While we’re certainly not limited in options when it comes to larger than life action and adventure films, few stories have even come close to matching the epic scale and immense cultural hold of director Peter Jackson’s “Lord of the Rings” movies.
With meticulously recreated fantasy landscapes, endearing characters struggling and overcoming impossible challenges, and a core story highlighting the power of the good and noble against the forces of evil, this fantasy saga based on the classic works of J.R.R. Tolkien continues to capture the popular imagination.
However, with such an expansive saga crossing centuries and separate trilogies, it may be daunting, especially for the newcomer, to understand how each part connects to the next. The official film franchise currently has seven titles, including “The Lord of the Rings” main trilogy, “The Hobbit” prequel trilogy, and a more recent animated feature.
Let’s walk through how the films connect in chronological order (and release order) so you’ll never need to worry about getting lost during your trek through Middle-earth.
‘The Lord of the Rings’ Movies In Release Order
Let’s begin with the trilogy of films that started it all, listed in order of release.
- 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)
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‘The Hobbit’ Movies In Release Order
Then, nearly ten years after the first trilogy’s end, a new collection of prequels brought us back to Middle Earth. “The Hobbit” trilogy is listed in release order below.
- The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)
- The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013)
- The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (2014)
All films are currently streaming on HBO Max.
‘The Lord of the Rings’ And ‘The Hobbit’ Movies In Chronological Order
The two main trilogies follow simple orders on their own, but things can get confusing when watching all seven films together. This is both because the latest film actually takes place before both trilogies, and because the later released “Hobbit” films sit chronologically before the original “Lord of the Rings” films. So, if keeping to the timeline, one should actually watch the original trilogy last.
But below, let’s step through the movies chronologically.
The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim (2024)
The story begins in Rohan when the Dunlending Freca, in a bid for power, demands his son Wulf marry King Helm Hammerhand’s daughter Héra. But when Hammerhand kills Freca in the ensuing argument, Wulf swears revenge.
Years later Wulf, now leading the Dunlendings, invades Rohan and forces the Rohirrim to flee to the Hornburg. But after Hammerhand’s lone battle weakens the enemy, Héra, allied with her cousin Fréaláf, confronts Wulf in a final stand for her people. Later, the valley is dubbed Helm’s Deep in tribute. Then, Héra rides off to meet a wizard named Gandalf.
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)
Nearly 200 years later, that same Gandalf visits the hobbit Bilbo in the Shire and recruits him to join a company of dwarves along their mission. The dwarves, led by Thorin, seek to reclaim their kingdom beneath The Lonely Mountain from the dragon Smaug, and could use Bilbo’s skills in their perilous journey.
Along the way the group encounters several foes including the Orc leader Azog, while Gandalf learns of a potential coming threat from a feared enemy. Separately, by chance, Bilbo meets someone named Gollum and from him acquires a mysterious ring.
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013)
The second film picks up right after and sees the company fend off more foes including giant spiders and, again, Azog. They also find unexpected allies in the elves Legolas and Tauriel. Eventually, the group reaches a lake town near The Lonely Mountain, and then enters the mountain to reclaim it from the titular Smaug.
However, chaos breaks out when the battle against Smaug unexpectedly ends with the dragon flying off towards the lake town in a fury.
The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (2014)
The epic conclusion to the trilogy begins with a showdown against Smaug. But then, as Thorin grows mad with greed in his reclaimed kingdom, the people of the lake town, an elf army, and the dwarf army all face off against two orc armies in a deadly confrontation.
By the story’s end though, Bilbo is able to safely return home. However, he keeps the ring he found a secret from everyone, even as he begins to understand that something isn’t quite right about it.
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
And now we step into the main trilogy set about sixty years later. Here, as Bilbo celebrates his 111th birthday, he passes down his belongings to his cousin Frodo, including the ring. However, Gandalf then warns Frodo that the Dark Lord Sauron held the ring before and is sending forces to attack for it.
So Frodo leaves the Shire with his friend Samwise and then eventually allies with Legolas (returning from the “Hobbit” trilogy), Aragorn, Boromir, Merry, Pippen, Gimli and Gandalf on a mission to destroy the ring at Mordor before Sauron can get to it. Ultimately though the group splits apart, with Frodo and Sam continuing to Mordor on their own.
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)
The second entry in the trilogy picks up right after and sees Frodo and Sam stumble upon Gollum (returning from the “Hobbit” trilogy), who becomes their guide. Meanwhile, the other members of the fellowship, along with an even more powerful Gandalf, work to save the nation of Rohan from Saruman, who is working for Sauron.
These events ultimately lead to an epic battle at Helm’s Deep (the same setting from “The War of the Rohirrim”) where our heroes fend off Saruman’s orc forces in one of the most famous parts of the trilogy.
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
In the epic conclusion to the entire story, our heroes first engage in a spectacular battle against Sauron’s forces at Gondor, the kingdom to which Aragorn is heir. Meanwhile, Frodo and Sam finally make it into Mordor, but find themselves battling with Gollum who wants the ring for himself.
Ultimately, the other members of the fellowship aid in clearing the way for Frodo and Sam, allowing Frodo to reach his destination and complete the mission he’d set out for in the climactic final move against Sauron.
That wraps the current, complete canon of films in this continuity. However, there may still be more to watch from here.
New ‘Lord of the Rings’ Movies To Look Out For
While 2014’s “The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies” put a close to the franchise’s formal trilogies so far, since then we’ve also gotten a celebrated TV series, the animated “War of The Rohirrim,” and also confirmation of two additional live action movies in development.
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power (2022–)
Amazon’s TV series The Rings of Power, from showrunners J. D. Payne and Patrick McKay, is a prequel taking place thousands of years before the films. The first two seasons are currently streaming on Prime Video. While the show reliably earns headlines, the series holds mixed reviews from critics and fans.
The show features younger versions of characters familiar from the films, such as Galadriel, as they seek to thwart the growing threat of Sauron. However, the show is not intended to share a continuity with the movies. And, controversially, the series takes much greater departures from Tolkien’s writings than the original films ever did.
Season 3 is set to release on November 11th of this year, with Season 4 already in development.
The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum (2027)
Warner Bros. Pictures and New Line Cinema have announced “The Hunt for Gollum” as the franchise’s first return to live action in 12 years. Andy Serkis, who has played Gollum since 2002, is set to both reprise his role and also step into the director’s seat for the film. Ian McKellen and Elijah Wood are returning as Gandalf and Frodo, and Anya Taylor-Joy has joined the cast as elf Seren.
The film is said to take place between “The Hobbit” and “The Fellowship of the Ring” and will follow Aragorn’s (Jamie Dornan) journey to capture Gollum.
The film is set to release December 17th, 2027.
The Lord of the Rings: Shadow of the Past (TBA)
In March, Peter Jackson took to social media to announce that comedian and committed Tolkien scholar Stephen Colbert would be, along with his son Peter McGee and Philippa Boyens, writing yet another live-action addition to the Middle Earth canon.
Set years after the adventures of the original trilogy, this film follows familiar hobbits Sam, Merry and Pippin as they, along with Samwise’s daughter Elanor, reflect on parts of their original adventures which never made it to the screen.
As of yet there are no confirmations on casting.
Future Titles (TBA)
In May, Peter Jackson announced he was in talks to bring forth even more films set in this universe, in particular taking inspiration from “The Silmarillion” and “Unfinished Tales of Númenor and Middle-earth.” Any development on these titles though would be very early, so fans know little about their plans for now.
