The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies are two of the most beloved and highest-grossing movie franchises in history. Both trilogies were developed from the novel franchise created by J.R.R Tolkien and has grown massively since The Fellowship of the Ring was first released to theaters. The Lord of the Rings trilogy followed Frodo’s journey to destroy the ring, as well as the battles that raged across Middle-earth, while The Hobbit went back in time, telling the story of how Bilbo Baggins first came to possess the Ring.
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The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
New Line Cinema
After the huge success of the original trilogy, it was no surprise that more films in the Lord of the Rings were in development. In 2012, the franchise continued with the release of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. Peter Jackson returned to the role of director after a 10-year break from the franchise, and the film was a huge success, presenting a long-awaited return to Middle Earth for fans of the franchise. An Unexpected Journey takes places before the events of the original trilogy, so in chronological order, this should be the first film to watch. The film follows Bilbo, played by Martin Freeman, who was the first Hobbit to ever encounter the Ring that becomes the focus of the later films.
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
The second film that was released in The Hobbit franchise was The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, which was brought to theaters in 2013. This film rose the franchise to new heights and introduced dragon,s which was met with very positive reactions from fans. In this film, Bilbo sets out to defeat the dragon known as Smaug, played by Benedict Cumberbatch, to save the lost Dwarf from the Kingdom of Erebor. The film is visually impressive and an excellent addition to the franchise.
The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies
2014 saw the release of The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies, which appealed to fans of the Battle of Helm’s Deep, focusing on a huge battle and an action-packed film from beginning to end. The film depicts a battle that holds the fate of Middle-earth on its shoulders, and we see all kinds of characters engage in an epic battle that is perhaps the most action-packed of the entire series. It seems like a nod to the action-packed sequences of The Return of the King, considering it was the final film in the planned trilogy, and is just as visually striking and emotionally moving.
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring was released in 2001 and represents where the story began on-screen and is set after the events of The Hobbit. The film introduces us to the now beloved characters of Frodo (Elijah Wood), Gandalf (Ian McKellan), Legolas (Orlando Bloom), and the whole crew, and was the first time that Middle-earth had been brought to the screen, becoming a huge box office success. The pace of the film is slower than that of future additions, and it signifies the perfect introduction to the lore, the Ring, and just how dangerous the mission they embark on will become. Frodo is the central character, and he is tasked with getting rid of the One Ring. Along the way, he meets a band of allies and enemies, making for gripping viewing.
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers was released only a year after The Fellowship of the Ring, in 2002. The film is a direct continuation and sees Frodo and Sam carrying on with their quest to destroy the ring at mount doom. In this film, they meet Gollum, played perfectly by Andy Serkis, who was a previous owner of the Ring and has been driven to insanity from its powers. At the same time, other members of the Fellowship prepare to fight Sarumon’s army at the Battle of Helm’s Deep. The pressure was on for the film to be a success and it certainly delivered, becoming the third highest-grossing film of all time when it was released (and a fan favorite).
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
The following year saw the release of the final addition to the Lord of the Rings trilogy in The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King. The film is an action-packed thriller from the get-go and is without a doubt the most intense film in the trilogy. This film sees Frodo, Sam, and Gollum continue their quest to destroy the One Ring while Aragon, Gandal,f and the Fellowship engage in a final epic battle against Sauron. The film was a massive success and critically praised, winning all 11 Academy Awards that it was nominated for, which is a huge feat.
