1. The Lord of the Rings Trilogy

Based on the popular books by J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings is one of the most popular film trilogies of recent times. The books themselves are quite epic, so it made sense that the story was told over three films. ‘The Fellowship of the Ring,’ ‘The Two Towers’ and ‘The Return of the King’ were released over a period of three years and followed Frodo’s quest to save Middle Earth from imminent doom.

2. The Dark Knight Trilogy

Superhero films have always enjoyed popularity. The ‘Dark Knight’ trilogy, which had Christian Bale in the role of Batman, took the superhero film to new levels. The first installment, ‘Batman Begins,’ was a dark, action-packed retelling of one of the most well-known superhero tales. The sequels, ‘The Dark Knight’ and ‘The Dark Knight Rises,’ also lived up to the hype.

3. The Toy Story Trilogy

The first ‘Toy Story’ film hit cinemas back in 1995 and its popularity has spanned more than a decade. ‘Toy Story 2’ was released in 1999 and ‘Toy Story 3’ capped off the trilogy in 2010. The films following the adventures of a rag-tag bunch of toys is a well-loved piece of cinema. It may sound cliché, but it’s something the whole family can enjoy.

4. The Matrix Trilogy

The ‘Matrix’ trilogy is made up of ‘The Matrix,’ ‘The Matrix Reloaded’ and ‘Matrix Revolutions.’ The original ‘Matrix’ film was a huge success, but the follow up films in the franchise weren’t as positively received at the time. Either way, this trilogy is full of action-packed scenes with a side-serving of philosophical ideas.

5. Star Wars Episodes IV-VI

They’re the original and, some would argue, the best films in the ‘Star Wars’ franchise. ‘Star Wars,’ ‘The Empire Strikes Back’ and ‘Return of the Jedi’ captured the minds and imaginations of audiences, and became cult classics. A prequel trilogy was released almost a decade after the original films were released, and there’s talk of more ‘Star Wars’ films in the works.

6. The Back to the Future Trilogy

The ‘Back to the Future’ films are still as popular with audiences today as when they were released in the 1980s. The trilogy follows the adventures of Michael J. Fox as Marty McFly as he travelled back and forth through time.

7. Iron Man Trilogy

The ‘Iron Man’ films are based on the comic book character of the same name and star Robert Downey, Jr. in the leading role. The first ‘Iron Man’ film enjoyed critical success and follow-up films ‘Iron Man 2’ and Iron Man 3’ were just as popular with audiences.

8. The Hangover Trilogy

The first ‘Hangover’ film was a massive success, and the films that have followed have been just as popular with audiences. While recreating the freshness of the first ‘Hangover’ film was always going to be tough, the follow-up films enjoyed just as much success at the box office. The final installment in the trilogy, ‘The Hangover III,’ was released earlier this year and saw the ‘wolf pack’ up to their old antics in Las Vegas.

9. The Godfather Trilogy

‘The Godfather’ is an icon of cinematic history. It’s the gangster movie to end all gangster movies and is one of the most heavily referenced films in pop culture. The follow-up films were ‘The Godfather: Part II’ and ‘The Godfather: Part III.’

These are a few of the most popular film trilogies around. Which of these films have you seen? What’s your favourite film trilogy?