Lord of the Rings and Hobbit Movies and Shows Ranked (2024)

TAGGED AS: movies

Lord of the Rings and Hobbit Movies and Shows Ranked (1)

(Photo by New Line/Everett Collection)

J. R. R. Tolkien, the father of modern fantasy, was hesitant about seeing his beloved Middle-earth adapted for the movies, with filmmakers themselves skeptical whether The Lord of the Rings could ever be faithfully created on-screen. That certainly didn’t stop people from trying during Tolkien’s lifetime, with Walt Disney, Stanley Kubrick, George Harrison, and John Boorman among the artists in the adaptation orbit.

It was after Tolkien’s death in 1971, with his personal protections and safeguarding removed, that we began to see film and TV works sprout. The first was the Rankin and Bass TV special from 1977, followed a year later with Ralph Bakshi’s The Lord of the Rings animated film, which depicted The Fellowship of the Ring and The Two Towers. In 1980, Rankin and Bass completed this ad hoc series with a Return of the King special.

The Peter Jackson trilogy beginning in 2001 set the standard upon which all other Tolkien adaptations will be judged for generations to come. Epic in scope and unlike any film project taken on up to that point, The Lord of the Rings movies featured groundbreaking CGI while existing at the tail-end of the practical effects era of filmmaking. With a perfect cast reaching across unknowns and legends, Howard Shore’s involving and moving score, and exemplary production design, the melding of Jackson’s craft and Tolkien’s high fantasy was to be the perfect escape in the chaotic, frightening immediate aftermath of 9/11 when Fellowship debuted in December 2001. Along with the Harry Potter franchise (Sorcerer’s Stone premiered just a month earlier in November), the movies were instrumental in the rise of fantasy in pop culture and the mainstream. The three films would win 17 Academy Awards over 30 nominations, with The Return of the King taking Best Picture in 2003.

After Guillermo del Toro left The Hobbit project in 2008, Jackson returned to the franchise, expanding the planned two films into three. The films didn’t quite reach the same level of box office or critical acclaim but did achieve an additional six Oscar nominations for the franchise.

The Lord of the Rings returned to television in 2022 with The Rings of Power, set millennia before the rest of the franchise. Amazon has committed to five seasons, so look for years of updates to come to our guide of The Lord of the Rings and Hobbit movies and shows ranked, with Certified Fresh works first.

#1

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002) 95%

#1

Adjusted Score: 104114%

Critics Consensus: The Two Towers balances spectacular action with emotional storytelling, leaving audiences both wholly satisfied and eager for the final chapter.

Synopsis: The sequel to the Golden Globe-nominated and AFI Award-winning "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring," "The... [More]

Starring: Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Liv Tyler, Viggo Mortensen

Directed By: Peter Jackson


#2

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003) 94%

#2

Adjusted Score: 104214%

Critics Consensus: Visually breathtaking and emotionally powerful, The Lord of the Rings - The Return of the King is a moving and satisfying conclusion to a great trilogy.

Synopsis: The culmination of nearly 10 years' work and conclusion to Peter Jackson's epic trilogy based on the timeless J.R.R. Tolkien... [More]

Starring: Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Liv Tyler, Viggo Mortensen

Directed By: Peter Jackson


#3

Adjusted Score: 100842%

Critics Consensus: Full of eye-popping special effects, and featuring a pitch-perfect cast, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring brings J.R.R. Tolkien's classic to vivid life.

Synopsis: The future of civilization rests in the fate of the One Ring, which has been lost for centuries. Powerful forces... [More]

Starring: Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Liv Tyler, Viggo Mortensen

Directed By: Peter Jackson


#4

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013) 74%

#4

Adjusted Score: 85723%

Critics Consensus: While still slightly hamstrung by "middle chapter" narrative problems and its formidable length, The Desolation of Smaug represents a more confident, exciting second chapter for the Hobbit series.

Synopsis: Having survived the first part of their unsettling journey, Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman) and his companions (Ian McKellen, Richard Armitage)... [More]

Starring: Ian McKellen, Martin Freeman, Richard Armitage, Benedict Cumberbatch

Directed By: Peter Jackson


The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power: Season 1 (2022) 83%

#5

Adjusted Score: 130453%

Critics Consensus: It may not yet be the One Show to Rule Them All, but The Rings of Power enchants with its opulent presentation and deeply-felt rendering of Middle Earth.

Starring: Morfydd Clark, Robert Aramayo, Cynthia Addai-Robinson, Owain Arthur

Directed By: J.D. Payne, Patrick McKay, Lindsey Weber, Callum Greene


#6

The Hobbit (1977) 71%

#6

Adjusted Score: 72042%

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.

Synopsis: An animated adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien's tale of the adventures of a hobbit on a quest to regain a dwarf... [More]

Starring: Orson Bean, John Huston, Otto Preminger, Cyril Ritchard

Directed By: Jules Bass, Arthur Rankin Jr.


#7

The Return of the King (1980) 67%

#7

Adjusted Score: 67762%

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.

Synopsis: A Hobbit faces the powers of darkness as he tries to destroy the Ring of Doom. Based on J.R.R. Tolkien's... [More]

Starring: William Conrad, Orson Bean, Theodore Bikel, Paul Frees

Directed By: Jules Bass, Arthur Rankin Jr.


#8

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012) 64%

#8

Adjusted Score: 78705%

Critics Consensus: Peter Jackson's return to Middle-earth is an earnest, visually resplendent trip, but the film's deliberate pace robs the material of some of its majesty.

Synopsis: Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman) lives a simple life with his fellow hobbits in the shire, until the wizard Gandalf (Ian... [More]

Starring: Ian McKellen, Martin Freeman, Richard Armitage, Ken Stott

Directed By: Peter Jackson


#9

The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (2014) 59%

#9

Adjusted Score: 71669%

Critics Consensus: Though somewhat overwhelmed by its own spectacle, The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies ends Peter Jackson's second Middle-earth trilogy on a reasonably satisfying note.

Synopsis: Having reclaimed Erebor and vast treasure from the dragon Smaug, Thorin Oakenshield (Richard Armitage) sacrifices friendship and honor in seeking... [More]

Starring: Ian McKellen, Martin Freeman, Richard Armitage, Evangeline Lilly

Directed By: Peter Jackson


#10

The Lord of the Rings (1978) 49%

#10

Adjusted Score: 53371%

Critics Consensus: Ralph Bakshi's valiant attempt at rendering Tolkein's magnum opus in rotoscope never lives up to the grandeur of its source material, with a compressed running time that flattens the sweeping story and experimental animation that is more bizarre than magical.

Synopsis: This animated film by Ralph Bakshi presents the first part of J.R.R. Tolkien's renowned fantasy tale. The wise old wizard,... [More]

Starring: Christopher Guard, William Squire, Michael Scholes, John Hurt

Directed By: Ralph Bakshi

Related News

Your Full List of All Upcoming Marvel Movies —With Key Details!
2024 Fall Horror Preview
The Most Anticipated Movies of 2024

More Related News

More Countdown

Every Stan Lee Marvel Movie Ranked
30 Most Popular Movies Right Now: What to Watch In Theaters and Streaming
25 Most Popular TV Shows Right Now: What to Watch on Streaming

More Countdown

Lord of the Rings and Hobbit Movies and Shows Ranked (2024)

FAQs

Which series is better Lord of the Rings or The Hobbit? ›

More broadly speaking, the Hobbit films just aren't nearly as good as The Lord of the Rings. While there are certainly great aspects about the films, such as the excellent cast, the trilogy as a whole fails to leave the same kind of impact on the viewer as its predecessor.

What is the highest rated Hobbit movie? ›

The best Hobbit movie, according to Metacritic, is The Desolation of Smaug which has the most satisfying balance between action and character development in the Hobbit movies as the main bulk of the adventure from the original book plays out.

Should I watch The Hobbit or LOTR movies first? ›

Each trilogy's order is simple on its own, but things can get confusing when watching all six movies together. This is because although “The Hobbit” movies came out 10 years after “The Lord of the Rings” movies, “Hobbit” films take place earlier. So, chronologically, you should watch “The Hobbit” trilogy first.

What order should I watch The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings in? ›

The Lord of the Rings and Hobbit Movies in Chronological order
  • The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power (2022 – )
  • 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)
Dec 27, 2023

Why was The Hobbit so bad compared to Lord of the Rings? ›

Summary. The Hobbit trilogy relied heavily on green screen technology and poorly-rendered CGI, resulting in less authentic performances and a fake, manufactured look. The decision to turn The Hobbit, originally a slender children's book, into a sprawling trilogy led to pacing problems and an overstuffed storyline.

Is The Hobbit or Lord of the Rings easier to read? ›

Michael The Hobbit can be sort of a "gateway" book, as it provides Tolkien's amazing fantasy and storytelling but without the (sometimes intimidating) detail and complexity of LOTR. The Hobbit will introduce Tolkien's world and mythology, so you will have some context when you read LOTR.

Is The Hobbit Scarier Than The Lord of the Rings? ›

Parents need to know that The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, director Peter Jackson's adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien's stand-alone quest through Middle-earth, is less violent than the scarier Lord of the Rings trilogy.

Which Hobbit movie made the most money? ›

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

Do I need to watch anything before The Hobbit? ›

In order to watch the “Lord of the Rings” and “Hobbit” films in chronological order, you would need to start with “The Rings of Power,” which takes place long before the events of “The Lord of the Rings” or “The Hobbit” movies.

Is it better to watch Lord of the Rings in chronological order? ›

Watching The Lord of the Rings in chronological order is perhaps the best way to follow the events of Middle-earth as it happened in-universe.

Who is Frodo to Bilbo? ›

Bilbo Baggins is Frodo's cousin. He took Frodo in when he was 12, after his parents drowned in a boating accident on the Brandywine River. Bilbo loved Frodo like the son he never had and, despite being his cousin, referred to him as his nephew.

What should I start with The Hobbit or Lord of the Rings? ›

Read The Hobbit first. IMHO, it's not the best of Tolkien's works but it is the perfect introduction into the world of Middle-earth, and it sets up The Lord of the Rings nicely. After The Hobbit, read LOTR.

How many Hobbit and LOTR movies are there? ›

How Many Lord of the Rings Movies are There? There are six total movies set within J.R.R. Tolkein's Middle-earth: three The Lord of the Rings movies and three The Hobbit movies.

Is Hobbit worth it? ›

I'd say the first Hobbit movie is worth watching. Absolutely! They have a very different tone from the LOTR trilogy,the characters don't have the impending end of the world upon their heads if their quest fails,but I even find that refreshing.

What should you read first The Hobbit or Lord of the Rings? ›

With this immortal line, the journey through Middle-earth begins. We recommend starting your adventure with The Hobbit, Tolkien's first published foray into Middle-earth, before moving onto The Lord of the Rings proper. The Hobbit is a rollicking good read, and a superb place to get your feet wet.

Is The Lord of the Rings The Best Series of all time? ›

Is The Lord of the Rings the greatest movie trilogy of all time? There are very few movies that make an impact quite like The Lord of the Rings franchise, especially when it relates to three movies. A movie might strike gold once, perhaps twice if lucky, but to smash out a movie trilogy is truly god-tier.

What's the difference between the Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings? ›

The tone of The Hobbit is lighthearted, with themes of bravery and transformation. However, the tone of Lord of the Rings is dark and sinister, with themes of sacrificial death, resurrection, the prevalence and menace of evil, and the overwhelming odds against people of goodwill in overcoming it.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Tish Haag

Last Updated:

Views: 5813

Rating: 4.7 / 5 (47 voted)

Reviews: 86% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Tish Haag

Birthday: 1999-11-18

Address: 30256 Tara Expressway, Kutchburgh, VT 92892-0078

Phone: +4215847628708

Job: Internal Consulting Engineer

Hobby: Roller skating, Roller skating, Kayaking, Flying, Graffiti, Ghost hunting, scrapbook

Introduction: My name is Tish Haag, I am a excited, delightful, curious, beautiful, agreeable, enchanting, fancy person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.