The Lord of the Rings franchise is making a comeback over a decade after Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit series became two of the highest-grossing trilogies of all time.
Amazon renewed interest in the franchise with its Middle-earth-inspired Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power TV show. Now, the franchise will return to the big screen with The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim and Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum.
While waiting for the highly anticipated movies to arrive, check out our guide for 10 other high fantasy and fellowship movies like The Lord of the Rings you stream online right now on platforms like Disney+, Paramount+, Hulu, and more!
Army of Darkness
Viewers who love the battle scenes and chilling monsters in the Lord of the Rings trilogy will enjoy Army of Darkness. Army of Darkness is the third installment in the Evil Dead franchise, in which Ash (Bruce Campbell) is transported to medieval times. Although it’s a horror comedy, it boasts surprising similarities to Lord of the Rings, with Ash establishing a fellowship, the presence of a Gandalf-like wizard, and an epic castle battle scene reminiscent of Helm’s Deep.
Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves
Similar to The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Rings and The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves follows an unlikely band of adventurers who embark on an epic quest. The group, led by the charming thief Edgin Darvis (Chris Pine), is as lovable as any band of Hobbits or Dwarves, while the film effectively builds a fantasy world filled with elves and wizards. It’s a great film for anyone looking for a more light-hearted alternative to Lord of the Rings.
Eragon
Eragon is a fantasy movie that follows a farm boy, Eragon (Ed Speelers), who sets off on an adventure after discovering a coveted dragon egg. From the fictional fantasy world to the evil ruler to the unsuspecting central hero, Eragon echoes the main plot points of the Lord of the Rings. Its dragon-centered premise will also appeal to fans of The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, although fans of the Eragon book may be disappointed by its divergence from the source material.
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story isn’t a fantasy movie but includes a sophisticated fictional universe and a group of heroes on a daring adventure. It’s a standalone Star Wars movie that tells the story of Jyn Erso (Felicity Jones), who joins forces with resistance fighters to foil the Death Star plans. The group’s perilous journey to the realm of evil strongly parallels the Lord of the Rings fellowship’s trip to Mordor.
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe is one of few works to introduce a fictional world nearly as sophisticated as Tolkien’s Middle-earth. Both Tolkien and C. S. Lewis have been described as the “Fathers of Modern Fantasy,” so it’s not surprising the film adaptations of their work share similarities, including the ability to wholly transport viewers into a new realm with its own history, mythology, and forces of good and evil.
The Green Knight
The Green Knight is an epic medieval fantasy movie that follows Sir Gaiwan (Dev Patel) as he struggles with whether to accept the consequences of his battle with the Green Knight (Ralph Ineson). It will appeal to viewers who love the gorgeous cinematography, soundtrack, and honorable warriors in Lord of the Rings. Also, the film has a unique connection to Lord of the Rings, as it’s inspired by the poem Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, which Tolkien translated to English with E. V. Gordon.
The Wizard of Oz
If you’re looking for a kid-friendly alternative to The Lord of the Rings, The Wizard of Oz is the film for you. The 1939 musical fantasy follows Dorothy (Judy Garland), a young woman from Kansas who is transported to the magical land of Oz, where she seeks help from a great wizard to return home. While it’s a light-hearted musical with flying monkeys and witches, it’s also a great introduction to fantasy with a simplified Lord of the Rings-esque story of a group of travelers in a magical land.
Tolkien
Tolkien isn’t a fantasy story, but the biopic will appeal to most Lord of the Rings fans. The film examines Tolkien's (Nicholas Hoult) early life, including how he came to love language and drew inspiration from his experiences in World War I for his trilogy. Viewers interested in The Lord of the Rings’ themes and parallels to real life will enjoy Tolkien.
Warcraft
Viewers who loved the epic war scenes in The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King and The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies will be especially intrigued by Warcraft. The fantasy movie is based on the video game series of the same name and sees a war break out between humans and orcs when dark magic causes their worlds to collide. It’s an epic war movie filled with fantastical creatures, dark magic, and realms reminiscent of the world of Lord of the Rings.
Willow
Willow is a dark fantasy film with many similarities to The Lord of the Rings' tale of good vs. evil, although instead of a ring, the key to an evil ruler’s reign is a baby. Since it was released in 1988, many Lord of the Rings fans grew up watching Willow. The two films capitalize on a high fantasy premise, feature many archetypes in the fantasy genre, and both feature groundbreaking visual effects and costumes for the time, giving them a similar vibe.
Where to watch movies like The Lord of the Rings online
Check out our list below to find out where to stream these 10 movies like The Lord of the Rings in the United States!
