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Top 10 Threequels (Second Sequels) of All Time

With the most triumphant release of Bill and Ted Face the Music hitting this Friday, we've taken a look back at the most non non non heinous third entries into a series. From Last Crusades to Beyond Thunderdomes, these are the Top 10 Number 3's of All Time:

#10. Rocky III

For a series that's essentially built around a dopey underdog winning a big fight after a musical training montage, the Rocky series is surprisingly consistent. Part III is no different, this time introducing Mr.T as his opponent, Clubber Lang. Toss in the blossoming bro-mance between the Italian Stallion and his former nemesis Apollo Creed and perhaps the most infamous montage anthem in movie history with "Eye of the Tiger" and you've got one hell of a threequel.


#9. A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors

After the massive critical misfire of Freddy's Revenge, Dream Warriors was the much needed course correction that the Nightmare on Elm Street series needed; bringing back franchise staples Heather Langenkamp, John Saxon, and Wes Craven (although it's been said his originally script was almost entirely re-written). Nightmare 3 definitely starts down the path of making Krueger a little too jokey but doesn't quite overdo it the way the following sequels do. Dream Warriors is a happy medium and maybe the biggest crowd-pleaser of the series.


#8. The Dark Knight Rises

Having to follow up The Dark Knight was never going to be an easy task but having to do it without the possibility of Heath Ledger's Joker returning definitely put a damper on the proceedings. Nevertheless, Christopher Nolan delivers a phenomenal ending to his Dark Knight trilogy that doesn't pull any punches and provides a beautiful ending for Bruce Wayne and a fun potential new beginning for The Batman (and ***SPOILER*** via Joseph Gordon-Levitt's Robin). Even though Warner nuked that the second they cast Bat-fleck, it's still a great conclusion to the Nolan trilogy.


#7. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

After the first two kid friendly outings with Home Alone director Chris Columbus at the helm, Alfonso Cauaron steps in to introduce a little more danger into the series and in the process delivers the most well rounded entry into the entire Potter franchise. Gary Oldman is as brilliant as ever, giving the series an antagonist worthy of filling the void while we all wait around for Voldermort.


#6. Return of the Jedi

This might seem a little low to some but let's be honest, Jedi has it's moments but overall it can't hold its own compared to Empire or A New Hope. This movie somehow kills off Yoda, Bobba Fett, Jabba the Hut, Darth Vader, and presumably the Emperor with very little excitement. And while Luke's rescue mission at Jabba's palace is unquestionably awesome, after that he pretty much sits incapacitated for the rest of the movie while Han and Leia fall in love on an Ewok camping trip. I'd still say Jedi's better than the prequels or the Disney trilogy though.


#5. Army of Darkness

While Evil Dead 2 basically serves as an over the top remake of the original film, the third outing takes Ash's battle against the deadites out of the cabin in the woods and into the unexpected backdrop of medieval times. It also ditches the horror angle almost entirely in favor of an action adventure comedy with Bruce Campbell free to chew the scenery into oblivion. Watching director Sam Raimi and Bruce Campbell get to expand their series from a low budget student project to such a massively scaled period piece is an absolute blast.


#4. Before Midnight

Richard Linklater's beautiful romance trilogy stands as one of the finest film series of it's time. Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy exchange dialogue so effortlessly it's almost impossible not to get sucked into the intensely layered relationship they've built over these 3 films spanning nearly 20 years. No longer young hopeless romantics; Before Midnight explores the nuances of maintaining a relationship, warts and all, while navigating midlife hurdles like parenting and career advancement.


#3. Day of the Dead

While Day doesn't quite feel as epic as Dawn, it's just as poignant in it's message about a post apocalyptic America and the dying spirit of living in a police state. The military rule becomes just as dangerous as the impending rise of the undead until the captive survivors finally pit them against one another to mount their escape. It would have been a great ending to Romero's Living Dead series had he quit while he was ahead so if you haven't seen them, just do yourself a favor and pretend Land, Diary and Survival of the Dead don't exist. This is where the series should have stopped.


#2. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

A lot of people associate John Hughes with being the godfather of the high school teen comedy but I'll always love him most for his holiday classics - Planes, Trains and Automobiles, Home Alone, and this third vacation outing with the Griswolds. The film is absolute comedic perfection and a must watch every holiday season. Chevy Chase is at his absolute peak deadpan best while the supporting cast of unbearable relatives, spearheaded by Randy Quaid, make this one of the best (if not THE BEST) holiday comedy of all time.


#1. The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly

This is another movie most people don't actually realize is a sequel. Sergio Leone's final chapter in the Man With No Name trilogy is the standard all Westerns are measured against. Everything from Leone's iconic direction to the infamous score by Ennio Morricone have become cinematic landmarks and have been tattooed onto the cultural zeitgeist for half a century and counting.




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