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The Riddick Trilogy (lemmy.world)
submitted 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) by Zahille7@lemmy.world to c/movies@piefed.social

So I just got down watching the Riddick Trilogy for the first real time in years. I had seen the third one, Riddick, in theaters when it first came out, and liked it enough but just kinda brushed it off as a generic sci-fi movie. It wasn't until a few years later when I watched Pitch Black and then Chronicles of Riddick, and started becoming a fan.

This most recent watch, I watched them all back-to-back including Riddick for the very second time. And I gotta say, I fucking love these movies. They're over the top, batshit, badass, and basically run on the rule of cool; but there was also a lot of thought put into the world the movies inhabit and the designs of the technology the characters use.

I liked the small feeling of Pitch Black, and the desperate plan from the survivors of the crash. The creatures were brutal and pretty scary even if they look like hammerhead sharks.

I really liked the setting and story of Chronicles, throwing Riddick and the audience into a much wider universe than the first one even let on. I love the Necromongers' heavy gothic designs and the effects used to show how their technology works with the almost ghostly energy when you see the ships fly. And their whole intro at the beginning of the movie is badass too, and how they show up in the comet that supposedly hails their coming. I'm a fan of that 40K-like mix of sci-fi and fantasy elements.

Riddick is also just as enjoyable as the first two imo, especially if you watch it while Chronicles is still fresh in your mind, or right after. It does basically become Pitch Black 2, but there's enough that's different about it.

I guess I just made this post to say that the movies are fun and you should watch them, if not for the story then for the action; and if not for that then watch them for the worldbuilding and the set and prop design, because there's a lot to enjoy onscreen.

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[-] Kolanaki@pawb.social 9 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

Chronicles was the best one, IMO. Riddick was kinda boring in comparison to the absolute insanity of Chronicles. More epic story line, better banter and one liners, visually more stunning...

Be cool if they turned the Escape from Butcher Bay video game into a movie.

[-] Lushed_Lungfish@lemmy.ca 10 points 1 day ago

Have you played the games? Escape From Butcher Bay is a goddamn classic.

[-] psilotop@lemmy.world 6 points 1 day ago

There is a Chronicles of Riddick original Xbox game that I really enjoyed. It felt low budget even at the time, but it tells the story of his escape from prison and how he got his eyes modified. I played it after watching the first two movies and it felt good to get more of the universe.

[-] Quetzalcutlass@lemmy.world 3 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

I'll second this. Escape From Butcher Bay is amazing. The sequel, Assault on Dark Athena, isn't quite as good but still worth picking up if you like the first one.

It felt low budget even at the time

It was actually ahead of its time. IIRC it was the first console game with a modern lighting engine, coming out months before Doom 3.

[-] decended_being@midwest.social 8 points 1 day ago

I had a cult-love/appreciation for Pitch Black. I watched Chronicles from Blockbuster, and I remember that I bought and watched the third one when it came out on physical media, but I was recovering in the hospital and barely remember it.

All that to say, thank you for this post! I'm going to watch all three this weekend.

[-] notaviking@lemmy.world 32 points 2 days ago

I heard, so full rumor mode here, Vin Diesel even chose chronicles of riddick above 2fast2furious and semi funded the third film. There is also a video game and an anime dark fury which is awesome

[-] Spacehooks@reddthat.com 12 points 1 day ago

Heard he mortgage his house to fund movie and Riddick is based on his dnd rouge character.

[-] Zahille7@lemmy.world 12 points 1 day ago

I've heard about both. I've been reading up about it these past couple days. I even found a reddit thread (updated this year) with links to download Dark Athena, which includes the first game Escape from Butcher Bay.

I haven't gotten a chance to play them yet, but I have been playing through the Dishonored games recently as well, and it got me thinking that if someone were to make another Riddick game today, I'd hope it would play similar to those, just without the magic powers, and make it a bit more linear. I have no idea what the story would be, but I bet a game like that would be awesome.

I need to try to find Dark Fury.

[-] Quicky@piefed.social 4 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

Escape from Butcher Bay was an absolutely superb game. On the OG Xbox, it was astounding how good it looked.

I remember it being, at the time at least, a great example of a video game that’s better than the film(s) from the same universe.

And to be fair, I loved Pitch Black when I saw it in the cinema. Chronicles was a let down for me. The “universe” didn’t need to be expanded in the way that it did, as I thought the character works much better in a compact, tight, structured environment. Something which I guess they realised for Riddick, where they went back to his roots with what I thought was another great film.

[-] maltasoron@sopuli.xyz 6 points 1 day ago

There's also animated movie set between Pitch Black and Chronicles, The Chronicles of Riddick: Dark Fury .

[-] yessikg@fedia.io 4 points 1 day ago

This is the trilogy, Riddick is the 4th one

[-] rozodru@piefed.world 18 points 1 day ago

They are a fun trilogy of movies in all honesty, I also really like them.

And if you get the chance play "Escape from Butcher Bay". it's easily the best movie to game adaptation ever. Helps that Vin Diesel is also a gamer and was heavily involved in the game.

[-] ecvanalog@lemmy.world 19 points 2 days ago

I used to manage a video store, and the owner collected props and wardrobe. He would bring pieces down to the store and display them on the wall or in glass cases. We had SO MANY outfits from Chronicles of Riddick.

[-] Zahille7@lemmy.world 6 points 1 day ago

That's awesome. Any Necromonger armor or weapons?

[-] ecvanalog@lemmy.world 3 points 1 day ago

Definitely some weapons although my memory is shaky on which ones. I don’t remember any armor — the most distinctive thing I remember was Urban’s outfit.

[-] limonfiesta@lemmy.world 12 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

Vin Diesel is a passionate but dumb man, who makes fun but dumb movies.

Nothing wrong with watching fun movies, especially when they're made with passion.

[-] jeeva@lemmy.world 6 points 1 day ago

Why would you say he's dumb, out of interest?

[-] limonfiesta@lemmy.world 9 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

Because I've listened to him talk, and that's also what I've heard from various sources that I trust, including, but not limited to, all the old, and current, writers behind Honest Trailers.

But I still think he makes really fun movies, that I actually enjoy.

[-] Nadru@lemmy.world 17 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

Yeah I love them and the universe. Probably time for a re-watch.

[-] Zahille7@lemmy.world 11 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

It feels like a weird mix of 40K and Dune, and it totally works for what it is imo.

Edit: I also saw a comment that describes it as "Conan in Space" and I think that's a perfect description of the series, especially Chronicles.

[-] tomenzgg@midwest.social 6 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

I enjoyed the first two but the third felt like a massive regression in ways that didn't feel remotely justified, considering the first two avoided it.

The turn-the-lesbian-straight trope somehow felt dated even in a 2013 movie (if we put aside how repulsive it is, on its own). https://www.charlottenash.net/blog/2013/09/15/poor-representations-of-women-in-sci-fi-films-riddick-vs-pitch-black sums up pretty well how unnecessary of a let down the whole thing was.

[-] Zahille7@lemmy.world 4 points 1 day ago

While that was and is problematic, there are only those two exchanges between Dahl and Riddick (in the middle and the very end), and the rest of the time she handles her own shit extremely well. Plus there's no real sex scene, she just says "let me ask you something" and the scene ends.

She even beats the shit out of that one guy who tries to rape her.

[-] Kabutor@lemmy.dbzer0.com 12 points 2 days ago

You liked those, and not afraid of bad movie reviews you need to watch another Vin Diesel great movie that was smashed by the critics, but I adore, The Last Witch Hunter

[-] snooggums@piefed.world 5 points 1 day ago

I did not enjoy The Last Witch Hunter, but can see it working for someone else. Didn't land for me like the Riddick trilogy.

[-] Zahille7@lemmy.world 8 points 1 day ago

I did see that in theaters, and tbh I almost fell asleep at one point. I could have just been tired though. Maybe I should check it out again, cause I remember it had some pretty wild ideas too.

[-] Spacehooks@reddthat.com 11 points 1 day ago

Really loved the middle of movie with him messing with bounty hunters. It Was hilarious. Shame only my family was there in theater opening day.

[-] Ilandar@lemmy.today 4 points 1 day ago

I agree, they are fun to watch as a collection. Good looking films with a fun protagonist.

[-] illi@sh.itjust.works 8 points 1 day ago

TIL there is a third one! Will add it to watch list with the other two for a refresher

[-] toynbee@piefed.social 4 points 1 day ago

I didn't know there was a third, but otherwise I fully agree with you.

[-] NigelFrobisher@aussie.zone 1 points 1 day ago

It never occurred to me it could be a trilogy. Vin probably only doesn’t call it that because he has twenty more planned.

[-] ApollosArrow@lemmy.world 2 points 1 day ago

I’ve watched all three. Pitch Black and Riddick tend to not be my kind of jam movie wise, but I absolutely loved Chronicles as a kid. It was really disappointing that we never got to go back to that mythology.

this post was submitted on 03 Jul 2026
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