The Lord of the Rings and Hobbit trilogies in both release and chronological order, with ratings, runtimes and where to stream every Middle-earth film and series.
Release order (recommended)
The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) → The Two Towers (2002) → The Return of the King (2003) → The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012) → The Desolation of Smaug (2013) → The Battle of the Five Armies (2014).
Chronological order (in-universe)
The Hobbit trilogy comes first, roughly sixty years before the events of The Lord of the Rings, followed by the Rings trilogy. The Rings of Power series is set thousands of years earlier still, in the Second Age.
Every title in the franchise
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I watch The Hobbit or Lord of the Rings first?
Release order, so Lord of the Rings first. The Hobbit films were made afterwards and are full of nods that only land if you already know the later story.
How many Middle-earth films are there?
Six: three Lord of the Rings films and three Hobbit films.
Where does The Rings of Power fit?
Thousands of years before both trilogies, in the Second Age. It is a separate story that needs no prior viewing.
Should I watch the extended editions?
For a first viewing the theatrical cuts are fine. The extended editions add substantial material and are a favourite for rewatches.