It’s time to revisit Middle-earth and follow The Ring! If you are planning a movie marathon, here’s how to watch Lord of the Rings movies in order.
The first Lord of the Rings movie became very popular when it was released in the early 2000s, winning a total of 17 Oscars. Peter Jackson’s adaptation of Tolkien’s novel series is one of the most loved film trilogies to this day.
Because of their immense popularity, the trilogy continued with a TV series, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. The series is one of the most expensive projects with a staggering budget of $465 million! Moreover, Warner Bros has recently announced that they are planning to make a reboot of the LOTR movies.
So, now is the perfect time to revisit your favorite movie franchise. You can watch all Lord of the Rings movies on Netflix.
How many Lord of the Rings Movies are there?
There are a total of six movies set within Toklein’s Middle-earth – three The Lord of the Rings movies and three The Hobbit movies. There is an Amazon Prime TV series as well, The Rings of Power, along with an animated movie The Hobbit (1997).
How to Watch Lord of the Rings Movies in Order
Here’s how to watch The Lord of the Rings movies in order of release date:
- 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)
Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit Movies in Chronological Order
- 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)
The Lord of the Rings Movies in Order
Chronologically, Lord of the Rings movies is placed 60 years after Bilbo’s adventures in The Hobbit movies. Now, the Ring has been passed on to Frodo, who sets on a quest to save the world.
1. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
In the first movie after The Hobbit, the perspective turns from Bilbo to his cousin Frodo Baggins (Elijah Wood). We return to Bilbo’s 111th birthday in the Shire after some exposition that establishes the current situation in Middle-earth.
Gandalf informs Frodo that he must leave the Shire because Sauron (the Lord of the Rings) and his evil minions, notably the Nazgûl, a group of nine horse-mounted wraiths, will be coming for the ring.
Bilbo embarks on one last expedition, leaving the One Ring with Frodo. Samwise Gamgee (Sean Astin), Frodo’s best friend, and the other hobbits Merry (Dominic Monaghan) and Pippen escape from the Shire (Billy Boyd).
After a perilous journey, and meeting with new characters, including Aragon, Legolas, and Sauram, it is decided that the Ring shall be destroyed in Mount Doom. Mount Doom in Mordor is where the Rings of Power were forged.
Their journey leads them to Lothlorien, an Elven realm ruled by Galadriel (Cate Blanchett). She advises Frodo to continue the journey to Mount Doom without others, so he only brings Sam with him.
2. The Lord of the Rings: Two Towers (2002)
The second movie introduces us to Gollu. Gollum (voiced by Andy Serkis), is a hobbit who was long ago corrupted by the influence of the One Ring. He joins Frodo and Sam as a third travelling companion.
The group reaches the edges of Mordor, but their progress is halted by an unexpected intervention. The first epic battle of the trilogy takes place in the Helm’s Deep gorge while Gandalf assumes a new form and the other members of the Fellowship leave on a rescue expedition.
3. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
Unfortunately, the main plot of The Return of the King is a major spoiler, so I will give you the highlights only. Gollum exploits Sam against Frodo, using the influence of the Ring. While the other members of the Fellowship fight in the Battle of the Pelennor Fields against Sauron’s dark forces.
After much difficulty, Frodo and Sam continue their journey to Mount Doom, with the help of other members of the Fellowship, and see their plan through. The film concludes with a bittersweet finale, and we enter the Fourth Age of Middle-earth.
The Return of the King movie was a masterpiece and highly acclaimed by critics and fans. The film has the record for the most Academy Awards won, thanks to its battle scenes, and breathtaking visuals.
FAQs
What comes first The Hobbit or Lord of the Rings?
Before the Lord of the Rings, there was The Hobbit. Even though The Hobbit came almost a decade after the LOTR movies, the story takes place 60 years before the events of the Lord of the Rings and is split into three installments.
Should I watch Rings of Power before Lord of the Rings?
No, you don’t need to watch the Lord of the Rings movies to watch The Rings of Power and vice versa. Both have separate stories.
Should I watch Lord of the Rings movies before the series?
No, you don’t need to see or read the Lord of the Rings movies or books to watch The Rings of Power series.
Should I watch Hobbit before Lord of the Rings?
Yes, in chronological order, The Hobbit movies will go first, and you can also include The Rings of Power before watching Lord of the Rings movies and The Hobbit.
Conclusion
Now you know how to watch Lord of the Rings movies in order. If it’s your first time, you can start by watching The Rings of Power TV series first, and then move to The Hobbit films, and lastly, Lord of the Rings movies. The series is recommended to watch at first because it takes place thousands of years before the events of LOTR and The Hobbit.
