Threequels That Surpass

[Neon Ignition]

We've twice discussed which sequels are better than the original film in their respective franchises but here we're going to dial up the difficulty and ask the simple but harder to answer question of which third entries in a film series are better than the films that preceeded them?

It can be from any genre but it can't be a reboot or remake, it has to be a continuation - the sequels sequel.


What threequels are superior to the prior entries and why?

[Golgo]

Thor Ragnarok. I'd say.

[QualityChimp]

Hmmm... that's a tricky one.

Personally, I love Army of Darkness (Evil Dead 3).
I much prefer the tone of action, comedy and timeless one-liners.

*shrug*
Goldfinger?

[Finsbury Girl]

Rocky 3 - the GOAT

[egparadigm]

A friend at college once told me of a truism: any film with 3 in the title is a bad one. So not necessarily all second sequels, just those featuring a 3. Are there exceptions? I can’t think of one!

[charlesr]

Sharknado 3.

[QualityChimp]

A friend at college once told me of a truism: any film with 3 in the title is a bad one. So not necessarily all second sequels, just those featuring a 3. Are there exceptions? I can’t think of one!

The Three Amigos.

Does "The 39 Steps" count?

[Neon Ignition]

If you're keeping to just the nuts and bolts of the MCU - Spider-Man: No Way Home is much better than the prior two films

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade

Harry Potter and the Prison of Azkaban


I know there will be disagreement on this one but it does have a 3 in the title...

Men in Black 3

[Finsbury Girl]

A friend at college once told me of a truism: any film with 3 in the title is a bad one. So not necessarily all second sequels, just those featuring a 3. Are there exceptions? I can’t think of one!

That's right Rocky III doesn't have a 3

THERE IS NOT TOMORROW ROCK!

[Dogg Thang]

It is bizarrely difficult to think of third movies that even live up to the original, never mind surpass it. Thor Ragnarok is a good shout. Tokyo Drift in its own way, I guess. But I'm really struggling. Does Revenge of the Sith count because it's the third movie in that trilogy?

[MartyG]

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly (third film in The Man with No Name spaghetti westerns).

[egparadigm]

I know there will be disagreement on this one but it does have a 3 in the title...

Men in Black 3

TBF I left college in 2003 so it could be the rule has since fallen foul of this film!

[Atticus]

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade

Harry Potter and the Prison of Azkaban

Couple of great shouts

[Neon Ignition]

Revenge of the Sith... kind of... I'd normally jump straight on it being the sixth film but the gap in time making them and the shift in tone and execution... it does feel like the third of three more than the sixth of six.


I think I would still stand by the original but Toy Story 3 gave it a damned good swing

[QualityChimp]

I think Toy Story 2 is the best one.
All the characters are established in the first film, so it's straight into the jokes.
The opening videogame sequence, the cones on the road, meeting the other toys in Al's Toy Barn and the airport finale are so much fun.

I liked TS3, but thought it relied too much on emotion, rather than story to be memorable.
I did love all the Toy Story Shorts set after 3, though!