The 2 Best MCU Trilogies Both Manage An Almost Impossible Feat

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Over the past 17 years, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has seen many story arcs, but two trilogies stand out as the best. They’ve both achieved something remarkable: crafting complex stories that seamlessly connect to the wider MCU. And with more movies always on the way, we can expect even more trilogies in the future.

As a longtime MCU fan, I’ve seen a lot of trilogies come and go, and while most have been pretty good, some definitely stand out. There are two in particular that I think really nailed it, and honestly, it feels like they overcame some huge hurdles to do so. It’s impressive how well they managed to stick the landing, considering the challenges involved.

The MCU’s Two Most Consistently Strong Trilogies Succeed Because They Pull Off A Truly Challenging Trick

The Spider-Man and Guardians of the Galaxy trilogies are arguably the strongest in the Marvel Cinematic Universe because they consistently succeed with both critics and audiences. They also skillfully expand the overall Marvel world while still telling complete, satisfying stories on their own. This is something the MCU’s standalone series desperately need to start doing to become truly successful.

Both the Spider-Man and Guardians of the Galaxy trilogies experienced major story shifts due to events in other Marvel films. Spider-Man’s story was deeply affected by Iron Man’s death, as Iron Man had been a key figure and mentor in Spider-Man: Homecoming. Similarly, the Guardians faced a huge change when Gamora died and was later replaced by a version of herself with no prior memories of the team before Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. Despite these significant disruptions, both series managed to cleverly incorporate these changes into their narratives.

As a huge movie fan, I was honestly worried about how these films would fit into the larger trilogies. There were some big gaps in the storytelling, and it could have really messed things up if handled poorly. But honestly, Far From Home and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 totally pulled it off! They didn’t just gloss over those missing pieces – they made those jumps feel natural and, surprisingly, like they should have happened that way. It was a really clever move, and it actually enhanced the overall story.

The Spider-Man movies in the Marvel Cinematic Universe have a strong emotional arc, moving from Peter Parker being guided by Iron Man to then dealing with his death. This transition works effectively because Far From Home didn’t shy away from showing the impact of Tony Stark’s absence, making his death feel real and impactful for both the story and the audience.

Like the previous films, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 explores how the team has been impacted by losing Gamora, and by meeting a version of her who doesn’t remember their shared history. The movie skillfully uses these emotional gaps in the story, ultimately leading to a fresh start for the Guardians.

The Spider-Man & Guardians Of The Galaxy Trilogies Are A Masterclass In How To Keep A Trilogy Distinct In A Wider Universe

Standalone series set within larger shared universes, like the Marvel Cinematic Universe, face a tricky storytelling challenge. They need to tell complete, satisfying stories on their own, but also feel connected to the bigger picture and contribute to the overall narrative.

Both Spider-Man and Guardians of the Galaxy demonstrate how to successfully balance big, interconnected storylines with strong character development and compelling narratives. It’s clearly a challenge, but skillfully integrating these films into a larger universe and subtly revealing background information seem to be key to their success.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe shows no signs of slowing down, and it’s hoped that upcoming movies will take cues from successful trilogies like Spider-Man and Guardians of the Galaxy. As the MCU expands and becomes more complex, important story developments might increasingly happen in spin-off projects rather than the main films.

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2025-11-05 17:30