The ultimate chronological timeline for all Lord of the Rings related media
Third Age, 3019
Released November 1954
In the aftermath of the breaking of the Fellowship, The Two Towers chronicles the divergent paths of the remaining members as they struggle to continue their quest to defeat Sauron.
Third Age, 3019
Released December 2002
While Frodo and Sam edge closer to Mordor with the help of the shifty Gollum, the divided fellowship makes a stand against Sauron's new ally, Saruman, and his hordes of Isengard.
Third Age
Released August 1990
The third part of The History of The Lord of the Rings, an enthralling account of the writing of the Book of the Century which contains many additional scenes.
Third Age, 3019
Released January 2009
Fight on the front line of the War of the Ring as the soldiers and heroes of Middle-earth, or switch sides and help Sauron conquer it.
Third Age, 3019
Released February 2006
While the Fellowship heads south, war comes to the north of Middle-earth, where Elves and Dwarves stand against the goblins and the armies of Sauron.
Third Age
Released May 1980
The 1980 animated The Return of the King follows Frodo and Aragorn's final battle against Sauron as the One Ring is destroyed, concluding the War of the Ring.
Third Age, 3019
Released December 2003
Gandalf and Aragorn lead the World of Men against Sauron's army to draw his gaze from Frodo and Sam as they approach Mount Doom with the One Ring.
Third Age, 3019
Released October 1955
The armies of the Dark Lord are massing as his evil shadow spreads even wider.
Third Age, 3019
Released November 2003
The fate of Middle-earth hangs in the balance as the forces of Gondor and Rohan prepare for their final stand against Sauron’s armies.
Third Age
Released January 1992
The final part of The History of The Lord of the Rings, an enthralling account of the writing of the Book of the Century which contains many additional scenes and includes the unpublished Epilogue in its entirety.
Every Middle-earth story on one timeline: Tolkien's books, Peter Jackson's films, The Rings of Power, the animated films, the video games, the BBC radio drama and the stage musical. Sort them by in-universe date, by release date or alphabetically, and filter by media type.
Not every adaptation tells the same story, so the works are split into three timelines. The Tolkien timeline holds his own books and the adaptations that follow them closely, like the BBC radio drama. The cinematic timeline is the world of the Peter Jackson films and of the games made from them. Everything else, from The Rings of Power to Ralph Bakshi's animated film, sits on the standalone timeline.
The Age buttons narrow the list to one part of the history of Arda: the days before the First Age, the First Age and the wars against Morgoth, the Second Age and the fall of Númenor, the Third Age of the Hobbit and the War of the Ring, and the Fourth Age that follows. A work that spans several Ages shows up under each of them.
Each work has its own page with a synopsis, its release date and its place in the chronology, with links to the stories that come just before and after it.
Looking for something specific? See the Lord of the Rings watch order, the Tolkien books reading order, the games in chronological order, or where The Hunt for Gollum fits. You can also try to draw Frodo's road to Mordor.
The First Age tales (The Silmarillion, The Children of Húrin, Beren and Lúthien, The Fall of Gondolin) come first, then the Second Age (The Fall of Númenor, The Rings of Power). The Third Age follows with The War of the Rohirrim, The Hobbit and finally The Lord of the Rings.
The Hobbit takes place in the year 2941 of the Third Age. Frodo leaves Bag End in 3018, 77 years later.
Both. Each entry is placed at the in-universe date of its own story, and the films, series and games that do not follow Tolkien closely are grouped on a separate standalone timeline.
