The Lord Of The Rings In Order Movies

Let's Talk Hobbits (and Movies!): My Totally Biased Lord of the Rings Viewing Guide

Okay, listen up, fellow Middle-earth enthusiasts! We all love The Lord of the Rings, right? But let's be real, watching those movies can be a commitment.

There's a right way, and there's a "let's just get through this" way. I'm here to share my controversial, possibly heretical, viewing order. You might not agree, and that's okay!

First: The Fellowship of the Ring (Extended, Duh!)

This is non-negotiable. You gotta start at the beginning. See Frodo inherit the ring and leave the Shire.

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Experience the formation of the fellowship. Just soak it all in.

Next: Two Towers...but with Skips

Okay, hear me out! The Two Towers is good, but it's LONG. And some bits... well, they drag.

Specifically, the Frodo and Sam scenes in Mordor can feel... slow. Feel free to fast-forward a little.

Here’s how you can watch all the ’Lord of the Rings’ movies before ’The

Focus on the Battle of Helm's Deep! That is cinematic gold. And the introduction of Gollum, obviously.

Now: The Hobbit Movies (Yeah, I Said It!)

Before you grab your pitchforks, let me explain. Watch An Unexpected Journey. It's fun, lighthearted, and gives context to Bilbo's role in The Lord of the Rings.

Then, SKIP the next two Hobbit movies. Seriously. Trust me on this one. Nothing of vital importance, except maybe Martin Freeman.

They are a slog and you can get the gist from a quick wikipedia summary.

Slideshow: The Lord of the Rings Movies in (Chronological) Order

Finally: The Return of the King (But Stop Before the Endings)

The Return of the King is epic. The battles, the emotional moments... it's all fantastic.

But… the ending. Oh, the ending! It goes on FOREVER.

I suggest stopping after the coronation scene. Just imagine them ruling happily ever after. Save yourself an hour.

Bonus Round: The Deleted Scenes

After your "abridged" viewing, dive into the deleted scenes. Especially from The Fellowship of the Ring. They add so much depth!

Lords of the rings and hobbit in order movies

Tom Bombadil? Yes, please! More backstory for everyone? Absolutely!

Just pick and choose! Don't feel obligated to watch every single one.

The Ultimate Goal

Look, this isn't about disrespecting The Lord of the Rings. It's about making it more digestible for those of us with shorter attention spans (guilty!).

Plus, you might actually enjoy it more this way! Less filler, more thrills.