Threequels can be hit-and-miss, but the best ones build on the two movies that came before them with their own original ideas. Sequels are already notoriously difficult, so a second sequel can be a step too far for many franchises.Alien 3, Batman ForeverandHome Alone 3are just a few examples of terrible threequels that followed two great movies. Fortunately, not all franchises follow this trend.
A great threequel can often be the perfect finale to a trilogy. Some of thebest trilogies of all timeare only held in such high esteem because they end their stories with such aplomb, likeThe Lord of the Rings,the originalStar Warstrilogy andBack to the Future.In other cases, a threequel can set a franchise up for a long and successful run. While episodic franchises likeJames Bondor theDollarstrilogy have great third movies, these aren’t the same as providing the third act of a long story like many of the best threequels of all time.
The first twoBack to the Futuremovies see Doc and Marty travelling into the past and the future, dealing with Marty’s birth and his legacy. The third movie is something of a wildcard, sending the duo on a Wild West adventure that pokes fun at the tropes of the western genres while staying true to its sci-fi roots. Robert Zemeckis has always rejected calls for a continuation of the franchise, seeingPart IIIas the perfect finale.
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Amid the gunslinging fun and games ofBack to the FuturePart III’s western pastiche, it also manages to provide the perfect emotional send-off for its characters. After more of the franchise’s lighthearted thrills, Marty reunites with Jennifer with his feet firmly planted in the present for the first time in a long time. Doc gets his happy ending too, traveling to parts - and times - unknown with a family of his own.Back to the Future Part IIIis the strangest entry in the franchise, but it works out brilliantly.
The Godfather Part IIIwill always be seen as a disappointment compared to the first two movies, which frequently rank among the greatest of all time, but there’s still a lot to admire about Francis Ford Coppola’s threequel. It’s worth remembering that it was nominated for Best Picture.Coppola andThe Godfatherauthor Mario Puzo seePart IIIas a postscript to a duology, rather than the final act of a trilogy.
It’s a lot to take in, but it all comes together in an explosive final act, which conjures the power of the first two movies.
The Godfather Part IIIcatches up with Michael Corleone as an established presence in his community, trying to purge his family name of the violent associations of their criminal past. Al Pacino and Diane Keaton are both superb to watch, tying down a story that touches on a real-life Vatican scandal, an incestuous relationship and allusions to opera, the Roman Empire and the story of Jesus. It’s a lot to take in, but it all comes together in an explosive final act, which conjures the power of the first two movies.
John Wickwas a great standalone action movie, but it needed the developments inJohn Wick: Chapter 2to create a future for the franchise.John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellumcontinues to pay off this decision by once more expanding the world of the franchise, delivering more creative fight scenes, and revealing a few more pieces of the puzzle that makes up the title character’s backstory.
Parabellumexpands the world of the franchise, delivers more creative fight scenes, and reveals a few more pieces of the puzzle that makes up John’s backstory.
Chapter 3 - Parabellummoves further from the gritty realism ofJohn Wick.The fight scenes are still viscerally engaging, but the characters get a little more eccentric and some of John’s methods seem to be plucked out of old adventure comics, like when he kills a man in a library using a book as a deadly weapon.Ballerinawill continue theJohn Wickfranchise, and it looks set to continue the trend of gorgeous stylistic indulgence.
The Bourne Ultimatumis often cited as thebest movie in theJason Bournefranchise, and it’s the perfect way to wrap up the original trilogy. While the two subsequent movies are less popular, it could be argued that they only exist because the explosive threequel created an intense desire for moreBourne.The Bourne Ultimatumprovides answers to the most important questions about the titular spythat had been present throughout the trilogy.
The pulsating car chase through the streets of Manhattan is one of many action highlights inThe Bourne Ultimatum.
The Bourne Ultimatumfeatures another compelling performance from Matt Damon and more of the franchise’s trademark style of frantic action. Other action movies have tried to copy the shaky-cam fight scenes, but very few have had the desired effect of visceral, immersive terror. The pulsating car chase through the streets of Manhattan is one of many action highlights inThe Bourne Ultimatumas it takes in sights from exotic locations all over the world.
After 2011’sRise of the Planet of the Apesproved that a prequel series could be worthwhile for the franchise, each movie in Caesar’s story improved on the last.War for the Planet of the Apesis a masterpiece of the Hollywood system, and the perfect synthesis of the creative and the commercial. Frankly, a reboot of thePlanet of the Apesfranchise seemed like it would have more financial potential than artistic merit, butWar for the Planet of the Apesis a meaningful addition to the story that sums up the trilogy in style.
A reboot of thePlanet of the Apesfranchise seemed like it would have more financial potential than artistic merit, butWar for the Planet of the Apesis a meaningful addition to the story.
War for the Planet of the Apessees the conflict between apes and humans coming to a head, as Caesar starts to question his pacifist philosophy in the face of increasing human aggression.Woody Harrelson’s hard-faced Colonel character is a brilliant addition to the franchise, and a worthy adversary for Caesar, much like Koba inDawn of the Planet of the Apes.The threequel backs up this intense personal conflict with some of the franchise’s most jaw-dropping action. Thefuture of thePlanet of the Apesfranchisehas a lot of good faith to work with.
TheHarry Potterseries gradually transitions to a darker and more mature style after the relatively lighthearted escapist adventure of the earliest movies. The clearest turning point isThe Prisoner of Azkaban,the third movie which sees Harry and his friends learning a lot more about what’s really going on behind the scenes at Hogwarts and in the rest of the wizarding world. It has a much more intense atmosphere than the first two movies, but Alfonso Cuarón handles the transition expertly, keeping just enough of the franchise’s playful side.
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The Prisoner of Azkabanadds even more top-class British actors to the cast, with Timothy Spall, Gary Oldman and David Thewlis all delivering great performances.The Prisoner of Azkabanis more like a horror movie than the rest of the franchise, but it also stands out for its brilliant time-travel plot. Ultimately, the tonal balancing act of the third movie set up the entire franchise for success. TheHBOHarry Potterserieswill have to find its own way of navigating the story’s shifting atmosphere.
TheToy Storyfranchise is arguably the greatest animated movie franchise of all time, with four hits and no duds so far. Pixar will try to extend this streak withToy Story 5,but the franchise already had the perfect ending in 2010.Toy Story 3came out 15 years after the first movie, and it showed the remarkable technological advancement of 3D computer-generated animation, but the story and the characters take precedence in a heartwarming Pixar classic.
TheToy Storyfranchise is arguably the greatest animated movie franchise of all time, with four hits and no duds.
Toy Story 3shows what Pixar is capable of, with plenty of lighthearted, entertaining comedy that eventually gives way to an emotionally devastating finale. As Woody, Buzz and the rest of the toys bid Andy farewell, it offers a cathartic opportunity for the audience to say goodbye to the beloved characters too. This givesToy Story 3extra emotional resonance for fans who were with the franchise from the beginning.
TheIndiana Jonesfranchise has produced two further sequels sinceThe Last Crusade,butthe third movie should have been the last.The Last Crusadeprovides the perfect send-off for Indy, reaching into his past to show a thrilling origin story before fast-forwarding to focus on his legacy. It’s a thoughtful and interesting exploration of a character who rarely shows more than a stoic grimace in the face of life-threatening danger or rapturous love.
The Last Crusadeis another fast-paced adventure with Indy battling the Nazis over a powerful ancient artifact, but it never feels like it’s trying to copyRaiders of the Lost Ark.
The Last Crusadeis another fast-paced adventure with Indy battling the Nazis over a powerful ancient artifact, but it never feels like it’s trying to copyRaiders of the Lost Ark.Sean Connery’s presence as Indy’s father is a big reason why, as his on-screen dynamic with Harrison Ford emphasizes the comedic side to theIndiana Jonesmovies.The Last Crusadeends with Indy and his friends literally riding off into the sunset. This moment could seem sentimental in the hands of a lesser filmmaker, but Steven Spielberg earns it.
The originalStar Warstrilogy is still widely considered to be the best one. The prequel trilogy has some great moments, but it was met by an underwhelming fan response, and the recent sequel trilogy all but plunged the fan base into civil war.Return of the Jediputs the perfect capper on the only undeniably great trilogy of theStar Warsfranchise so far. It brings Luke Skywalker’s arc to an end, and it sees the Rebel Alliance finally toppling the Empire in spectacular fashion.
Return of the Jediputs the perfect capper on the only undeniably great trilogy of theStar Warsfranchise so far.
Return of the Jediopens by showing a more mature and competent Luke Skywalker than before, as he rescues Han Solo and Princess Leia from the clutches of Jabba the Hutt. This is just a taste of the movie’s hair-raising action and gripping personal story. Before the grand finale, there are many more now-iconic moments, including the speeder chase on Endor and Darth Vader’s sacrifice.The original trilogy is a perfect three-act story that manages to deliver thrills the entire time. Thefuture of theStar Warsfranchiseseems as though it will focus on standalone movies and spinoffs.
Peter Jackson rounded out hisLord of the Ringstrilogy in style withThe Return of the King, ensuring that he went three for three delivering some of the most remarkable fantasy movies of all time. The entire trilogy was famously filmed back-to-back in one long shoot in New Zealand, and this givesThe Return of the Kingthe same atmosphere and style as the first two movies. It won 11 Oscars, a record which it shares withBen-HurandTitanic,although this could also be a case of the Academy recognizing the entire trilogy at once.
The Return of the Kingsees Frodo and Sam continue their journey towards Mordor with Gollum in tow. Meanwhile, the rest of the Fellowship unite to defeat Sauron’s armies and ensure Frodo has a clear path to victory.The trilogy ends with an almighty crescendo, including some of the most jaw-dropping battle sequences ever committed to filmand satisfying conclusions for the stories of each and every character.The Lord of the Ringsfranchise has returned withThe Rings of Powerand the upcominganime movieThe War of the Rohirrim,but Jackson’s trilogy could remain unbeatable.
