How to Watch Chronologically or by Release Date
Up next
Author

The Lord of The Rings movie series rocked the film industry in the early 2000s, grossing nearly $3 billion at the box office and winning a total of 17 Oscars — a record the trilogy still holds to this day. Peter Jackson’s adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s series showed that a fantasy film can be a huge success if done right. The Hobbit trilogy, a prequel series that graced the silver screen a decade later, may not have been as great as its predecessor, but it is still amazing in its own right.

The franchise was brought back to the main stage with the premiere of Prime Video’s The Lord of The Rings: The Rings of Power in 2022. Rings of Power brought the Second Age to live-action, featuring younger versions of familiar characters like Elrond and Galadriel while also exploring the rise of Sauron and the story of Númenor. The expensive TV series garnered a mixed reaction from viewers for a multitude of reasons, however, for those looking to revisit Middle Earth, it was a welcome arrival. For those curious, Rings of Power takes place before both The Hobbit trilogy and The Lord of the Rings trilogy. If you’re curious about the order of the films, we’ve got two lists for you here: first, in order of release date, and second, in chronological order, to make the viewings a bit easier for you. You can try any of these and get the most out of your binge-watch.

The Lord of the Rings Movies in Order of Release Date

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

December 19, 2001

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

December 18, 2002

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

December 17, 2003

The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim

December 13, 2024

The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum

TBA 2026

The Hobbit Movies in Order of Release Date

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

December 14, 2012

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

December 13, 2013

The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies

December 17, 2014

The Middle-earth Movies in Chronological Order

‘The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim’

The most recent installment in The Lord of the Rings’ movie franchise, The War of the Rohirrim, is set 123 years before the events of The Hobbit. The animated movie gives us the backstory of Helm Hammerhand (Brian Cox), the king of Rohan who is forced to defend his kingdom against an army of Dunlendings. At the heart of this war is Helm’s daughter Héra (Gaia Wise), who becomes a warrior in her own right.

The Hobbit series was released a decade after The Lord of the Rings trilogy but serves as its prequel within the story chronology. The films are based on the 1937 novel The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien and follow the adventures of Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman), Frodo’s uncle. So, if you want to follow a timeline that’s true to Tolkien’s novels, you should begin with The Hobbit trilogy.

‘The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey’

The first movie in The Hobbit trilogy, An Unexpected Journey was a financial success. The story begins with an old Bilbo Baggins (Ian Holm) who begins to write the full story of his adventure that happened 60 years ago. He details how Gandalf (Ian McKellen), realizing his latent thirst for adventure, lures Bilbo to join a group of dwarves to assist them in their quest to enter the Lonely Mountain. It is the same book Frodo is seen continuing in The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, making the connection even more interesting.

‘The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug’

The second movie in The Hobbit series saw the debut of Smaug, one of the last remaining great dragons of Middle-earth, voiced by Benedict Cumberbatch. The film delves deeper into Bilbo’s character, as he proves himself to be a brave and reliable ally to the dwarves by retrieving the Arkenstone from the stolen treasures of Smaug.

‘The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies’

The final movie of the series, The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies holds special significance for a number of reasons. It was Ian Holm’s and Christopher Lee’s last live-action appearances before their deaths in 2020 and 2015 respectively. Lee played the role of Saruman the White in both the series, and we see his character at full glory in this movie. Conflicts arise between the forces of men, elves, and dwarves, and draw the attention of Sauron’s forces, and Bilbo finds himself in the middle of a terrible war. The film ends at a similar note to the beginning of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, hence completing Bilbo’s saga.

The Lord of The Rings series revolutionized the fantasy genre completely. Directed by Peter Jackson, the films are based on the novel trilogy of the same name, published between 1954 and 1955, written by J. R. R. Tolkien. Chronologically, these movies are placed 60 years after Bilbo’s adventure in The Hobbit series and depict the passing of the Ring of Power to Frodo (Elijah Wood), who now has to set out on his own quest to save the world.

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)

The movie that started it all, and turned The Lord of the Rings into a worldwide phenomenon. Even after several rewatches, the audience can still feel the enthusiasm of Frodo, and his eight companions (who form the Fellowship of the Ring), who begin their journey to Mount Doom in the land of Mordor, the only place where the Ring of Power can be destroyed.

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)

Following the story of The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers deals with four different storylines. The group is divided after an ambush by the orcs in the last movie, while also missing a key member. Frodo and Sam (Sean Astin) continue their journey towards Mordor to destroy the One Ring, meeting and joined by Gollum (Andy Serkis), whom Bilbo faced during the events of The Hobbit‘s story. Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen), Legolas (Orlando Bloom), and Gimli (John Rhys-Davies) stumble upon the nation of Rohan on the verge of annihilation and are surprised to meet a resurrected Gandalf. Merry (Dominic Monaghan) and Pippin (Billy Boyd) escape from the clutches of the orcs, meet Treebeard the Ent, and plan an attack on Isengard, the fortress of Saruman, with his help.

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)

The final movie in The Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Return of the King blew away movie fanatics all over the world. It was a masterpiece, highly acclaimed by both critics and audiences, who considered it to be a landmark in filmmaking and the fantasy film genre. The Return of The King features Middle-earth’s last stand against Sauron. Gandalf, Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli and the rest of the forces of light join together in a seemingly impossible battle against Sauron and his forces in Minas Tirith, to provide Frodo a chance to destroy the One Ring. The epic battles, scores, scenery, and direction is simply breathtaking. No wonder this movie still shares the record for the most Academy Awards won by a single film.

What’s Next for The Lord of the Rings?

Lord of the Rings’ Fans Have Already Made ‘The Hunt for Gollum’
Custom Image by Zanda Rice

In May 2024, Warner Bros. made the shocking announcement that a new live-action Lord of the Rings movie was in the works, titled The Hunt for Gollum. The movie is set to arrive in theaters sometime in late 2026, with Andy Serkis directing the movie, taking over from Peter Jackson.

You May Also Like
This '70s Sci-Fi Gem Was Eerily Ahead of Its Time

This ’70s Sci-Fi Gem Was Eerily Ahead of Its Time

The Big Picture Silent Running envisions a future where corporate profits threaten…
Two 'Mamma Mia' Stars Join 'Cliffhanger' Reboot After Sly Stallone Exits

Two ‘Mamma Mia’ Stars Join ‘Cliffhanger’ Reboot After Sly Stallone Exits

This article covers a developing story. Continue to check back with us…
Rebel Moon Prequel Comic Confirmed, Story Details By Zack Snyder Revealed

Rebel Moon Prequel Comic Confirmed, Story Details By Zack Snyder Revealed

Titan Comics announces a prequel comic to Zack Snyder’s hotly anticipated sci-fi duology…
‘Below Deck’ Season 12 Midseason Preview Promises Wild Hookups, Dangerous Guests, and Total Mayhem

‘Below Deck’ Season 12 Midseason Preview Promises Wild Hookups, Dangerous Guests, and Total Mayhem

It’s rocky seas ahead as the mid-season trailer for Below Deck Season…