The article argues that a film trilogy is judged by the consistency of all three entries, making a weak finale especially damaging. It highlights how disappointing conclusions can undermine strong earlier films, franchises and character arcs.

– “X-Men: The Last Stand” is criticised for abandoning the first two films’ creative direction, mishandling the “Dark Phoenix” story and killing major characters, prompting later films to rewrite its events.
– “The Godfather: Part III” is presented as a major disappointment because it followed two landmark films, with criticism aimed at its perceived commercial motives, Sofia Coppola’s performance and Michael Corleone’s unconvincing redemption.
– The article notes that “The Godfather Coda: The Death of Michael Corleone” improved the third film, but did not fully solve its underlying problems.