The 2000s was a monumental time in cinema. With the turn of the century, a rise in technology gave filmmakers the ability to create worlds that had never been seen before. James Cameron's 2009 film Avatar proved to be one of the most successful and visually stunning films ever created.
While Avatar was a one-off release until its sequel over a decade later, there were plenty of complete trilogies released in the 2000s. While some directors got caught up in the technological advances of the decade and forgot the importance of good storytelling, other works stood the test of time. The 2000s gave the world some of the best trilogies ever put to screen.
10 The Bourne Trilogy Is Still Widely Celebrated
Although the Bourne franchise has surpassed three films, the original trilogy The Bourne Identity (2002), The Bourne Supremacy (2004), and The Bourne Ultimatum (2007) stand out as a 2000s trilogy worth remembering. With the latest Bourne movie premiering in 2016, fans still love this action thriller to this day.
The Bourne franchise always stood out for its unique approach to the genre by following Jason Bourne, a man suffering from amnesia with a very specific set of fighting skills. Credited as the franchise that changed the genre, audiences were enraptured by his journey to discover who he is.
9 South Korea Gave The World The Vengeance Trilogy
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The Vengeance trilogy is an unofficial series of three films directed by Park Chan-wook. Consisting of Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance (2002), Oldboy (2003), and Sympathy for Lady Vengeance (2005), this film franchise became an international phenomenon due to its dark, gritty, and vengeful reality.
Each film stands as an independent story but through their connected themes of vengeance (hence the name), human ethics, and redemption, it has become known as a trilogy internationally. Often considered a social commentary on the European revenge tradition, these films are violent and dark, but they are nothing short of excellent.
8 The Matrix Changed Science Fiction Forever
Whenever thinking about the 2000s, it's difficult not to think fondly back on The Matrix. The first film was so immediately successful that after it dropped in 1999 that both The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions hit theaters in 2003. Utilizing advancements in special effects technology, the films were absolutely breathtaking. Going inside the Matrix felt realistic and plausible for audiences.
Playing with the concepts of artificial intelligence lingering well after humanity, The Matrix became one of the most influential franchises in the genre. Many movies followed in its footsteps, but not many achieved the same iconic recognition. With a new film hitting theaters in 2021, hope for more from this franchise runs strong.
7 The Original X-Men Trilogy Opened Many Doors
The 2000s saw the birth of many superhero movies and franchises. These sorts of films weren't new, but the 2000s saw a rise in cinematic quality and expectations for these films continued to rise. Earlier entries into the genre were often campy and never taken seriously, but franchises like the original X-Men trilogy changed all that.
X-Men (2000) brought some of the most famous comic book characters in the world to the big screen. X2: X-Men United (2003) and X-Men: The Last Stand (2006) continued to treat these mutants with the respect their comic counterparts deserved. While this franchise does often receive criticism for inaccuracy or poor casting, its influence in the world of superhero cinema is still felt today.
6 The Star Wars Prequels Continue On A Legacy
While the Star Wars fandom is notoriously known for its aggressive disagreements over every part of the franchise, a list of 2000s trilogies could not be complete without mentioning the Star Wars prequels. For years, these films have been both ridiculed for not living up to the original trilogy and praised for being vastly different.
At the end of the day, however, The Phantom Menace (1999), Attack of the Clones (2002), and Revenge of the Sith (2005) are all solid films that not only flesh out the Star Wars universe, but also offer a unique perspective of the Jedi, the rise of the Sith, and legacy characters that make appearances in many other projects. The world-building alone is worth its weight in gold.
5 The Infernal Affairs Trilogy Remains One Of Crime Thrillers Best
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Infernal Affairs and its two sequels, titled Infernal Affairs II and Infernal Affairs III, were well received enough to have one of the shortest turnarounds for a film franchise ever. With the original film debuting in 2002 and both sequels releasing just one year later in 2003, it's safe to say that fans couldn't get enough of this crime thriller.
The Internal Affairs trilogy tells the story of two officers, one who manages to go undercover and worm his way into the triads and the other working for the triads. This made for an engaging, thrilling, and dramatic experience for fans and maybe even helped rejuvenate the flooded genre.
4 Sam Raimi's Spider-Man Trilogy Set A Standard For Superhero Films
Spider-Man (2002) and its two sequels, Spider-Man 2 and 3 (2004 and 2007) took the world by storm. With Sam Raimi, the director of the horror cult classic The Evil Dead, at the helm, fans of the beloved comic book hero weren't entirely sure what to expect. What they got was a trilogy of films that, despite their faults, stood as a monument for how superheroes could be taken seriously.
With Tobey Maguire as the friendly neighborhood Spider-Man, Peter Parker, audiences were treated to something truly magical. They got to see their favorite character on the big screen in a way not seen in superhero movies that came before it. This trilogy walked so the MCU could run.
3 The Dark Knight Picked Up Where Spider-Man Left Off
The Dark Knight trilogy, including Batman Begins (2005), The Dark Knight (2008), and The Dark Knight Rises (2012) was, for a very long time, considered the best that superhero cinema had to offer. Although there is a lot more competition for that title now with the raging success of the MCU, The Dark Knight trilogy still holds up even now.
Taking notes from the original Spider-Man trilogy, this Batman reboot took things one step further by showing audiences the gritty reality that comes with the life of a crime fighter. This series of films didn't hold back in how truly dark and sometimes disturbing Batman's world could be.
2 Pirates Of The Caribbean Is Nothing Short Of Phenomenal
When Curse of the Black Pearl hit theaters in 2003, no one really knew the massive franchise that would soon follow Pirates of the Caribbean's first installment. Although the franchise ultimately had five films starring Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow and there is a new Pirates project in the works, the first three films can be considered a trilogy all their own.
Following the original, Dead Man's Chest (2006) and At World's End (2007) wrap up the original cast of characters including Elizabeth Swan and Will Turner quite nicely. For many, the announcement of a fourth film took them by surprise because of how incredible the original trilogy actually was.
1 The Lord Of The Rings Speaks For Itself
There can be little argument that the best example of excellent trilogies from the 2000s is The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Not only are the films visually stunning and full of amazing world-building and lore, but they are also great adaptations of J. R.R. Tolkien's source material. The Fellowship of the Ring (2001), The Two Towers (2002), and The Return of the King (2003) are considered some of the best films ever made.
The care that went into each of these films was so impactful that it changed the fantasy genre forever. Few works of fantastical fiction can make it to the silver screen without being compared to this trilogy.