How to Watch the ‘Lord of the Rings’ Movies in Order (2024)

Which Is the Right Order?

While you could boil 'em, mash 'em, and stick 'em in a stew, some of the stories in The Lord of the Rings set up the viewer for seeing those tales unfold in The Hobbit trilogy. On the other hand, the actual storyline in The Hobbit itself serves as a backdrop to events that take place in LOTR.

The bottom line is when it comes to The Lord of the Rings, the end of each story tends to mold into the beginning of another. Or as Gandalf said, "For even the very wise cannot see all ends." The movies are so addictive you'll see them all from wherever you start. And back again.

When Does 'The Rings of Power' Take Place?

Amazon's original series The Rings of Power happens thousands of years before both The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit. In fact, it's in a wholly different era of Middle-earth: the Second Age. Despite that, it does include some returning characters from the later stories, including Galadriel and Elrond (elves are immortal, remember).

Completion fans will want to watch The Rings of Power before the other two stories, but as it's still running, you can't see all of that story just yet.

What Is 'The Hunt for Gollum'?

In May 2024, Warner Bros. announced it had started development two more Middle-earth films. The first of these, The Hunt for Gollum, will be out in 2026 and bring the writers of the original trilogy back. Andy Serkis, who played Gollum in four movies, will direct (and likely reprise the role, given the title).

As for what The Hunt for Gollum will actually be about, we'll have to wait and see. However, in the books, several people search for the creature during the events of The Fellowship of the Ring. This hunt was a big part of the years-long gap between Gandalf telling Frodo to keep the ring secret and safe and his return to send the Ring-bearer on his journey.

If we had to guess, we'd say this is what we'll see in the movie, but we'll know more as it progresses.