The second season of Amazon's Lord of the Rings-based, The Rings of Power, is currently in production, following on from one of the most hotly anticipated series launched on any streaming platform. It's also been billed as the most expensive TV series ever made.
The first season of The Rings of Power hit Amazon Prime Video in September 2022, with the first season running for eight episodes in total.
It doesn't rehash or go over the story paths already trod in the two movie trilogies. Instead, the series is based on some of the more extended, profound, and historical worlds missed by the two movies. Think of these as being set thousands of years before The Hobbit when evil re-emerges in Middle-earth.
But the question remains: which is the best order to watch the two existing Lord of the Rings trilogies? Of course, there is no right way, but there's a way we think makes the most sense.
Best viewing order for Hobbit and Lord of the Rings
Depending on how patient and committed you are, you should seek out the extended editions. Each of the six movies is available as a much longer version than released in the theatres/cinemas. All of which efficiently run over the 3-hour mark.
NOTE: THERE ARE SPOILERS BELOW
Warner Bros
Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
Most of the movie may be set after The Hobbit trilogy, but The Fellowship of the Ring is a perfect introduction to Middle-earth, Hobbits, Elves, the Shire, and – more importantly – the history of The One Ring. Moreover, some of its narrative is key to understanding what happens in the Hobbit movies. Primarily because the Hobbit movies begin with an old Bilbo writing down his adventures with Frodo, an introduction to Frodo is essential.
In this movie, Frodo and his company: Aragorn, Boromir, Legolas, Gimli, Gandalf, Merry (Meriadoc), Pippin (Peregrin), and Sam (Samwise) take possession of the ring and begin their journey to Mordor, where they aim to throw the…