The HobbitComplete Watch Order Guide
The Hobbit collection is a three-part epic fantasy-adventure film directed and produced by Peter Jackson and based on J. R. R. Tolkien's fantasy novel of the same name. The trilogy of films are set in Middle-earth 60 years before "The Lord of the Rings", and will act as a prequel to Jackson's The Lord of the Rings trilogy.
The Hobbit Release Timeline
What order should you watch the The Hobbit movies?
Release order — click any era to expand or collapse. All 3 movies shown below.
All 3 films in release order — the recommended way to experience the full series.
Watch The Hobbit in Order
Watch the The Hobbit movies in release order, starting with The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012) and continuing through The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (2014). The series spans 3 films, released between 2012 and 2014. Audiences rate the franchise 7.4/10 on average.
What order should you watch The Hobbit?
For most viewers, release order is the recommended way to watch The Hobbit. This is how the story was crafted and revealed to audiences — earlier films seed details, callbacks, and twists that pay off in later entries. Watching in release order preserves those reveals and matches the pacing the filmmakers intended.
The Hobbit largely tracks its own in-universe chronology, so release order and chronological order overlap closely. You can use either without losing much, though release order is still the safest first watch.
About The Hobbit
The Hobbit collection is a three-part epic fantasy-adventure film directed and produced by Peter Jackson and based on J. R. R. Tolkien's fantasy novel of the same name. The trilogy of films are set in Middle-earth 60 years before "The Lord of the Rings", and will act as a prequel to Jackson's The Lord of the Rings trilogy.
Each film builds on the previous one, rewarding viewers who watch in sequence.
The Hobbit Fun Facts & Trivia
The The Hobbit franchise spans 2 years, from 2012 to 2014.
The highest-rated entry is The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug with a 7.6/10 audience score.
Across all films, the franchise averages a 7.4/10 rating from audiences.
The Hobbit films have collected over 50k audience ratings combined.
Watching all 3 The Hobbit films back-to-back takes well over a full day's viewing commitment.
The most recent entry, The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (2014), continues a franchise that began 2 years earlier.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best order to watch The Hobbit?
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How many The Hobbit movies are there in total?
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What is the highest-rated The Hobbit movie?
Can I watch The Hobbit movies without watching them in order?
Where can I watch The Hobbit movies online?
More Movies in Order
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