Collider film writer Liam Gaughan has published a list ranking three movie trilogies he considers rivals to Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings, which he holds up as the gold standard due to its consistent quality across all three films, faithful adaptation and practical effects. The piece argues that few franchises manage to sustain excellence across three instalments, citing examples such as Spider-Man 3 undermining an otherwise strong trilogy, Back to the Future relying on only one standout film, and Guillermo del Toro's Hellboy series being left unfinished after a reboot.

Gaughan names Denis Villeneuve's Dune franchise as the strongest current contender to eventually surpass The Lord of the Rings, given the acclaim for its first two parts ahead of the anticipated Dune: Part Three in 2026. Among the trilogies he ranks as already comparable, The Godfather (1972-1990) features prominently, with Francis Ford Coppola's first two films singled out for their depth and influence, particularly The Godfather Part II's dual narrative following Vito and Michael Corleone.