9 Best Comedy Movie Trilogies Ever

Jul 15, 2026 - 16:14

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Leslie Nielsen and Priscilla Presley prepare to swing on a rope in Naked Gun 33 1/3

Published Jul 15, 2026, 8:00 AM EDT

Kevin Pantoja is a writer and editor at Screen Rant based in New York City, where he brings deep expertise in blockbuster franchises ranging from Harry Potter and Spider‑Man to Succession and the MCU. A passionate storyteller with a creative writing degree (Valedictorian, Full Sail University), Kevin blends entertainment news, feature essays, and pop‑culture commentary into engaging, audience-first content

When people think of the best and most iconic trilogies in cinematic history, their minds tend to go to everything from sci-fi projects to heavy dramas to fantasy epics. The likes of the original Star Wars trilogy, The Lord of the Rings, The Godfather, the Before trilogy, and The Dark Knight, just to name a few. There are also animated trilogies that stand out, from How to Train Your Dragon to Toy Story. However, the comedy genre tends to be overlooked when it comes to trilogies.

That's likely because many of the best comedy movies in history don't even get sequels, let alone a third installment to reach a trilogy. Comedy is also often a genre that doesn't receive the widespread acclaim it deserves and when many consider the best films, comedies don't tend to come to mind. Of course, there are a handful of exceptions to the rule, as several comedies have managed to not only have entire trilogies get greenlit, but they also stand out as some of the best films in their genre.

When looking for the best comedy trilogies, you'll see projects that cross over into action, horror, sci-fi, and musicals. The end result is some of the most beloved and memorable trilogies to ever grace the big screen.

9 Harold And Kumar (2004-2011)

One of the most surprising comedy movie trilogies has to be Harold and Kumar. The first film, released in 2004, is literally just about the two titular best friends going on a wacky adventure to get some White Castle. It isn't a premise that lends itself to a sequel, let alone two.

However, the first movie ended on something of a cliffhanger that set the table for more. While Harold and Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay was a disappointment, reviews were more positive for A Very Harold and Kumar Christmas. The three films make up a solid trilogy.

8 Bill & Ted (1989-2020)

Nobody expected a trilogy to come out of the first two Bill and Ted movies. Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure is a super fun time travel comedy film following two slackers played by Alex Winter and Keanu Reeves. Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey was a blast of a follow-up, though reviews weren't too kind.

They remained a fun duology and it seemed like it would stay that way, yet a sequel came in 2020. This time, Bill & Ted Face the Music saw the titular characters partner up with their daughters for another fun adventure. It ended up receiving better reviews than expected, capping a strong trilogy.

7 Rush Hour (1998-2007)

Comedy often lends itself to the action genre, crossing over for some of the most fun films ever made. 2016's The Nice Guys is a fantastic modern example of this. Very few movies have been able to pull it off as well as Rush Hour did in the late '90s and into the 2000s. It worked so well because Chris Tucker and Jackie Chan are endlessly charming together.

Rush Hour sees Tucker an LAPD officer and Chan as a member of the Hong Kong Police Force. They come together to solve a case in the original film and form a bond based on their differences. Even if the sequels aren't quite as good, Chan and Tucker are undeniably enjoyable together each time out.

6 Pitch Perfect (2012-2017)

There aren't many musical comedies that can match Pitch Perfect, especially if we're talking modern films. The movies center on the members of an all-girls a capella group from college known as the Barden Bellas. The movie has both great music and hilarious moments.

Pitch Perfect and Pitch Perfect 2 are both very fun projects with a great cast. They make up a remarkably good duology that stands on their own. Pitch Perfect 3 is the worst entry, especially since it goes down an awkwardly forced spy subplot, yet it's still fun enough to complete a strong set.

5 Austin Powers (1998-2003)

The history of cinema is filled with parody movies and not many do it better than Austin Powers. The films poke fun at the spy genre, with the main focus being on James Bond. The difference is that Austin Powers isn't the smooth, debonair guy that Bond is, yet he's still a hit with the ladies.

Mike Myers is hilarious as Austin, Dr. Evil, and Fat Bastard across the three films. They do a great job of parodying the genre while also featuring some talented actors like Heather Graham, Elizabeth Hurley, and even an early role for Beyoncé. Although he made Wayne's World and Shrek, Austin Powers might be Myers' most beloved character.

4 Beverly Hills Cop (1984-1994)

While Rush Hour nails the buddy cop formula, Beverly Hills Cop is kind of everything you could want from an action comedy. The franchise stars Eddie Murphy as the titular police officer, Axel Foley. Murphy was at the height of his powers in the '80s when the film series began and his charisma carried a lot of it.

That said, the screenplays are sharp and the action is highly entertaining. All three entries in the series are strong movies on their own, while there was actually a fourth installment released a few years ago on Netflix that was also well received.

3 Three Flavours Cornetto Trilogy (2004-2013)

Edgar Wright is one of the most creative filmmakers in Hollywood and as good as projects like Scott Pilgrim vs. The World and Baby Driver are, he's most known for the Three Flavours Cornetto Trilogy. They take parody movies to the next level by focusing more on the genre rather than specific films.

Shaun of the Dead pokes fun at the zombie genre overall, Hot Fuzz looks at the action genre, and The World's End takes aim at sci-fi projects. However, what makes these films great is that they're fantastic comedies, yet also work incredibly well in the genres they poke fun at.

2 The Naked Gun (1988-1994)

Leslie Nielsen is one of the funniest performers in Hollywood history. From Airplane! to Spy Hard, he's genuinely hilarious in everything. His best shining performance is as Frank Drebin in The Naked Gun trilogy, which spanned the late '80s and the early '90s.

The Naked Gun is another parody series that plays on the action genre. It does so by impressively featuring so many gags. Even simple scenes tend to have something going on in the background. The franchise was rebooted in 2025 with Liam Neeson, which kept up the same premise.

1 Back To The Future (1985-1990)

Back to the Future doesn't just make up the best comedy trilogy ever, it's also among the best franchises to ever feature elements of the sci-fi genre as well. The films follow Marty McFly and Doc Brown as they travel through time and have adventures that blend the laughs with the action well.

Michael J. Fox is endlessly charming as Marty, while Christopher Lloyd brings a frantic energy to Doc Brown. There's a lot of fun to be had with the time periods and the films aren't afraid to try new things. Back to the Future Part III is even an unexpected Western and it's a ton of fun.