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The Lord of the Rings (LOTR) and The Hobbit are author J.R.R. Tolkien's masterful literary sagas that have received great renown. Both trilogies are based on a fictional area known as the ‘Middle Earth’ and have amassed a huge fan following.
The books have also been adapted for film and while The Hobbit is the first of the two trilogies, it was LOTR that was adapted first. Both trilogies have been immensely successful and are a staple of pop culture. So much so, that recently there was also a TV adaptation, named The Rings of Power by Amazon (the second season of the show is kicking off soon).
Fans of Middle Earth have argued over the best way to watch the series and though there is no right or wrong way, there are essentially two ways to go through them -- first, in terms of release order, and second, in terms of chronology.
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In terms of release order, the six films stand as follows –
1. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
2. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)
3. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
4. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)
5. The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013)
6. The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (2014)
The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings in chronological order
In terms of chronological order, one begins with The Hobbit and makes their way to The Lord of the Rings. Watching this way brings more insight to the viewer into the vast world of Tolkien’s saga.
1. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey - Amazon Prime Video
Directed by Peter Jackson, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, is the first instalment in the prequel to the LOTR trilogy and is set 60 years before the events of that movie.
Starring Martin Freeman as Bilbo Baggins, the eponymous hobbit, the movie is about him being persuaded by the wizard Gandalf to accompany 13 dwarves and free the Lonely Mountain, which is in the clutches of the dragon, Smaug. Other actors in the movie include Ian McKellen, Cate Blanchett and more.
2. The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug - Amazon Prime Video
The second instalment in the prequel series, Jackson’s The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, continues Bilbo’s quest to reclaim Lonely Mountain from the dragon and while the previous film was slow, this movie picks up pace.
On his journey, the hobbit comes across various dangers in the form of orcs, Azog and Bolg. The movie also focusses on the wizard finding the return of an evil force. The movie received more positive reviews than its predecessor.
3. The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies - Amazon Prime Video
The final instalment in the prequel series before the saga of LOTR begins, The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies, is also directed by Peter Jackson and stars Martin Freeman. In the final film, Bilbo and his band of dwarves fight against various groups to get control of the treasure lying beneath the Lonely Mountain.
The movie was praised for being a fitting finale to the series and the main action sequence was appreciated for its visual effects. The film’s emotional depth was also recognized.
4. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring - Netflix
The first instalment in the LOTR trilogy, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, is directed by Peter Jackson and is based on Tolkien’s novels. Starring Elijah Wood, as Frodo, the nephew of Bilbo, the movie is about the ‘One Ring’, which contains immense power and is wanted by the Dark Lord, Sauron.
The ring comes in the hand of Frodo and together with his companions, he must travel to Mount Doom, destroy the ring, and save Middle Earth from the tyranny of Sauron. The movie is one of the most successful films in the franchise and introduced audiences to the fantasy genre.
5. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers - Netflix
In this second instalment, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, Jackson comes back to direct the ongoing story of Middle Earth. In the movie, various subplots occur, while Frodo and his companions continue on their journey to Mordor to destroy the ring. Other characters are busy escaping orcs and planning an attack on the fortress of Saruman.
Also, there is an epic fight, known as the Battle of Helm’s Deep, which was praised for its direction and visuals. The movie is a fitting continuation to its famed previous instalment and keeps viewers glued about the fate of Middle Earth.
6. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King - Netflix
The final instalment in the trilogy, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, brings back much of the same cast and is also directed by Peter Jackson. In the finale, Frodo continues on the final stretch of his journey to Mount Doom with his companions, while other characters get ready to battle against Sauron and his legions.
The movie was praised for being a fitting end to the series and cemented the position of LOTR films as a standalone achievement in modern filmmaking. Jackson’s direction, use of special-effects, and memorable action sequences make this film a must-watch.
Watching fantasy movies is a visually exemplary experience and Tolkien's masterful world building combined with Peter Jackson's pathbreaking direction should definitely be watched by both first-time viewers and repeat viewers. By going through this list, fans can watch this mammoth saga the way they want to.
