The Lord of the Rings Movies In Order – A Streaming Guide to Tolkien's Fantasy Saga

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Based on the acclaimed novels by JRR Tolkien, Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings franchise is widely regarded by many as the best fantasy franchise of all time. Boasting ambitious world building, grand fighting sequences, and unforgettable characters like the good wizard Gandalf and the evil shadow creature Gollum. The franchise includes several extended director’s cuts and a prequel trilogy.

To watch the entire franchise in the right order, have a look at our streaming guide to all of the Lord of the Rings movies. This includes the original trilogy, the prequel Hobbit trilogy and the extended editions.

How to watch the Lord of the Rings franchise in chronological order

Before writing the three-volume novel Lord of the Rings, British author JRR Tolkien wrote The Hobbit as a prequel novel. Even though The Hobbit is just one book, Peter Jackson fleshed out its story in three movies. These should be watched before the Lord of the Rings movies as they set up the fictional world of Middle-Earth, the power of a magical set of rings, and introduces franchise characters like the Hobbit (a fictional race of creatures created by Tolkien) named Bilbo Baggins and the friendly wizard Gandalf.

The Hobbit series covers Bilbo and Gandalf adventures with a band of dwarves, ultimately culminating in a great battle in The Hobbit: Battle of the Five Armies. The previous two movies also received an extended edition each. The Hobbit trilogy then gives way to the Lord of the Rings trilogy.

With all three Lords of the Rings movies earning major Oscar nominations and wins, these are the most acclaimed of the franchise. They largely follow the hobbit Frodo Baggins and the warrior group known as the Fellowship as they aim to destroy the cursed artifact One Ring and defeat its all-powerful creator Sauron. Much like the Hobbit movies, all Lord of the Rings movies were directed by Peter Jackson. 

How to watch the Lord of the Rings Extended Editions in Order

Each of the Lord of the Rings movies and the first two Hobbit movies were accompanied by extended editions, overseen by Peter Jackson himself. These director’s cuts provide more context to the franchise’s many fantastical characters while adding some subplots. Many fans consider these extended editions to be superior to the theatrical cuts. So, if you are a beginner to the franchise, you can start with the extended editions.

Other Lord of the Rings adaptations

How to watch the Lord of the Rings franchise in release order 

Now that you know about the different movies of the Lord of the Rings franchise, here is a complete list of Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings movies (and their extended editions) in release order and where to watch them on streaming services in India.

Netflix
Amazon Prime Video
Apple TV Plus
Apple TV
Crunchyroll
Hotstar
Jio Cinema
Zee5
Google Play Movies
MUBI
Sony Liv
YouTube
GuideDoc
Netflix Kids
Tubi TV
Sun Nxt
Hoichoi
Hungama Play
Alt Balaji
Curiosity Stream
EPIC ON
ShemarooMe
DOCSVILLE
Tata Play
Discovery+
ManoramaMax
MX Player
Spamflix
aha
Plex
WOW Presents Plus
Magellan TV
BroadwayHD
Filmzie
Lionsgate Play
MovieSaints
Dekkoo
True Story
DocAlliance Films
VI movies and tv
Eventive
ShortsTV Amazon Channel
Amazon Video
Cultpix
FilmBox+
Takflix
Amazon MX Player
AD tv
Shahid VIP
Bookmyshow
Lionsgate Play Apple TV Channel
Eros Now Select Apple TV Channel
Lionsgate Play Amazon Channel
MGM Amazon Channel
Crunchyroll Amazon Channel
Hoichoi Amazon Channel
ManoramaMAX Amazon Channel
Chaupal Amazon Channel
BBC Kids Amazon Channel
Sony Pictures Amazon Channel
Vrott Amazon Channel
Anime Times Amazon Channel
MyZen TV Amazon Channel
Museum Tv Amazon Channel
BBC Player Amazon Channel
MUBI Amazon Channel
Discovery+ Amazon Channel
CuriosityStream Amazon Channel
DocuBay Amazon Channel
Stingray Amazon Channel
Iwonder Amazon Channel
NammaFlix Amazon Channel
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  1. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

    #1

    Young hobbit Frodo Baggins, after inheriting a mysterious ring from his uncle Bilbo, must leave his home in order to keep it from falling into the hands of its evil creator. Along the way, a fellowship is formed to protect the ringbearer and make sure that the ring arrives at its final destination: Mt. Doom, the only place where it can be destroyed.

  2. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (Extended Edition)

    #2

    Young hobbit Frodo Baggins, after inheriting a mysterious ring from his uncle Bilbo, must leave his home in order to keep it from falling into the hands of its evil creator. Along the way, a fellowship is formed to protect the ringbearer and make sure that the ring arrives at its final destination: Mt. Doom, the only place where it can be destroyed.

  3. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

    #3

    Frodo Baggins and the other members of the Fellowship continue on their sacred quest to destroy the One Ring--but on separate paths. Their destinies lie at two towers--Orthanc Tower in Isengard, where the corrupt wizard Saruman awaits, and Sauron's fortress at Barad-dur, deep within the dark lands of Mordor. Frodo and Sam are trekking to Mordor to destroy the One Ring of Power while Gimli, Legolas and Aragorn search for the orc-captured Merry and Pippin. All along, nefarious wizard Saruman awaits the Fellowship members at the Orthanc Tower in Isengard.

  4. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (Extended Edition)

    #4

    Frodo and Samwise press on toward Mordor. Gollum insists on being the guide. Can anyone so corrupted by the ring be trusted? Can Frodo, increasingly under the sway of the ring, even trust himself? Meanwhile, Aragorn, drawing closer to his kingly destiny, rallies forces of good for the battles that must come. Director Peter Jackson delivers an amazing second movie that won 2 Academy Awards and earned 6 total nominations, including best picture. The journey continues. So do the astonishing spectacle and splendor.

  5. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

    #5

    As armies mass for a final battle that will decide the fate of the world--and powerful, ancient forces of Light and Dark compete to determine the outcome--one member of the Fellowship of the Ring is revealed as the noble heir to the throne of the Kings of Men. Yet, the sole hope for triumph over evil lies with a brave hobbit, Frodo, who, accompanied by his loyal friend Sam and the hideous, wretched Gollum, ventures deep into the very dark heart of Mordor on his seemingly impossible quest to destroy the Ring of Power.​

  6. Lord of the Rings: Return of the King (Extended Edition)

    #6

    The culmination of nearly 10 years' work and conclusion to Peter Jackson's epic trilogy based on the timeless J.R.R. Tolkien classic, "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King" presents the final confrontation between the forces of good and evil fighting for control of the future of Middle-earth. Hobbits Frodo and Sam reach Mordor in their quest to destroy the `one ring', while Aragorn leads the forces of good against Sauron's evil army at the stone city of Minas Tirith.

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  7. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

    #7

    A reluctant hobbit, Bilbo Baggins, sets out to the Lonely Mountain with a spirited group of dwarves to reclaim their mountain home - and the gold within it - from the dragon Smaug.

  8. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (Extended Edition)

    #8

    Bilbo Baggins, a hobbit, is persuaded into accompanying a wizard and a group of dwarves on a journey to reclaim the city of Erebor and all its riches from the dragon Smaug.

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  9. The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

    #9

    The Dwarves, Bilbo and Gandalf have successfully escaped the Misty Mountains, and Bilbo has gained the One Ring. They all continue their journey to get their gold back from the Dragon, Smaug.

  10. The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (Extended Edition)

    #10

    Academy Award® winner Peter Jackson continues his Middle-Earth saga that follows the adventures of Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman) who's swept into an epic quest to reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor from the fearsome dragon Smaug. In the company of thirteen dwarves and the wizard Gandalf the Grey (Ian McKellen), Bilbo enters the Lonely Mountain in possession of Gollum's ""precious"" ring and his keen blade, Sting. With an all-star cast, including many acclaimed actors from The Lord of the Rings (such as Cate Blanchett, Ian Holm, Christopher Lee, Hugo Weaving, Elijah Wood, Andy Serkis and more), and the effects wizardry of Jackson's award-winning Weta Workshop, Tolkien's epic story comes to life as never before imagined. The Extended Edition film is 25 minutes longer with new and extended scenes, not seen in the theatrical release.

  11. The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies

    #11

    Immediately after the events of The Desolation of Smaug, Bilbo and the dwarves try to defend Erebor's mountain of treasure from others who claim it: the men of the ruined Laketown and the elves of Mirkwood. Meanwhile an army of Orcs led by Azog the Defiler is marching on Erebor, fueled by the rise of the dark lord Sauron. Dwarves, elves and men must unite, and the hope for Middle-Earth falls into Bilbo's hands.