How to Watch Lord of the Rings and Hobbit Movies in Order – Release and Chronological

The breathtaking world created by J.R.R. Tolkien is one that must be experienced by everyone, no matter their age. Thankfully, a good chunk of his world has been translated to film, so we get to watch The Lord of the Rings quite easily. The question many ask themselves is what is the best order to watch the movies. Well, let’s figure things out. 

Back in 1937, Tolkien wrote The Hobbit, a work that he felt needed a sequel. So, he began writing more of the events from Middle-Earth – this time, a handful of hobbits, humans, elves, and dwarves work together to destroy the One Ring. It’s a complicated tale with a million details to observe, but it’s one that must be watched (and read through) nonetheless. 

It was an epic job to take on Tolkien’s work, but director Peter Jackson considered he was up to the job. And he was, judging by the fact that the Lord of the Rings trilogy, which cost about $280 million, made close to $3 billion at the box office. The Hobbit trilogy had a larger budget, of over $740 million, but also managed to get close to $3 billion at the box office. 

Well, if so many people have watched the films, you should too! Keep in mind that binging all the films is going to take you quite a long time. The runtime for the extended editions of the Lord of the Rings movies is of 11.2 hours. The watch time for the Hobbit movies is far more manageable, with just under 8 hours. 

The Lord of the Rings movies have an impressive cast that includes Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Liv Tyler, Viggo Mortensen, Sean Astin, Cate Blanchett, Christopher Lee, Orlando Bloom, Hugo Weaving, Sean Bean, Andy Serkis, Dominic Monaghan, and Bolly Boyd.

The Hobbit films star Ian McKellen, Martin Freeman, Benedict Cumberbatch, Evangeline Lilly, Lee Pace, Luke Evans, Cate Blanchett, Christopher Lee, Elijah Wood, Orlando Bloom, Andy Serkis, Hugo Weaving, Ian Holm, Richard Armitage, and plenty others. 

How to Watch Lord of the Rings by Release Date?

If you’re going to watch the Lord of the Rings movies by release date, then you’re going to end up with this particular order:

• 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

In this way, you’ll experience the world of Tolkien the same way other viewers have. 

How to Watch the Lord of the Rings Movies in Chronological Order?

The right way to follow the movies based on the world of Tolkien is to follow the timeline of the events. So, The Hobbit is the first book in the universe released by Tolkien, followed by The Lord of the Rings many years later.

Similarly, there’s a considerable time gap between the plot of the books (and the movies). In fact, the events of The Lord of the Rings take place about 60 years after those in The Hobbit. 

That being said, here’s the order in which you should follow Tolkien’s timeline:

• The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey – 2012
• The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug – 2013
• The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies – 2014
• 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

Ultimately, it all depends on how you want to watch the movies. As long as you watch each trilogy in the same order the movies were released, you’re good to go. The only variation is whether you start or you end with The Hobbit. 

Where to Stream the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit Movies?

• The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring – Hulu, HBO Max
• The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers – Hulu, HBO Max
• The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King – HBO Max
• The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey – HBO Max
• The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug – HBO Max
• The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies – HBO Max