# Third time’s a charm: In what movie franchises was the 3rd movie the best? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 14, 2015, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/third-time-s-a-charm-in-what-movie-franchises-was-the-3rd-movie-the-best/720055 "2015-05-14T18:27:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2015, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/third-time-s-a-charm-in-what-movie-franchises-was-the-3rd-movie-the-best/720055/21 "2015-05-14T20:19:34Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > What, no love for _A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas_? 😛 I thought you were kidding, but that does indeed exist, it seems. I’ve only heard (and seen) of the first two movies. I’m guessing I should skip this one. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2015, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/third-time-s-a-charm-in-what-movie-franchises-was-the-3rd-movie-the-best/720055/22 "2015-05-14T20:22:10Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > What, no love for _A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas_? 😛 All three H&Ks were perfect in every way, there really is no meaningful way to compare them. Kinda like Friday, Next Friday, and Friday After Next. They’re all exquisite examples of … whatever it is they are. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2015, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/third-time-s-a-charm-in-what-movie-franchises-was-the-3rd-movie-the-best/720055/23 "2015-05-14T20:53:57Z")
The Adventures of Baron Munchausen ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2015, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/third-time-s-a-charm-in-what-movie-franchises-was-the-3rd-movie-the-best/720055/24 "2015-05-14T21:21:29Z")
The Great Sun Jester: > [@](#): > > Prisoner of Azkaban is always watchable. Not quite as juvenile as the first two, and not yet all teen angsty. Frankly I live for seeing Hermione bounce Malfoy’s head off the rock when she clocks him. Maybe if viewed as a stand-alone movie, I’d be more charitable to it, but too much of what made the book Prisoner of Azkaban great is missing from the movie for me to really enjoy it. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2015, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/third-time-s-a-charm-in-what-movie-franchises-was-the-3rd-movie-the-best/720055/25 "2015-05-14T21:26:52Z")
> [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > The Adventures of Baron Munchausen Alright, I’ll bite. What were the first two movies, making that #3? Edit: I’ve just found an unattributed quote on [IMDB](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0096764/faq?ref_=tt_faq_2#.2.1.3), stating: > [@](#): > > **Is this film a part of a trilogy by Terry Gilliam**? > > “I think the idea behind the trilogy is the three ages of man: Time Bandits - adolescence, Brazil - Middle Age, Munchausen - old age. Not too sure if Gilliam intended that, but with everything else about the man, I wouldn’t be surprised.” [Source of quotation unknown] ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2015, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/third-time-s-a-charm-in-what-movie-franchises-was-the-3rd-movie-the-best/720055/26 "2015-05-14T23:23:49Z")
The third movie starring Robert Downey Jr as Iron Man was the best of the bunch. ---
**Author:** ![LawMonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@LawMonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LawMonkey)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2015, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/third-time-s-a-charm-in-what-movie-franchises-was-the-3rd-movie-the-best/720055/27 "2015-05-15T00:38:02Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > **Army of Darkness** is the best of the Evil Dead movies. Read this literally as I was thinking it. It’s not a run-away win–_ **Evil Dead 2: Dead by Dawn** _ is a serious contender. But I’ve watched _ **Army of Darkness** _ many more times, and I could probably step into the role of Ash with no preparation, I know so many of his lines. So yeah, it edges it. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2015, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/third-time-s-a-charm-in-what-movie-franchises-was-the-3rd-movie-the-best/720055/28 "2015-05-15T02:39:57Z")
[Here is what we thought in 2001.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=76340) [And here is what we thought are the best part IV in movies.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=723404) Oddly enough, posted in that last thread one year ago today. ---
**Author:** ![Teach-me-not](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a4c791/32.png) [@Teach-me-not](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Teach-me-not)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2015, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/third-time-s-a-charm-in-what-movie-franchises-was-the-3rd-movie-the-best/720055/29 "2015-05-15T03:09:42Z")
I thought LoTR Return of the King, but I actually like the first two movies more. Sure, the Academy loved it, but I think it was a recognition for the series as a whole, not just this installment. Maybe I would have liked this one more if not for its never-ending ending. :mad: ---
**Author:** ![Dale\_Sams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/779978/32.png) [@Dale\_Sams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dale_Sams)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2015, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/third-time-s-a-charm-in-what-movie-franchises-was-the-3rd-movie-the-best/720055/30 "2015-05-15T03:37:02Z")
While probably not the best, Exorcist III is a damn scary movie and some lovely scenry chewing from George C. Scott and Nicol Williamson. Return of the Living Dead 3 is quite watchable. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2015, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/third-time-s-a-charm-in-what-movie-franchises-was-the-3rd-movie-the-best/720055/31 "2015-05-15T05:20:13Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > The third movie starring Robert Downey Jr as Iron Man was the best of the bunch. Okay, I can come up with at least three ways to interpret this: _Iron Man 2_ (2010) The third movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe franchise, after _Iron Man_ and _The Incredible Hulk_. _The Avengers_ (2012) The third movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe franchise in which Robert Downey Jr plays Iron Man, after _Iron Man_ and _Iron Man 2_. _Iron Man 3_ (2013) The third movie in the Iron Man franchise, after _Iron Man_ and _Iron Man 2_. ---
**Author:** ![Lantern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d26b3c/32.png) [@Lantern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lantern)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2015, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/third-time-s-a-charm-in-what-movie-franchises-was-the-3rd-movie-the-best/720055/32 "2015-05-15T06:10:29Z")
> [@CaptMurdock](#): > > Indiana Jones. _The Last Crusade_ just edges out _Raiders of the Lost Ark,_ and is far superior to both the lackluster _Temple of Doom_ and the execrable _Kingdom of the Crystal Skull._ The Last Crusade was the first film that came to mind when I saw the thread title. Nice to see there are a few of us who enjoyed it. ---
**Author:** ![Mijin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mijin/32/9369_2.png) [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2015, 9:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/third-time-s-a-charm-in-what-movie-franchises-was-the-3rd-movie-the-best/720055/33 "2015-05-15T09:14:04Z")
> [@Teach-me-not](#): > > I thought LoTR Return of the King, but I actually like the first two movies more. Sure, the Academy loved it, but I think it was a recognition for the series as a whole, not just this installment. > > Maybe I would have liked this one more if not for its never-ending ending. :mad: \ Yeah “sorry we overlooked you” is the only way to interpret best picture for what is probably the worst of the trilogy. No real sense of peril (thanks to invincible army of the dead et al), and no attempt to take itself seriously any more (surfing off the giant elephant’s trunk)? In a sense the hugging ending was a highlight, because I started to find it amusing how annoyed everyone else in the theatre was getting, and how many times people would prematurely start to get up and then sit down again, fooled by another fade out. ---
**Author:** ![polar\_bear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ec9cab/32.png) [@polar\_bear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/polar_bear)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2015, 9:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/third-time-s-a-charm-in-what-movie-franchises-was-the-3rd-movie-the-best/720055/34 "2015-05-15T09:25:28Z")
If you see the Star Wars prequels as a separate trilogy, Revenge of the Sith is easily the best. ---
**Author:** ![Gerald\_II](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/43a26b/32.png) [@Gerald\_II](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gerald_II)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2015, 9:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/third-time-s-a-charm-in-what-movie-franchises-was-the-3rd-movie-the-best/720055/35 "2015-05-15T09:27:17Z")
> [@CaptMurdock](#): > > Indiana Jones. _The Last Crusade_ just edges out _Raiders of the Lost Ark,_ and is far superior to both the lackluster _Temple of Doom_ and the execrable _Kingdom of the Crystal Skull._ For me The Last Crusade was my least favorite. It was Raiders-Lite and we got a glimpse of how Lucas would approach the back story for his other franchise. The Nazi’s were once again the villains and it seems all of Indy’s trademark characteristics were acquired ridiculously fast, all in one day: fear of snakes, using a bullwhip, acquiring a scar, and wearing a Fedora. My favorite is Raiders but second is Temple of Doom because they were trying to give us a new adventure and something different. I’d probably say the only 3rd movie that is the best would be **Nightmare on Elm Street Part 3: The Dream Warriors**. The first one is a classic, and the second…well I like it but it has a bad reputation. But 3 went back to the original premise of the original and expanded on it. The back story was a little much but worked surprisingly well for adding to the legend of Freddy. The dream sequences were also just as scary if not more so. The doll sequence, and the isolated feeling of being in a mental ward. ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Shine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr_shine/32/464_2.png) [@Mr\_Shine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Shine)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2015, 9:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/third-time-s-a-charm-in-what-movie-franchises-was-the-3rd-movie-the-best/720055/36 "2015-05-15T09:27:51Z")
The third “Blood and ice-cream” film, _The World’s End_ is better than _Hot Fuzz_ which is better than _Shaun of the Dead_, which was a superb film. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2015, 9:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/third-time-s-a-charm-in-what-movie-franchises-was-the-3rd-movie-the-best/720055/37 "2015-05-15T09:46:20Z")
> [@Mr\_Shine](#): > > The third “Blood and ice-cream” film, _The World’s End_ is better than _Hot Fuzz_ which is better than _Shaun of the Dead_, which was a superb film. Really? I hadn’t bothered to see it as I’d heard it was worse than the other two. Will have to check it out. I definitely agree that \*Hot Fuzz \*is better than the nonetheless-excellent _Shaun of the Dead_ though. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2015, 10:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/third-time-s-a-charm-in-what-movie-franchises-was-the-3rd-movie-the-best/720055/38 "2015-05-15T10:23:58Z")
_Jurassic Park III_ is the best one. I seem to be the only person in the world who thinks this. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2015, 10:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/third-time-s-a-charm-in-what-movie-franchises-was-the-3rd-movie-the-best/720055/39 "2015-05-15T10:24:37Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Okay, I can come up with at least three ways to interpret this: > > _Iron Man 2_ (2010) The third movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe franchise, after _Iron Man_ and _The Incredible Hulk_. > > _The Avengers_ (2012) The third movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe franchise in which Robert Downey Jr plays Iron Man, after _Iron Man_ and _Iron Man 2_. > > _Iron Man 3_ (2013) The third movie in the Iron Man franchise, after _Iron Man_ and _Iron Man 2_. Well, (a) upon narrowing it down to those, deducing it’s _Avengers_ should be a snap; and (b) I said “starring”, since he was top-billed as Iron Man for the third time. ---
**Author:** ![Garula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ea666f/32.png) [@Garula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Garula)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2015, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/third-time-s-a-charm-in-what-movie-franchises-was-the-3rd-movie-the-best/720055/40 "2015-05-15T12:24:31Z")
> [@Mr\_Shine](#): > > The third “Blood and ice-cream” film, _The World’s End_ is better than _Hot Fuzz_ which is better than _Shaun of the Dead_, which was a superb film. I liked _Shaun of the Dead_, but wasn’t as wild about it as others. _Hot Fuzz_, though, is truly excellent. _The World’s End_ was good, but the weakest of the three, I thought. So I would respectfully say the Cornnetto trilogy should be included in the same category as Star Wars. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/third-time-s-a-charm-in-what-movie-franchises-was-the-3rd-movie-the-best/720055.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/third-time-s-a-charm-in-what-movie-franchises-was-the-3rd-movie-the-best/720055.md?page=3)