How To Watch The Hobbit & LOTR Movies: Order & Streaming 2025

06 May, 2025

Are you ready to journey back to Middle-earth, a realm of hobbits, dwarves, dragons, and epic battles? Then prepare to be enchanted by the cinematic adaptations of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, a world that has captivated audiences for decades.

The journey begins with The Hobbit, a prequel to the epic Lord of the Rings saga. Peter Jackson, the visionary director behind the Lord of the Rings trilogy, brought Tolkien's world to life once more, adapting The Hobbit, a novel initially envisioned for children, into three distinct films. This expanded scope allowed for a deeper exploration of the source material, offering audiences more time to immerse themselves in the landscapes of Middle-earth, the characters, and the intricate lore.

But, the path to the screen wasn't always clear. Originally, Guillermo del Toro was slated to direct the films. Due to a series of delays and scheduling conflicts, he ultimately withdrew from the project. This set the stage for Peter Jackson to step in, breathing life into Tolkien's world, much to the delight of fans worldwide.

The Hobbit, released between 2012 and 2014, unfolds a story of a reluctant hobbit, Bilbo Baggins, thrust into an unexpected adventure. He joins a company of dwarves, led by Thorin Oakenshield, on a quest to reclaim their ancestral home, the Lonely Mountain, and the treasure within, guarded by the fearsome dragon Smaug.

The films, like their predecessors in The Lord of the Rings, were produced back-to-back, ensuring a continuous and immersive experience for both cast and crew. Principal photography began in New Zealand on March 21, 2011, and concluded on July 6, 2012, spanning 266 days of filming. These dates also mark the official movie site for the hobbit: The battle of the five armies.

To fully appreciate the grandeur of Tolkien's creation, understanding the correct order of viewing is crucial. The following table provides a comprehensive guide, outlining the films based on J.R.R. Tolkien's works, from the hobbit to the lord of the rings, ensuring optimal viewing pleasure.

Title	Release Date	Director	Stars	Summary
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey	December 14, 2012	Peter Jackson	Martin Freeman, Ian McKellen, Richard Armitage	Bilbo Baggins is swept into an epic quest to reclaim the lost dwarf kingdom of Erebor from the fearsome dragon Smaug.
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug	December 13, 2013	Peter Jackson	Martin Freeman, Ian McKellen, Richard Armitage	The Company of Thorin continues their quest to reclaim their homeland, facing dangers and obstacles along the way, including the dragon Smaug.
The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies	December 17, 2014	Peter Jackson	Martin Freeman, Ian McKellen, Richard Armitage	The climactic battle for the Lonely Mountain sees the armies of men, elves, dwarves, and orcs clash for control of the treasure and the fate of Middle-earth.
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring	December 19, 2001	Peter Jackson	Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Viggo Mortensen	A young hobbit, Frodo Baggins, inherits a powerful ring and embarks on a perilous journey to destroy it and save Middle-earth from the Dark Lord Sauron.
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers	December 18, 2002	Peter Jackson	Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Viggo Mortensen	The Fellowship is broken, and the heroes must face new challenges as the forces of good and evil clash in the war for Middle-earth.
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King	December 17, 2003	Peter Jackson	Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Viggo Mortensen	The epic conclusion to the trilogy sees the fate of Middle-earth hang in the balance as the forces of good confront Sauron's armies in the final battle.

The films are not just adaptations; they are expansions. Additional material and new characters were created for the films, enriching the story and allowing for a deeper exploration of Tolkien's world. This commitment to both staying true to the source material and offering something new has been a key factor in the films' success.

The cinematic journeys are more than entertainment; they are experiences. Dive into Middle-earth, understanding the chronology, exploring the differences between the books and movies, and finding the best viewing sequence for the optimal experience. Now, the updated guide in 2025 on how to watch every the lord of the rings and hobbit movie in order includes streaming links.

As of this writing, you can currently watch The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey on Amazon Prime Video, Max, Max Amazon Channel, and Amazon Prime Video with ads. It's also possible to buy The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey on Amazon Video, Apple TV, Microsoft Store, and Fandango at Home as a download, or rent it on Amazon Video and Apple TV.

The journey of these films from page to screen is a fascinating story, a comparative study that dives into the adaptation process, character analysis, and the use of special effects. Director Peter Jackson, along with stars Martin Freeman, Ian McKellen, and Richard Armitage, brought the magic of Middle-earth to life, captivating audiences worldwide.

Explore the timeline, characters, and events of the epic saga in Middle-earth. Understand the chronological order of the films, from the rings of power TV series to the hunt for gollum fan film. The hobbit films were produced back to back, just like The Lord of the Rings films. The principal photography for the hobbit films began on March 21, 2011, in New Zealand and ended on July 6, 2012, after 266 days of filming.

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