trilogy

A trilogy is a set of three connected works in any narrative media, usually sharing a common premise, world, or set of characters. Each installment typically advances a larger, overarching plot while preserving its own self-contained arc. Trilogies often employ a rising action, a middle act that deepens character and conflict, and a final resolution that concludes the narrative. They may be released sequentially over several years or published or produced as a single work divided into three parts.

The word trilogy derives from Greek tri- meaning three and logia meaning discourse or speech, reflecting its origins in classical drama. The Oresteia, a trilogy of plays by Aeschylus, is one of the earliest known examples. Since antiquity, trilogies have remained a common format for extending stories in literature and film, enabling more expansive world-building and longer character development than a single work typically permits.

Notable trilogies include Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings (commonly treated as a single narrative divided into three volumes), Satyajit Ray's Apu Trilogy (Pather Panchali, Aparajito, Apur Sansar) in cinema, Francis Ford Coppola's The Godfather trilogy, George Lucas's original Star Wars trilogy, and Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight Trilogy.

Trilogies may be planned from the outset or become three-part arcs through development. They can operate as self-contained chapters within a larger franchise, or serve as a standalone unit with a defined conclusion. Critics sometimes point to uneven quality or tonal shifts across installments, while fans value the extended world-building and sustained character arcs that trilogies enable.