After the third installment in the Jurassic World series. That has somehow turned out to be true as the threequel only has a 30% Rotten Tomatoes score and 6.0 rating on IMDb. Luckily, box office figures have been quite good.
The recent developments serve as evidence that making a threequel is always a huge risk. Many franchises have failed to continue because the third movie wasn't that good. However. there have been a few occasions where the threequels either matched or ended up being better than the original and the sequel. So, which third films do fans think of as awesome, according to Ranker?
Note: Ranker lists are live. Hence, rankings might change in the future.
The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
Stream On HBO Max
A decade-long period of peace is disrupted when one of Batman's most powerful enemies, Bane, starts causing havoc. This forces the Caped Crusader to come out of retirement.
After the massive success of The Dark Knight, Christopher Nolan had to think outside the box to not only match it but also avoid comparisons. And he did that just by using a villain who was a ruthless brute rather than one who was about mind games like the Joker. Fans clearly appreciated the efforts of the director and cast since the threequel's 90% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes is only four figures shy of what is considered the best installment in the trilogy.
Skyfall (2012)
Stream On Amazon Prime Video
Angry at how he was treated by MI6 boss, M, former agent Raoul Silva conducts a series of terrorist attacks in order to discredit her. He also makes plans to kill her, forcing Bond to intervene.
Sam Mendes and company can be credited for nursing the Daniel Craig series of Bond movies back to good health since the second installment had not only been panned by critics but also performed dismally at the box office. The fact that the best villain speeches of all time.
Toy Story 3 (2010)
Stream On Disney+
A teenager's toys are accidentally delivered to a daycare center. Their leader thus sets them on a mission to find a way back to the rightful owner.
Prison Break, is clearly meant to impress adults while the neatly-done animation and comical moments are meant to appeal to children.
Thor: Ragnarok (2017)
Stream On Disney+
Thor finds himself on a different side of the universe where he must battle his fellow Avenger, Hulk. The two then team up to stop Hela, the goddess of death.
A major reason the Taika Waititi project is considered the best solo movie about the Asgardian is its comedic tone. With the previous Thor movies being thought of as too dark, Thor: The Dark World, which only had a 6.8 IMDb score. (The threequel currently sits at 7.9).
Star Wars: Episode VI - Return Of The Jedi (1983)
Stream On Disney+
The famed Luke Skywalker attempts to turn his father good again. At the same time, rebels also try to destroy the galactic superweapon known as the Death Star.
Just like many other installments in the franchise, Return Of The Jedi is structured in a manner to entertain people of all ages. The younger ones get to chew on the action and chase sequences while the older ones digest the complex terminology and plot. The quality neither dips nor rises, it simply remains constant, something that's reflected on not only Ranker but most fan-rection websites.
Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
Stream On Disney+
The intergalactic warlord known as Thanos attempts to eliminate half of the universe's population. Earth's mightiest heroes thus team up to stop him.
Thanks to the quick manner in which movies where the villain wins, distinguishing itself from every other superhero offering. Moreover, it has a different feel from the polarizing sequel because of the change in director.
Captain America: Civil War (2016)
Stream On Disney+
When the government makes new laws to control superheroes, some oppose it while others back it. This results in a Civil War, with one side led by Captain America, and the other by Iron-Man.
With yet another entry on the list, the Russo Brothers have indeed established themselves as the masters of threequels. The movie's 89% audience score is only a slight drop from Captain America: The Winter Soldier's 90%, putting both Captain America movies on the same level quality-wise. The threequel largely benefits from the inclusion of other Avengers. Most importantly, the introduction of Spider-Man thrills even the most casual fans since the web-slinger was traditionally considered the most popular Marvel hero.
The Good, The Bad And The Ugly (1967)
Stream On Hulu
The third film in the Dollars trilogy sees a bounty hunter and an outlaw team up to look for a treasure during the American Civil War. However, they must also deal with another professional killer who wants the treasure for himself.
The threequel overshadowed the other two movies so much that non-Western fans will struggle to name them. Apart from generally being more entertaining, it towers above the other two because it isn't tightly tied to them. Audiences can easily enjoy it without having to check out what came before.
Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade (1989)
Stream On Paramount+
Popular archeologist, Indiana Jones, learns that his father has disappeared. He, therefore, goes on a mission to find him before a group of Nazis do.
Harrison Ford is a big enough name to carry any move and the addition of yet another popular actor in Sean Connery makes the Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade a guaranteed treat. As for the action and chase sequences, they are served in a familiar manner, leaving adventure movie lovers as satisfied as they were the first time around.
The Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The King (2003)
Stream On HBO Max
Forces of good and evil prepare for the final battle for the control of Middle Earth. What results is a string of mayhem with a uber of casualties.
The first step the threequel does to ensure fans have a great ride is by packing the ensemble cast with major stars. From Cate Blanchett to Sean Beam, big names keep feeling the screen. And since it's the final battle, the action scenes are doubled. It's thus no surprise that the threequel did better than the sequel at the box office. (via Box Office Mojo).
