Entertainment
Only 3 Movie Trilogies Are More Entertaining Than The Lord of the Rings
The Lord of the Rings is borderline untouchable, as a movie trilogy. That should be stressed right out of the gate. The three movies adapted J.R.R. Tolkien’s massive novel of the same name, with that novel sometimes being called a trilogy, owing to how it was released in three parts. And it was the same deal with the movie adaptation, or adaptations. You sort of have to take them all as one whole, and they were filmed as one huge production, but then there are also, technically, three movies, one released every year between 2001 and 2003 (The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King). But since they’re all available now, you’re more than welcome to treat all three as one huge movie, and watch them as such, should you have about nine hours to spare for the theatrical versions, or more like 11 hours to spare for the extended versions. The trilogy (yeah, sorry, it’s going to be called that, for present purposes) is largely centered on an increasingly desperate battle to prevent a dark lord from re-emerging and re-conquering Middle-earth, with a Hobbit entrusted with the task of destroying an all-powerful ring, which is what said dark lord wants no matter what.
To cut a long story short (even though The Lord of the Rings is a long story, but oh well), The Lord of the Rings is pretty much the gold standard when it comes to adapting books to the big screen. There are parts of Tolkien’s work that didn’t get fully translated, and some things that had to be streamlined for the sake of the new medium, but the trilogy really does the vast majority of things right. As such, it’s hard (albeit probably not impossible) to argue that there are genuinely superior trilogies overall, but ever so slightly less difficult to argue that there might be some trilogies from cinema history that are even more entertaining. Some of this comes down to the time commitment, with the following trilogies being debatably easier to watch and enjoy because they don’t require nine to 11 hours, and also, you get variety with these trilogies, to a greater extent than with The Lord of the Rings, so that helps with entertainment value, to some extent. And again, it’s not even that these trilogies are better when you take into account everything… since everything, you know, includes more than just a trilogy’s entertainment value.
3
The ‘Star Wars’ Original Trilogy (1977–1983)
Easy pick here, with the first three Star Wars movies, but it does have to be emphasized that it’s the original trilogy being singled out here (so, the three released between 1977 and 1983). There are two more trilogies within the Star Wars series: the prequel trilogy (1999–2005) and the ever-divisive sequel trilogy (2015–2019). The original three, though, are phenomenal, and chronologically come between the prequel trilogy and sequel trilogy. Star Wars, later called Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope, gets things off to a phenomenal start, while middle chapter The Empire Strikes Back is pretty much perfect in just about every way, and then Return of the Jedi is admittedly a little more flawed, yet still a satisfying conclusion to the trilogy as a whole. A New Hope might’ve felt like the freshest at the time, and it can still be recognized and appreciated for what it kicked off nowadays, but The Empire Strikes Back is the film that really showcases Star Wars at its best, and its success is a huge reason why Star Wars, as a whole, is now such a monumental franchise.
The Empire Strikes Back has the best pacing of the three original films, and it succeeds in making the conflict first explored in A New Hope feel a little deeper and more personal to some of the central people involved. It also ups the stakes in a big (and nowadays very well-known) way, and Return of the Jedi is at its best when exploring the fallout from the single biggest revelation that comes near the end of The Empire Strikes Back. Assessing the trilogy as a whole, it’s quite easy to watch all three movies in a very short span of time, given they’re all a little over two hours each, and there is a definite progression and upping of the stakes from film to film. Well, okay, if Return of the Jedi feels a little less intense than The Empire Strikes Back, it at least makes up for it, to some extent, with the spectacle it offers, since the whole final act of that movie offers a great deal of action in three distinct settings, cutting between them all in a rather thrilling way. These three movies are all quintessential blockbusters in their own ways, and watching them all back-to-back-to-back proves tremendously entertaining.
2
The ‘Cornetto’ Trilogy (2004–2013)
Call it a loose or thematic trilogy if you want, but the Cornetto trilogy is still a trilogy. Sometimes, it’s referred to as Three Flavours Cornetto, which is a parody of the title of the Three Colours trilogy, and those films are also great, albeit not as entertaining in the traditional sense. But to stick to the Cornetto movies, they’re united by a few things, including the director (Edgar Wright), the two leads in each movie (played by Simon Pegg and Nick Frost, albeit they’re different characters in each film), and a series of recurring jokes and beats that are hit from film to film. Also, each movie serves as a parody of a different genre, though it’s also worth noting that all these movies go beyond your average parody, and all of them function as genuinely pretty good films if you’re to judge them within those genres they’re parodying.
The variety here is what really makes the Cornetto trilogy soar, thanks to all the movies belonging to different genres.
That’s not the neatest way to put it, but let’s break it down with a little more clarity. You’ve got 2004’s Shaun of the Dead, which more or less puts a comedic spin on zombie movies, and parodies certain conventions of this particular horror sub-genre. At the same time, there is an increasing sense of tension throughout Shaun of the Dead, and its final act, in particular, ends up being a good deal more intense than a fair few actual (more serious) zombie movies out there. Hot Fuzz (2007) does a similar thing, but with buddy cop/action movies, and it also functions as a surprisingly engaging murder-mystery sort of thing, at the same time. Then there’s 2013’s The World’s End, which some people might like to tell you isn’t as good as either Shaun of the Dead or Hot Fuzz, but those people are wrong, and time will be kind to The World’s End. It’s the most mature and downbeat of the bunch, exploring a tragic sort of middle-aged angst while parodying – and then also belonging within – the sci-fi genre, more specifically something like Invasion of the Body Snatchers. The variety here is what really makes the Cornetto trilogy soar, thanks to all the movies belonging to different genres (and it also helps, of course, that all three films are very funny in their own ways).
1
The Original ‘Evil Dead’ Trilogy (1981–1992)
Those first three Evil Dead movies are so, so good. Admittedly, the two most recent ones (at the time of writing, from 2013 and 2023) are also pretty good, in their own ways, but here, things are specifically centered on the first three, all of them directed by Sam Raimi and starring Bruce Campbell. It’s the Evil Dead original trilogy, so to speak, and they make up what’s probably the easiest trilogy to watch in one sitting. That does come down to all three movies only being about 80 minutes each, so you can get through all three in just over four hours (and hell, there are some movies that are about four hours long, including the extended edition of The Return of the King). Within those four hours, you will be subject to a lot. Maybe even too much. But it’s a trip to go from the straightforward horror of The Evil Dead to the all-out farce that is Army of Darkness.
To be a little more specific, The Evil Dead (1981) is one of those quintessential “evil cabin in the woods” sorts of movies, and it’s genuinely still quite frightening and intense, with very little in the way of intentional comedy. Evil Dead II (1987), on the other hand, sees the series getting a little more comedic, with it having a similar premise to the first movie, but with a combination of horror and comedy elements. And then Army of Darkness (1992) has the protagonist of the trilogy, Ash, getting transported back to medieval times (well, it technically happens at the end of Evil Dead II, but Army of Darkness fully commits to the cliffhanger/bit). In those medieval times, he becomes something of an unlikely action hero and quip machine, and almost nothing is taken seriously. It’s all played for comedy, and it’s all very over-the-top. But if you watch all these movies from start to finish, it makes sense, somehow. You go from grisly horror to glorious camp, and it works. There might be movie trilogies better than the first three Evil Dead films, but there probably aren’t any trilogies that stand as genuinely more entertaining.
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Ridley Scott is in line for a big year in 2026 when he returns to the world of sci-fi with the release of The Dog Stars. The post-apocalyptic thriller stars Jacob Elordi and Josh Brolin opposite Margaret Qualley, and after being delayed out of its previously March release spot, it’s now set to be one of the biggest blockbusters of the summer. The Dog Stars will be Scott’s first sci-fi movie in almost 10 years, since he last directed Alien: Covenant in 2017. Following the release of the film, Scott has focused more on historical epics in the last few years, but it hasn’t been exactly smooth sailing. Movies like The Last Duel (starring Matt Damon) and Napoleon (starring Joaquin Phoenix) have gone on to become some of the most controversial releases of Scott’s career.
One Ridley Scott-directed and produced film that’s anything but controversial, though, is Alien. The 1979 sci-fi film is loved by critics and audiences alike, and it’s considered one of the most influential movies ever made. Alien also spawned a sci-fi horror franchise that’s still ongoing to this day, with new releases like Alien: Romulus and Alien: Earth coming in 2024 and 2025. It’s been nearly 50 years since the first Alien movie was released, but the film is still one of the most popular movies in the world on HBO Max, where it’s streaming exclusively in America. Alien grossed $109 million at the box office against an $11 million budget, and the film holds marks of 93% from critics and 94% from audiences on Rotten Tomatoes. Not only is it arguably Scott’s greatest film, it’s one of the best sci-fi movies ever made.
What Is ‘Alien’ About?
The official synopsis for Alien reads as follows:
“Ridley Scott’s classic sci-fi chiller about seven astronauts who find themselves hunted by a horrific predator in deep space.”
The ensemble cast of Alien consists of Tom Skerritt as Dallas, Sigourney Weaver as Ripley, Veronica Cartwright as Lambert, Harry Dean Stanton as Brett, John Hurt as Kane, Ian Holm as Ash, and more. Dan O’Bannon wrote the screenplay for Alien with help from Ronald Shusett on the story. James Cameron directed the first Alien sequel in 1986 before handing directorial control to David Fincher for the polarizing Alien threequel, Alien 3.
Check out Alien on HBO Max in America, and stay tuned to Collider for more updates and coverage on the future of the Alien franchise.
- Release Date
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June 22, 1979
- Runtime
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117 Minutes
- Writers
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Dan O’Bannon, Ronald Shusett
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Meagan Good is explaining why she had to rehome her pet cat after tying the knot with Jonathan Majors.
Appearing on the “Picture This” podcast on Wednesday, April 8, Good, 44, was asked if there was anything “you thought you could live without, but actually could.”
“Uh, my cat, ’cause I had to get rid of my little cat. His name is Bam Bam,” Good replied.
The actress explained that when she and her husband moved in together, he brought along his two dogs. When they added a third dog to the household, Bam Bam did not react well.
Jonathan Majors and Meagan Good are reportedly married, multiple outlets report. According to Entertainment Tonight, the pair tied the knot during a “small private wedding at their home in L.A.” on Tuesday, March 18. Per ET, Majors’ mother officiated the wedding while Good’s mom served as a witness. No other guests were reportedly in attendance. […]
“The pups came with Jonathan. So, there was two pups. And then we got a third one. And by the third one, Bam Bam was real upset and Bam Bam started using the bathroom in the bed,” Good explained.
She continued, “So, at first I was like, I don’t know. Well, I’m going to miss him and I really want him here and he’s my own pup. He’s my little kitty, you know, and he’s like, you know, but then we had a puppy and the puppy pushed him off the edge.”
The interviewer then questioned Good whether she “chose the puppy over Bam Bam?” Good responded, “I chose the man.”
Jonathan Majors and Meagan Good. (Photo by Gilbert Flores/ Billboard via Getty Images)
Good and Majors, 36, have been together since 2023. They announced their engagement in November 2024 before tying the knot the following year.
“I’m just really happy,” Good exclusively told Us Weekly in June 2025. “He’s very silly. He always falls asleep in the middle of movies. I love doing adventures with him. If I’m like, ‘Let’s just go try this. Let’s go do that.’ He’s like, ‘All right, let’s go.’ We’re just both in it, like, two little kids who can’t believe we’re allowed to do what we want to do.”
Good also shared with Us in the same interview that she wanted to start a family with Majors. (Majors has a 13-year-old daughter from a past relationship.)
“I definitely am ready to have kids now,” Good told Us at the time. “And then, my partner [is] someone I want to really do it with, and get excited about doing it with, and who is a phenomenal father already, but now we can do it together.”
Jonathan Majors has had the continued support of fiancée Meagan Good amid his legal issues. Before the couple started dating, Good went through a divorce from DeVon Franklin after nine years of marriage. Franklin filed the paperwork in late 2021, and the duo finalized their split nearly one year later. In a joint statement, Good […]
Speaking about their pet dogs, Good added that she has an ideal number of children in mind.
“Two would be good,” she told Us. “We got four dogs already. So, we got four Belgian Malinois, and they are the hyperest dogs of life, but the house is very safe.”
For his part, Majors gushed about Good during a television interview with Sherri Shepherd in March 2025, where he confirmed they had tied the knot.
“I said to Meagan yesterday, ‘Today might be the happiest day of my life.’ I love that woman so much,” he said.
Giving your pet up may not be an easy choice, but several celebrities including Rachel Leviss and Jen Affleck have stood by their decision.
The Vanderpump Rules alum and her dog Graham Cracker were introduced to viewers during Leviss’ relationship with James Kennedy. Following Leviss and Kennedy’s split in 2021, Leviss initially remained Graham Cracker’s primary guardian because the pup was a gift from her parents.
Leviss’ ownership was called into question after she had an affair with costar Tom Sandoval, which ended his nearly decade-long romance with Ariana Madix. During spring 2023, Leviss checked herself into a mental health facility and some fans assumed that her dog was in her family’s possession for the 90-day stay.
In July 2023, Kennedy revealed that he was looking after Graham Cracker, who has since been renamed Hippie, after the dog was surrendered to trainers following an incident with Leviss’ mother. The trailer contacted Lisa Vanderpump who rehomed the pet with Kennedy.
Andy Cohen faced a vastly different situation with his dog Wacha, who he adopted from a kill shelter in West Virginia in 2013. Seven years later, Cohen announced that out of an abundance of caution for his son, Benjamin, Wacha found a new home.
“Numerous professionals led me to the conclusion that my home is simply not a good place for him,” Cohen wrote via Instagram in May 2020. “Keeping him here could be catastrophic for Ben and worse for Wacha.”
Cohen, who later welcomed daughter Lucy, has publicly documented his reunion with Wacha over the years.
In April 2026, Meagan Good admitted she “had to get rid of my little cat” after moving in with husband Jonathan Majors.
Keep scrolling for more celebrities who candidly discussed what led to them rehoming a pet:
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President Donald Trump clarified that he did not suggest to wife Melania Trump to make a statement about Jeffrey Epstein — but approved of her making one.
“I said, ‘If you want to do that, you can do that.’ I said if she wants to do it — I didn’t recommend it, but … I let it be her, I said, if you want to do it,” Donald, 79, said in an interview with the New York Times on Friday, April 10.
The president also clarified that Melania “didn’t meet me through Jeffrey Epstein.”
“I could understand her feelings,” he said. “But I said, ‘If you want to do it, do it.’”
First lady Melania Trump surprised many when she released a statement denying any connection to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein — including her husband, President Donald Trump. Following Melania’s Thursday, April 9, statement to the press, MS NOW reported that they had a “brief phone call” with the president, 79, where he allegedly told the […]
Donald shared that he and his wife’s conversation about making the statement “wasn’t a big discussion.”
“I’d say it lasted for about two minutes,” he explained. “I had no problem. I thought she actually did a good job.”
Melania made headlines on Thursday, April 9, when she addressed speculation about her and her husband’s connection to Epstein. (The disgraced billionaire was convicted in 2008 for soliciting a minor for prostitution. Prior to his 2019 death by suicide, Epstein was awaiting trial on federal charges of sex trafficking and conspiracy to traffic minors.)
“[The rumors] with the disgraceful Jeffrey Epstein need to end today,” Melania said during a Thursday, April 9, press conference at the White House. “The individuals lying about me are devoid of ethical standards, humility and respect. I do not object to their ignorance but rather I reject their mean-spirited attempts to defame my reputation.”
Melania claimed that she had “never been friends” with Epstein.
“Numerous fake images and statements about Epstein and me have been circulating on social media for years now. Be cautious about what you believe. These images and stories are completely false,” she continued. “I am not a witness or a named witness in connection with any of Epstein’s crimes. My name has never appeared in court documents, depositions, victim statements or FBI interviews surrounding the Epstein matter.”
The first lady clarified that she and Donald Sr., who wed in 2005 and share son Baron 20, were previously “invited to many of the same parties as Epstein” but she “never had a relationship with Epstein or his accomplice [Ghislaine] Maxwell.” (Donald Sr. is also father to Don Jr., Ivanka, Eric and Tiffany Trump.)
First lady Melania Trump stunned observers on April 9, 2026, when she held an impromptu press conference at the White House to deny any connection to late convicted sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein — and to reject rumors that Epstein introduced her to her husband, President Donald Trump. What Melania Trump Said During Her Rare Public […]
Epstein and those who have been accused of being in his inner circle have been a hot topic in recent years due to the Department of Justice’s investigation into him. The government body has been releasing Epstein’s alleged correspondence — also known as the Epstein Files — as part of an FBI investigation into his actions.
Trump later told the Times on Friday that he doesn’t “mind anything having to do with Epstein.”
“The only thing I don’t like is, I waste a lot of time having to talk about it,” he told the outlet.
15 of Epstein’s victims spoke out against Melania’s remarks in a Thursday statement, “Survivors of Jeffrey Epstein have already shown extraordinary courage by coming forward, filing reports and giving testimony. Asking more of them now is a deflection of responsibility, not justice. It also diverts attention from [former attorney general] Pam Bondi, who must answer for withheld files and the exposure of survivors’ identities.”
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