There's something magical about the symmetry of standard storytelling. First, there is the beginning. Then you have the middle. Then there's the end. It's a beautiful loop and allows storytellers to effectively structure and create their tales.
The structure can also be extended - and in the case of film trilogies - allows for the beginning, middle and end to be perfectly captured.
While directors, writers and producers don't always get every movie perfect, film trilogies that manage to tie all the threads together, are those that stand the test of time and opinion.
And in our opinion, here are some of the best trilogies you will see on the silver screen.
Lord of the Rings trilogy
The fellowship of the ring, The two towers, The return of the king
Film adaptations of books don't always get it right. And while not every aspect of J.R.R Tolkien's masterpiece were included in the movies, we think Peter Jackson and co did a quite brilliant job of capturing the epic fantasy set in Middle Earth.
In our minds, Viggo Mortensen IS Aragorn, Ian McKellen IS Gandalf...we could go on.
The special effects still look incredible 25 years on; the soundtrack still creates goosebumps; the New Zealand landscapes where a lot of the film was shot, still awe inspiring; and the story arc over three movies continues to captivate. If any one of the three movies happen to be on the television, you stop and watch, before realising it's been 3 hours.
Don't just take our word for it:
- grossed over $2.9 billion worldwide (among the highest of all time)
- Won 17 Academy Awards out of 30 total nominations, including Best Picture for The Return of the King.
The Godfather
The Godfather, Part II, Part III
How could we not include the Godfather in this first list of our favourite film trilogies? Again, not all film adaptations get it right. But in the case of The Godfather, they do.
We get it, Part III is definitely the weakest of the three (though it's maybe not as bad as people and critics like to say). But overall, the trilogy is incredible and still revered by filmmakers, screenwriters and creatives alike.
Iconic lines, delivered by iconic actors like Al Pacino, Marlon Brando, Robert DeNiro, John Cazale and all the rest, with iconic music and moments guided by iconic director Francis Ford Coppola, make the Godfather a memorable experience.
Don't just take our word for it:
- Lauded by critics as one of cinema's masterpieces.
- Won 9 out of 28 total Academy Award nominations.
Three Colours trilogy
Three colours: Blue, Three Colours: White, Three Colours: Red
Perhaps less well known than the previous trilogies on our list, Krzysztof Kieślowski's brilliant psychological drama is no less impactful.
Presented as three interwoven stories that reach their denouement in the final is a masterful piece of storytelling. Beautiful cinematography counterpoints the emotional arc of the protagonists and captivates the audience - the journey is well worth taking.
Starring Juliette Binoche, Julie Delpy and Irène Jacob and produced by an international co-production between France, Poland, and Switzerland, this unique trilogy is one to watch.
Don't just take our word for it:
- Rotten Tomatoes critics rate Blue 97%; White 89%; Red 100%.
- Red received nominations for Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Cinematography at the 67th Academy Awards.