MIDDLE-EARTH TIMELINE
Middle-earth Timeline

The Lord of the Rings and Hobbit Movies in Chronological Order

This timeline follows the film continuity started by Peter Jackson with The Fellowship of the Ring in 2001: the same designs, the same Middle-earth, and often the same actors. In story order, it runs:

  • The War of the Rohirrim (2024), the animated film directed by Kenji Kamiyama about Helm Hammerhand, King of Rohan.
  • The Hobbit trilogy (2012-2014): An Unexpected Journey, The Desolation of Smaug and The Battle of the Five Armies.
  • The Hunt for Gollum, directed by Andy Serkis, scheduled for December 2027.
  • The Lord of the Rings trilogy (2001-2003): The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers and The Return of the King.

The list also includes Electronic Arts' tie-in games for The Two Towers (2002) and The Return of the King (2003). Adaptations outside this continuity, such as The Rings of Power or Ralph Bakshi's 1978 film, are on the standalone timeline. For a simple list of what to watch, see our Lord of the Rings watch order.

Frequently asked questions

Should I watch The Hobbit or The Lord of the Rings first?

The Hobbit films come first in the story, but they were released after The Lord of the Rings. Many fans recommend watching The Lord of the Rings first, in release order, and The Hobbit afterwards.

Is The War of the Rohirrim part of the Peter Jackson continuity?

Yes. It is an animated film, but it reuses the look of Jackson's films, Peter Jackson was an executive producer and Philippa Boyens was a producer. Miranda Otto returns as Éowyn, who narrates the story.

When is The Hunt for Gollum released?

Warner Bros. has scheduled The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum for 17 December 2027 in cinemas. Andy Serkis directs and plays Gollum again.

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