20 iconic movie trilogies every film fan should watch at least once

Middle-earth has never looked so epic. Peter Jackson’s fantasy masterpiece remains one of the most ambitious and visually stunning trilogies ever created.

Christopher Nolan gave Batman a gritty, grown-up glow-up with this trilogy. Heath Ledger’s Joker in The Dark Knight? Iconic doesn’t even cover it.

This one’s all about vibes, conversations, and heartbreak in beautiful European cities. Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy make falling in and out of love look way too real.

A coming-of-age story with dragons that are surprisingly emotional and beautifully animated. A trilogy rarely grows with its audience like this one did.

The prequel series, which occurred from 2001 to 2017, went from “wait, really?” to “holy cŗap, this is good.” Andy Serkis as Caesar gave a performance so strong that it made you root for the end of humanity

Often hailed as one of the greatest cinematic achievements of all time, this trilogy is a sprawling, epic tale of the Corleone crime family's rise and fall. It’s a masterclass in filmmaking that explores power, family, and betrayal in a way that is both brutal and beautiful.

This is the perfect time-travel adventure, following the hilarious and high-stakes journey of teenager Marty McFly and the eccentric Doc Brown. From souped-up DeLoreans to hoverboards, it's a timeless and endlessly rewatchable masterpiece of '80s fun. 

It's the space opera that essentially defined modern blockbusters and created a cultural phenomenon that remains strong to this day. The original trilogy is a classic tale of good versus evil, complete with charming heroes, a terrifying villain, and the most iconic sound effects in movie history.

The Matrix trilogy is a mind-bending rabbit hole of philosophy, trench coats, and groundbreaking "bullet time" action that will have you questioning everything in the coolest way possible.

This trilogy is a glorious, three-part cautionary tale about what happens when a Las Vegas bachelor party goes horribly, hilariously wrong. It's a masterclass in escalating chaos, questionable decisions, and the pain of a post-blackout investigation.

Yeah, baby, yeah! Mike Myers delivered a trilogy of shagadelic spy spoofs that perfectly parodied the James Bond films with a groovy ‘60s twist. It’s silly, endlessly quotable, and unapologetically absurd, and features Beyoncé! What more could you ask for!?

Edgar Wright's Cornetto Trilogy isn't a continuous story, but a thematic masterpiece of three genre comedies: a zombie rom-com (Shaun of the Dead), a buddy-cop action flick (Hot Fuzz), and a sci-fi pub crawl (The World's End). Each film is a brilliant, hilarious, and lovingly crafted tribute to the genres it spoofs.

Arguably the coolest heist films ever made, the Ocean's trilogy has style, swagger, and one of the most attractive casts in movie history. Watching George Clooney and his crew outsmart Vegas casinos is a smooth, sophisticated, and endlessly entertaining ride.

Clint Eastwood's "Man with No Name" became a cinematic legend in this iconic trio of Spaghetti Westerns directed by Sergio Leone. These films — A Fistful of Dollars, For a Few Dollars More, and The Good, the Bad and the Ugly — reinvented the Western genre with grit, style, and unforgettable musical scores.

Before the MCU was a thing, Wesley Snipes' Blade was the half-vampire Daywalker making the world safe for R-rated superhero blockbusters. This trilogy is a stylish, action-packed blend of comic book heroics and bloody vampire horror.

A lion, a zebra, a giraffe, and a hippo escape a New York City zoo and end up on a wild, unexpected adventure. The Madagascar trilogy is a fun, hilarious, and surprisingly heartwarming story about friendship and finding your place in the world ... even if it's with a group of scheming penguins.

No one expected the guy in the star-spangled suit to have one of the MCU's best and most politically complex trilogies, but that's exactly what happened in this trilogy. Captain America's journey from patriotic soldier to questioning the government is a surprisingly deep and action-packed character arc we weren't prepared for, but couldn't get enough of. 

Netflix dropped this entire, interconnected horror trilogy over three straight weeks, and it was a genius move. Based on the R.L. Stine books, the series is a bloody, nostalgic trip through different eras of a cursed town, blending slasher-flick fun with a surprisingly cool overarching mystery.

This is the trilogy that basically defined the modern Netflix rom-com, making us all fall in love with Lara Jean Covey and her accidental love letters. It’s a super sweet, charming, and genuinely heartfelt story about the awkwardness of first love and finding your voice.

Pure, chaotic, teen-movie energy, The Kissing Booth trilogy follows the messy romantic entanglements of Elle Evans, her best friend, and his bad-boy older brother. It's a gloriously dramatic and sometimes ridiculous ride that became a massive hit for the streaming service.