The road goes ever on
A quiet doorstep can lead to the other side of the world. Explore the live-action Hobbit and Lord of the Rings trilogies, their animated predecessors, and the earlier history told in The War of the Rohirrim.
Before you press play
For a first live-action watch, begin with The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King. Then visit The Hobbit. The 1978 animated film is a separate adaptation, not the opening chapter of Peter Jackson’s trilogy.
The live-action films follow The Hobbit before The Lord of the Rings. The War of the Rohirrim takes place earlier and shares the visual world of the later films. The 1978 animated adaptation has its own group. The 1977 Hobbit and 1980 Return of the King television films are outside this theatrical-only guide.
The films / 8 theatrical releases
Release order · US theatrical dates where available. Story order is an editorial viewing suggestion.
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A separate animated adaptation that covers only part of the larger story.
Directed by Ralph Bakshi
With Christopher Guard, William Squire, Michael Scholes
US theatrical release:
Check the film, disc format, included cuts, and US playback compatibility.
The recommended first step into the live-action films.
Directed by Peter Jackson
With Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Viggo Mortensen
US theatrical release:
Check the film, disc format, included cuts, and US playback compatibility.
The journey divides into several connected paths.
Directed by Peter Jackson
With Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Viggo Mortensen
US theatrical release:
Check the film, disc format, included cuts, and US playback compatibility.
The conclusion of the live-action Lord of the Rings trilogy.
Directed by Peter Jackson
With Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Viggo Mortensen
US theatrical release:
Check the film, disc format, included cuts, and US playback compatibility.
Begins Bilbo’s earlier journey in the same film world.
Directed by Peter Jackson
With Martin Freeman, Ian McKellen, Richard Armitage
US theatrical release:
Check the film, disc format, included cuts, and US playback compatibility.
The middle chapter of the Hobbit trilogy.
Directed by Peter Jackson
With Ian McKellen, Martin Freeman, Richard Armitage
US theatrical release:
Check the film, disc format, included cuts, and US playback compatibility.
Completes the Hobbit trilogy before the later Lord of the Rings story.
Directed by Peter Jackson
With Ian McKellen, Martin Freeman, Richard Armitage
US theatrical release:
Check the film, disc format, included cuts, and US playback compatibility.
An animated theatrical prequel set long before Bilbo’s journey.
Directed by Kenji Kamiyama
With Brian Cox, Gaia Wise, Luke Pasqualino
US theatrical release:
Check the film, disc format, included cuts, and US playback compatibility.
Editorial review: . Released theatrical features only; television, shorts, direct-to-video titles, and unreleased films are excluded. Story order follows each whole film’s main narrative. This guide is not a content rating or age recommendation.
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