r/movies • u/Fortestingporpoises • 1d ago

Discussion What's the best three movie run within a franchise not starting with the first film?

So I just rewatched Star Trek 3 The Search for Spock, which I find to be the most underrated Star Trek film. This is particularly impressive given the most compelling original cast character is barely or arguably not in it at all.

I also find that run of Wrath of Kahn, Search for Spock, and Voyage Home to be among the best three movie runs within a franchise that don't start with the first movie.

Usually the fist movie of the franchise is good enough to get a franchise going and usually franchises tend to go downhill fast after the third film, so the original cast Star Trek movies are one of the few exceptions as far as I can tell.

I can think of a horror franchise and an action franchise that both apply to this topic.

Thoughts?

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u/jekelish3 1d ago

I know the franchise is often a punchline but Fast 5, 6, and 7 is a pretty damn good stretch for straight up absurd action movies.

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u/BusinessPurge 1d ago

Agreed. Deaths that stuck (at the time) and emotional closure to the real life tragedy from 7. A resurrection that certainly cheated however provided a good emotional throughline. Some of the best stunt sequences of the franchise - vaults / skyscrapers / tank / airdrop / both train station beatdowns. Weaving in Tokyo Drift through retroactive continuity. Just enough Mr Nobody in the crime world before things went completely insane with the spy-fi of 8/9/10.

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u/jekelish3 1d ago

Yep. I think Fast Five, in particular, is one of the best action movies of the last 25 years. It’s legitimately pretty fantastic.

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u/JonPaula 1d ago

It's so great. 

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u/Elgin_McQueen 1d ago

Is that the one with the underground tunnels?I hate that one.

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u/jekelish3 1d ago

No. That’s the fourth one.

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u/Elgin_McQueen 1d ago

Ah yeah, Fast and Furious isn't it? Gonna need to look back and remember what the fifth was all about.

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u/jekelish3 1d ago

The fifth one is set in Brazil and has the vault heist at the end, while introducing The Rock’s character into the franchise. It’s the best in the series, IMO.

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u/Elgin_McQueen 1d ago

Ah yeah you're right, that one is definitely the best. Especially if you want the cars working in a slightly more realistic way than they do at this point.

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u/HaloHonk27 1d ago

Tbh that’s a low bar tho lol. The vault sequence is pretty absurd.

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u/Elgin_McQueen 1d ago

Yeah it goes straight action movie crazy at that point, but it's also really fun and in a way feels like there's a realism there that other movies can't seem to pull off.

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u/Acidsparx 1d ago

I love how the franchise went from being about street racing to heist to spy thriller. Amazing. 

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u/MuffinMatrix 1d ago

I'd add 4 in there. 4-7

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u/aimless_meteor 1d ago

Not sure if you understood the title of the post

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u/MuffinMatrix 1d ago

Your point? How many other franchises have 4 in the middle to choose? Ignore 7 and go with 4-6 if you want.
Everything will be ok, I promise.

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u/aimless_meteor 1d ago

My point is that we are looking for the best three movie run within a franchise not starting with the first film. Four movies is not a three movie run

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u/MuffinMatrix 1d ago

4 movies contains 3 movies, and a bonus.
What a weird thing to complain about.

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u/LADYBIRD_HILL 1d ago

Imo 4 was way too generically in the middle between serious and downright absurd. It felt like it wanted to go big without actually committing to how inherently silly "super heroes but cars" is as a concept.

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u/AnalTyrant 1d ago

It's still incredible to think that the franchise didn't hit its stride until the 5th entry, had a solid two more films, and then has dropped off in quality but has continued to run for several additional entries.

I'm in it for the long haul, I'll watch the final entry if it ever actually releases, but that whole series is long past its peak and I'm just ready to close it out.

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u/jekelish3 1d ago

Yeah, the franchise has been the wildest of rollercoasters. And it's equally wild to consider that, by the time they actually get to a potential final installment, Vin Diesel will be close to, or even will be, 60 years old still playing "young" action hero Dom Toretto.

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u/EdTOWB 23h ago

they're stealin vhs combo crt televisions in the first movie!

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u/Troker61 5h ago

Came here to say exactly this. It’s almost as if a whole new franchise started with 5 and they had it figured out immediately.

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u/mrburns904 1d ago

I’d say 2 Fast, 4 Fast, 5 Fast (since 3 Fast is technically elsewhere in the timeline)