Image via Universal Pictures
Published Jun 3, 2026, 12:14 AM EDT
Michael John Petty is a Senior Author for Collider who spends his days writing, in fellowship with his local church, and enjoying each new day with his wife and daughters. At Collider, he writes features, reviews, recaps, and conducts interviews. In addition to writing about stories, Michael has told a few of his own. His novella, The Beast of Bear-tooth Mountain, was released in 2023. His Western short story, The Devil's Left Hand, received the Spur Award for "Best Western Short Fiction" from the Western Writers of America in 2025. Michael currently resides in North Idaho with his growing family.
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Sometimes, you just want to grab some popcorn and watch a great one-and-done adventure. Movies, after all, bring people together as you're transported to another place and time for the ride of your life. But for those who don't want to commit to binging an entire television series but aren't simply satisfied with a standalone film entry, look no further than the best movie trilogies around.
From action films and space operas to high-fantasy epics and Western adventures, there's something for everyone if you look hard enough. Of course, you've come here so that you don't have to look at all... Don't worry, we've got you covered with these remarkable movie trilogies that you'll want to rewatch over and over again. Who knows, maybe you'll love them more this time around than you did the last!
10 The 'Bourne' Trilogy (2002-2007)
Image via Universal PicturesIf you weren't paying attention in the early 2000s, then you might not understand the hype surrounding the original Bourne trilogy. From Doug Liman's original The Bourne Identity to Paul Greengrass' immediate follow-ups, The Bourne Supremacy and The Bourne Ultimatum, this was the action movie trilogy that folks couldn't get enough of. Matt Damon shines here as Jason Bourne, an amnesiac with mysterious connections to the CIA who is being followed by men who want him dead. Talk about a killer premise.
Those first three Bourne movies are a complete saga that honors Robert Ludlum's original novels and pushes the action to the limit with the frenetic shaky camera movements and quick-cut editing that would come to characterize this era of action flicks. Although a standalone sequel, The Bourne Legacy, came out after, it didn't follow Bourne himself, and so we won't consider it a part of this trilogy. If you find yourself still craving more afterward, Damon and Greengrass reunited for Jason Bourne in 2016.
9 'Planet of the Apes' Reboot Trilogy (2011-2017)
Image via 20th Century StudiosAfter Tim Burton's failed Planet of the Apes reboot, director Rupert Wyatt took the franchise in a new direction with a prequel titled Rise of the Planet of the Apes. The new take follows the ape Caesar (Andy Serkis) as he becomes intelligent due to a drug called ALZ-112. But as this experimental concoction is released, the rest of the world's apes follow suit, eventually taking over in the Matt Reeves-directed sequels Dawn of the Planet of the Apes and War for the Planet of the Apes.
These three films single-handedly proved that Planet of the Apes wasn't dead, but more than that, they showed us that non-human protagonists in live-action films have more potential than we thought. This surprisingly heartfelt trilogy is simply excellent, with each installment getting better than the last. While War was followed up by a sequel, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, set generations later, it's not required viewing. If anything, consider revisiting the original 1968 film once you're done with all three.
8 Taylor Sheridan's 'American Frontier' Trilogy (2015-2017)
Image via Lionsgate FilmsIt's not often that the creative vision of a screenwriter spread across three separate (and non-related) films by three separate directors is considered a trilogy, but in the case of Taylor Sheridan we'll make an exception. Sheridan's American Frontier trilogy consists of Denis Villeneuve's Sicario, David Mackenzie's Hell or High Water, and Sheridan's own Wind River. All three neo-Western films are gritty explorations of the modern American West — and each one is superb.
With similar themes of fatherhood, poverty, corruption, and violence, Sheridan paints a damning picture of contemporary America that rivals the Old West era itself. Sure, there is some levity involved, but this is a thematic trilogy that is not for the faint of heart. Of all three of these films, only Sicario has thus far gotten a sequel, though a Wind River follow-up is also pending release.
7 Gore Verbinski's 'Pirates of the Caribbean' Trilogy (2003-2007)
Image via Walt Disney Studios Motion PicturesOkay, yes, there are technically five Pirates of the Caribbean movies. However, if you're just looking to be entertained by a complete trilogy that closes out the saga with style, then stick to only the first three films directed by Gore Verbinski. Subtitled The Curse of the Black Pearl, Dead Man's Chest, and At World's End, respectively, Verbinski's swashbuckling Pirates saga is among the most charming and entertaining trilogies on this list. From daring swordplay to high-stakes supernatural flair, it's got everything.
As Disney's first venture into PG-13 territory, Pirates of the Caribbean resurrected the swashbuckling adventure by proving that younger audiences could handle dark and thematic material (and that such material did not have to be overly explicit to entertain older viewers). It's a near-perfect four-quadrant trilogy that is best remembered by the phenomenal performances by Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow, Orlando Bloom as Will Turner, and Keira Knightley as Elizabeth Swan. And, to this day, the effects still hold up.
6 Sam Raimi's 'Spider-Man' Trilogy (2002-2007)
Image via Sony Pictures ReleasingSpeaking of movies that appeal to audiences of literally all ages, Sam Raimi's Spider-Man trilogy — consisting of the original 2002 film, Spider-Man 2, and the controversial Spider-Man 3 — is a masterclass in how to bring superheroes to life on the big screen. After Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire) is bitten by a genetically enhanced super-spider, he learns the hard way that "with great power comes great responsibility." Struggling to balance being a superhero with his normal life, Peter fights for his friends and family the only way he knows how.
Whichever entry in the ultra-bingeable three-part saga you prefer, there's no denying that Raimi knew the character better than any other single director to tackle the wall-crawler. Whether he's going up against the Green Goblin (Willem Dafoe), Doc Ock (Alfred Molina), or Sandman (Thomas Haden Church), we know that Spidey will give it all he's got. This trilogy has been considered by many to be the greatest superhero movie saga, and for good reason. Of course, if you're hungry for more, you can always jump into Spider-Man: No Way Home.
5 'Back to the Future' Trilogy (1985-1989)
Image via Universal PicturesFor something that seamlessly blends science fiction with comedy, there is arguably no better adventure than Back to the Future. From producer Steven Spielberg, director Robert Zemeckis, and co-writer Bob Gale, this trilogy contains all the wacky '80s-style coming-of-age thrills that you could ask for. A fun, nostalgic zap to the past turns into an alternate hellscape in Back to the Future Part II before jumping further back to the Wild West for Back to the Future Part III. Talk about a wild ride.
Michael J. Fox stars as teenage "slacker" Marty McFly opposite Christopher Lloyd's Emmett "Doc" Brown as the pair find themselves changing the space-time continuum with every new ride in the DeLorean. The Back to the Future trilogy is endlessly rewatchable, and although the second part's depiction of 2015 is a bit, well, dated, it sounds like the type of future worth embracing. For loads of laughs and adventure, Back to the Future may just be the perfect trilogy for you.
4 'The Dollars Trilogy' (1964-1966)
Image via Produzioni Europee AssociatiWhile the previous trilogy only touches on the Western genre, The Dollars Trilogy is all about the Old West — at least, as told through the eyes of Italian director Sergio Leone. Clint Eastwood stars as the Spaghetti Western icon known best as "The Man With No Name" in A Fistful of Dollars, For a Few Dollars More, and The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. Released a year apart, the Dollars films kickstarted Eastwood's popularity on a global scale, solidifying him as a bankable star.
Of course, what's unique about The Dollars Trilogy is that it's told a bit out of order. While the plots themselves don't overlap, Eastwood's leading character (called either "Joe," "Manco," or "Blondie" depending on the film) does, with the most famous installment — The Good, the Bad and the Ugly — being the first chronologically. But however you choose to view it, you can't go wrong with these pulse-pounding shoot-'em-ups that paint a fascinating and violent picture of the Old American West.
3 'The Dark Knight' Trilogy (2005-2012)
Image via Warner Bros. Pictures
While Raimi's Spider-Man could be argued as the best superhero trilogy put to screen, there's no doubt that The Dark Knight Trilogy is the best comic book trilogy ever made — and one of the best trilogies period. Visionary director Christopher Nolan saved the live-action Batman franchise with Batman Begins, which introduced Christian Bale as the Caped Crusader in an updated Gotham City, exploring the psychology behind the DC Comics icon through a breathtaking origin story. But that was only the start.
The Dark Knight changed movies forever, and as Batman faced off against the Joker (Heath Ledger), audiences felt as if these characters had been translated to the real-world. The Dark Knight Rises ends the trilogy with a definite close, and though a bit controversial in some circles, it is one of the few Batman stories that contains a real ending. For a superhero story a bit more grounded in our world, Nolan's take on the Dark Knight should be your first pick.
2 The Original 'Star Wars' Trilogy (1977-1983)
Image via Lucasfilms / courtesy Everett CollectionGeorge Lucas likely had no idea the kind of pop culture phenomenon he would create with Star Wars, but once the franchise hit lightspeed, that was it. What began with the original film (now known as A New Hope) in 1977 only became more significant as Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) and his allies aboard the Millennium Falcon pushed forward against Darth Vader (James Earl Jones, David Prowse) in The Empire Strikes Back and later Return of the Jedi. Today, these are some of the most beloved films in all cinema.
The original Star Wars trilogy cannot be beat as far as science fiction or space operas go. It has everything from intergalactic warfare, the battle between pure good and evil, and all new alien worlds to explore. There's a reason that so many flock back to these films all these years later, and why current franchise installments still pull directly from them. Truthfully, the original trilogy is all you need, but if you're dying for more, you could always revisit Lucas' prequel trilogy for his complete vision regarding the Skywalker family.
1 'The Lord of the Rings' Trilogy (2001-2003)
Image via New Line CinemaEasily the greatest motion picture trilogy of all time, The Lord of the Rings is an innovative and unprecedented adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien's high-fantasy novels by director Peter Jackson that not only holds up but thrives by today's blockbuster standards. Upon recieving the Dark Lord Sauron's One Ring, Frodo Baggins (Elijah Wood) is tasked with destroying the weapon in the fires of Mount Doom. Joined by the Fellowship, he travels across Middle-earth to see the task completed, at grave risk to his own life.
The trilogy — consisting of The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King — is simply exquisite. From the costuming and action sequences to the worldbuilding, cinematography, miniatures, and overall technical quality, we can understand why it walked away with 17 out of its 30 Oscar nominations. Folks who can't quite leave Middle-earth behind may also enjoy The Hobbit trilogy, though it is admittedly not as grand as Jackson's adaptation of The Lord of the Rings.
Collider Exclusive · Middle-earth Quiz
Which Lord of the Rings
Character Are You?
One Quiz · Ten Questions · Your Fate Revealed
The road goes ever on. From the green hills of the Shire to the fires of Mount Doom, every soul in Middle-earth carries a destiny. Ten questions stand between you and the truth of who you are. Answer honestly — the One Ring has a way of revealing what we most want to hide.
💍Frodo
🌿Samwise
👑Aragorn
🔥Gandalf
🏹Legolas
⚒️Gimli
👁️Sauron
🪨Gollum
BEGIN YOUR QUEST →
01
You are handed a responsibility that could destroy you. What do you do? The weight of the world falls on unlikely shoulders.
AAccept it. Someone has to, and running changes nothing. BStay by the side of whoever carries it. They shouldn't go alone. CStep forward and lead. This is exactly what I was made for. DIt's mine now. I won't let anyone else have it.
NEXT QUESTION →
02
Your closest companion is heading into terrible danger. You: True loyalty is revealed not in comfort, but in crisis.
AFollow them without hesitation. I'd rather die beside them than live without them. BRally others and forge a plan to help — strength in numbers. COffer wisdom and guidance. My counsel may save them where swords cannot. DLet them go. Only the strong survive, and sentiment is a weakness.
NEXT QUESTION →
03
Enormous power is within your reach. Your instinct is: Power corrupts — but only those who reach for it.
ADestroy it. Nothing good comes from power this absolute. BUse it to protect those I love — just this once. CWield it wisely. I have the will and the knowledge to do good with it. DSeize it. I have waited long enough. It belongs to me.
NEXT QUESTION →
04
What does "home" mean to you? Where we long to return reveals who we truly are.
AA simple, peaceful place — green hills, good food, no adventure required. BWherever the people I love are. Home is a feeling, not a place. CA kingdom I must earn before I can truly claim it as mine. DI lost it long ago. That loss is what drives everything I do.
NEXT QUESTION →
05
When a battle is upon you, your approach is: War reveals what we are made of — whether we like it or not.
ASurvive by any means. I'm not a fighter — but I'll do what I must. BFight for the person beside me, not for glory or honour. CLead the charge. Nothing inspires an army like a king at the front. DStrike from range, fast and precise — never let them get close.
NEXT QUESTION →
06
Someone comes to you for advice in their darkest hour. You: Wisdom is not knowing all the answers — it's knowing which questions to ask.
AListen, then offer honest encouragement. Sometimes people just need belief. BGive them practical help — words are fine, but action is better. CSpeak carefully. I have seen much, and I know what counsel can cost. DTell them what they want to hear. Trust is a tool like any other.
NEXT QUESTION →
07
How do you see yourself, honestly? Self-knowledge is the most dangerous kind.
ASmall and ordinary — but perhaps that's exactly why I was chosen. BDefined entirely by who I serve and love. I am nothing without them. CForged by hardship into something the world has not yet fully seen. DDiminished from what I once was — and consumed by the need to reclaim it.
NEXT QUESTION →
08
Which of these best describes your relationship with the natural world? Middle-earth speaks to those who know how to listen.
AI find peace in it — forests, rivers, open skies. Nature restores me. BI prefer the earth underfoot — stone, mines, solid and real things. CI have watched the world change for longer than most can comprehend. DNature offers hiding places, cold water, raw fish. That's enough for me.
NEXT QUESTION →
09
You encounter a wretched, pitiable creature who has done terrible things. You: How we treat the fallen reveals the height of our character.
AShow mercy. Even the most broken souls deserve a chance at redemption. BPity them — but never trust them. They made their choices. CSee them as a tool. Their knowledge or skills may still serve a purpose. DDestroy them before they can cause more harm. Mercy is a luxury we cannot afford.
NEXT QUESTION →
10
When the quest is over and the songs are sung, what do you hope they say about you? In the end, we are all just stories.
AThat an ordinary person did an extraordinary thing — and came home. BThat I never abandoned the person who needed me most. CThat I was worthy of the crown — and everything it demanded. DNothing. I don't need songs. I needed it, and now it's gone.
REVEAL MY FATE →
The Fellowship Has Spoken Your Place in Middle-earth
The scores below reveal your true character. Your highest number is your match. Even a tie tells a story — the Fellowship was never made of simple people.
💍 Frodo
🌿 Samwise
👑 Aragorn
🔥 Gandalf
🏹 Legolas
⚒️ Gimli
👁️ Sauron
🪨 Gollum
You carry something heavy — and you carry it alone, even when you don't have to. You were not born for greatness, and that is precisely why greatness chose you. Your courage is not the roaring, sword-swinging kind; it is quiet, stubborn, and terrifying in its refusal to quit. The Ring weighs on you more than anyone can see, and still you walk toward the fire. That is not weakness. That is the rarest kind of strength there is.
You are, without question, the best of them. Not the most powerful, not the most celebrated — but the most essential. Your loyalty is not a trait; it is a force of nature. You would carry the person you love up the slopes of Mount Doom if it came to that, and we both know you'd do it without being asked. The world needs more people like you, and the world is lucky it has even one.
You were born to lead, and you have spent years running from it. The crown is yours by right, but you know better than anyone that right means nothing without the will and the worthiness to back it up. You are tempered by loss, shaped by long roads, and defined by a code of honour you hold to even when no one is watching. When you finally step forward, the world shifts. Because it was always waiting for you.
You have seen more than you let on, and you say less than you know — which is exactly as it should be. You are a catalyst: you do not fight the battles yourself, you ignite the people who can. Your wisdom comes not from books but from an age of watching what happens when it is ignored. You arrive precisely when you mean to, and your presence alone changes what is possible. A wizard is never late.
Graceful, perceptive, and almost preternaturally calm under pressure — you see things others miss and act before others react. You do not need to make a scene to be remarkable; your presence speaks for itself. You are loyal to those you choose to stand beside, and that choice is not made lightly. You have lived long enough to know that the most beautiful things in this world are also the most fragile, and that is why you fight to protect them.
You are loud, proud, and absolutely formidable — and beneath all of that is one of the most fiercely loyal hearts in Middle-earth. You don't do anything by half measures. Your friendships are forged like iron, your grudges run as deep as mines, and your courage in battle is the kind that makes legends. You came into this fellowship suspicious of everyone and ended it willing to die for an elf. That is not a small thing. That is everything.
You think in centuries and act in absolutes. Order, dominion, control — not because you are cruel by nature, but because you have decided that the world left to itself always falls apart, and you are the only one with the vision and the will to hold it together. You were not always this. Something was lost, or taken, or betrayed, and the version of you that stands now is the answer to that wound. The tragedy is that you're not entirely wrong — just entirely too far gone to course-correct.
You are a study in contradiction — pitiable and dangerous, cunning and broken, capable of both cruelty and something that once resembled love. You are defined by loss: of innocence, of self, of the one thing that gave your existence meaning. Two voices war inside you constantly, and the tragedy is that the better one sometimes wins, just not often enough, and never at the right moment. You are a warning, yes — but also a mirror. We are all a little Gollum, given the right ring and enough time.
↻ RETAKE THE QUIZ
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