10 Horror Franchises Where The First Movie Is NOT The Best

2. Ti West's X Trilogy

The best instalment: Pearl

Ti West's X Trilogy is the only franchise discussed on this list that doesn't have a single bad movie to its name. All three instalments are visually bewitching and excellently acted throwbacks to the horror films of yesteryear, with West's adoration for the genre infectiously flowing through every single frame. 

All three are good, and 2024's MaXXXine is criminally underrated, but this ultimately sits alongside trilogies such as The Dark Knight, Spider-Man and the Star Wars Original Trilogy - the middle chapter is the best. 

Pearl, a prequel that serves as an origin story of the previous film's villain, has all the amazing cinematography and wonderful homages that defined the other two films, yet what takes it to the next level is how unexpectedly affecting it ends up being. This poignant, tragic villainous origin story humanizes Pearl while still keeping her status as a frightening slasher villain intact; it's a hard balance to pull off, yet this movie makes it look easy. 

Furthermore, Mia Goth deserved an Oscar nomination for her role in this movie. Them's the facts.