Summary
- Captain America: Civil War (2016) stands out as the best in the Captain America Trilogy, surpassing its predecessors in terms of emotional depth and impactful moments.
- Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021) is the highlight of the Spider-Man "Home" Trilogy, with its seamless integration of different versions of the character and their respective villains, making it a remarkable fan service.
- Logan (2017) is the pinnacle of the Wolverine Trilogy, praised as one of the finest superhero movies ever made with its gripping story and satisfying conclusion to the character's journey.
Throughout the history of superhero trilogies, the third entry has typically been the worst. From Blade: Trinity (2004) and X-Men: The Last Stand (2006) to Spider-Man 3 (2007) and X-Men: Apocalypse (2016), the denouement of their respective trilogies often pale notably in comparison to their predecessors. A couple of those examples were made by talented directors — still, no matter how graceful the dismount, not even Sam Raimi nor Bryan Singer were able to stick their landings.
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In recent years, however, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has proven that the final entries in superhero movie trilogies don't always have to be the worst. Without a doubt, fans of comic book movies will be familiar with all three trilogies featured on this list. They don't just boast notable name value — they're also comprised (for the most part) of high-quality movies.
And while you may not agree that the third entry excels as the best, there's at the very least an argument to be made for each entry on the list. All that said, these are three superhero trilogies where the third movie is the best.
Captain America Trilogy
Captain America: The First Avenger; Captain America: The Winter Soldier; Captain America: Civil War
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Perhaps a hot take, but Captain America: Civil War (2016) outshines its predecessor, Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014). Not many fans will argue in favor of the trilogy's first entry, Captain America: The First Avenger (2011), but both sequels took the comic book world by storm, cited by critics as among the finest films in the entire MCU.
After the fall of Sokovia in Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015), Earth's mightiest heroes are left divided. A battle ensues from within the team: Tony Stark leads his side against Cap's. Further plot points ensue regarding the death of Tony's parents, with the final entry in the Captain America trilogy featuring plenty of hard-hitting moments until its final frame. Even though he was opposing the protagonist for most of the plot, the anguish of Tony Stark makes for a more poignant project than its Winter Soldier predecessor.
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With well-choreographed fight scenes and big-budget set pieces, this Hollywood blockbuster is also among the finest action films ever made. But it runs a surprising gamut of emotions, making audiences laugh while still examining the human condition. It's a perfect project overall. And while the same can be said for The Winter Soldier, the final entry in the Captain America trilogy stands slightly taller as the best.
Spider-Man "Home" Trilogy
Spider-Man: Homecoming; Spider-Man: Far From Home; Spider-Man: No Way Home
The most acclaimed superhero trilogy ever is Spider-Man's Home Trilogy, once again featured within the MCU. And while all three movies are of the utmost quality, Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021) implemented moments of fan service like few projects ever made. An ongoing debate for comic book aficionados revolves around the best live-action portrayal of Spider-Man. Is it Tobey Maguire? Or, Andrew Garfield, perhaps?
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For many fans, Tom Holland's take on the web-slinging superhero marks the best of the character's portrayals. However, in Spider-Man: No Way Home, all three actors returned in brilliant fashion, showing up in the same project by dint of a "Multiverse" plot point. Their respective villains from movies past also enter the fray, from Doctor Octopus and Lizard to Green Goblin and Electro. That the team was able to so seamlessly weave these fan-favorite characters into the same plot is praiseworthy in itself.
Related: Spider-Man: No Way Home Review (Spoiler-Free): An Emotional Rollercoaster with Jaw-Dropping Twists
And, sure: the past two entries in the trilogy — Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017) and Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019) — are also among the highest-rated movies in the entire MCU. They introduce a fantastic array of performers like Zendaya, Jacob Batalon, and Marisa Tomei, and they hold up individually as well-made projects from start to finish. But when determining the best of the trilogy, No Way Home reigns triumphant in the end.
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The Wolverine Trilogy
X-Men Origins: Wolverine; The Wolverine; Logan
By far and away, the greatest ending to a superhero trilogy came with Logan (2017), directed by James Mangold. It's among the finest movies the subgenre's ever seen, let alone of its respective franchise. And considering the mediocre reception of the trilogy's prior two entries, it's all the more impressive that Logan garnered such widespread praise from critics and audiences alike.
In spite of its star-studded cast, X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009) underutilized various fan-favorite characters, such as Deadpool. Its story feels largely uninspired, and no risks are taken within the script to set X-Men Origins apart from its comic book counterparts. A few years later, The Wolverine (2013) saw drastic improvements in terms of narratives. But, still: When it comes to the best of the trilogy, Logan takes the cake. With relative ease, too.
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Related: All X-Men Movies, Ranked
With a 93% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, the third entry in the Wolverine trilogy is among the highest-rated superhero movies ever made. And even then, it's arguably held in even higher regard by fans. As the titular character reaches the end of his fighting days, Logan gets roped into one last mission to save a young mutant named Laura. What unfolds is a thrilling and emotional journey that provides the perfect denouement for one of Marvel's most famous heroes.
All three superhero trilogies are available to stream on Disney+.