X and 3 other best horror trilogies that deserve your attention

Horror, along with comic book and James Bond action-spy films, is a genre known for its sequels. Typically, the more movies in a series, the lower the quality. But there are always exceptions. In 2024, writer and director Ti West concluded his X trilogy with the film MaXXXine. Starring Mia Goth, the trilogy stands out with its distinct aesthetic and style, with Goth's exceptional performances driving the series.

This is why it's one of the best horror trilogies in recent memory. X follows the template of a slasher from the 1970s and early 1980s. Pearl is a character study following one person's slow descent into madness. MaXXXine, with its more extensive cast and Los Angeles setting, is influenced by the work of Brian De Palma and Italian Giallo films. Following a cohesive narrative, the X trilogy will have a place within horror history even if more films are added to the franchise. 

Over the next few years, we will see more franchises add a third film to their story with the upcoming Terrifier 3 and next year with 28 Years Later. Recently announced was the long-awaited third film in the Collector franchise, The Collected. Hopefully, all three will follow in MaXXXine's footsteps and deliver another satisfying conclusion.

With a plethora of franchises embedded in the horror genre, a series that ends with three movies are few and far between. Horror franchises like Maniac Cop, Cube, Demons, and Basket Case are examples of series' that concluded with three movies. We'll be looking at franchises with three films that tell one story. A fourth and fifth film may have been added years later, which was a reboot, or it took the series in a completely different direction. But, as long as there is a complete narrative, it fits within the guidelines of a trilogy. 

Here are some of the better trilogies in horror history thus far.

1. Fear Street Trilogy (2021)

One of the best surprises for horror fans came in the summer of 2021 when Netflix released the Fear Street trilogy. The series was based on the popular R.L. Stine books of the same name. The books and Stine’s other horror-based series, Goosebumps, reached their height of popularity in the 1990s. 

Set in the fictional town of Shadyside, the story follows a curse from a witch named Sarah Fier and how it has turned specific citizens into serial killers over generations. The first film is set in 1994, the second in 1978, and the finale in 1666. Each movie follows a slasher template, adding supernatural elements, with each movie peeling back more layers behind the story of Sarah Fier and the town rivalry between Shadyside and Sunnyvale. 

Like the X trilogy, the Fear Street movies have a different style, and any of the three could be a fan favorite. Perhaps the most memorable moment in the three films is the unexpected killing of a main character with a bread slicer. Most importantly, this trilogy bridges the gap for adults who grew up in the 1990s reading Fear Street and Goosebumps and new horror fans getting familiar with the series for the first time.

2. Halloween (2018-2022)

The legendary Halloween series, spanning now 13 movies, has become the horror genre’s own choose-your-adventure story. With multiple timelines, there is more than one trilogy in the franchise. Depending on personal preference, one might enjoy the often maligned ‘Thorn trilogy’ of Halloween 4-6 or the first of two Laurie Strode redemption arcs of Halloween 1-2 and Halloween: H20. However, the most cohesive trilogy is its most recent and arguably most divisive. 

David Gordon Green’s Halloween sequel trilogy is a direct continuation of John Carpenter’s 1978 classic, with the series bringing back Carpenter to score the film and Jamie Lee Curtis to reprise her role as Laurie Strode. The first film in 2018 played it relatively safe, but its most significant success was turning Michael Myers back into a horror icon. It made over $250 million on a $10 million budget, establishing a renewed intrigue in the lore of the mute serial killer.

The sequels, Halloween Kills and Halloween Ends, are when the division for fans begins. Kills delivers on its promise of satisfying bloodthirsty horror fans by veering the line on almost turning Myers into Jason Voorhees. The mob plotline, with nearly every character spewing similar lines about 40 years of trauma, is a low point, but it has an endearing quality of being so bad it’s good. 

The finale, Halloween Ends, comes out of left field, putting a new character at the forefront. However, it corrects the mistakes of the previous entries by avoiding unfitting comedic shifts and overbearing writing. Still, its lack of Myers and shift in the story turned off some viewers.

Time has been kind to the horror genre, though. Films like The Thing and Halloween III: Season of the Witch were once critically panned or dismissed by fans but are now viewed as classics or one of the best in a series. Green’s trilogy isn’t perfect, but it does show a filmmaker and team with a passion for a beloved horror icon.

3. Evil Dead (1981-1992)

What might be considered a quintessential horror trilogy is the original Sam Raimi-directed Evil Dead series. 1981's The Evil Dead earned notoriety for being a cult classic with its unique camera work born out of necessity due to a miniscule budget. The Evil Dead's cabin in the woods setting has become a staple in the horror genre. Bruce Campbell's performance in all three films as Ash Williams is a testament to his versatility, ranging from Three Stooges-esque physical comedy to a compelling action star, making him one of the genre's most beloved heroes. 

Each film in the series has the potential to be a fan favorite, depending on which entry you grew up with. The Evil Dead is exclusively almost pure horror with a few comedic moments. Evil Dead II is one of horror's first reboots, as it retells the story of the original. But with a slightly bigger budget, it adds more comedic and mind-bending moments. 1992's Army of Darkness blends action, comedy, and horror in a medieval setting, leaving the woods behind.

Evil Dead II is the one that garners the most critical praise, though. It's a perfect mixture of all the elements that make the franchise unique, and Raimi's camera work may have been at its best. However, the uniqueness of each installment is what makes the Evil Dead series a must-watch for all horror fans.

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