's become seen as a harmless guilty pleaser that's still ridiculously entertaining. Is the Spider-Man trilogy entirely perfect? Maybe not, but there's no denying it has a devoted fanbase. 3 Back to the Future (1985-1990) Take a hilarious journey back through time with one of the most cheerful feel-good movie franchises of all time, Robert Zemeckis' Back to the Future trilogy. There's no series that balances comedy, sci-fi, and even a bit of action and drama better than this trilogy, which has steadily only gotten more love each new year. It continues to be a pop culture icon, a fascinating collection of films that still make us laugh and appreciate the art of cinema. Who can forget the iconic duo of Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) and Doc Brown (Christopher Lloyd), or the classic lines, or even the legendary DeLorean time machine? The Back to the Future movies provide timeless entertainment that audiences of all ages can enjoy. With how ageless and memorable it is, this trilogy is likely to still be beloved for generations to come. 2 The Lord of the Rings (2001-2003) Image via New Line Cinema Cinema history was made in the early 2000s when a challenge to turn author J. R. R. Tolkien's epic fantasy tale, The Lord of the Rings, one of literature's most difficult stories to ever adapt on the big screen, into a blockbuster trilogy was accepted by New Zealand filmmaker Sir Peter Jackson. Being so complex, vastly detailed, and rich with tremendous lore, it was thought to be unfilmable, but Jackson beat the odds, managing to be both faithful to Tolkien’s work and creating a masterpiece that truly pushed the boundaries of what could be achieved through film. These three are truly inspiring and some of the most visually impressive, deep, emotional, and action-packed films ever brought to celluloid. They're filmed with breathtaking visuals and iconic imagery, memorable scores, and striking performances, and even the final installment, 2003's The Return of the King, swept the Academy Awards, becoming the second sequel in history to win Best Picture. They are undoubtedly impossible to ignore or not enjoy, and they'll surely get more praise as time goes on. 1 The Original Star Wars (1977-1983) Image via 20th Century Studios Finally, of all the trilogies mentioned above, it's argued that none of them are more beloved or as remembered as George Lucas' original Star Wars trilogy. One of the greatest sci-fi adventures ever told, Star Wars became such an instant phenomenon that it launched a highly successful and legendary franchise that's still present in our media. These three are undeniably fun, quotable, and impossible not to recognize. So many of us remember the characters, the music, and the lines, and even the sets and locations, as they've become burned into our memories. The original Star Wars series is definitely one of cinema's most triumphant and recognizable trilogies, one that not only has a grip on pop culture, but continues to influence cinema as a whole. This certainly deserves the biggest mention last on this list. Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back Release Date May 17, 1980 Runtime 124 minutes After the Rebels are overpowered by the Empire, Luke Skywalker begins his Jedi training with Yoda, while his friends are pursued across the galaxy by Darth Vader and bounty hunter Boba Fett.