How to Watch Hobbit Movies in Order [Quick Guide 2025]

Are you a fan of adventure movies or love delving deep into the world of fantasies? If yes, then watch The Hobbit movies in order on HBO Max this weekend!

People who are already fans of Harry Potter or the Lord of the Rings series would, without a doubt, binge-watch The Hobbit movies. The plot involves the simple and rustic Bilbo Baggins, who is led on a cutthroat journey to win his share of the treasure and reclaim the kingdom of Erebor, as assisted by Gandalf and his group of dwarves.

From the charms of Martin Freeman, or the wit of Benedict Cumberbatch, The Hobbit movies are packed with insane talent and the best this lot has to offer. So, without any further ado, let’s learn how to watch The Hobbit movies in order.

The Hobbit Movies in Chronological Order with Release Dates

You can watch Hobbit Movies in Order by following this list:

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

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)

• Genre: Adventure and Fantasy
• Language: English
• Runtime: 2h 49m
• IMDb: 7.8/10

The tale of revenge, rebellion, and fantasies starts when the young hobbit, Bilbo Baggins, is approached out of nowhere by Gandalf the Grey along with thirteen goblins, including their former king, Thorin. Bilbo decides to join them on their journey of rebellion and rescue the goblins’ current king, who was abducted and kept captivated by Smaug.

Their quest involves going through Middle-Earth, where they encounter a large army of mystical and magical creatures like Trolls, Orcs, etc., and win against them to reach Smaug. One of the most critical areas of their journey was their encounter with Gollum and finding his lost magic ring.

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013)

• Genre: Adventure and Fantasy
• Language: English
• Runtime: 2h 41m
• IMDb: 7.8/10

The adventures of Bilbo Baggins, Gandalf the Grey, and thirteen dwarves continue as they plot to retain Arkenstone from Smaug, who lives in the Lonely Mountains. Their journey again involves fighting the dangers that cross their path, including a brief captivation by the Elves, but they manage to escape and get ahead.

However, their quest seems to continue since Smaug has other plans, which involve defending his beloved treasure and preparing to destroy Lake-town, where humans live. The story also hints at Gandalf’s secret trip to the south, which will reveal itself in the next and final part of the Hobbit series.

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

• Genre: Adventure and Fantasy
• Language: English
• Runtime: 2h 24m
• IMDb: 7.4/10

The final episode of the Hobbit series perfectly represents how presenting a united front helps fight off anyone who wishes evil upon others. The classic battle of goodness vs. evil decides the fate of living beings and establishes a new order. Unfortunately, the Lonely Mountain is secured by the evil dragon, Smaug, who wishes to destroy everything and take over.

So, all the living creatures residing in the land, including dwarves of Erebor and the Iron Hills, the elves of the Woodland Realm, the people of Laketown, the eagles led by Radagast and Beorn, and the orcs of Gundabad and Moria. Moreover, Gandalf is also rescued from the Necromancer prison, whose story also unfolded later. The whole movie gives a thrilling and captivating experience to the viewers.

FAQs

Why are The Hobbit films 3 movies when the book is one?

The Hobbit story is much shorter than The Lord of the Rings books (less than a quarter of their length), so the movies had to add content to fill up the timeframe. The three films have a total runtime of about 8½ hours.

Is The Hobbit a prequel to Lord of the Rings?

The Hobbit Trilogy is a prequel to The Lord of the Rings and takes place 60 years before Frodo’s epic journey. Peter Jackson’s use of stunning New Zealand landscapes adds to the enchanting tale.

Should I see The Hobbit or Lord of the Rings first?

To watch Jackson’s Middle-earth movies in chronological order, you can switch the two trilogies so that all The Hobbit movies come first. If you want to include The Rings of Power, you can watch it before anything else. Your viewing order would look like this:

1. Lord of the Rings The Rings of Power (2022)
2. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)
3. The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013)
4. The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (2014)
5. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
6. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)
7. The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King (2003)

Are Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit connected?

The Hobbit series is a prequel to The Lord of the Rings trilogy and was released a decade later. The film is based on the 1937 novel The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien and follow the adventures of Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman), Frodo’s uncle.

What is the difference between the Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit?

The tone of The Hobbit is lighthearted and focuses on themes of bravery and transformation. In contrast, the tone of The 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.

Final Thoughts

It looks like your plans for this weekend are sorted. However, if you cannot stream The Hobbit Series in your region, go ahead and install ExpressVPN to ensure you can stream The Hobbit Movies in Order without any hassle.

More to Watch:

• Pirates of the Caribbean Movies in Order
• Harry Potter Movies in Order
• Narnia Movies in Order
• Batman Movies in Order
• The Good Witch Movies in Order

Gary Wilson

Gary is a geeky-binge watcher who loves to pen down all that he watches. The night-owl has just got two hobbies, binge-watching all the latest shows and writing everything about them.