3 Favorite Trilogies (Excluding Lord of the Rings and Star Wars)

Movie trilogies are a rare gem in our franchise-obsessed modern cinematic landscape. When done right, they enchant audiences with a cohesive narrative that has a clear beginning, middle, and end.

As someone who grew up in the good old days of VHS tapes and LaserDiscs, I want to share three of my personal favorite trilogies. I'm intentionally excluding The Lord of the Rings and both the original and prequel Star Wars trilogies. As iconic as they are, they would be a bit too obvious for such a list.

Here are three incredible trilogies that still hold up to the test of time.

1. The Back to the Future Trilogy

Kicking things off at 88 MPH, we have the classic sci-fi trilogy that left an entire generation obsessed with Huey Lewis and the News as well as being very, very concerned about the existential dread of accidentally meeting their teenage parents.

High school student Marty McFly is shocked to discover that his eccentric, mad-scientist friend, Doc Brown, has built a time machine out of a DeLorean. Through a sudden, dramatic turn of events, Marty is accidentally sent 30 years into the past. Suddenly, he's stuck in 1955, trying to play matchmaker for his own high school-aged parents while dodging the trilogy’s signature bully, Biff Tannen.

Across all three movies, Marty and Doc get tangled up in a web of wacky, high-stakes adventures. Whether they’re in 1955, 2015, or 1885, this trilogy delivers nonstop laughter, heart, and fun, no matter the time.

2. The Dollars Trilogy

Next up, we’re heading into the sun-drenched desert to track a wandering mercenary who is quick on the draw and knows how to rock a poncho.

Clint Eastwood revitalized the Western genre when he starred in Sergio Leone’s iconic trilogy as the Man with No Name. His character is a nameless stranger whose identity shifts from movie to movie based on who he's squaring off against, whether it’s crooks, outlaws, or bounty hunters.

While the supporting cast is phenomenal, featuring characters like Esteban Rojo, Colonel Mortimer, and the unforgettable Tuco stealing plenty of scenes, Eastwood remains the undisputed star, carrying a cool charisma within a beautifully cinematic era defined by grit, dirt, and betrayal.

3. The Naked Gun Trilogy

Finally, let’s finish our list with a trio of slapstick comedies guaranteed to leave you laughing and slapping your knees till you cry.

Lieutenant Frank Drebin is Police Squad's absolute best hope for saving Los Angeles from terrorists and criminal masterminds. Unfortunately, he is also the most idiotic, clumsy, and downright out-of-his-mind detective Hollywood has ever seen.

Leslie Nielsen’s legendary deadpan performance cements him right alongside Mike Myers’ Austin Powers in the comedy hall of fame. Throughout the series, Frank stumbles into utter chaos, doing everything from accidentally saving Queen Elizabeth II from an assassination attempt at a baseball game (Thanks for butchering the national anthem, Enrico Pallazzo!) to ruining the Academy Awards (What kind of moron trades a bomb for a gun?). Despite his absolute idiocy, Frank always finds a way to save the day, leaving the real professionals wondering how they ever survived without him.

What about you? What are some of your favorite movie trilogies that deserve more love? Drop your picks in the comments below!