Lord Of The Rings Movies In Order – Release & Chronological Order

The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit movies tell one long story, but the timeline can be confusing. Here is how to watch the Lord of the Rings movies in order.

Movies In Release Order

• 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 Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)
• The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013)
• The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (2014)

Movies In Chronological Order

• The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
• The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
• The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies
• The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
• The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
• The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

Which Order Is Better?

New viewers should watch the movies in release order because that is how the story was originally told. However, chronological order is better for viewers who want to follow the timeline of Middle-earth.

Final Thoughts

The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit movies together tell one of the greatest fantasy stories ever made.

For more Middle-earth content, check out our Aragorn Recast article.