Lord Of The Rings Series In Order (Including Hobbit, TV Show & Books)

Here’s how to experience the Lord Of The Rings saga in order, from Peter Jackson’s two trilogies and J.R.R. Tolkien’s books to Amazon’s upcoming TV show. When Tolkien penned The Hobbit back in the early 1930s, little did he know the children’s novel would kickstart one of the most enduring and profitable franchises of all time. After the successful publication of the book in 1937, Tolkien began writing his Lord Of The Rings series, building on the lore established in The Hobbit and crafting one of the most expansive fictional universes to date.

Tolkien’s Middle-earth books have inspired many fellow creatives, spawning adaptations like radio dramas and animated TV movies – but none so successful as Peter Jackson’s epic Lord Of The Rings film trilogy. Boasting cutting-edge special effects and an ensemble cast including Elijah Wood and Ian McKellen, this epic trilogy is still hailed as one of the greatest film series almost 20 years after its release. Jackson returned to Middle-earth with The Hobbit prequel trilogy which, while widely considered inferior to its predecessor, was still a huge box office hit.

With Amazon’s new Lord Of The Rings TV show set for a 2021 release, what better time to revisit the saga? Here’s how to experience the Lord Of The Rings series in order according to Middle-earth chronology – books, movies and the upcoming TV show included.

• Amazon’s The Lord Of The Rings (2021)
• J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit (1937)
• The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)
• The Hobbit: The Desolation Of Smaug (2013)
• The Hobbit: The Battle Of The Five Armies (2014)
• J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord Of The Rings (1954-55)
• 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)

Technically, Tolkien fans will have to wait until the Amazon TV show concludes however many seasons down the road to watch the Lord Of The Rings series in proper order. That’s because the TV show is a prequel set before the events of both The Lord Of The Rings and The Hobbit in a time period referred to as the Second Age (also known as the Age of Númenor) in Tolkien lore, which was detailed in The Silmarillion – a collection of Middle-earth stories published posthumously by Tolkien’s son. Peter Jackson’s two trilogies, meanwhile, follow the events of the Tolkien books they’re based on but you’ll have to watch The Hobbit trilogy before the Lord Of The Rings trilogy to see the films in proper chronological order.

As Amazon’s Lord Of The Rings TV series edges ever closer to its 2021 air date, the hype is starting to ramp up. Amazon already has plans for multiple seasons in the works and has assembled a talented cast that includes Robert Aramayo (who played a young Ned Stark in Game Of Thrones) and Saint Maud star Morfydd Clark. Here’s hoping the latest Tolkien adaptation lives up to the hype.