the hobbit an unexpected journey next movie

Cast & crew
User reviews

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

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. 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. 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.

Peter Jackson
Philippa Boyens
Martin Freeman
Ian McKellen
Richard Armitage
1.5K User reviews
675 Critic reviews
58 Metascore
11 wins & 76 nominations total

All cast & crew
Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

More like this

Did you know

Trivia The production team returned to the same shooting location for Hobbiton as they used in The Lord of the Rings trilogy. The land is part of a farm, which the owners allowed to be transformed into the Hobbiton set by The Lord of the Rings production crew in the late 1990s. After filming wrapped on the first trilogy, the farm's owners turned the land into a Tolkien tourism spot, offering guided tours of the Hobbiton set. With the crew from The Hobbit trilogy making improvements and additions to the aging Hobbiton set, the farm owners were happy to temporarily close down their tourism business, so filming could take place there again.
Goofs When the party is captured by the Goblins and Bilbo crawls away, a Goblin's CGI foot passes through the bridge he's walking on.

Galadriel : Mithrandir? Why the Halfling?

Gandalf : I don't know. Saruman believes that it is only great power that can hold evil in check. But that is not what I have found. I've found it is the small things, everyday deeds of ordinary folk that keeps the darkness at bay. Simple acts of kindness and love. Why Bilbo Baggins? Perhaps it is because I am afraid, and he gives me courage.

Crazy credits Lists the publishers for all of The Hobbit in all the different languages.
Alternate versions Also shown in a 3D and 48 fps version, but the content is the same.
Connections Edited into The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey - Extended Edition Scenes (2013)
Soundtracks Blunt the Knives Lyrics by J.R.R. Tolkien from "The Hobbit" Music composed by Stephen Gallagher (as Stephen Gallagher) Produced by Stephen Gallagher (as Stephen Gallagher) Performed by Jed Brophy , Adam Brown , John Callen , Mark Hadlow , Peter Hambleton , Stephen Hunter , William Kircher , Graham McTavish , James Nesbitt , Dean O'Gorman , Ken Stott , Aidan Turner

User reviews 1.5K

Sep 14, 2020
Why are the names of the blue wizards are not mentioned in this film?
When Gandalf talks to Bilbo about Sting, he mentions that "Elvish blade glows blue when orcs or goblins are nearby", should this rule apply to the Foe-hammer and the Goblin-cleaver as well?
Are the Goblins different from the Orcs?
December 14, 2012 (United States)
New Zealand
United States
arabuloku.com
Official Facebook
The Hobbit: Part 1
Mangaotaki, Waikato, New Zealand
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
New Line Cinema
WingNut Films
See more company credits at IMDbPro
$180,000,000 (estimated)
$303,030,651
$84,617,303
Dec 16, 2012
$1,017,106,749

Technical specs

Runtime 2 hours 49 minutes
Dolby Atmos

More to explore

Or browse by category:

Get the app
Movie Reviews
Best Movie Lists
Best Movies on Netflix, Disney+, and More

Common Sense Selections for Movies

the hobbit an unexpected journey next movie

50 Modern Movies All Kids Should Watch Before They're 12

Best TV Lists
Best TV Shows on Netflix, Disney+, and More
Common Sense Selections for TV
Video Reviews of TV Shows

Best Kids' Shows on Disney+

Best Kids' TV Shows on Netflix

Book Reviews
Best Book Lists
Common Sense Selections for Books

8 Tips for Getting Kids Hooked on Books

50 Books All Kids Should Read Before They're 12

Game Reviews
Best Game Lists

Common Sense Selections for Games

Video Reviews of Games

Nintendo Switch Games for Family Fun

Podcast Reviews
Best Podcast Lists

Common Sense Selections for Podcasts

Parents' Guide to Podcasts

App Reviews
Best App Lists

Social Networking for Teens

Gun-Free Action Game Apps

Reviews for AI Apps and Tools

YouTube Channel Reviews
YouTube Kids Channels by Topic

Parents' Ultimate Guide to YouTube Kids

How to Help Kids Spot Misinformation and Disinformation

Family Tech Planners
Digital Skills
All Articles
Latino Culture
Black Voices
Asian Stories
Native Narratives
LGBTQ+ Pride
Best of Diverse Representation List

Multicultural Books

YouTube Channels with Diverse Representations

Podcasts with Diverse Characters and Stories

The hobbit: an unexpected journey, common sense media reviewers.

Tolkien tale isn't as great as LOTR, but better for tweens.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

As in The Lord of the Rings, the message of The Ho

No one except Gandalf thinks that Bilbo can be of

Less violent than The Lord of the Rings, but there

Slang use of "jaxie" (meaning "ass").

Although there are no product placements in Middle

The dwarves are a voracious lot -- even more than

Positive Messages

As in The Lord of the Rings , the message of The Hobbit is that even the smallest person can make a huge difference. Gandalf even says "it's the small things that keep the darkness at bay" in reference to Bilbo's involvement in the dangerous mission. Gandalf advises Bilbo that it's not knowing how to take a life that takes courage but knowing when to spare one. The dwarves' quest reminds viewers of the importance of home, kinship, and belonging somewhere. Curiosity, perseverance, and teamwork are major themes.

Positive Role Models

No one except Gandalf thinks that Bilbo can be of much help, but Bilbo rises to the occasion by summoning his courage when the time calls for it -- except for the fact that he fulfills his destiny as a "burglar" by stealing Gollum's precious ring. Thorin is dedicated to his fellow dwarves, and they in return revere him as their faithful leader.

Violence & Scariness

Less violent than The Lord of the Rings , but there's still some carnage: a battle between the dwarves and the dragon leads to the dwarf king being decapitated, an orc leader's arm amputated, and a multitude of dwarves and their property destroyed. There are several close calls when Bilbo, Gandalf, and the dwarves are pursued or nearly die on their journey across Middle-earth, usually by orcs and their beasts. The orc leader is a frightening sight -- particularly with his claw-like prosthesis, and he's bloodthirsty. A group of goblins/orcs tries to kill the group as well.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.

Products & Purchases

Although there are no product placements in Middle-earth, the Tolkien books and Peter Jackson film adaptations have spawned a ton of merchandise: apparel, video games, LEGO toys and board games, role-playing games, special movie tie-in editions of the books, and more.

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

The dwarves are a voracious lot -- even more than hobbits. They ransack Bilbo's pantry and consume large quantities of drink (and food). Gandalf and Bilbo smoke the mellowing pipeweed.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, director Peter Jackson 's adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien's stand-alone quest through Middle-earth, is less violent than the scarier Lord of the Rings trilogy. But there are definitely some frightening sequences, like the battle between the dragon and the dwarves of Erebor, during which one character is decapitated, another has an arm amputated, and there's mass destruction. The group of Bilbo, Gandalf, and 13 dwarves is often tracked and pursued and nearly killed several times, but they manage to avoid death -- at least in this installment. Bilbo (like Frodo and his friends in the LOTR movies) again shows that size doesn't matter when it comes to making a difference. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails .

Where to Watch

Videos and photos.

Community Reviews

Parents say (52)
Kids say (233)

Based on 52 parent reviews

Suitable for kids IMO.

Definitely not as good as the book..., what's the story.

Peter Jackson's first installment in his three-part adaptation of J. R. R. Tolkien 's THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY starts off with an eleventy-one-year-old Bilbo Baggins (played once again by Ian Holm ) narrating the tale of how he, a mellow hobbit from the Shire, ended up enmeshed in a dangerous quest. Sixty years before The Fellowship of the Ring is formed, a considerably younger Bilbo ( Martin Freeman ) sets off an the titular Unexpected Journey with his friend Gandalf the Grey ( Ian McKellen ) to help 13 dwarves reclaim their homeland -- the kingdom of Erebor, which was taken over by a killer, gold-seeking dragon that forced the dwarves into exile. The motley crew, led by Gandalf and the smoldering heir to the Erebor throne, Thorin Oakenshield (Richard Armitage), encounter two-and-a-half hours of conflict (most notably with the bloodthirsty orcs) with a brief respite found in the elven homeland of Rivendell, where Galadriel ( Cate Blanchett ) offers Gandalf her unconditional support.

Is It Any Good?

Despite issues with length and pacing, there's no denying this is a production worth seeing, especially with kids new to Tolkien's detailed universe. As a novel, The Hobbit skews younger than The Lord of the Rings , so it's only natural that the film is also more accessible for tweens -- just have them look the other way for a few of the darker battle sequences. The story is simple enough, and the visuals are dazzling (the 48 frames per second rate is neither as spectacular or headache-inducing as rumors would have you believe). The acting is admirable, including the return of our favorite wizard, Gandalf, Lady of Lorien Galadriel, and head elf Elrond ( Hugo Weaving ). Unfortunately, the dwarves all sort of blend together in a tangle of hair and mischief, with the notable exception of the broody Thorin and his swashbuckling nephews, Fili and Kili (Dean O'Gorman and Aidan Turner).

The main issue with Jackson's adaptation is that the run time is brutal, even for hardcore fans of Jackson's epic LOTR trilogy. Whereas that trilogy made sense as three separate movies -- considering it was the adaptation of three books -- The Hobbit isn't a substantive enough work to demand three movies, even with Jackson pulling extra material from Tolkien's indices. The fabulous visuals and impressive action sequences reminiscent of the trilogy are bogged down by an overlong and overly thorough first quarter that could have used a considerable edit job.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about how The Hobbit compares to The Lord of the Rings . How are the stories similar (a hobbit joins a dangerous quest), and how are they different? Which adventure do you prefer?

For those familiar with the book , how does the movie adaptation differ? If you haven't read the book yet, does the movie make you want to delve into Tolkien's classic? Why do you think Tolkien's fantasy tale has withstood the test of time?

What does Bilbo learn about himself throughout the journey?

How do the characters in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey demonstrate curiosity and courage ? What about perseverance and teamwork ? Why are these important character strengths ?

Movie Details

In theaters : December 14, 2012
On DVD or streaming : March 19, 2013
Cast : Ian McKellen , Martin Freeman , Richard Armitage
Director : Peter Jackson
Inclusion Information : Gay actors
Studio : New Line
Genre : Fantasy
Topics : Magic and Fantasy , Adventures , Book Characters
Character Strengths : Courage , Curiosity , Perseverance , Teamwork
Run time : 166 minutes
MPAA rating : PG-13
MPAA explanation : extended sequences of intense fantasy action violence, and frightening images
Last updated : June 10, 2024

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

Suggest an Update

Our editors recommend.

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

Want personalized picks for your kids' age and interests?

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

The Hobbit (1977)

Best Fantasy Movies

Fantasy books for kids, related topics.

Perseverance
Magic and Fantasy
Book Characters

Want suggestions based on your streaming services? Get personalized recommendations

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

Screen Rant

'the hobbit: an unexpected journey' review.

Your changes have been saved

Email Is sent

Please verify your email address.

You’ve reached your account maximum for followed topics.

Where To Watch Horizon: An American Saga - Showtimes & Streaming Status

Jessica alba's new action movie with 20% rotten tomatoes score becomes global netflix hit, fast 11 can finally deliver fast & furious’ dream team-up after fast x wasted it, if the hobbit: an unexpected journey is any indication of what's to come, lord of the rings faithfuls have reason to be hopeful that the director will create another captivating round of adventures..

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is the first installment in Peter Jackson's new Middle-earth trilogy - once again based on the beloved fantasy world created by author J.R.R. Tolkien. After director Guillermo del Toro left the project, Jackson returned to the director's chair and expanded the would-be film series - originally conceived as a two-part adaptation of The Hobbit storyline - into a full-on Lord of the Rings prequel trilogy.

While the plot of Part 1, An Unexpected Journey , and Part 2, The Desolation of Smaug , offer a relatively straightforward storyline, the mystery surrounding Part 3, There and Back Again , has left many fans wondering if Jackson and New Line Cinema sacrificed a quality Hobbit adaptation in favor of a third opportunity for box office earnings.

There and Back Again is set for release in summer 2014, so it'll be awhile before we can definitively weigh in on that trilogy decision; however, if The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is any indication of what's to come, Lord of the Rings faithfuls have reason to be hopeful that the director will create another captivating round of adventures in Middle-earth. An Unexpected Journey does not match the scale established in Lord of the Rings , but there are still plenty of eye-popping visuals, enchanting action set-pieces, and intriguing character cameos, to prevent the film from being the underwhelming (and cheesy) experience that some skeptics were anticipating. In fact, the more intimate storyline, centered around reluctant/adventure-loving hobbit Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman), his thirteen dwarf companions, and the renowned Gandalf the Grey (Ian McKellen), often outshines similar plot beats from The Fellowship of the Ring .

In The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey , a pre- Lord of the Rings Bilbo Baggins has abandoned his thirst for adventure in favor of a safe and comfortable life in The Shire. For years, Bilbo has preferred the quiet of Bag End, his Hobbit-hole, a well-stocked pantry, and the warmth of his fireplace to the beauty and terrors of the lands beyond his home - until Gandalf the Grey knocks on his door.

The wizard invites the hobbit on a quest to help a band of dwarves retake their homeland, The Lonely Mountain, from a ruthless and dangerous dragon, Smaug. Unwilling to resist the chance for adventure, Bilbo agrees to accompany the group, which is led by Thorin Oakenshield (Richard Armitage), heir to the King Under the Mountain crown. The company faces challenge after challenge, and - unbeknownst to even the wise Gandalf - bears first witness to a dangerous sequence of events that will haunt the next generation of hobbits, dwarves, elves, and men.

Unsurprisingly, there are several similarities between An Unexpected Journey and The Fellowship of the Ring , most notably the core premise (a ragtag group of heroes on a life-or-death quest through the wilds of Middle-earth); however, Jackson's latest installment is differentiated by a number of smart filmmaking choices and solid character dynamics that were present in the Tolkien source material - especially the multifaceted Bilbo Baggins.

Freeman gives a sharp and charming performance as the brave hobbit - adding nuance to a role that draws stark contrast to Elijah Wood's turn as Frodo (who enjoys an especially light-hearted cameo return). Unlike the Lord of the Rings protagonist, Bilbo revels in his adventure - even when he's in over his head - with a solid balance of wit, humor, and bravery that translates into genuinely entertaining (as well as emotionally impactful) scenes. Even though the tone of The Hobbit novel is a bit lighter compared to Lord of the Rings , the film version of Bilbo easily fits into Jackson's darker overarching movie universe - which should be a relief to viewers that were put-off by the rowdy dwarf antics that have dominated the movie adaptation's marketing.

In fact, the dwarves successfully walk a very fine line between jolly goofballs and downright tough-as-nails warriors. Many of their respective combat sequences aren't just exciting, they include unique action beats that are especially impressive when you take into consideration the blend of camera tricks, CGI, and practical prosthetics used to make onscreen interactions look believable when dwarf, goblin, hobbit, and wizard parts all collide in battle. A flashback sequence that establishes Thorin as the leader of the dwarf company is especially impressive, and could rival fan-favorite battles from Return of the King - cementing the character as one of the toughest brawlers in Middle-earth.

Several subtle (and some not-so subtle) changes lead to tense and exciting action sequences, complete with imaginative visual spectacle, helping to ratchet up the relatively modest Hobbit source material storyline - and produce a film experience that matches the thrill and breadth of the original film trilogy. That said, franchise fans will also appreciate many iconic character moments in An Unexpected Journey - notably the fateful game of riddles between Bilbo and Gollum (Andy Serkis). Jackson manages to provide even the quietest scenes with weight - as certain developments carry impact far beyond the short-term Hobbit -centric storyline.

Unfortunately, not all of the Hobbit / Lord of the Rings bridging serves the story at hand - resulting in a lengthy film (169 minutes) that contains a few overlong or disjointed scenes. All of the Lord of the Rings foreshadowing is interesting, but at times it undercuts the importance of the current objective (Smaug and the Lonely Mountain). It's clear that The Hobbit story could have likely been told in two films and, as a result, viewers will probably be mixed on the success of the bridging scenes in An Unexpected Journey , The Desolation of Smaug , as well as There and Back Again ; however, the extra content hardly undermines the quality of Jackson's latest effort - even for especially cynical moviegoers.

Adding to the controversy is the director's choice to shoot in 48 frames-per-second - a format that results in hyper-realistic visuals but, as many filmmakers argue, is so true-to-life that it can actually be a distraction - depriving filmgoers of immersion. We've put together a separate editorial discussing the successes and shortcomings of The Hobbit in 48fps but, with regard to a review recommendation, without question the format is worth experiencing - if for no other reason than to form your own opinion (assuming there's a HFR 3D-ready theater near you). 48fps can be disorienting at first, but An Unexpected Journey makes smart use of the presentation - delivering a number of jaw-dropping visual set pieces. There are plenty of movies that we would not want to see in 48fps and, much like 3D, filmmakers should be smart about when to use and avoid the format, but Jackson's Hobbit movie is a worthy (and encouraging) trial run.

In the long run, The Hobbit prequels could be weakened by Jackson's expanded three film plan, but if Part 2 and Part 3 are as enjoyable as An Unexpected Journey , it'll be hard for moviegoers to complain. The film includes everything that made the original Lord of the Rings trilogy so memorable - action-adventure, charm, humor, and breath-taking fantasy battles. Sure, a few extemporaneous Lord of the Rings elements slow things down and distract from the core Hobbit storyline, but overall, the director has once again presented audiences with a captivating and exciting trip to Middle-earth.

If you’re still on the fence about The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey , check out the trailer below:

[poll id="477"]

Let us know what you thought of the film in the comment section below. If you’ve seen the movie and want to discuss details about the film without worrying about spoiling it for those who haven’t seen it, please head over to our Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Spoilers Discussion .

For an in-depth discussion of the film by the Screen Rant editors check out our Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey episode of the SR Underground podcast .

Follow me on Twitter @ benkendrick for future reviews, as well as movie, TV, and gaming news.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is rated PG-13 for extended sequences of intense fantasy action violence, and frightening images. Now playing in 2D, 3D, IMAX, and 48fps theaters.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

As Bilbo Baggins celebrates his 111th birthday, he recounts the extraordinary journey that changed his life. Guided by the enigmatic wizard Gandalf, Bilbo joins a band of Dwarves on a perilous quest to reclaim their homeland from the fearsome dragon, Smaug. Along the way, they face treacherous foes, unearth long-buried secrets, and discover unexpected courage within themselves. With danger lurking at every turn, Bilbo's adventure unfolds in a tale of friendship, sacrifice, and the enduring power of hope.

Movie Reviews
4 star movies

When you purchase through Movies Anywhere , we bring your favorite movies from your connected digital retailers together into one synced collection. Join Now

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey | Full Movie | Movies Anywhere

See Retailers

Special Features

New zealand: home of middle-earth, the stone trolls, video blogs, theatrical trailers, game trailers, rotten tomatoes® score.

This is a cinematic world so fully realized that leaving it is a sad prospect.

A wonderfully satisfying fantasy adventure that not only connects to the previous films, but charts its own ground with great effectiveness.

When it comes to the fantasy genre, it really doesn't get more epic than this.

This is a film for true Tolkien connoisseurs.

In the end you're left wondering how it went that way, and how in the hell are they going to squeeze two more movies out of this?

'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey' is an expected journey that radiates entertainment, majesty and wonder. [Full review in Spanish]

While it doesn't have the same sense of urgency and darkness as the LOTR trilogy, An Unexpected Journey is a fun and welcomed adventure, filled with humor, spectacular visuals and great action sequences. [Full review in Spanish]

Despite a few minor flaws, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is a superb (and suitably epic) addition to Peter Jackson's past adaptations of Tolkien's work. See it in 3D and 48fps for the ultimate experience.

It feels more scattershot than Jackson's prior films, a pastiche of set pieces that don't add up to a unified story.

It feels much like a gentler, more humorous and watered-down version of The Fellowship of the Ring.

Additional Info

Genre : Action, Fantasy, Drama
Release Date : December 14, 2012
Languages : English, Spanish
Captions : English, Spanish
Audio Format : 5.1

You Might Also Like...

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (Extended Edition)

New Releases

In Restless Dreams: The Music of Paul Simon

Log in or sign up for Rotten Tomatoes

Trouble logging in?

By continuing, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from the Fandango Media Brands .

By creating an account, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes and to receive email from the Fandango Media Brands .

By creating an account, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes.

Email not verified

Let's keep in touch.

Sign up for the Rotten Tomatoes newsletter to get weekly updates on:

Upcoming Movies and TV shows
Trivia & Rotten Tomatoes Podcast
Media News + More

By clicking "Sign Me Up," you are agreeing to receive occasional emails and communications from Fandango Media (Fandango, Vudu, and Rotten Tomatoes) and consenting to Fandango's Privacy Policy and Terms and Policies . Please allow 10 business days for your account to reflect your preferences.

OK, got it!

What's the Tomatometer®?
Login/signup

Movies in theaters

Opening this week
Top box office
Coming soon to theaters
Certified fresh movies

Movies at home

Fandango at Home
Netflix streaming
Prime Video
Most popular streaming movies
What to Watch New

Certified fresh picks

A Quiet Place: Day One Link to A Quiet Place: Day One
Inside Out 2 Link to Inside Out 2
The Devil's Bath Link to The Devil's Bath

New TV Tonight

The Bear: Season 3
My Lady Jane: Season 1
Land of Women: Season 1
Orphan Black: Echoes: Season 1
That '90s Show: Season 2
Savage Beauty: Season 2
WondLa: Season 1
Zombies: The Re-Animated Series: Season 1

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Reviews

This is a cinematic world so fully realized that leaving it is a sad prospect.

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/4 | Sep 20, 2022

A wonderfully satisfying fantasy adventure that not only connects to the previous films, but charts its own ground with great effectiveness.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Aug 21, 2022

When it comes to the fantasy genre, it really doesn't get more epic than this.

Full Review | Original Score: 9/10 | Dec 1, 2020

This is a film for true Tolkien connoisseurs.

Full Review | Original Score: 2.0/4.0 | Sep 10, 2020

In the end you're left wondering how it went that way, and how in the hell are they going to squeeze two more movies out of this?

Full Review | Original Score: C | Jul 14, 2020

'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey' is an expected journey that radiates entertainment, majesty and wonder. [Full review in Spanish]

Full Review | Original Score: 7/10 | Jun 25, 2020

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | May 30, 2020

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Feb 15, 2020

It feels more scattershot than Jackson's prior films, a pastiche of set pieces that don't add up to a unified story.

Full Review | Original Score: 3.2/5 | Nov 14, 2019

It feels much like a gentler, more humorous and watered-down version of The Fellowship of the Ring.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Oct 31, 2019

If The Hobbit does become a huge hit, winning fans beyond the loyalists, it won't be the first bad movie to score at the box-office.

Full Review | Aug 6, 2019

As Bilbo Baggins, Martin Freeman... is a perfect mix of innocent wide-eyed wonder-filled man child and stodgy stick in the mud.

Full Review | Jul 30, 2019

A grand cinematic spectacle that demands our full surrender but doesn't overwhelm its simple tale of courage with its spectacular special effects.

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/4 | Jun 8, 2019

For the most part I found the whole excursion to be rather dull. The action is absent in long stretches, with what feels like an endless string of backstories.

Full Review | Apr 11, 2019

As the camera panned down over Hobbiton, the clarity of the colors and costumes made the scene look like a local RenFair-except, not even as gritty as that.

Full Review | Mar 3, 2019

The Hobbit is a long and bumpy walk worth taking.

Full Review | Feb 26, 2019

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is a very good two-hour film buried within a meandering 166 minutes.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Feb 20, 2019

The results aren't quite so resonant, but the right notes are still being played, and we certainly come away fond enough of the characters and invested enough in their world to want to come back for more when it's ready.

Full Review | Original Score: B+ | Jan 30, 2019

Bret MacKenzie returns as FIGWIT and it's about as jarring as Ed Sheeran in Game of Thrones but it's still good.

Full Review | Jan 14, 2019

It makes sense for Peter Jackson to want to fill out his canvas. Film can show certain things that prose cannot (and vice versa, obviously).

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is the first film of The Hobbit film trilogy , lasting 3 hours and 2 minutes. It was directed by Peter Jackson , who previously had directed The Lord of the Rings film trilogy . It was a major box office success, grossing over $1.017 billion worldwide. The film is the fourth Middle-earth film adaptation to be released, and the first chronologically.

Martin Freeman portrays a young Bilbo Baggins and Ian Holm reprises his role as an older Bilbo Baggins. Ian McKellen and Andy Serkis reprise their roles as Gandalf and Gollum , respectively, as do Hugo Weaving and Cate Blanchett , as Elrond and Galadriel .

The character of Radagast the Brown appears in the movie and is portrayed by Sylvester McCoy , who had been known mostly for his portrayal as the seventh incarnation of The Doctor on Doctor Who .

2 Memorable quotes
3 Development
4.3 Extended Edition only
4.4.1 Men of Dale
4.4.2 Dwarves of the Lonely Mountains
4.4.3 Mirkwood Elves
4.4.4 Hobbits of the Shire
4.4.5 Hunter Orcs
4.4.6 Elves of Rivendell
4.4.7 Goblins
5 Appearances and mentions
7 Extended Edition
10 Translations
11 References
12 External links

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 . [1]

Memorable quotes [ ]

Gandalf: Agreed. "

Development [ ]

Credits [ ].

Ian McKellen as Gandalf
Martin Freeman as Bilbo Baggins
Richard Armitage as Thorin II Oakenshield
Ken Stott as Balin
Graham McTavish as Dwalin
William Kircher as Bifur
James Nesbitt as Bofur
Stephen Hunter as Bombur
Dean O'Gorman as Fíli
Aidan Turner as Kíli
John Callen as Óin
Peter Hambleton as Glóin
Jed Brophy as Nori
Mark Hadlow as Dori
Adam Brown as Ori
Ian Holm as Old Bilbo
Elijah Wood as Frodo Baggins
Hugo Weaving as Elrond
Cate Blanchett as Galadriel
Christopher Lee as Saruman
Andy Serkis as Gollum
Sylvester McCoy as Radagast
Barry Humphries as Great Goblin
Jeffrey Thomas as Thrór
Michael Mizrahi as Thráin
Lee Pace as Thranduil
John Rawls as Yazneg
Stephen Ure as Fimbul
Timothy Bartlett as Master Worrywort
William Kircher as Tom
Peter Hambleton as Bert
Mark Hadlow as William
Bret McKenzie as Lindir
Stephen Ure as Grinnah
Kiran Shah as Goblin Scribe
Manu Bennett as Azog
Conan Stevens as Gundabad Orc Chieftain
Benedict Cumberbatch as Smaug and Necromancer
Glenn Boswell as Dwarf Miner
Thomas Robins as Young Thráin

Extended Edition only [ ]

Luke Evans as Girion
Dan Hennah as The Old Took
Stephen Gledhill as Old Gammidge
Tim Gordon as Old Hob
Oscar Strik as Little Bilbo
Sonia Forbes-Adam as Belladonna (Took) Baggins
Erin Banks as Lobelia Sackville-Baggins
Brian Hotter as Otho Sackville-Baggins
Eric Vespe as Fredegar Chubb
Mervyn Smith as Tosser Grubb
Ruby Acevedo as "Cute Young Hobbit"
Katie Jackson
Honor McTavish
Louis Serkis
Ruby Serkis
Sonny Serkis

Uncredited [ ]

Men of dale [ ].

Mary Nesbitt
Peggy Nesbitt
Many unknowns

Dwarves of the Lonely Mountains [ ]

Peter Jackson
Jabez Olssen
James Wells
Richard Whiteside

Mirkwood Elves [ ]

Brendan Casey
Cameron Jones
Carl Van Room
Few unknowns

Hobbits of the Shire [ ]

Joan Z. Dawe
Melissa Kern
Aaron Morgan
Kaela Morgan
Ravi Narayan

Hunter Orcs [ ]

Frazer Anderson
George Harach
Christian Hipolito
Ane Kirkeng Jørgensen
Joseph Mika-Hunt
Elliot Travers

Elves of Rivendell [ ]

Jared Blakiston
Shane Boulton
Melanie Carrington
Andrew Fitzsimons
Luke Hawker
Dean Knowsley
Luke Wilson

Goblins [ ]

Renee Cataldo
Ben Fransham
Tim McLahlan
Nathan Meister
Terry Notary
Thomas Rimmer
James Trevena-Brown
Mark Trotter

Appearances and mentions [ ]

Species and creatures

Factions, groups and titles

Objects and artifacts

Miscellanea

Sir Ian McKellen as Gandalf the Grey, in a photo from the set of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)

Deviations from the book [ ]

[1] Elijah Wood appears briefly as Frodo Baggins , while this character does not appear in the book. However, his appearance is purely a cameo as the set-up for the movie, as the Red Book of Westmarch is being written and read by Bilbo, shortly before the start of The Fellowship of the Ring .
The Dwarves do not arrive in order (first Dwalin, then Balin, then Kíli and Fíli, then Óin, Glóin, Dori, Nori, Ori, Bifur, Bofur, and Bombur all at once, and then Thorin arrives significantly later) and they do not have their multi-colored hoods or beards as they did in the book.
Bilbo was shown to be allergic to Horses .
The Dwarves surrender when the Trolls threaten to rip Bilbo in two instead of being overpowered and popped into bags.
Bilbo goes to the Trolls because they steal the Dwarves' ponies.
In the book, it was Gandalf that stalled the trolls until they turned into stone. This was done by Bilbo in the film.
The trolls' cave is wide open, and there is no locked door blocking it.
In the book, Bilbo finds Sting and takes it. In the film, Gandalf comes upon it and gives it to Bilbo.
The group is attacked by Orcs on the way to Rivendell , just after the Trolls sequence in the movie. This did not happen in the book.
Radagast the Brown aids the Dwarves in escaping the Orc Warg-riders near Rivendell. In contrast, Radagast did not appear in the book at all, and there is only one mention of him.
Radagast investigates the darkness of Mirkwood, and at Dol Guldur encounters the Necromancer and the Witch-king of Angmar , with whom he briefly duels and from whom he takes a Morgul Blade. In contrast, Tolkien never wrote of any such incident.
Azog has survived the War of the Dwarves and Orcs in which he was wounded by Thorin, who cut off his arm, and hunts Thorin Oakenshield and his followers. In contrast, in the Tolkien literature Azog was beheaded by Thorin's cousin Dáin Ironfoot in the Battle of Azanulbizar , well before the events of The Hobbit . The events of leading to and included in the battle are also altered: Thrór leads an army to Moria to reclaim it as opposed to investigating it with a single companion, and he is beheaded during the battle while in the books this occurred several years beforehand. The origin of Thorin's name of Oakenshield is taken from the appendices of The Return of the King , but here takes place during battle with Azog and involves him picking up an oaken branch rather than cutting it off a tree.
While at Rivendell with Thorin's party, Gandalf meets with Elrond , Galadriel , and Saruman (the film's version of the White Council ) and relates Radagast's news about Mirkwood, but Saruman discounts Radagast's news about the Necromancer, who he says must be no more than a human pretending to be a wizard. This conflicts with Tolkien's version, in which the White Council already knew that the Necromancer was Sauron and was at Dol Guldur , since Gandalf had already confirmed this 89 years earlier, and Saruman had discovered two years earlier (although he did not inform the Council of this) that Sauron had learned of Isildur 's loss of the One Ring at the Gladden Fields by the river Anduin and his servants were searching the area. Accordingly, in Tolkien's original version, in the year of the events of The Hobbit , Saruman finally agreed to an attack on Dol Guldur because he wanted to prevent Sauron from finding the Ring. [2]
There is no mention of Galadriel in the book, although she is part of the White Council.
At the White Council meeting, Galadriel relates how the Witch-king of Angmar, after his defeat near Fornost , had been killed and sealed in a tomb in that could not be opened in the High Fells . This is a serious departure from canon (Tolkien's writings), in which the Witch-king had not died, but fled. In fact, Glorfindel had stopped pursuit of the Witch-king and prophesied, "Do not pursue him! He will not return to these lands. Far off yet is his doom, and not by the hand of man will he fall." [3] This prophecy, of course, was the basis for the later dramatic moment in The Lord of the Rings in which Éowyn was able to kill the Witch-king because she was not a man. This prophecy no longer makes sense if the Witch-king had already been killed and is now (as Saruman implies) just a spirit raised by a necromancer who could "summon the dead." Furthermore, per Tolkien the White Council knew the Witch-king had not been killed because he and the rest of the Nazgûl had previously been fighting with Gondor and had captured (and presumably killed) the last King of Gondor at Minas Morgul in TA 2050, long after he had fled Fornost [2] . It is possible, however, that the Ringwraiths could not die due to their Wraith nature and were imprisoned in the tombs, and only Sauron had the power to call them forth. As for how they presumably killed the last King of Gondor , Galadriel never specifically says if the other Ringwraiths were sealed in the High Fells along with the Witch-king when Angmar fell. So it is possible that the other Ringwraiths challenged and killed Eärnur , and were defeated and sealed with their leader centuries later.
When traveling along the mountain pass, Bilbo observes the stone-giants hurling rocks at a distance, "across the valley." Bilbo and his companions take refuge under a hanging rock during the thunderstorm (thunder-battle), but are never involved in the stone-giants' game.
In the book, it was Bilbo that alerted the party when the trapdoors in the Front Porch open. In the film, the Dwarves realize this just as they fall into the hole.
In the book, the Goblins only had tunnels, not rope bridges.
In the book, Bilbo is with the Dwarves when they are taken to the Great Goblin and later rescued by Gandalf. In the film, Bilbo is separated from the group and falls to Gollum's cave before the Dwarves are taken to the Great Goblin.
In the book The Hobbit , as in the prologue to The Fellowship of the Ring film , Bilbo Baggins finds the One Ring by chance when his hand happens to fall upon it as he is crawling through one of the dark Goblin-town tunnels, well before he comes across Gollum. In this film, Bilbo sees Gollum fighting with a Goblin and we see Gollum drop the Ring during the fight.
Gollum has six teeth in the book, not nine.
In the book, when Gollum and Bilbo were playing the game of riddles, the cave was pitch black and Bilbo could only see Gollum's glowing eyes and hear his voice echoing through the walls of the cave. In the film, the cave was partly lit up and Bilbo could see Gollum entirely.
In the book, Gandalf saves the Dwarves in the goblin cave with a storm of burning smoke and instantly slays the Goblin King with his blade. In the film, the Goblin King is merely knocked aside in this scene (though many of his minions die in the telekinetic blast), and slain later on.
In the film, Gandalf does not use multi-colored fire when lighting the pine cones.

Extended Edition [ ]

The extended edition of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey was released on October 22 , 2013 for digital downloads and November 5 2013 for hard copies. It includes these scenes:

The introduction. The Elvenking Thranduil is given more screen time. He approaches the throne while Thráin gestures for a Dwarf to show Thranduil a chest of gems. As Thranduil looks entranced and reaches for it, the Dwarf closes the lid. Bard's ancestor Girion is given screen time. He is seen behind his Wind lance attempting to shoot down Smaug during the dragon's attack on Dale .
Bilbo's introduction to himself. A flashback wherein a young hobbit boy comes running up to Gandalf and plays with him. His mother Belladonna runs after him and acknowledges Gandalf as an old friend.
After Bilbo meets Gandalf on the front bench, he buys supper from Hobbiton while suspiciously looking around everywhere to make sure Gandalf is not around.
Kíli glances over to a female Elf in Rivendell and winks at her. Dwalin sees him and Kíli begins making excuses. In one of his excuses, he mistakenly calls another male Elf a female and Dwalin corrects him. The rest of the Dwarves laugh much to Kíli's embarrassment.
While eating, Nori and Óin complain about the song played by the Elf musicians. Bofur climbs up a platform and begins singing. The other Dwarves join in and start throwing food around. Elrond and Lindir look surprised and angry about Dwarves activities because they start throwing fruit to Elrond, Lindir and Bofur but they say nothing about it.
Bilbo is wandering around Rivendell during the daytime. He approaches the statue holding the shards of Narsil before a particular painting catches his eye. The painting depicts Isildur about to cut the One Ring from Sauron's hand. Bilbo is particularly interested in the One Ring on Sauron's hand.
A conversation between Bilbo and Elrond in Rivendell. Elrond also welcomes Bilbo to stay in Rivendell if he wishes.
Lindir complains to Elrond about the Dwarves' behavior. They find them swimming in a large fountain.
Gandalf and Elrond further discuss Thorin and Company's quest. Elrond voices his concern of Thorin himself, since both his grandfather and father succumbed to madness. Bilbo and Thorin overhear this conversation.
At the White Council, Gandalf brings up the fact that the Ring of Power once owned by Thorin's father mysteriously vanished. Saruman dismisses this as it would be of no use since all believe the One Ring was lost long ago.
A new song from the goblin king and longer interrogation.

Bilbo in Rivendell with the Dwarves

Guillermo del Toro was originally on board to direct, but bowed out due to "ongoing delays in the setting of a start date for filming."
When it appeared Martin Freeman would not be available to play Bilbo in The Hobbit films due to scheduling conflicts with the BBC television series Sherlock , other actors such as James McAvoy and Tobey Maguire were considered. A false rumour was spread online that David Tennant was considered, but both Tennant and Jackson denied this. Tennant was actually considered for (and offered) the role of Thranduil but had to turn it down when his girlfriend discovered she was pregnant.
Ryan Gage was originally cast to play Drogo Baggins , father of Frodo Baggins . According to Peter Jackson , "Ryan is a great young actor who we originally cast in a small role, but we liked him so much, we promoted him to the much larger Alfrid part."
This is the only film in both The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings trilogies in which Legolas makes no appearance.
The scene when Bilbo first puts on the Ring is very similar to the scene in The Fellowship of the Ring where Frodo puts on the Ring in The Prancing Pony .
The filmmakers titled the project Little Rivers to aid in hiding the film's identity.
When a Giant Eagle grabs Thorin's unconscious body, his oak-log shield falls off his arm and is permanently left behind.
This was both the last film not distributed by Disney, Universal or Paramount and the last film distributed by Warner Bros . to gross $1 billion until the release of Aquaman in 2018.

Gallery [ ]

Translations [ ]

References [ ].

↑ https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0903624/
↑ 2.0 2.1 The Lord of the Rings , Appendix B
↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings , Appendix A (I, iv).

External links [ ]

Official site of The Hobbit films
Trailer for the movie
Differences between the book and the film Art
Lord of the Rings
3 Aragorn II

an image, when javascript is unavailable

The Definitive Voice of Entertainment News

Subscribe for full access to The Hollywood Reporter

site categories

‘the hobbit: an unexpected journey’: first trailer introduces young bilbo baggins and dwarves (video).

Martin Freeman and Ian Holm play the younger and older Bilbo, respectively, in Peter Jackson's movie; his "Lord of the Rings" stars Cate Blanchett and Ian McKellen also appear in the newly released clip.

By Pip Bulbeck

Pip Bulbeck

Share on Facebook
Share to Flipboard
Send an Email
Show additional share options
Share on LinkedIn
Share on Pinterest
Share on Reddit
Share on Tumblr
Share on Whats App
Print the Article
Post a Comment

'The Hobbit: Unexpected Journey': First Trailer Introduces Young Bilbo Baggins and Dwarves (Video)

Martin Freeman stars as Bilbo Baggins.

SYDNEY — Director Peter Jackson and Warner Bros. have provided a sneak peak at what will be one of the most anticipated releases of 2012, with the trailer of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey debuting online Tuesday, 12 months out from the film’s release.

Returning to Middle Earth after more than a decade, the trailer for the first of the two Hobbit films introduces the new cast of Bilbo Baggins ( Martin Freeman ) and the company of dwarves led by Thorin Oakensheild ( Richard Armitage ) and sees the return of some old friends, including the older Bilbo Baggins ( Ian Holm ), Gandalf ( Ian McKellen ), Galadriel and Gollum.

PHOTOS: ‘The Hobbit:’ Peter Jackson Releases Official Dwarves Photo

It opens with the older Bilbo telling about his adventures at home in Bag End, saying “I can honestly say I’ve told you the truth. … I may not have told you all of it.”

It then shows Gandalf challenging the younger Bilbo: “I’m looking for someone to share an adventure.”

Gandalf introduces each of the dwarves to Bilbo, culminating with Thorin, who then starts to chant the dwarves song, which overlays vignettes of what promises to be their epic travels to Rivendell, where Gandalf meets with Galadriel ( Cate Blanchett ), Dal Guldur and through the Misty Mountains to Gollum’s cave with a requisite sword fight and a hint of danger from Orcs along the way.

PHOTOS: ‘The Hobbit’: Get A First Look At Bilbo and Gandalf

Thorin tells Gandalf that “I cannot guarantee your safety, nor will I be responsible for his fate” and Bilbo asks Gandalf. “You promise that I will come back?”

“No,” says Gandalf. “But if you do you will not be the same.”

The two-and-a-half minute trailer finishes with a glimpse of the ring and Bilbo meeting Gollum in what appears to be the dankness of Gollum’s cave and Gollum asking, “Bagginses, what is the Bagginess precious?”

What it doesn’t show, and which will become apparent to those who will see the trailer in 3D in the coming weeks, is the detail given by the decision to shoot the film at 48 frames per second. Jackson has spoken at length about how immersive the 3D experience at 48 frames per second is in his production videos.

STORY: ‘The Hobbit’ ‘Like a Family Reunion’ for Elijah Wood

Fans worldwide from the U.S. and Canada to Brazil, Germany, Spain and, of course, Australia and New Zealand, were online to watch the trailer as it debuted at 7 p.m. PST, with Ian McKellen (@ ianmckellen118 ) tweeting the trailer’s release about 15 minutes ahead of scheduled time.

Responses for the most part were wildly positive. They included:

@ DarthRachel ahhh! just jumped up and down clapping while watching # thehobbit trailer! what a way to cap off the 10 years since FOTR!

THR COVER STORY: Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson: The Titans Behind ‘The Adventures of Tintin’

@_Richie_Gray i love you peter jackson. makes cinema feel special. feel warm, fuzzy, excited. beautiful trailer from a beautiful man. # thehobbit.

@ DeusExCinema Great that Ian Holm made The Hobbit trailer. A little Galadriel is nice (and confusing) too, but hooray for Ian Holm!

@ damnnearpoetic Richard Armitage manages to look good as a dwarf. AND he sings. Oh yeah.

More from The Hollywood Reporter

‘black panther’ star letitia wright teases more shuri: “a lot coming up”, mark wahlberg plays psychotic mob hitman in mel gibson’s ‘flight risk’ trailer, box office forecast: ‘twisters’ tracking for major $40m-$55m u.s. opening, aubrey plaza and maisy stella go tripping in ‘my old ass’ trailer, karlovy vary: clive owen to guest on thr’s ‘awards chatter’ podcast live from fest, ‘a quiet place: day one’ review: lupita nyong’o navigates a waking nightmare for a pizza in nail-biting horror prequel.

The Ending Of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Explained

Although it made more than a billion dollars at the box office , "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" is the least heralded and most forgotten of "The Hobbit" trilogy in many ways. Since J.R.R. Tolkien's much slimmer book was adapted into three epic movies, with some supplemental material pulled from "The Silmarillon" and other places, "An Unexpected Journey" was destined to have kind of a patchwork, odd pace to it. This is even before Guillermo del Toro pulled out of directing the trilogy not long before filming before, forcing Peter Jackson to step in and direct himself instead of just producing and co-writing.

Although even Jackson himself will admit that all three movies are kind of a mess , they're still impeccably made films that offer pleasures of their own. "An Unexpected Journey" returned us, nearly a decade after "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King," to the lush, grandiose vision of Middle-earth that Jackson and his collaborators had established, and star Martin Freeman is perfectly cast as a younger Bilbo Baggins for the long-awaited chronicle of his adventure. If you're not a "Lord of the Rings" scholar, some of the developments in the nearly three-hour first installment might be hard to track, or perhaps you want to skip it and get straight to the more dynamic action in the second installment, "The Desolation of Smaug." Whatever your reason, here is the ending of "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" explained.

No place amongst us

The only real story progression in "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" is regarding Bilbo's motivation for joining the quest. The movie seems to rely on us having seen the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy to understand that Hobbits generally don't prefer to sign up for outlandish adventures, and Bilbo spends the entire movie fighting an internal battle between the two sides of his heritage. As the latest in a long line of respectable Bagginses at Bag End, he knows he'll be the talk of Hobbiton if he joins the dwarves on their quest. But as Gandalf (Ian McKellan) points out, he's also "the son of Belladonna Took," and much more prone to wildness on her side. Ultimately, when the dwarves leave without him, this side wins and he rushes to join them.

Thorin Oakenshield (Richard Armitage) , the leader of the party, takes the entirety of the movie to accept that this obviously fake "burglar" belongs with the party in the first place. As Thorin rightfully points out, Bilbo often whimpers and wishes to be home in his comfortable bed, and at first serves little purpose to the company other than preventing them from having an unlucky 13 members. Even though Bilbo shows a little cunning in outsmarting the Trolls, Thorin isn't convinced that he belongs until Bilbo takes up arms and slays an Orc to save Thorin's life.

The White Council

When the party arrives at Rivendell around the halfway point of "An Unexpected Journey," Gandalf is somewhat surprised to find that Galadriel (Cate Blanchett), one of the rulers of the Elves of Lothlorien, is already there, apparently summoned on the authority of his fellow wizard Saruman the White (Christopher Lee). Once again, the movie assumes we already knows who these characters are, in addition to Elrond (Hugo Weaving), but doesn't explain how Saruman has the standing to summon lords of the Elves together. Just like "The Fellowship of the Ring," the meeting has an aura of official business about it.

It's because all of these characters are members of the White Council, a body convened thousands of years ago to deal with the evil lord Sauron the first time that he threatened Middle-earth. Saruman, at the time, was chosen to head the Council despite Galadriel's wish to have Gandalf in charge. Granted, this is all deep backstory from "The Silmarillion," but "An Unexpected Journey" asks viewers to listen to quite a bit of a White Council meeting without making the purpose of the group or the power structure all that clear. It's evident that Saruman is stuck in obstinate complacency, while Galadriel and Gandalf communicate in secret glances.

Radagast the Brown

He might not be as powerful as Gandalf or Saruman, but "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" sees the triumphant cinematic debut of the wizard Radagast the Brown (Sylvester McCoy). He's generally off screen and mentioned in passing in the "Lord of the Rings" books, existing mostly to pass messages from other parties to the more central Gandalf, but Radagast is a powerful and ancient wizard in his own right. He plays a key role in this movie by tipping off the White Council to the growing power of the Necromancer in Mirkwood.

Saruman's attitude when Radagast's name comes up in the meeting is actually a key indicator of the white wizard's shifting values and (spoiler alert) eventually turn toward evil in the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy. Since Saruman is beginning to lust for power and influence, he despises Radagast's communion with the natural world as fundamentally useless. He scoffs specifically that Radagast eats "too many mushrooms," as if Radagast is some sort of Middle-earth Timothy Leary who's lost his academic credibility by turning to psychedelics. Saruman's distaste for nature also subtly foreshadows his eventual undoing at the hands (or branches) of the Ents in "The Two Towers."

The Necromancer: serious threat or Scooby-Doo villain?

The subject of the White Council meeting is Radagast's terrifying glimpse of a new and powerful figure: the Necromancer. As the audience we're privy to his experience, in which what's definitely a ghost attempts to kill him with a (real?) sword. So it's pretty frustrating to hear Saruman's reaction. He seems to think that the Necromancer is just a mortal man that's dabbling in the dark arts — even if that's the case, it still seems like something that would be worth the White Council's time to investigate. An entity so dark and powerful that locals have started referring to the area as "Mirkwood" instead of "Greenwood" is cause for alarm no matter what its origin. As it is, Gandalf and Galadriel have to have their own meeting afterwards to get anything done.

"Lord of the Rings" fans that have done their reading are well aware that the Necromancer is of course Sauron in a semi-weakened form, although Saruman dismisses this possibility directly. Even though Sauron isn't generally known for raising the dead in the later books or movie trilogy, it seems he's dabbling in it during his time in Mirkwood to drum up fear and a general sense of foreboding over the land. Even though Saruman misses the point entirely, mission definitely accomplished on the foreboding front.

The map and the door

Though it's pretty clearly explained that Thorin's general quest is to reclaim his homeland, the kingdom under the Lonely Mountain known as Erebor, "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" rushes the explanation of the map he's inherited from his grandfather that will help him accomplish this. They take the map to Elrond in Rivendell, who happens to discover "moon writing" runes on it. Written by Thorin's grandfather Thror under a "silver broad crescent" moon, they can only be read under the exact same conditions. Fortunately, there's just such a moon on that exact same night, in the mother of all coincidences.

With this astounding luck, the runes reveal that on "Durin's Day" (essentially the last day of fall on the Dwarvish calendar), the last light of sunset will illuminate the keyhole of a secret door, as long as you're also standing "by the grey stone when the thrush knocks." How Thorin's grandfather knew that the bearer of the map could tell one grey stone from another, or that a thrush would knock at just the right moment, is unclear. It's also a bit confusing why Elrond had to decode this information when the map came from Thorin's own family. To be fair, it's been a hectic couple of centuries of vagrancy for all the dwarves of Erebor, so this information may have been scattered to the wind.

The Witch-King of Angmar

What makes Saruman's very "Voldemort isn't back"-esque stubbornness about the Necromancer even more disturbing is the blade that Radagast produces, a "morgul blade" that fell from the ghost that attacked him at Dol Guldur. The blade and the ghost are another giant Easter Egg for "Lord of the Rings" fans: it's none other than the Witch-King of Angmar, the leader of Sauron's nine creepy undead wraiths known as Nazgul in the later trilogy, usually seen cloaked in black and riding black horses. In "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey," the Witch-King is merely an apparition, as Sauron in his guise as the Necromancer isn't yet strong enough to give either himself or his most trusted servant physical form.

In any case, the blade is very real, and physical proof that the tomb of the Witch-King has been disturbed after 400 years. Even though the White Council discusses how unlikely it is, the blade combined with Radagast's eyewitness testimony seems more than compelling. Saruman nonetheless overrules it and Gandalf decides not to follow up on the entire Necromancer situation. If only the White Council held biannual elections for the top spot like a union delegation.

Is Galadriel a projection?

One of the more confusing moments in "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" is a quick scene between Gandalf and Galadriel. After the largely unproductive White Council meeting, the two share a few more words on the recent Middle-earth troubles before parting ways. Instead of saying goodbye, Galadriel abruptly vanishes when Gandalf looks back up at where she was standing. Was she a projection? Is that a power that Elves have that we just weren't aware of in any of the other movies? Has she taken to silently swinging away via grappling hook mid-conversation like Batman?

One possible explanation is that it's a power of Nenya, one of the three rings given to the Elf-lords back when the Ring of Power was forged. Nenya has powers of concealment, although invisibility, like that granted by the One Ring, is never specifically mentioned as one of its effects. Galadriel has also flashed telepathic powers throughout the extended "Lord of the Rings" story, so it's not out of the question that she was somehow attending the meeting without her physical form. But it would be a bit of a stretch, based on both what we know of elven powers in the films and in Tolkien's universe. As it is, it's a small and inscrutable moment in "An Unexpected Journey" that we just have to sit with. Maybe it's just that Gandalf has been smoking a little too much pipe-weed from the Shire after all.

One ring to not even mention

The most fateful moment in "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" is when Bilbo happens upon a golden ring in the caverns under the Misty Mountains. He accidentally puts it on, only to discover that it makes him invisible to the nefarious Gollum (Andy Serkis). "Lord of the Rings" fans recognize this immediately as the One Ring to rule them all, the key to Sauron's power. With Sauron in his still-weakened state off in Mirkwood, Bilbo has a much more relaxed time using the ring than his nephew Frodo will have in the future, as he's not troubled by any visions of Sauron's fiery, unblinking eye. It's doubtful that Sauron is even aware of its discovery at this point in time.

It's also key that Bilbo chooses not to reveal the ring to the rest of Thorin's company. In the book version of "The Hobbit," this is because he's a little more interested in maintaining his fabricated reputation as a burglar capable of operating stealthily. But in "An Unexpected Journey," the moment is played differently: Martin Freeman expertly imitates a physical habit Ian Holm established as the older Bilbo and absentmindedly rubs the ring while it's in his pocket, indicating that the insidious power of the ring has already begun to work on him.

The moth/eagle emergency hotline

One of the most frequently complained about and generally confusing moments in the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy is the rescue at the end of "The Return of the King" by the Great Eagles. It won't help that "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" continues this tradition by also having the Eagles arrive just in the nick of time to save Thorin and company from Azog the Defiler at the end, nor that they're summoned almost in real time by Gandalf communicating with a moth, as he does in "The Fellowship of the Ring."

Generally the issue in both movie trilogies is that no time is devoted to explaining that the eagles are sentient, proud beings that have a special relationship with wizards in the theology of Middle-earth, and in fact are very similar to Gandalf himself in that they were sent to Middle-earth from the quasi-mythical realm of Valinor across the sea. In other words the eagles and wizards are somewhat angelic figures that serve higher purposes of destiny and fate in a sort of cosmic sense. As a result, like Gandalf himself, they often arrive just in the nick of time in a kind of inexorable fashion that it's better to just accept as part of fantasy storytelling than think too hard about.

When not to take a life

As Gandalf explains to Bilbo, true courage is knowing when not to take a life, not just when to take one. Bilbo's decision to spare the life of the wretched but pitiable Gollum will prove to be the most fateful act in the entire "Hobbit" trilogy. Even more than the fate of Smaug or the outcome of the Battle of Five Armies, Gollum's path will lead him all across Middle-earth and back, and eventually to the edge of the fires of Mount Doom and the One Ring's accidental destruction.

This act of mercy drives home a theme about Hobbits and their modest, peaceful instincts that's central to both trilogies. Even with the ring already working on his moral compass, Bilbo can't bring himself to kill the vile creature that wants to take it back from him — eventually Bilbo will become the only ringbearer to willingly part with the dreaded artifact when he passes it on to Frodo. In turn, Gollum, who was once a very Hobbit-like riverfolk named Smeagol, is key in keeping the ring hidden from Sauron for centuries. Even though he's fully under the ring's spell, he's content to hide away with it in caverns instead of seeking power of any sort.

Smaug and his Scrooge McDuck bath

The last image of "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey," just after Bilbo foolishly says that the "worst is behind" the traveling company, is a glimpse of the terror that awaits them in the next movie as we get a glimpse of the immense dragon Smaug. Sleeping under a literal mountain of gold, Smaug is disturbed by the knocking of a thrush, a portent of what's to come when the company arrives on Durin's Day to really cause him trouble.

It's well-established in Tolkien's world that dragons all have an insatiable lust for gold, sometimes to the exclusion of even food, but it's never quite explained why. Dragons were created by the dark lord Morgoth (Sauron's even more powerful original master) and set loose upon the world, so their lust for gold may have been a way to destabilize the kingdoms of dwarves and men en masse in Morgoth's campaign of terror. Centuries and centuries after Morgoth's defeat, Smaug still roams the earth and sets off the events of "The Hobbit" by storming Erebor.

Rent or buy
Categories Categories
Getting Started

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

Bundle and save, customers also watched.

Cast and Crew

41270 global ratings

How are ratings calculated? Toggle Expand Toggle Expand

Amazon Newsletter
About Amazon
Accessibility
Sustainability
Press Center
Investor Relations
Amazon Devices
Amazon Science
Sell on Amazon
Sell apps on Amazon
Supply to Amazon
Protect & Build Your Brand
Become an Affiliate
Become a Delivery Driver
Start a Package Delivery Business
Advertise Your Products
Self-Publish with Us
Become an Amazon Hub Partner
› See More Ways to Make Money
Amazon Visa
Amazon Store Card
Amazon Secured Card
Amazon Business Card
Shop with Points
Credit Card Marketplace
Reload Your Balance
Amazon Currency Converter
Your Account
Your Orders
Shipping Rates & Policies
Amazon Prime
Returns & Replacements
Manage Your Content and Devices
Recalls and Product Safety Alerts
Conditions of Use
Privacy Notice
Consumer Health Data Privacy Disclosure
Your Ads Privacy Choices

Join or Sign In

By joining TV Guide, you agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy .

TV Listings
Cast & Crew

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey - Full Cast & Crew

58 Metascore
2 hr 50 mins
Travel, Horror, Fantasy, Action & Adventure
Watchlist Where to Watch

Bilbo Baggins, Gandalf the wizard and a group of dwarves seek a dragon's treasure, and encounter a series of incredible obstacles over the course of their epic journey.

Screenwriter

Executive producer, co-producer, assoc. producer, cinematographer, production company, extra casting, art director, supervising art director, set decorator, sound/sound designer, sound mixer, supervising sound editor, sound effects, visual effects supervisor, visual effects, visual effects editor, production designer, first assistant director, unit production manager, post production supervisor, production coordinator, production supervisor, second assistant director, supervising animator, hair styles, consultant/advisor, camera operator, choreographer, second unit director, re-recording mixer, script supervisor, first assistant editor, prosthetic makeup effects, senior visual eff. supervisor, makeup supervisor.

The Hobbit: 20 Differences Between The Book & The Movies

From Gandalf seeking out Bilbo for the quest to the dwarven contract and Bilbo leaving Bag-End, key changes enhance the cinematic experience.
Film additions like the White Council and new characters like Tauriel and Azog add depth and dramatic tension, although some changes may divide fans.
Sting's history, Bilbo's age difference, and Frodo's cameo all depict divergences from the original book, shaping the cinematic adaptation.

When it comes to The Hobbit book vs movie there are many notable differences, and some are quite surprising. When Peter Jackson announced that he’d be directing a trilogy based on J. R. R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings prequel, The Hobbit , the response was one of excitement. However, the trilogy left some fans of the book were confused, given how little the amount of source material was available to flesh out such an ambitious project. In his transformation of the book into a trilogy of big-budget Hollywood action blockbusters, Jackson took many creative liberties.

This inevitably meant that the differences between The Hobbit book and movies were stark. Jackson implemented changes galore, adding in plenty of new content which was loosely adapted from Tolkien's other works. Some of it hit the mark, while the rest felt like superfluous filler. There's no question that in the case of The Hobbit book vs movie, Jackson did his best to please audiences. However, there were a few alterations that many fans didn't feel fit the story at all, making it seem like Jackson was trying to add extraneous connections to LOTR to capitalize on its success.

11 Lord Of The Rings Movie Changes Peter Jackson Was Right To Make

Gandalf's reason for seeking out bilbo, the gandalf of the novel never met child bilbo.

Gandalf's reasons for finding Bilbo are different when looking at The Hobbit book vs movie. In the novelization of The Hobbit , it is established that Gandalf seeks out Bilbo for the quest, particularly because of a memory he had of his mother. According to Gandalf, he was impressed by Belladonna Took, because of her adventurous spirit and personality, and he hoped that side would come out if Bilbo joined them on an adventure.

In the film, Gandalf reminisces about knowing Bilbo as a young boy, who adored the thought of danger, excitement, and adventure. The change isn't a huge one, but it does say a lot about Bilbo's character as he appeared in the book, versus the film adaptation. Either way, it's an opportunity for Gandalf to deliver one of his best lines of the trilogy .

The Dwarven Contract

Peter jackson made the paperwork longer for comic effect.

Another one of the biggest differences between The Hobbit book and movie is the dwarven contract. The dwarves play a central role in both The Hobbit movies and the original book, with the presence of the race as a whole far greater than it was in Lord of the Rings. In fact, it's partially due to a contract with the dwarves that Bilbo leaves the shire in the first place. The details of the dwarven contract with Bilbo Baggins are never explicitly specified, which is why it's so comical to see the film version go on forever when unrolled.

It was Jackson's way of injecting some comedy into the film, especially at such an early start to the story.

It was Jackson's way of injecting some comedy into the film, especially at such an early start to the story. In the book, the contract is a simple note left on his mantle, with two short paragraphs acting as content. That's a stark contrast to the film version, and one of the few changes Jackson made that actually helped make the story better.

Bilbo Leaving Bag-End

In peter jackson's version of the tale hobbits never travel light.

Even the way that Bilbo leaves Bag-End contrasts in the case of The Hobbit book vs movie. This change was small, but noticeable, and it occurs when Bilbo finally decides to make a go of it and join the dwarves on their adventure. In the film, he races after them with a backpack full of stuff and catches up with them before they get too far down the road. In the book, however, it is said that Bilbo left Bag-End without even a handkerchief in his pocket.

In truth, Jackson's change was probably for the best, as any Hobbit would never run off without a few of the comforts of home. It's established in the Lord of the Rings movies that Hobbits enjoy their creature comforts, with the likes of Samwise Gamgee bemoaning his of any food other than Lambas bread even while in grave danger, and Pippin insisting on second breakfast. With this context in the cinematic franchise, it makes much more sense that Bilbo left The Shire well-prepared.

Knowledge Of The Necromancer

Gandalf already knew about the antagonist in the book.

Sauron is a mystery to those who only watched the movies , but changing Gandalf's knowledge of the Necromancer arguably broke canon when it comes to The Hobbit book vs movie. In The Hobbit films, Gandalf learns of the Necromancer when he speaks to Radagast, which is what Peter Jackson used as the reason for Gandalf leaving Thorin and company.

This change was likely made to ensure audiences weren't lost along the way as the story unfolded

However, in the book, Gandalf is already well aware of the Necromancer. In J.R.R Tolkien's version of The Hobbit , Gandalf has already visited Dol Guldur, and heard of the Necromancer, as it was there that he encountered Thráin, the father of Thorin Oakenshield, and received the map and key that he later gives to Thorin . This change was likely made to ensure audiences weren't lost along the way as the story unfolded, as having to flashback to Gandalf's goings-on prior to the events of The Hobbit would have required even more screentime in an already lengthy trilogy.

Dwalin's Beard

A subtle yet noticable aesthetic difference.

Though it was not a massive change that impacted the plot, there was one element of Dwalin's appearance that classifies as one of the differences between The Hobbit book and movie. Interestingly enough, the book says, " It was a dwarf with a blue beard tucked into a golden belt, and very bright eyes under his dark-green hood. " This is a stark change from how Dwalin is shown in the movie, with a brunette beard and dark eyes.

While some readers have argued over the ages that it wasn't meant to literally be blue, others believe Dwalin's beard really was meant to be that way, in order to seem "otherworldly." When the script was written for the Hobbit film, Jackson opted to take out a lot of the whimsy to make it more in line with The Lord of the Rings , meaning Dwalin's blue beard was one of the first things to go.

Contacting The Eagles For Help

Once again the eagles created conversations in the lord of the rings prequel.

Another one of the biggest changes in the case of The Hobbit book vs movie sees Gandalf acting when he canonically did not. When Azog and his orcs descend upon the party at the end of the first Hobbit film, Gandalf contacts Gwaihir, the Lord of the Eagles , via a carrier moth. This was done primarily to act as a nod to the first Lord of the Rings film, where Gandalf escapes imprisonment from the rooftop of Orthanc, in much the same way.

Given Gandalf's relationship with the Eagles, the film version is probably the better one, despite the small change made to Tolkien and Lord of the Rings canon.

In the book, however, Gandalf never makes the attempt. Rather, Gwaihir himself notices the ruckus from afar, and soars through the skies to come to their rescue. It's hard to tell which version is better, but given Gandalf's relationship with the Eagles, the film version is probably the better one, despite the small change made to Tolkien and Lord of the Rings canon.

Lord Of The Rings: 25 Most Powerful Beings In The Tolkien Universe, Ranked

Thranduil's face, almost everything about the elven lord has been expanded.

More key differences between The Hobbit book and movie include Thranduil having a much more fleshed-out backstory that isn't in the novels. Interestingly, Thranduil is never referred to by name in The Hobbit book, but is simply called "the Elvenking." However, there's an even bigger difference between the text and the movie, which is Thranduil's burned face that he hides with magic.

Thranduil attributes this to the "fire serpents in the North," but this is not mentioned at all in the book, nor is there any record of elves being able to hide old wounds. It was primarily added to give Thranduil a more menacing and obsessive character, even though he proves himself to be one of the most powerful heroes in The Hobbit . Thranduil is one of several character in The Hobbit Peter Jackson added more dimensions to in order to turn a single book into a trilogy of movies, and it's one change that definitely makes the story better.

Tricking The Trolls

The hobbit movies granted bilbo a great hero moment.

The great The Hobbit book vs movie debate also sees a cunning act perpetrated by Bilbo originally belonging to Gandalf. In The Hobbit movies, it is Bilbo Baggins who cleverly tricks the trolls as they discuss the best ways to cook the dwarves . Eventually, the sun rises, and they are caught unawares, leading to their permanent demise.

Giving him this achievement certainly makes him seem more cunning and valuable to the overall quest.

In the book, it is Gandalf who actually deceives the trolls by throwing his voice, pretending to be one of them, and making them argue among themselves until dawn arrives , and turns them to stone. In the films, Gandalf was not present during the scene. The reason for this change is most likely to make Bilbo seem like a more competent hero, and giving him this achievement certainly makes him seem more cunning and valuable to the overall quest.

The White Council

Saruman and galadriel make an appearance the book doesn't include.

Differences between The Hobbit book and movie also see the inclusion of the White Council. The Hobbit movies feature the White Council, with both Saruman and Galadriel present in Elrond's home of Rivendell. However, neither Saruman nor Galadriel are mentioned in The Hobbit book, and the White Council does not meet during the narrative.

Though this is different from the book, it does act as fan service, as it means that viewers got to see some more of their favorite characters from The Lord of the Rings movie trilogy, as well as adding some more depth and drama to. The lack of the White Council in The Hobbit may also be because Tolkien wrote The Hobbit several decades before Lord of the Rings. Including Galadriel and Saruman in the cinematic prequel deepens ties between the two, and it's entirely possible Tolkien would have included them had the order he wrote the stories been reversed.

Jackson Added A Lot Of Material To Turn The Hobbit Into A Trilogy

Arguably the most glaring change brought up in The Hobbit book vs movie debate is the length. The Hobbit is a rather short book, especially in comparison to the intimidating size of Tolkien's Lord of the Rings trilogy . The question remains as to why Jackson or the studio would ever think it was a good idea to flesh the story out across three films.

Opinions on whether the additional length of The Hobbit trilogy definitely vary.

By placing various amounts of filler in between established moments from the book, Jackson tried to fill in the blanks and create a stronger story. In truth, the entire tale could have been told in two parts, avoiding unnecessary filler and focusing on a tight narrative. Opinions on whether the additional length of The Hobbit trilogy definitely vary. However, it does make sense from a business perspective for obvious reasons (as it meant 3 movies worth of profits), and it does seem thematically fitting that the prequel to Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings trilogy is also one.

The Prologue

A welcome and scene-setting addition to the story.

One of the most welcomed differences between The Hobbit book and movie was the addition of a prologue. The world of Lord of the Rings is particularly complex, which is why the prologue in Fellowship of the Ring was so effective. Audiences were given something very similar at the start of The Hobbit , and even though it didn’t occur in the book, it did actually help establish the narrative moving forward.

Middle-earth lore was built across many books, with plenty of interesting details only appearing in footnotes. With such a wellspring of detailed information, these prologues helped create exposition and further pull audiences into the magnificent fantasy world. The introduction of a prologue to The Hobbit movies was also helpful for established Tolkien fans who'd read the novel. Since there were many changes to come, the prologue in The Hobbit established Peter Jackson's vision of Middle-earth before Lord of the Rings and that it would be different from the novel.

The Presence Of Radagast The Brown

Elevating the wizard was a wise move.

In The Hobbit , Tolkien mentions the wizard Radagast The Brown only a handful of times as one of the five wizards of Middle-earth. In the movies, Peter Jackson greatly expands his role, allowing the character to interact with the likes of Gandalf and Bilbo, while starring in his own scene in which he helps avert a group of goblins from catching up with the main characters. Having an additional wizard definitely enhanced the cinematic version of Middle-earth, and showed that Gandalf and Saruman weren't the only ones out there.

Radagast also provides comic relief as an innocent, eccentric, and bumbling character who hides a deep, vast power.

Radagast also provides comic relief as an innocent, eccentric, and bumbling character who hides a deep, vast power. The expanded story of Radagast's character is another welcome change in The Hobbit book vs. movie debate. Obviously, these parts of his personality never came across through Tolkien’s brief mention of his existence, but it was nice to see another wizard besides Gandalf and Saruman on Middle Earth.

All Wizards/Istari In Lord Of The Rings

The presence of tauriel, some felt evangeline lilly's character was unnecessary.

Sometimes new characters work, but Tauriel's addition is another one of the differences between The Hobbit book and movie that had audiences scratching their heads because of the way Jackson handled her arc. Played by Lost’s Evangeline Lilly, Tauriel is a character exclusive to the film adaptation of The Hobbit, and she isn’t in any of The Lord of the Rings films, the first The Hobbit movie, or the book, at any point.

This was one of the more controversial additions to the film trilogy, and one many fans felt was unnecessary. She was seemingly created to provide a strong, relatable female character that doesn’t really exist in The Hobbit , and also to act as one part of a tragically romantic love saga between herself, and the dwarven character Kíli. It also led to what seemed like a Hobbit plot hole, due to her character's unfinished story arc.

The Presence Of Azog

An additional villain in peter jackson's trilogy caused some chagrin.

The topic of Azog in The Hobbit book vs movie debate causes an issue, as his presence in the film speaks to a timeline problem. The character of Azog is one of the most powerful villains in the Hobbit/LOTR universe , and he does exist in Tolkien's established lore, but he was beheaded by the character Dain long before the events of The Hobbit took place . As such, the character was essentially lifted from the pages of Middle-earth history, and deposited into the trilogy to act as a principal antagonist.

Some readers took umbrage that Azog was included as another antagonist when he didn't originally have a part in the central story of The Hobbit .

With one arm missing, Azog proved to be an effective and intimidating villain that could act as a counterweight to Thorin Oakenshield's character. His story arc ended in suitably dramatic fashion during a final showdown between the two, in the third and final film. However, some readers took umbrage that Azog was included as another antagonist when he didn't originally have a part in the central story of The Hobbit .

The Presence Of Legolas

Orlando bloom's return had no literary basis.

One of the more debated negative differences between The Hobbit book and movie was the inclusion of Legolas. Peter Jackson wanted to establish some consistency between The Hobbit and Lord Of The Rings , even if the former was a prequel. As such, audiences see Legolas appear in both The Desolation of Smaug, and The Battle of the Five Armies .

However, Legolas doesn’t appear in the book at all, and it feels as if he was deposited into the film trilogy as a way to bring back an audience favorite. In truth, he added little to the overall story, and in some cases, actually deprived other characters of the limelight. Much like some other changes, it is entirely possible that Tolkien would have included Legolas had he wrote The Lord of the Rings first. Since he didn't, though, it's impossible to know for certain, which is why Orlando Bloom's return for the prequel movies will forever be a controversial change for hardcore Tolkien scholars.

The Barrels

A simple alteration that enhanced the cinematic experience.

It might not be as important as many other differences between The Hobbit book and movie, but the barrel scene is nevertheless worth mentioning. When the dwarves escape the hall of the elven king, they float down a river using barrels as boats. The movies shows the dwarves in open barrels, allowing them both to communicate with one-another and be seen by the audience. In the books, these are sealed, rather than open with the characters sticking out.

Unlike some differences between The Hobbit books and movies, the alteration here didn't disrupt the established plot in any way

Unlike some differences between The Hobbit books and movies, the alteration here didn't disrupt the established plot in any way, and was purely aesthetic. This allowed for a more visual connection to the scene, as it established the dwarves' presence, and also the battle that followed shortly thereafter. It also added more tension and excitement to the story, by introducing such a chaotic battle.

The Dwarf Deaths

Peter jackson's movies did three characters a serious injustice.

One of the most heated points of debate in the case of The Hobbit book vs movie has to do with Kíli, Fíli, and Thorin. One piece of storyline mentioned consistently between The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings is the death of Kíli, Fíli, and Thorin. However, the manner in which they died in the movies quickly became a point of contention among readers of Tolkien's works.

The movies show the three being slaughtered rather brutally during a fight with Azog and his orcs. The book finds them charging into a battle that they know they won’t survive, dying as brave heroes as a result. This might seem like a small change, but it's one that many have felt disrespected their characters. The book versions of the characters died fearlessly, whereas their cinematic equivalents were simply overpowered in a fight they likely believed they could win.

The Frodo Cameo

Some felt elijah woods returning to link both trilogies was unwise.

More scrupulous readers of Tolkien's works were a little put off by Frodo's inclusion in The Hobbit movie, as he didn't appear in the book at all. It can be argued that one of the more pointless moments in The Hobbit was Elijah Wood’s cameo appearance as Frodo Baggins. It occurred when Bilbo told him a very rough version of his original adventures. Since Tolkien would not write The Lord of the Rings until many years after The Hobbit, Frodo was not even a concept.

The cameo scene felt similar to what Jackson was trying to accomplish by including Legolas.

In fact, Tolkien’s version of this was the reverse, something that only further upset readers. At the start of The Fellowship of the Ring , it is likely that the opening scene of The Shire was built around the aging Bilbo, in order to glean some connection to the previously released Hobbit book. Therefore, it wasn't worth bringing Frodo into the Hobbit films at all, and the cameo scene felt similar to what Jackson was trying to accomplish by including Legolas.

Why The Ring Didn't Affect Bilbo The Way It Did Frodo

The history of sting.

The act of Bilbo finding, choosing, and naming his sword Sting was an important piece of development for the character, given its status as one of the most iconic weapons of Tolkien's works . Of course, this also turns out to be one of the biggest differences between The Hobbit book and movie. In the movie, he is simply given it by Gandalf, after the wizard finds it on the floor of the troll hoard.

The entire scene of the company finding the dwarven weapons seems a bit lazy in comparison to the books. It was more of a convenient way to establish the presence of the blades, with very little exposition or attention given to each of them. Tolkien goes into much more detail about Sting and the swords history in his writing, and it seems surprising that of all the elements of the story, Sting is one that Jackson dumbed-down, since the sword was already an established presence in his cinematic Lord of the Rings trilogy.

Bilbo's Age Difference

One of the biggest issues audiences had about the Hobbit trilogy was the changing of lead actor Ian Holm to Martin Freeman. This was understandable from a production perspective, as the late Ian Holm was already in his 70s by the late 2010s when The Hobbit was being produced. However, the chagrin from some fans wasn't due to disliking Martin Freeman, as his performance in the role was widely praised.

It was rather that Bilbo's age in the movies was a complete contradiction of Bilbo's character from the books , and by far the biggest sin cited in The Hobbit book vs movie debate. It is clearly established that Bilbo's possession of the One Ring meant that he maintained his youthful appearance for decades after finding it. Yet, the stark contrast in physicality between the two actors pretty much robs the story of that fact and creates a gaping plot hole.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

Director Peter Jackson

Release Date December 14, 2012

Distributor(s) Warner Bros. Pictures

Writers Philippa Boyens, Fran Walsh, Peter Jackson, Guillermo del Toro

Cast Hugo Weaving, Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Andy Serkis, Richard Armitage, Martin Freeman, Cate Blanchett, Ken Stott, James Nesbitt, Ian Holm, Christopher Lee

Rating PG-13

Sequel(s) The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

The Hobbit: 20 Differences Between The Book & The Movies

10 Best Movies to Watch After The Lord of the Rings (and Where to Stream Them)

Shaurya Singh Thapa

Official JustWatch writer

The Lord of the Rings trilogy, directed by Peter Jackson, is a monumental cinematic achievement that brought J.R.R. Tolkien's epic fantasy world to life. Its intricate storytelling, groundbreaking visual effects, and rich character development have left fans yearning for more.

If you're looking for films that capture similar themes of adventure, fantasy, and heroism, here are ten movies to dive into after finishing The Lord of the Rings. Our guide also shows you all the streaming platforms where you can watch them online in India!

Be sure to also check out: The Lord of the Rings Movies In Order – A Streaming Guide to Tolkien's Fantasy Saga

1. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

Revisit Middle-earth with this prequel, following Bilbo Baggins as he embarks on a journey to help a group of dwarves reclaim their homeland. It's a nostalgic return to the world Tolkien created, directed by Peter Jackson.

2. Legend

This dark fantasy film directed by Ridley Scott stars Tom Cruise as a chosen hero and Tim Curry as the devil. It’s a visually stunning tale of good versus evil, featuring a heroic quest and magical creatures, reminiscent of the epic battles in The Lord of the Rings.

A biographical drama about J.R.R. Tolkien, this film explores the formative years of the author and the experiences that inspired his creation of Middle-earth. It's a must-watch for those interested in the man behind the legendary saga.

4. The Green Knight

A visually arresting adaptation of the Arthurian legends of old Britain, this film follows Sir Gawain (Dev Patel) on his quest to confront the mysterious Green Knight. Its blend of fantasy and mythic storytelling makes it a compelling watch for fans of epic adventures.

5. King Kong

Directed by Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit director Peter Jackson, this remake of the classic monster movie showcases his range as a director. It also features Andy Serkis, the actor who brought Gollum to life, in a stellar motion-capture performance as King Kong.

6. Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves

This 2023 hit brings the beloved tabletop game to life with a thrilling adventure filled with magic, mythical creatures, and heroic quests. It’s perfect for those who love the fantasy elements and camaraderie of The Lord of the Rings.

7. Excalibur

This classic retelling of the Arthurian legends is a richly detailed and visually stunning film. Excalibur captures the grandeur and mystique of ancient myths, similar to the epic storytelling found in the Lord of the Rings movies.

8. Clash of the Titans

This fantasy adventure film, inspired by Greek mythology, features epic battles and mythical creatures. Its blend of heroic quests and fantastical elements make it a great follow-up to watch for fans of The Lord of the Rings.

9. Rise of the Planet of the Apes

Andy Serkis shines again in this reboot of the Planet of the Apes franchise. As the captive ape-turned-revolutionary Caesar, Serkis showcases his motion-capture talents first seen as Gollum. The film is a post-apocalyptic thriller that revolves around conflicting tensions between humans and an army of apes led by Caesar.

A classic fantasy film directed by Ron Howard and produced by George Lucas, Willow follows a young farmer who must protect a special baby from an evil queen. Its adventure-filled plot and magical world are reminiscent of Tolkien’s epic tales.

Where can you watch movies like The Lord of the Rings online?

The list below shows you all the streaming services where you can watch, buy or rent these movies once you’re done with your Lord of the Rings binge.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

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.

Set in a timeless mythical forest inhabited by fairies, goblins, unicorns and mortals, this fantastic story follows a mystical forest dweller, chosen by fate, to undertake a heroic quest. He must save the beautiful Princess Lili and defeat the demonic Lord of Darkness, or the world will be plunged into a never-ending ice age.

England, early 20th century. The future writer and philologist John Ronald Reuel Tolkien (1892-1973) and three of his schoolmates create a strong bond between them as they share the same passion for literature and art, a true fellowship that strengthens as they grow up, but the outbreak of World War I threatens to shatter it.

The Green Knight

An epic fantasy adventure based on the timeless Arthurian legend, The Green Knight tells the story of Sir Gawain, King Arthur's reckless and headstrong nephew, who embarks on a daring quest to confront the eponymous Green Knight, a gigantic emerald-skinned stranger and tester of men.

In 1933 New York, an overly ambitious movie producer coerces his cast and hired ship crew to travel to mysterious Skull Island, where they encounter Kong, a giant ape who is immediately smitten with the leading lady.

Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves

A charming thief and a band of unlikely adventurers undertake an epic heist to retrieve a lost relic, but things go dangerously awry when they run afoul of the wrong people.

A surreal adaptation of Sir Thomas Malory's "Le Morte d'Arthur", chronicling Arthur Pendragon's conception, his rise to the throne, the search by his Knights of the Round Table for the Holy Grail, and ultimately his death.

Clash of the Titans

Born of a god but raised as a man, Perseus is helpless to save his family from Hades, vengeful god of the underworld. With nothing to lose, Perseus volunteers to lead a dangerous mission to defeat Hades before he can seize power from Zeus and unleash hell on earth. Battling unholy demons and fearsome beasts, Perseus and his warriors will only survive if Perseus accepts his power as a god, defies fate and creates his own destiny.

Rise of the Planet of the Apes

A highly intelligent chimpanzee named Caesar has been living a peaceful suburban life ever since he was born. But when he gets taken to a cruel primate facility, Caesar decides to revolt against those who have harmed him.

The evil Queen Bavmorda hunts the newborn princess Elora Danan, a child prophesied to bring about her downfall. When the royal infant is found by Willow, a timid farmer and aspiring sorcerer, he's entrusted with delivering her from evil.

IMAGES

The Hobbit An Unexpected Journey Theatrical Poster
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012) Poster #13
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Posters & Featurette
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Extended Edition
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Part 1
The Hobbit An Unexpected Journey Movie Wallpapers

VIDEO

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey OST
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Trailer! (2012)
The Hobbit An Unexpected Journey TV Spot #15
THE HOBBIT unexpected journey 2012 @jackkhiangte movie recap!
Hobbit Cast Talk Smaug
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Trailer

COMMENTS

The Hobbit (film series)
The Hobbit is a series of three fantasy adventure films directed by Peter Jackson.The films are subtitled An Unexpected Journey (2012), The Desolation of Smaug (2013), and The Battle of the Five Armies (2014). The films are based on J. R. R. Tolkien's 1937 novel The Hobbit, but much of the trilogy was inspired by the appendices to his 1954-55 The Lord of the Rings, which expand on the story ...
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey: Directed by Peter Jackson. With Ian McKellen, Martin Freeman, Richard Armitage, Ken Stott. 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.
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is a 2012 epic high fantasy adventure film directed by Peter Jackson from a screenplay by Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, Jackson, and Guillermo del Toro, based on the 1937 novel The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien.It is the first installment in The Hobbit trilogy, acting as a prequel to Jackson's The Lord of the Rings trilogy.. The story is set in Middle-earth sixty ...
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman) lives a simple life with his fellow hobbits in the shire, until the wizard Gandalf (Ian McKellen) arrives and convinces him to join a group of dwarves on a quest to ...
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
Academy Award®-winning filmmaker Peter Jackson returns to Middle Earth with the first of three films based on J.R.R. Tolkien's enduring masterpiece. Set in M...
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
From the smallest beginnings come the greatest legends. http://www.thehobbit.com/The adventure follows the journey of title character Bilbo Baggins, who is ...
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Movie Review
Parents need to know that The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, director Peter Jackson's adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien's stand-alone quest through Middle-earth, is less violent than the scarier Lord of the Rings trilogy. But there are definitely some frightening sequences, like the battle between the dragon and the dwarves of Erebor, during which one character is decapitated, another has an arm ...
'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey' Review
Follow me on Twitter @ benkendrick for future reviews, as well as movie, TV, and gaming news. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is rated PG-13 for extended sequences of intense fantasy action violence, and frightening images. Now playing in 2D, 3D, IMAX, and 48fps theaters.
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
2012. PG-13. Warner Bros. 2 h 49 m. Summary The adventure follows the journey of title character Bilbo Baggins, who is swept into an epic quest to reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor from the fearsome dragon Smaug. Approached out of the blue by the wizard Gandalf the Grey, Bilbo finds himself joining a company of thirteen dwarves led by ...
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
Purchase The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey on digital and stream instantly or download offline. Academy Award®-winning filmmaker Peter Jackson returns to Middle-earth with the first of three films based on J.R.R. Tolkien's enduring masterpiece. Set in Middle-earth 60 years before the epic Lord of the Rings trilogy, the adventure follows the journey of Bilbo Baggins, who is swept into an epic ...
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
Despite a few minor flaws, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is a superb (and suitably epic) addition to Peter Jackson's past adaptations of Tolkien's work. See it in 3D and 48fps for the ultimate ...
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is the first film of The Hobbit film trilogy, lasting 3 hours and 2 minutes. It was directed by Peter Jackson, who previously had directed The Lord of the Rings film trilogy. It was a major box office success, grossing over $1.017 billion worldwide. The film is the fourth Middle-earth film adaptation to be released, and the first chronologically. Martin ...
'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey': First Trailer Introduces Young
SYDNEY — Director Peter Jackson and Warner Bros. have provided a sneak peak at what will be one of the most anticipated releases of 2012, with the trailer of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey ...
The Ending Of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Explained
The only real story progression in "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" is regarding Bilbo's motivation for joining the quest. The movie seems to rely on us having seen the "Lord of the Rings ...
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey streaming
Where does The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey rank today? The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is 720 on the JustWatch Daily Streaming Charts today. The movie has moved up the charts by 216 places since yesterday. In the United States, it is currently more popular than The Mist but less popular than The Manifestation. Rank. Title. 716. Braveheart.
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
http://www.thehobbit.comhttp://www.facebook.com/TheHobbitMovieIn theaters December 14, 2012."The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" follows title character Bilbo...
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (Extended Edition)
Synopsis. 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.
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
J.R.R. Tolkien. Fran Walsh. Philippa Boyens. Guillermo del Toro. Written by Andres Gomez on December 17, 2012. Bilbo Baggins, a hobbit enjoying his quiet life, is swept into an epic quest by Gandalf the Grey and thirteen dwarves who seek to reclaim their mountain home from Smaug, the dragon.
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Showtimes
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. PG-13, 1 hr 18 min. Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman) lives a simple life with his fellow hobbits in the shire, until the wizard Gandalf (Ian McKellen) arrives and convinces him to join a group of dwarves on a quest to reclaim the kingdom of Erebor. The journey takes Bilbo on a path through treacherous lands ...
Watch The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
Hobbit Bilbo Baggins joins 13 dwarves on a quest to reclaim the lost kingdom of Erebor. 41,271 IMDb 7.8 2 h 44 min 2012. X-Ray UHD PG-13. Fantasy · Adventure · Ambitious · Exciting. Subscribe to Max for $9.99/month, rent, or buy.
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Movie
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Release Date: When was the film released? The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey was a Nationwide release in 2012 on Friday, December 14, 2012. There were 4 other movies released on the same date, including Any Day Now, Cheerful Weather for the Wedding and Let Fury Have The Hour. Additional information: 3D/2D; IMAX.
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
Bilbo Baggins, Gandalf the wizard and a group of dwarves seek a dragon's treasure, and encounter a series of incredible obstacles over the course of their epic journey. Director 4 Credits
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
Academy Award®-winning filmmaker Peter Jackson returns to Middle Earth with the first of three films based on J.R.R. Tolkien's enduring masterpiece. Set in Middle Earth 60 years before the epic Lord of the Rings trilogy,the adventure follows the journey of Bilbo Baggins,who is swept into an epic quest to reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdom from the fearsome dragon Smaug. Approached out of the blue ...
The Hobbit: 20 Differences Between The Book & The Movies
The Dwarven Contract Peter Jackson Made The Paperwork Longer For Comic Effect . Another one of the biggest differences between The Hobbit book and movie is the dwarven contract.The dwarves play a ...
10 Best Movies to Watch If You Love The Lord of the Rings
Be sure to also check out: The Lord of the Rings Movies In Order - A Streaming Guide to Tolkien's Fantasy Saga. 1. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. Revisit Middle-earth with this prequel, following Bilbo Baggins as he embarks on a journey to help a group of dwarves reclaim their homeland.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

More like this

Did you know

User reviews 1.5K

Technical specs

Related news

More to explore

Or browse by category:

Common Sense Selections for Movies

50 Modern Movies All Kids Should Watch Before They're 12

Best Kids' Shows on Disney+

Best Kids' TV Shows on Netflix

8 Tips for Getting Kids Hooked on Books

50 Books All Kids Should Read Before They're 12

Common Sense Selections for Games

Nintendo Switch Games for Family Fun

Common Sense Selections for Podcasts

Parents' Guide to Podcasts

Social Networking for Teens

Gun-Free Action Game Apps

Reviews for AI Apps and Tools

Parents' Ultimate Guide to YouTube Kids

YouTube Kids Channels for Gamers

How to Help Kids Spot Misinformation and Disinformation

Multicultural Books

YouTube Channels with Diverse Representations

Podcasts with Diverse Characters and Stories

A Lot or a Little?

Positive Messages

Positive Role Models

Violence & Scariness

Products & Purchases

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

Parents Need to Know

Where to Watch

Community Reviews

Suitable for kids IMO.

Is It Any Good?

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Movie Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Suggest an Update

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

The Hobbit (1977)

Best Fantasy Movies

Screen Rant

Where To Watch Horizon: An American Saga - Showtimes & Streaming Status

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey | Full Movie | Movies Anywhere

Special Features

Additional Info

You Might Also Like...

New Releases

Log in or sign up for Rotten Tomatoes

Email not verified

Sign up for the Rotten Tomatoes newsletter to get weekly updates on:

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Reviews

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

Memorable quotes [ ]

Development [ ]

Extended Edition only [ ]

Uncredited [ ]

Dwarves of the Lonely Mountains [ ]

Mirkwood Elves [ ]

Hobbits of the Shire [ ]

Hunter Orcs [ ]

Elves of Rivendell [ ]

Goblins [ ]

Appearances and mentions [ ]

Deviations from the book [ ]

Extended Edition [ ]

Gallery [ ]

Translations [ ]

External links [ ]

The Definitive Voice of Entertainment News

site categories

Pip Bulbeck

Related Stories