10 Movie Trilogies Where Only the First Chapter Is a Masterpiece

Trilogies are a difficult franchise form because they require planning; even when writers, directors, or casts change, each entry should fulfill a distinct chapter within a larger narrative arc. The first film carries pressure to nail worldbuilding, introduce compelling characters, and establish a style that can be repeated, and it also benefits from a sense of newness that sequels can’t recapture.

Many series prove this point. Iron Man, The Matrix, Clerks, the Kelvin-era Star Trek films, Ocean’s Eleven, Taken, The Mummy, Deadpool, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Men in Black all owe much of their legacy to the strength of their opening films.

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