How to watch The Lord of the Rings in chronological order

There is a total of six films set in JRR Tolkein’s Middle-earth: three The Lord of the Rings films and three The Hobbit films. There is also the 1997 animated film, The Hobbit, which is separate from the more recent films. There are no future films planned, although Amazon will release itss big budget Lord of the Rings TV series, The Rings of Power, on September 2nd.

Where does Rings of Power fit into the Lord of the Rings timeline?

Amazon’s Rings of Power series is set in the second age of Middle-earth. Thousands of years before the events of Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit. This is the time in Middle-earth where we will see “the forging of the rings, the rise of the Dark Lord Sauron, the epic tale of Númenor and the final alliance of Elves and Men,” according to showrunner JD Payne and Patrick McKay.

The Lord of the Rings Movies in Chronological Order

1. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)

where to see: HBO Maxor rentable Amazon

The only potential confusion in the Lord of the Rings Hobbit timeline stems from the fact that the Hobbit trilogy is set 60 years before The Lord of the Rings, despite being released a decade later.

Chronologically, the story begins with 2012’s The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, in which Martin Freeman takes on the role of the younger Bilbo Baggins (played by Ian Holm in the LotR trilogy). Gandalf – one of several characters whose stories run through both trilogies – recruits Bilbo to join Thorin (Richard Armitage) and company in helping to take back the dwarven kingdom of Erebor, also known as The Lonely Mountain, which was destroyed by the Dragon Smaug had been plundered. Along the way, Bilbo meets Gollum for the first time and gains possession of the One Ring.

Read ours The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey review.

2. The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013)

where to see: HBO Max (August 25) or rentable on Amazon

Thorin and his companions continue their journey to the Lonely Mountain, fending off giant spiders and orcs along the way. Orlando Bloom’s Legolas (another LotR staple) joins the fight alongside newcomer Tauriel (played by Ant-Man’s Evangeline Lilly). As the group reaches Esgaroth, a lakeside town south of Erebor, Bilbo descends into the mountain where he encounters Smaug (voiced by Benedict Cumberbatch). Smaug eventually emerges from hiding and departs for Esgaroth to create the conclusion of the Hobbit trilogy.

Read ours Review of The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug.

3. The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (2014)

where to see: HBO Maxor rentable Amazon

The conflict with Smaug is resolved and the film’s titular battle begins, involving the armies of humans, dwarves, elves, and two orc tribes. We’re being particularly vague here as The Battle of the Five Armies is ripe for resolution (and therefore spoilers), but prepare for an action-packed film that ultimately ends where The Lord of the Rings trilogy begins: back in the Shire, 60 years later when Gandalf visits Bilbo on his 111th birthday.

Read ours The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies Review.

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

where to see: HBO Maxor rentable Amazon

The first Middle-earth film by release date (and the fourth chronologically) is 2001’s The Fellowship of the Ring. The point of view changes from Bilbo to his much younger cousin Frodo Baggins (Elijah Wood). After an account of the current state of affairs in Middle-earth, we return to Bilbo’s 111th birthday party in the Shire.

Bilbo embarks on one last adventure, leaving the One Ring with Frodo; Gandalf warns Frodo that he must leave the Shire since Sauron (the Lord of the Rings) and his evil cronies – notably the Nazgûl, a host of nine spirits on horses – will come for the ring. Frodo leaves the Shire with his best friend Samwise Gamgee (Sean Astin) along with fellow hobbits Merry (Dominic Monaghan) and Pippen (Billy Boyd).

After some perilous journeys and character introductions, including Aragorn (Mortensen), Legolas (Bloom) and Saruman (Christopher Lee), a plan is hatched to destroy the Ring in the fires of Mount Mordor, where the Rings of Power were forged . The plan is to be carried out by a ragtag group called the Fellowship of the Ring: the wizard Gandalf; the hobbits Frodo, Samwise, Merry and Pippen; the elf Legolas; the dwarf Gimli (John Rhys-Davies); and humans Aragorn and Boromir (Sean Bean).

A treacherous journey takes them to Lothlórien, an elven realm ruled by Cate Blanchett’s Galadriel, who also appears in The Hobbit trilogy and is one of the main protagonists of the new Amazon series (this younger version of Galadriel is played by Morfydd Clark). Galadriel advises Frodo and he decides to continue his journey to Mordor without the others, bringing only his most trusted confidante, Sam.

Read ours Review of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.

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

where to see: HBO Maxor rentable Amazon

Frodo and Sam confront a third, reluctant traveling companion in Gollum (voiced by Andy Serkis), a hobbit long ago corrupted by the power of the One Ring. The trio make it to the outskirts of Mordor, but are delayed by an unforeseen intervention. The other members of the community embark on a rescue mission; Gandalf takes on a new form; and the first epic battle of the trilogy takes place in the gorge of Helm’s Deep.

Read ours Review of The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers.

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

where to see: HBO Maxor rentable Amazon

As with The Battle of the Five Armies, The Return of the King’s plot consists largely of spoilers, so again we’ll only highlight the broadest story beats. Exploiting the Ring’s influence, Gollum turns Frodo against Sam and leads the former into the lair of a deadly enemy. Meanwhile, the other members of the Fellowship take part in the Battle of the Pelennor Fields – a grand final battle against the dark forces of Sauron.

Frodo and Sam eventually enter Mordor in disguise and, with the help of the other members of the Fellowship, carry out the original plan. Upon completion of the journey, we enter the fourth age of Middle-earth and are treated to a bittersweet finale.

Read ours The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King review.

How to watch The Lord of the Rings movies by release date

• 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)