For a first viewing of Peter Jackson’s six live-action films, watch them in release order: start with The Fellowship of the Ring and finish with The Battle of the Five Armies. If you prefer to follow the story timeline, watch the three Hobbit films first, then the three Lord of the Rings films.
Release order: the recommended choice for a first watch
Release order follows the sequence audiences originally encountered the films. It lets the trilogy that introduced this cinematic version of Middle-earth lead, with the prequel trilogy afterward. That makes it a clear default for newcomers; it is a recommendation, not an objective rule.
![The Lord of the Rings: The Motion Picture Trilogy (Extended Edition) [Blu-ray] [2001]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51udcEwJJ1L._SL160_.jpg)
- 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)
About Amazon’s film guide presents release order as one way to watch the films.
Chronological order: the story timeline
The Hobbit films tell the earlier events, so a timeline-first viewing reverses the trilogy blocks: Bilbo’s adventure comes before Frodo’s.
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- The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013)
- The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (2014)
- 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)
Rotten Tomatoes’ 2026 editorial guide describes the Hobbit films as set about 60 years before the Lord of the Rings films. That is a relative story-timeline description, not a release-date interval.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Which order should you choose?
| What matters most | Order to choose | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First-time viewing | Release order | It follows the films’ original release sequence and starts with the trilogy that introduced this screen story. |
| In-world chronology | Chronological order | It places Bilbo’s earlier adventure before Frodo’s story. |
This guide covers Peter Jackson’s six live-action films released from 2001 to 2014. It does not include earlier adaptations, television series, or later and new projects.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
- The Lord Of The Rings
- The Motion Picture Trilogy
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