The Lord of the Rings movies are pretty famous (and quite old) But did you know there’s more to the LOTR universe than just the trilogy?
Yep, before we get to the big adventure with the ring, there’s another story called The Hobbit. Even though The Hobbit Trilogy came out after The Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Hobbit’s story comes first in the books and gives insights into the Lord of the Rings saga.
Hey, Recreation Rush, I’m still confused; explain to me like I’m 5 — Dear reader, you can directly jump to the lord of the Rings trilogy, but it would be an additional bonus if you watch the Hobbit trilogy first.
Lord Of The Rings and Hobbit Movies In Chronological Order
I’ve made a list of ‘The Lord of the Rings’ and ‘The Hobbit’ movies in the order that the stories happen in the books. This way, you can watch the events as they take place in the world of Middle-earth, following the timeline from start to finish. However, I would still like to highlight that you can watch any trilogy first as their stories aren’t interconnected. If you want the list of movies based on their release date. scroll down to this section.
1.) The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)
Stream Here: Amazon Prime Video.
The story begins with The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, where we meet Bilbo Baggins, played by Martin Freeman. Gandalf, a wise wizard, invites Bilbo on an adventure to help a group of dwarves reclaim their homeland from a dragon named Smaug. Along the way, Bilbo discovers a mysterious ring with magical powers.
2.) The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013)
Stream Here: Amazon Prime Video.
In the second installment, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, Bilbo and the dwarves continue their journey toward the Lonely Mountain. They face dangers like giant spiders and orcs, while Bilbo confronts the fearsome dragon Smaug inside the mountain.
3.) The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (2014)
Stream Here: Amazon Prime Video.
The adventure concludes with The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies. After the defeat of Smaug, a great battle erupts among men, dwarves, elves, and orcs. This epic clash sets the stage for the events that lead to The Lord of the Rings.
4.) The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
Stream Here: Amazon Prime Video.
Moving on to The Lord of the Rings trilogy, we start with The Fellowship of the Ring. This movie introduces us to Frodo Baggins, Bilbo’s nephew, who embarks on a perilous journey to destroy the ring that Bilbo found. Frodo is joined by Samwise Gamgee and encounters creatures both friendly and dangerous along the way.
5.) The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)
Stream Here: Amazon Prime Video.
In The Two Towers, Frodo continues his journey with Sam and the treacherous Gollum, while the rest of the fellowship faces their own challenges. Battles are fought, friendships are tested, and the fate of Middle-earth hangs in the balance.
6.) The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
Stream Here: Amazon Prime Video.
Finally, in The Return of the King, the epic saga reaches its climax as the forces of good and evil collide in an epic battle. Frodo and Sam edge closer to Mount Doom to destroy the ring, while their friends fight bravely to defend Middle-earth from the dark forces of Sauron.
Lord Of The Rings and Hobbit Movies in order as per the year of release
- The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
- The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)
- The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
- The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)
- The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013)
- The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (2014)
Newly Released Lord Of The Rings movie
The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim,” an anime-style prequel directed by Kenji Kamiyama, was released in theaters on December 13, 2024.
Set 183 years before the events of J.R.R. Tolkien’s original trilogy, the film explores the story of Helm Hammerhand, a legendary King of Rohan, and his daughter Héra.
This release marks the first new film in the Lord of the Rings franchise in a decade. Fans have been eager to see how this anime adaptation complements the existing Middle-earth narratives.
As of January 1, 2025, the film has grossed $18.4 million worldwide.
While the movie is currently not available for streaming, it is expected to be available on Max eventually due to the film being a Warner Bros. release.
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Wrapping Up! The correct order to watch Hobbit and Lord of The Rings
To watch the Lord of the Rings movies in order, start with The Hobbit trilogy, then move on to The Lord of the Rings trilogy as the Hobbit comes first in the story’s timeline. However, you can watch either trilogy first as the stories are not interconnected.
Frequently Asked Questions
There are three films in The Lord of the Rings series, directed by Peter Jackson and released between 2001 and 2003.
It doesn’t matter which order you watch them in as both these trilogies are not connected. But, watching the Hobbit first will give you a slight insight into what to expect in The Lord of the Rings movies. Serving as a warmup!
J.R.R. Tolkien wrote The Hobbit first, and then later came The Lord of the Rings. The Hobbit was published in 1937, while The Lord of the Rings came out in three parts between 1954 and 1955. In the story’s timeline, the events of “The Hobbit” happen before “The Lord of the Rings”.
With a 95% rotten tomatoes rating, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002) is the best-rated movie in the franchise.
