The second season of Amazon’s Lord of the Rings-based The Rings of Energy is at the moment in manufacturing, following on from some of the hotly anticipated collection launched on any streaming platform. It is also been billed as the most costly TV collection ever made.

The primary season of The Rings of Energy hit Amazon Prime Video in September 2022, with the primary season working for eight episodes in whole.

It would not rehash or go over the story paths already trod within the two film trilogies up to now. As a substitute, the collection is predicated on a few of the longer, deeper and extra historic world missed out by the 2 films. Consider these as being set 1000’s of years earlier than The Hobbit when evil re-emerges in Center-earth.

However the query stays: which is the most effective order to observe the 2 current Lord of the Rings trilogies? There isn’t a proper method, after all, however there is a method we predict makes essentially the most sense.

Greatest viewing order for Hobbit and Lord of the Rings

Relying on how affected person and dedicated you might be, you might wish to search out the prolonged editions. Every of the six films is obtainable as a for much longer model than launched within the theatres/cinemas. All of which simply run over the 3-hour mark.

NOTE: THERE ARE SPOILERS BELOW

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Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring (2001)

Many of the film could also be set within the time after The Hobbit trilogy, however The Fellowship of the Ring is a extremely good introduction to Center-earth, Hobbits, Elves, the Shire and – extra importantly – the historical past of The One Ring. What’s extra, a few of its narrative is vital to understanding what occurs within the Hobbit films. Primarily, as a result of the Hobbit films start with an previous Bilbo writing down his adventures to Frodo, and so an introduction to Frodo is essential.

On this film, Frodo and his firm: Aragorn, Boromir, Legolas, Gimli, Gandalf, Merry (Meriadoc), Pippin (Peregrin) and Sam (Samwise) take possession of the ring and start their journey to Mordor, the place they goal to throw the ring within the fireplace of Mount Doom to destroy it. All of the whereas being stalked and chased by Sauron’s terrifying Nazgul and Saruman’s military of Orc and Uruk-hai.

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

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The Hobbit: An Sudden Journey (2012)

Then we fork again to The Hobbit, to fill within the backstory of the ring. As talked about, the story begins with Bilbo recounting his adventures to Frodo. We’re launched to the time Bilbo will get railroaded into an journey by the wizard Gandalf and a gang of dwarves seeking to reclaim their misplaced metropolis within the Lonely Mountain which is stuffed with treasure and at the moment house to the dragon Smaug. Bilbo first will get maintain of the One Ring on this film after a sport of riddles with the creature Gollum. What’s in his pockets?

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The Hobbit: An Sudden Journey

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The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013)

Bilbo, the dwarves – led by Thorin – and Gandalf the Gray proceed on their mission to reclaim town. They’ve made it previous the Misty Mountains, and now have to tackle Mirkwood Forest, which is not with out peril they usually should do it with out Gandalf. As soon as they get to the mountain, Bilbo – because the designated burglar – has to search out the Secret Door and steal again the valuable Arkenstone which the dwarves revere as being key to their energy and taking again management of their metropolis.

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The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

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The Hobbit: The Battle of the 5 Armies (2014)

Bilbo and firm are engaged in a conflict, the dragon has left the Lonely Mountain and the folks of Lake-town are beneath menace. Orcs, dwarves, elves, folks and even big eagles are getting ready for conflict whereas Bilbo is coping with a power-mad Thorin. Gandalf can also be rescued from the Necromancer on this film.

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The Hobbit: The Battle of the 5 Armies

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The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)

With The Hobbit full, we return to Lord of the Rings, with full data of what got here earlier than. The corporate is break up on the finish of Fellowship (the primary film), and so Frodo and Sam proceed on the mission to destroy the ring with out the remainder of the corporate. It is on this journey they meet Gollum correctly for the primary time (who you understand from The Hobbit), whereas Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli set off in the hunt for Merry and Pippin who have been captured by orcs. They meet the folks of Rohan, its besieged metropolis and exiled riders. We’re launched to Ents – tree shepherds who take a very long time to say something – and Faramir, Boromir’s brother.

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The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

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The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King (2003)

Sam and Frodo’s perilous journey is sort of ended early due to some sneaky work from Gollum, however regardless of the obstacles of their method, they need to get the ring into the fires of Mount Doom. The remainder of the corporate – now joined by the may of Rohan – is engaged in conflict with the darkish forces of Center-earth to avoid wasting Gondor, whereas its power-mad steward appears intent on tearing it down from inside.

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The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

Chronological order

Whereas a few of the scenes in Fellowship of the Ring happen within the time years earlier than the primary Hobbit film, most of it’s set within the instances afterward. It is set within the time after Bilbo’s 111th (or eleventy first) birthday. Equally, whereas the Hobbit tales are being written down afterwards by an older Bilbo, the story itself takes place when Bilbo is youthful.

• The Hobbit: An Sudden Journey (2012)
• The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013)
• The Hobbit: The Battle of the 5 Armies (2014)
• The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
• The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)
• The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King (2003)

Theatrical (launch date) film order

After all, you can simply watch them within the order they have been launched. That method you are watching them within the order anybody would have watched them, had they gone and seen them on their opening nights. There’s nothing particularly improper with it, however if you happen to do, you are ending with arguably the weakest of the six films.

• The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
• The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)
• The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King (2003)
• The Hobbit: An Sudden Journey (2012)
• The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013)
• The Hobbit: The Battle of the 5 Armies (2014)

What concerning the animated films?

There are two animated films that have been produced method earlier than the large price range Peter Jackson epics. The Hobbit (1977), Lord of the Rings (1978) and The Return of the King (1980) have been all primarily based on the Tolkien novels and are traditional animated tales, however let’s simply say they have not aged all that properly. There have additionally been numerous brief films and even some Lego shorts to coincide with the Lego console/PC video games.

The Lord of the Rings 1978 Animated Film – (Streaming, DVD)

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The place does the Amazon TV collection match within the timeline?

The Lord of the Rings TV collection is predicated within the Second Age of Center-earth, inserting it 1000’s of years earlier than the occasions set out in The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. So do not anticipate to see a lot of Frodo or Bilbo within the manufacturing. That is how Amazon Studios describes it:

“Starting in a time of relative peace, the collection follows an ensemble solid of characters, each acquainted and new, as they confront the long-feared re-emergence of evil to Center-earth. From the darkest depths of the Misty Mountains to the majestic forests of the elf-capital of Lindon, to the breathtaking island kingdom of Númenor, to the furthest reaches of the map, these kingdoms and characters will carve out legacies that stay on lengthy after they’re gone.”

The primary season was in manufacturing since early 2020, with manufacturing positioned on maintain not lengthy afterwards. It premiered on Amazon Prime Video in September 2022, and a second season has already been ordered. In truth, the preliminary deal included a five-season dedication, so we might see this as a recurring collection for few years.

What’s the greatest streaming system in your TV? Our prime suggestion is the Amazon Hearth TV Stick 4K Max. Additionally wonderful are the Google Chromecast with Google TV, the Roku Streaming Stick 4K, and the Apple TV 4K.

The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit video games

After all, there’s lots extra Lord of the Rings motion different than simply in the principle theatrical releases. You may discover a variety of video games for consoles and PC together with – however not restricted to – the next:

• The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2002)
• The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)
• The Hobbit (2003)
• The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
• The Lord of the Rings: Battle of the Ring (2003)
• The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Center-earth (2004)
• The Lord of the Rings: The Third Age (2004)
• The Lord of the Rings: Ways (2005)
• The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Center-earth II (2006)
• The Lord of the Rings On-line (2007)
• The Lord of the Rings: Conquest (2009)
• The Lord of the Rings: Aragorn’s Quest (2010)
• The Lord of the Rings: Battle within the North (2011)
• Lego The Lord of the Rings (2012)
• Center-earth: Shadow of Mordor (2014)
• Lego The Hobbit (2014)
• Center-earth: Shadow of Battle (2017)

Did you want this?

Then possibly you will like our different film order viewing guides:

We even have these hearsay round-ups on upcoming films: