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"Genies don't grant just two wishes, nobody talks about the two Musketeers, and you never hear anyone say "second time's the charm.""
— The announcer gives three examples of the Rule of Three in action, from a Hyundai car commercial
Anime and Manga
"Why do I never get anything useful out of you guys until the third person I ask?"
— Tohru, Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid, Chapter 42
Comic Books
"Stories are like Charlie's Angels! They should come in threes!"
— Disco Stu, The Simpsons Comics #175
Fan Works
Three is sacred.
— Ghidorah contemplating its heads, Abraxas (Hrodvitnon)
"Three times, but never four."
— A tenet of an alien religious scripture called the Ghee'haszhra, Abraxas: Empty Fullness "Damnatio Memoriae"
Film — Animation
Emmet: OK, but at the end of the movie, I still saved the day, right? Just like how it actually happened in my actual real life?
President of Hollywood: You know, you'd think after two examples, your expectations would be lowered already, but if they're not... lower them more!
President of Hollywood: You know, you'd think after two examples, your expectations would be lowered already, but if they're not... lower them more!
— The LEGO Movie, "Enter the Ninjago"
"And no amount of mermaid magic... or managerial promotion... or some other third thing... can make me anything more than what I really am inside: a kid."
Film — Live-Action
"There are three things I love in life: Kicking ass!... TBD!... Third thing here!"
"Who would cross the Bridge of Death must answer me these questions three!"
— The Old Man from Scene 24, Monty Python and the Holy Grail
"Every great magic trick consists of three parts or acts. The first part is called "The Pledge". The magician shows you something ordinary: a deck of cards, a bird or a man. He shows you this object. Perhaps he asks you to inspect it to see if it is indeed real, unaltered, normal. But of course... it probably isn't. The second act is called "The Turn". The magician takes the ordinary something and makes it do something extraordinary. Now you're looking for the secret... but you won't find it, because of course you're not really looking. You don't really want to know. You want to be fooled. But you wouldn't clap yet. Because making something disappear isn't enough; you have to bring it back. That's why every magic trick has a third act, the hardest part, the part we call "The Prestige"."
"Three is three, a number of power."
— The Djinn, Three Thousand Years of Longing
Literature
"Just the place for a Snark!" the Bellman cried,
As he landed his crew with care;
Supporting each man on the top of the tide
By a finger entwined in his hair.
"Just the place for a Snark! I have said it twice:
That alone should encourage the crew.
Just the place for a Snark! I have said it thrice:
What I tell you three times is true."
As he landed his crew with care;
Supporting each man on the top of the tide
By a finger entwined in his hair.
"Just the place for a Snark! I have said it twice:
That alone should encourage the crew.
Just the place for a Snark! I have said it thrice:
What I tell you three times is true."
"Three is a sacred number. There are three Fates, three Furies, three Olympian sons of Kronos. It is a good strong number that stands against many dangers."
— Chiron, Percy Jackson and the Olympians
"A power claimed and challenged and thrice carried out is true."
— The Staryk King, Spinning Silver
And Sauron, sitting in his black seat in the midst of the Temple, had laughed when he heard the trumpets of Ar-Pharazôn sounding for battle; and again he had laughed when he heard the thunder of the storm; and a third time, even as he laughed at his own thought, thinking what he would do now in the world, being rid of the Edain for ever, he was taken in the midst of his mirth, and his seat and his temple fell into the abyss.
Live-Action TV
"So that was the year of the slow invasion. When the Earth got cubed and the Doctor came to stay. It was also when we realized something the Shakri never understood. What 'cubed' actually means. The Power of Three."
— Amy, Doctor Who, "The Power of Three"
"I'll bet there's even a third one."
— Reggie Watts, Comedy Bang! Bang!
Lesson number two is also fundamental
Something that we call the Rule of Three
Set up the joke
Give it a stroke
Third time, and bam!
Something that we call the Rule of Three
Set up the joke
Give it a stroke
Third time, and bam!
— Jester, Galavant, "Comedy Gold"
Ted: Barney, the three-days rule is insane. I mean, who even came up with that?
Barney: Jesus.
Marshall: Barney, don't do this. Not with Jesus.
Barney: Seriously. Jesus started the whole wait three days thing. He waited three days to come back to life. It was perfect. If he'd have only waited one day, a lot of people wouldn't have even heard that he died. They'd be all, "Hey, Jesus, what up?" And Jesus would probably be like, "What up? I died yesterday." And then they'd be all, "You look pretty alive to me, dude." And then Jesus would have to explain how he was resurrected, and how it was a miracle. And then the dude would be like, "Okay, whatever you say, bro."
Robin: Wow, ancient dialogue sounds so stilted now.
Barney: And he's not gonna come back on a Saturday. Everybody's busy doing chores. Working the loom, trimming their beards. No. He waits the exact right number of days. Three.
Ted: Okay, I promise, I'll wait three days. Just please stop talking.
Barney: Plus, it's Sunday, so everyone's in church already. They're all in there, "Oh, no, Jesus is dead." Then, bam! He bursts through the back door, runs up the aisle. Everyone's totally psyched. And FYI, that's when he invented the high-five. Three days, Ted. We wait three days to call a woman, because that's how long Jesus wants us to wait. True story.
Barney: Jesus.
Marshall: Barney, don't do this. Not with Jesus.
Barney: Seriously. Jesus started the whole wait three days thing. He waited three days to come back to life. It was perfect. If he'd have only waited one day, a lot of people wouldn't have even heard that he died. They'd be all, "Hey, Jesus, what up?" And Jesus would probably be like, "What up? I died yesterday." And then they'd be all, "You look pretty alive to me, dude." And then Jesus would have to explain how he was resurrected, and how it was a miracle. And then the dude would be like, "Okay, whatever you say, bro."
Robin: Wow, ancient dialogue sounds so stilted now.
Barney: And he's not gonna come back on a Saturday. Everybody's busy doing chores. Working the loom, trimming their beards. No. He waits the exact right number of days. Three.
Ted: Okay, I promise, I'll wait three days. Just please stop talking.
Barney: Plus, it's Sunday, so everyone's in church already. They're all in there, "Oh, no, Jesus is dead." Then, bam! He bursts through the back door, runs up the aisle. Everyone's totally psyched. And FYI, that's when he invented the high-five. Three days, Ted. We wait three days to call a woman, because that's how long Jesus wants us to wait. True story.
— How I Met Your Mother "The Three Day Rule"
"There must be something comforting about three. People always give up after three."
— Sherlock Holmes, Sherlock
Theatre
Philia: That's the brute who raped my country, Thrace!
Pseudolus: He raped Thrace?
Philia: And then he came and did it again! And then again!
Pseudolus: He raped Thrace thrice?
Pseudolus: He raped Thrace?
Philia: And then he came and did it again! And then again!
Pseudolus: He raped Thrace thrice?
You all did see that on the Lupercal
I thrice presented him a kingly crown,
Which he did thrice refuse.
I thrice presented him a kingly crown,
Which he did thrice refuse.
— Marc Antony, Julius Caesar
Video Games
"The Rule of three is... one of those 'laws' about the Planes, about everything tending to happen in threes... or everything's composed of three parts, or there's always three choices, and so on and so forth."
— Morte, Planescape: Torment
Sea Chimp: If white one with mouth truly is high priest, he prove it by fulfilling the ancient prophecies!
Max: I bet there are three of them.
Sea Chimp: He knows our ancient traditions!
Max: I bet there are three of them.
Sea Chimp: He knows our ancient traditions!
"Three seems to be our favorite number. Three murals, three tablets, and now three crux pieces."
— Claire "Lightning" Farron, Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIIInote
Spider-Man: Okay, I'm almost there. Now what?
Spider-Man 2099: Okay, there are three rooms in the hydro jungle. You'll find an energy regulator in each one. Take the part that looks like an atomic battery.
Spider-Man: Atomic!?
Spider-Man 2099: It'll be fine. As long as you remember that they're fragile and if they touch you-
Spider-Man: And if they touch each other, I'm screwed. I get it.
[...]
Spider-Man 2099: The part you need should be in the middle of the room. You can take it without risk, after you deactivate the three consoles around the room.
Spider-Man: Why are these things always in threes?
Spider-Man 2099: I have NO idea.
Spider-Man: Y'know, that's just gonna bug me now for the rest of the day.
Spider-Man 2099: Okay, there are three rooms in the hydro jungle. You'll find an energy regulator in each one. Take the part that looks like an atomic battery.
Spider-Man: Atomic!?
Spider-Man 2099: It'll be fine. As long as you remember that they're fragile and if they touch you-
Spider-Man: And if they touch each other, I'm screwed. I get it.
[...]
Spider-Man 2099: The part you need should be in the middle of the room. You can take it without risk, after you deactivate the three consoles around the room.
Spider-Man: Why are these things always in threes?
Spider-Man 2099: I have NO idea.
Spider-Man: Y'know, that's just gonna bug me now for the rest of the day.
Web Original
Eggman: Prepare to die, trespasser!
Mario: We'll see who's-a-dead, once I hit you-a three times!
Eggman: Ahahahaaa!
Mario: What's-a so funny?
Eggman: If you want to leave, you'll have to hit me... EIGHT! TIMES!
Mario: NOOOOOOOOOO!
Mario: We'll see who's-a-dead, once I hit you-a three times!
Eggman: Ahahahaaa!
Mario: What's-a so funny?
Eggman: If you want to leave, you'll have to hit me... EIGHT! TIMES!
Mario: NOOOOOOOOOO!
Freeza: Right... but if you are so aware [that Freeza can transform into a more powerful form], why do you persist in goading me?
Vegeta: Because, Freeza, you're not dealing with the average Saiyan warrior anymore. I... am a SUPER SAIYAN!
Freeza: Oh, here we go...
Vegeta: That's right, Freeza. I've risen beyond the limits of a normal Saiyan and into the realm of legend... the legend that you fear... the legend known throughout the entire universe as the most powerful warrior to ever exist! I, Prince Vegeta, have become a Super Saiyan!
Freeza: [while Vegeta is speaking] "...Vegeta, have become a Super Saiyan", blah, blah, blah, I get it! Then you slayed the Jabberwocky and went on to save Narnia.
[later]
Vegeta: Make your jokes while you can, Freeza, because I can now see the peak of your power... while I'm only beginning to tap into mine.
Freeza: I feel like we've been here before. Have we been here before?
Vegeta: You see, I have finally realized the legend...
Freeza: Oh my God, this is happening again!
Vegeta: That's right. You're not dealing with the average Saiyan warrior anymore, Freeza. I, Vegeta, have finally become THE LEGENDARY SUPER SAIYAN!
[even later]
Freeza: [after Goku No-Sells his attacks] Vegeta, explain!
Vegeta: [laughs weakly]
Freeza: What are you...?
Vegeta: You see, Freeza... you aren't dealing with the average Saiyan warrior anymore...
Freeza: Oh my God...
Vegeta: He has risen above, and become a legend... the legend that you fear... He has become... A SUPER SAIYA—
[Freeza kills Vegeta]
Goku: [gasps] VEGETA!
Freeza: No, seriously, you have no idea how old that got.
Vegeta: Because, Freeza, you're not dealing with the average Saiyan warrior anymore. I... am a SUPER SAIYAN!
Freeza: Oh, here we go...
Vegeta: That's right, Freeza. I've risen beyond the limits of a normal Saiyan and into the realm of legend... the legend that you fear... the legend known throughout the entire universe as the most powerful warrior to ever exist! I, Prince Vegeta, have become a Super Saiyan!
Freeza: [while Vegeta is speaking] "...Vegeta, have become a Super Saiyan", blah, blah, blah, I get it! Then you slayed the Jabberwocky and went on to save Narnia.
[later]
Vegeta: Make your jokes while you can, Freeza, because I can now see the peak of your power... while I'm only beginning to tap into mine.
Freeza: I feel like we've been here before. Have we been here before?
Vegeta: You see, I have finally realized the legend...
Freeza: Oh my God, this is happening again!
Vegeta: That's right. You're not dealing with the average Saiyan warrior anymore, Freeza. I, Vegeta, have finally become THE LEGENDARY SUPER SAIYAN!
[even later]
Freeza: [after Goku No-Sells his attacks] Vegeta, explain!
Vegeta: [laughs weakly]
Freeza: What are you...?
Vegeta: You see, Freeza... you aren't dealing with the average Saiyan warrior anymore...
Freeza: Oh my God...
Vegeta: He has risen above, and become a legend... the legend that you fear... He has become... A SUPER SAIYA—
[Freeza kills Vegeta]
Goku: [gasps] VEGETA!
Freeza: No, seriously, you have no idea how old that got.
It's a little-known fact that a joke actually becomes funnier when repeated three times, particularly when combined with incest and pregnant robots.
—The Half-World regarding Chapter 6 of Love Knows No Race
Sora: Come forth, Blue-Eyes White Dragon!
Marluxia: You stinky. That is not how it works.
Sora: Understood. Come forth, Blue-Eyes White Dr—
Marluxia: Please stop deleting his memories of what I said.
Naminé: Sorry about that.
[later]
Sora: Come forth, Blue-Eyes White Dragon!
Marluxia: How many times do I have to tell you that it won’t work like-
Blue-Eyes White Dragon: (roars)
Marluxia: Oops. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA-
Marluxia: You stinky. That is not how it works.
Sora: Understood. Come forth, Blue-Eyes White Dr—
Marluxia: Please stop deleting his memories of what I said.
Naminé: Sorry about that.
[later]
Sora: Come forth, Blue-Eyes White Dragon!
Marluxia: How many times do I have to tell you that it won’t work like-
Blue-Eyes White Dragon: (roars)
Marluxia: Oops. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA-
Western Animation
"They took my dressing room, my parking space, even my writers so I don't have a funny third item!"
— Krusty the Clown, The Simpsons
"RULE OF THREE, ASSHOLE, NOT FOUR!"
— Batman, after getting his back broken by Bane again, Robot Chicken
"A man and a woman had a little baby
Yes, they did
They had three in the family
And that's a magic number."
Yes, they did
They had three in the family
And that's a magic number."
— Schoolhouse Rock!, "Three is a Magic Number"
Bismuth: Hey, it's a pleasure doing Bismuth with you.
Steven: [laughs] Bismuth is so funny.
Amethyst: I don't know... same joke twice?
Steven: Well, it'll be really funny if she does it a third time.
Steven: [laughs] Bismuth is so funny.
Amethyst: I don't know... same joke twice?
Steven: Well, it'll be really funny if she does it a third time.
— Steven Universe, "Bismuth"
Knuckles: This is an outrage! A travesty! A plookypluck!
Mayor Fink: A plookypluck?
Knuckles: I made that last one up. Rule of threes, your majesty!
Mayor Fink: A plookypluck?
Knuckles: I made that last one up. Rule of threes, your majesty!
— Sonic Boom, Mayor Knuckles
Real Life
"If you want something stuck in someone's head, put it in a sequence of three."
— Brian Clark
"One time is happenstance, two times is coincidence, three times is intentional."
— An old adage
Jamais deux sans trois. ("Never two without three")
— Old French expression
It’s a three-season story, it always has been in my head. This show is obsessed with the number three, it’s three-crazy. There’s three girls, there’s three races, there’s three gems. And three seasons just felt right...
— Matt Braly on Amphibia
