Some of the Criterion Collection's most sought-after box sets are also available on their streaming service, The Criterion Channel. In cinema, a trilogy consists of three distinct films that are narratively or thematically intertwined and often belong to a singular fictional universe. Criterion is home to some of the unique trilogies in cinema, including those that deconstruct expectations of what a trilogy should be.
A trilogy can be an exciting experience for those interested in character development or are interested in certain topics or genres, as well as works by a specific director. The films in this selection are especially diverse, containing a multitude of kinds of trilogies as well as genres. From avant-garde dramas to action-packed thrillers, here are 15 trilogies you can stream on the Criterion Channel.
15 Infernal Affairs Trilogy
Andrew Lau and Alan Mak's Infernal Affairs stars Tony Leung Chiu-wai and Andy Lau Tak-wah as rival double agents in this crime-drama trilogy. Its first part was released in 2002 and parts II and III were released in 2003.
It follows Lau Kin-ming, a gangster whose boss sends him to the police academy to become a mole, and Chan Wing-yan, an expelled police trainee who is sent to be an undercover cop as they struggle with their double-lives and their crime web becomes increasingly entangled. The second film, Infernal Affairs II is a prequel to the first film, focusing on the lives of its main characters, and Infernal Affairs III is both a sequel and prequel to the first film, cutting between the aftermath of Infernal Affairs and the events that led up to it.
A Riveting Neo-Noir
While the first film was still a major success, it is perhaps overshadowed by Martin Scorcese's remake The Departed (2006). However, the Infernal Affairs trilogy is a must-watch for any action movie fan as it is uniquely emotionally complex and visually stunning. While the second and third installments of the trilogy were not as critically or commercially successful as the first, they are a great watch for anyone interested in backstories or character development.
14 Krzysztof Kieslowski's Three Colors Trilogy
Krzysztof Kieslowski's Three Colors Trilogy consists of Blue, White, and Red, based on the colors of the French flag and the values associated with them: liberty, equality, and fraternity. Three Colors: Blue stars Juliette Binoche as Julie, a woman overcoming grief after her husband and son die in a car accident. The Colors: White centers on Karol Karol, a Polish immigrant forced to return to his home country from France after his wife, Dominque (Julie Delpy), divorces him due to his impotence. Three Colors: Red, often considered to be the best of the trilogy, stars Irène Jacob as Valentine, a student who forms an unlikely friendship with a retired judge.
Demonstrating Semiotics
What's great about the Three Colors Trilogy is that they can be watched in any order, but connect thematically and allude to the previous films in a way that is exciting for the viewer. While the films are closely based on values associated with each color of the flag, Kieslowski also creatively utilizes these colors within the mise-en-scène to convey something about the psychology of his characters. The trilogy is a great watch for anyone interested in diving deeper into how symbolism can be creatively used in film.
13 Jean Cocteau's Orphic Trilogy
French poet Jean Cocteau's Orphic Trilogy is a series of surrealist films examining the relationship between art and artist. The Trilogy consists of The Blood of a Poet (1930), Orpheus (1950), and The Testament of Orpheus (1960). The Blood of a Poet is Cocteau's directorial debut, containing four segments exploring the poet's relationship with the themes of life and death. Orpheus is a more direct adaptation of the Orphic myth and the death of Eurydice. The Testament of Orpheus stars Cocteau as an eighteenth-century poet and notably includes a cameo by Pablo Picasso.
Surrealist Masterclass
The Orphic trilogy is a must-watch for anyone interested in avant-garde or surrealist filmmaking. Jean Cocteau is a landmark figure in early twentieth-century surrealism, who brought his artistry to the screen through cinematic poetry. The trilogy, especially the Testament of Orpheus, is a testament to his life as an artist and the worlds he created within his work. Its first installment began in the early days of narrative cinema and continued as the medium progressed, expanding the scope of cinematic possibilities as each film was made.
12 Ingmar Bergman's Faith Trilogy
Swedish Filmmaker Ingmar Bergman's Faith Trilogy is a set of individual films thematically tied by their examination of personal faith within modernity. The trilogy consists of his films Through a Glass Darkly (1960), Winter Light (1963), and The Silence (1963). Through a Glass Darkly follows a family's trip to a remote island and centers on the experience of the daughter's schizophrenia. Winter Light follows the existential torment of a rural Priest. The Silence is about two sisters traveling to a foreign country and their failure to communicate.
Spiritual Contemplation
The Faith Trilogy contains Berman's familiar existential atmosphere but more closely hones in on the spiritual dimension of the modern age. Its characters are alienated, holding on to what faith is left in a world that has seemed to abandon it. These films are excellent when watched individually or in tandem with each other. Specifically, The Silence is noted for being one of the most sexually provocative films of its time, making it an important contribution to film history.
11 Michelangelo Antonioni's Trilogy on Modernity and Its Discontent
Following similar themes to Bergman's Faith Trilogy, Michelangelo Antonioni's trilogy on modernity and its discontents explores alienated subjects searching for purpose in a rapidly evolving culture of modernism.
Released within a year of each other, the trilogy features L'Avventura (1960), La Notte (1961), and L'Eclisse (1962), each starring Monica Vitti, Antonioni's frequent collaborator. L'Avventura, [Eng: "The Adventure"], is about a woman who disappears on a boating trip with friends on the Mediterranean Sea, and her lover and best friend's subsequent search for her. La Notte [Eng: "The Night"] follows a novelist (Marcello Mastroianni) and his disillusioned wife (Jeanne Moreau) throughout a day in their lives as they confront their relationship troubles. L'Eclisse, or [Eng: "The Eclipse"] is about a young woman who begins a tumultuous affair with a materialistic stockbroker.
A Treatise on Alienation and Yearning
While many trilogies often contain flops, or films that don't live up to the quality of the rest, each segment in Antonioni's trilogy is highly esteemed. These moody pieces explore consumerist culture, personal dissatisfaction, and strained relationships with their unique sensibility.
Despite being released over half a century ago, the problems its characters encounter still ring true to the difficulties of our postmodern times. They are also reflective of a change in cinema, especially relevant to post-war European cinema, in which characters no longer simply react to events and act on them, but remain still, capturing their lack of aim and purposiveness in their barren atmosphere.
10 Abbas Kiarastomai's Koker Trilogy
Iranian Filmmaker Abbas Kiarostami's Koker Trilogy consists of films that take place in the Iranian village of Koker, including Where is the Friends House? (1987), And Life Goes On (1992), and Through the Olive Trees (1994).
Notably, the trilogy was designated as such by Kiarostami himself, but instead by film theorists. Where is the Friends House follows a schoolchild who attempts to travel to a neighboring village to return his classmate's notebook to prevent him from being expelled for failing to submit it the following day. And Life Goes On is a semi-autobiographical piece, centering on a filmmaker journeying towards Koker to find the star of Where is the Friends House? in the aftermath of the 1990 earthquake that left Iran damaged with thousands of lives lost. Through the Olive Trees centers on the production for And Life Goes On, specifically the on-set pursuits of an actor to date the woman playing his wife.
Formal Experimentation
What makes the Koker Trilogy so special is the way each film uniquely connects to the films before it. Rather than follow a linear narrative, following the plot events from one to the next, Kiarostami instead follows an aspect of the production of the film before. By focusing on the filmmaking process, Kiarostami formally experiments with blurring the lines between reality and fiction, creating a meta-cinematic series of films that suspends preconceived notions of what a film should be.
9 Gregg Araki's Teen Apocalypse Trilogy
Gregg Araki's Teen Apocalypse Trilogy consists of three subversive, post-punk tales of teenagers navigating sexuality, identity, and the difficult emotions surrounding the coming-of-age experience.
The trilogy includes Totally F***ed Up (1993), The Doom Generation (1995), and Nowhere (1997). Totally F***ed Up follows the dysfunctional lives of six gay teens and their romantic experiences. The Doom Generation stars Rose McGowan and James Duval as Amy and Jordan, a couple who give a young drifter a ride on their way home from a night out, whose accidental crime sends them on the run through Los Angeles. Nowhere follows a day in the life of a group of Los Angeles college students, depicting the absurd drama and violence they experience.
****Note: Unfortunately, Totally F***ed Up is the only installment of the trilogy not available on the Criterion Channel, but with its recent 4k Criterion release, it may be available in the future. However, for anyone eager to watch, it can currently be rented on Amazon Prime Video, Google Play Movies & TV, and Fandango at Home.
Postmodern Angst
Gregg Araki, a pioneer of the New Queer Cinema movement, artfully captures the sense of disaffection among its characters living in a world that feels like it wasn't built for them. Despite the colorful sets and dreamy shoe-gaze soundtracks, the characters in these films also exist in a sort of barren wasteland, without aim or purpose, bringing the apocalyptic description to life.
8 Three by Céline Sciamma
Three by Céline Sciamma is a coming-of-age centered series of films about teens navigating identity, sexuality, and their social spheres. It features Water Lilies (2007), Tomboy (2011) and Girlhood (2014). Water Lilies is a drama about a summer love triangle between three girls. Tomboy follows a transgender pre-teen navigating gender expression and friendships after moving to a new town. Girlhood centers on a lonely teenager who joins a girl gang in the Parisian suburbs.
The Trials of Adolescence
Three by Céline Sciamma consists of eye-opening portraits of the lives of young people in a modern climate. They humanistically explore topics such as gender and sexuality and the female gaze. Each film has a lot to offer narratively and visually, making up some of the most important coming-of-age films of the 2010s.
15 Hidden Gems on the Criterion Channel
Looking for something unique to watch on the Criterion Channel? Here are some unsung gems available to stream now.
7 The Terrence Davies Trilogy
The Terrence Davies trilogy is a series of semi-autobiographical short films tracing the life of a closeted gay man named Robert Tucker. The trilogy consists of Children (1976), Madonna and Child (1980), and Death and Transfiguration (1983). Children reflects on Robert's experience as a child attending a strict Catholic school and the abuse he suffered from his father. Madonna and Child depicts him as an adult, an unhappy bureaucrat navigating sexuality and caring for his unwell mother. Death and Transfiguration portrays Robert as an elderly man reflecting on his life and mortality.
Reflections on a Life Not Lived
While the films may be short, they certainly do not lack substance. The Terrence Davies trilogy is a melancholic and heartbreaking depiction of a man followed by guilt and loneliness his whole life. While the films are somber, they contain a striking visual style and an endearing sympathy towards the main character.
6 Andrzej Wajda: Three War Films
Polish director Andrzej Wajda's Three War Films is a series depicting life in Poland during WWII. The trilogy consists of A Generation (1955), Kanal (1957), and Ashes and Diamonds (1958). A Generation depicts a young man living in Warsaw during the German occupation who gets involved in the resistance. Kanal is about the 1944 Warsaw Uprising, depicting a group of resistance fighters escaping Nazi forces. Ashes and Diamonds takes place during the aftermath of WWII, focusing on a Home Army soldier ordered to assassinate the Russian secretary of the Polish Worker's Party.
Fate of a Nation
Wadja's Three War Films are in important contribution to international film history, shedding light on the struggles of Polish citizens during the German Occupation and the people who took part in the resistance. Ashes and Diamonds in particular is one of the most revered films in the trilogy and has been considered one of the best films of Polish Cinema. The films are skillfully shot and poignantly capture the personal experiences of individuals living in one of the most gruesome periods of history.
5 Ulysses Jenkins's Video Griot Trilogy
Ulysses Jenkins's Video Griot Trilogy is a series of essayistic-style short films about history and culture. It consists of Self Divination (1989), Mutual Native Duplex (1990), and The Nomadics (1991). Self Divination centers on the African diaspora, Mutual Native Duplex is about the relationship between African natives and African Americans, and The Nomadics focuses on people of color around the world.
Constructing History
The Video Griot Trilogy takes a uniquely artistic approach to documentary through the use of archival footage and images as well as image processing. Jenkins creatively approaches topics such as race and global identity by engaging in formal experimentation and meditative narration. His filmmaking career was dedicated to depicting underrepresented aspects of history and culture and illuminating them.
4 Nobuhiko Obayashi's Anti-War Trilogy
From the director of the cult-classic horror film, House (1977), Nobuhiko Obayashi's Anti-War Trilogy is a unique series of films constructed around national history and trauma in Japan.
The trilogy consists of Casting Blossoms in the Sky (2012), Seven Weeks (2014), and Hanagatami (2017). Casting Blossoms in the Sky is set in the aftermath of the Tohoku Earthquake and centers on a journalist traveling to Nagaoka for a memorial festival and learns about the city's complex history and learns more about herself, as well. Seven Weeks depicts the death of an elderly man and his family's attempt to construct his life story within the context of hardships in the nation's history. Hanagatami follows a teenager who moves in with his aunt during WWII and thematizes the loss of innocence as the realities of war become apparent.
In the Face of Tragedy
Obayashi's Anti-War trilogy is an incredibly singular body of work, exploring tragedy through distinctly avant-garde pop-art styles. Each film is equally experimental as well as emotionally touching, as it sheds light on the trauma of war on a nation's people. The films hold weight when watched individually or all together, where they powerfully convey the passion of their creator.
3 Márta Mészáro's Diary Trilogy
Márta Mészáro's semi-autographical Diary Trilogy centers on an orphan named Juli's experience in post-WWII Hungary, with each film dedicated to a different audience in her life. The Trilogy consists of Diary for My Children (1984), Diary for My Lovers (1987), and Diary for My Mother and Father (1990). Diary for My Children focuses on Juli's coming-of-age experience as an orphan sent to live with her aunt, a strict communist official. Diary for My Lovers follows Julie as she leaves Hungary to pursue a film-making career in Moscow. Diary for My Mother and Father depicts Juli as she returns from Moscow to Budapest amidst a tightening Soviet Regime.
Witnessing History
Mèszáro's Diary Trilogy skillfully depicts the personal experience of one girl in the context of totalitarian oppression. It paints an intimate portrait of her life, hopes, and dreams alongside archival footage depicting the reality that surrounds her. Mèszáro approaches the trilogy with a feminine touch, focusing on the female experience, which subsequently paved the way for other female filmmakers to make features in Hungary. The films are deeply personal, reflective, and open-ended, where one can imagine themselves as the people the film was dedicated to and sink into that perspective.
2 Marcel Pagnol's Marseille Trilogy
Marcel Pagnon's Marseille Trilogy is a 1930s trilogy following a friendship-turned-romance across several years. The Trilogy consists of Marius (1931), Fanny (1932), and Cesar (1936). Marius follows Marius and Fanny, a pair of friends who realize their attraction to each other, but are held back from being with each other due to Marius's desire to go to sea. Fanny and Cesar continue to follow their complicated romance and individual lives.
Love Across the Years
Despite Marius and Fanny's feelings for each other, many factors get in the way of them pursuing their romance. The trilogy sheds light on the real-life factors that keep lovers apart while remaining both humorous and romantic. Pagnon comes from a theater background and the films were made in the early sound period in cinema, so they contain some elements of the stage that make them playful and endlessly entertaining.
1 First, Negative Two, 38: A Trilogy by Micaela Durand and Daniel Chew
Micaela Durand and Daniel Chew's New York-based short film trilogy is a series of films made about what it is like to live in the age of social media when the world seems to be perpetual online and human connection seems to be ever so far away. First, is about a teenage girl who publicly documents her life online, with the comments on her posts being read as subtitles on screen. Negative Two centers on a gay architect who begins an online relationship with a stranger he's met through a dating app. 38 follows a 38-year-old woman who becomes obsessed with the online profile of a woman who broke up her relationship.
Navigating the Digital Age
First, Negative Two, 38 is one of the most accurate depictions of the reality of living in a digital world for many individuals. It is relatable, pointing out the isolating and alienating effects of an unmediated relationship with social media and how this affects how people feel about themselves and their relationships with others. Each of the films is under a half hour long and immensely worth the watch, poignantly capturing a moment that the world is currently experiencing.
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