How to Watch/Read Lord of the Rings; Easy Watch/Read Order Guide

Lord of the Rings has been one of the most renowned franchises this generation has seen. Most of us were introduced to this world of magic and fantasy through the movies.

However, there are also those who read the books by the Tolkien family and fell in love with the sheer brilliance with which the worlds were created. The Rings of Power is the latest show part of this vast lore, and there’s a chance you have just entered this mystical world of elves, dwarves, and more.

So, here’s a complete watch and reading order for the uninitiated. Let’s get right to it.

The Lord of the Rings franchise has two trilogies, a show, nine canonical books, and several non-canonical books.

1. Lord of the Rings Movies and TV Show

Overall, there are six Lord of the Rings films and one TV show. These cover different periods and ages within the lore of the franchise.

The movie adaptations more or less stick to the source material’s storylines and characters. However, the show doesn’t entirely abide by the books. The creators have introduced a few new characters and subplots specifically for the show.

I. Release Order

1. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
2. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)
3. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
4. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)
5. The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013)
6. The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (2014)
7. The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power (2022)

II. Chronological Watch Order

If you look at the chronology of events, the OG trilogy by Peter Jackson is the last event in the LOTR lore. The Hobbit is a prequel to the LOTR trilogy and is set 60 years before. The Rings of Power is set several millennia before The Hobbit and the LOTR films. Here’s the complete chronological order.

1. The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power (2022)
2. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)
3. The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013)
4. The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (2014)
5. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
6. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)
7. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)

III. Recommended Watch Order

Although you can go with the chronological watch order, it wouldn’t do justice to the cinematic masterpiece the original films were. Moreover, you might get a bit tired by the end of The Hobbit series since it isn’t nearly as brilliant as the LOTR trilogy.

As for the show, it has received mixed reviews. The purists have been review-bombing the show and criticizing the inclusion of new characters. On the other hand, the new generations enjoyed the premiere. Every frame in the first two episodes is breathtakingly beautiful, and the cinematography is off the charts.

Whether the story is as good as the show’s other facets or not, we’ll only know once the show is done. So, here’s an order that I’d recommend you to follow.

1. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
2. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)
3. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
4. The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power (2022)
5. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)
6. The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013)
7. The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (2014)

2. Lord of the Rings Canonical and Non-Canonical Books

The first book within the franchise was published in 1937. It is astounding to see that even after eight decades, the stories told within those pages are still relevant. In fact, people have enjoyed not only the live-action renditions of the books but the books themselves as well.

I. Release Order

1. The Hobbit (1937)
2. The Fellowship of the Ring (1954)
3. The Two Towers (1954)
4. The Return of the King (1955)
5. The Silmarillion (1977)
6. Unfinished Tales of Numenor and Middle-earth (1980)
7. The Children of Hurin (2007)
8. Beren and Luthien (2017)
9. The Fall of Gondolin (2018)

II. Chronological Reading Order

1. The Silmarillion
2. Beren and Luthin
3. Children of Hurin
4. The Fall of Gondolin
5. Unfinished Tales of Numenor and Middle-earth
6. The Hobbit
7. The Fellowship of the Ring
8. The Two Towers
9. The Return of the King

III. Non-Canonical Books

The non-canonical books add more tales and anecdotes set in the world created by Tolkein. They are events that add more intricacies and nuance to everything we already know.

The non-canonical books are spread across different ages and the nine books. However, there’s no specific order for them. So, you can read them in any which way you please. Here’s the complete list:

1. The Book of Lost Tales, Part |
2. The Book of Lost Tales, Part II
3. The Lays of Beleriand
4. The Shaping of Middle-earth
5. The Lost Road and Other Writings
6. The Return of the Shadow
7. The Treason of Isengard
8. The War of the Ring
9. Sauron Defeated
10. Morgoth’s Ring
11. The War of the Jewels
12. The Peoples of Middle-earth
13. The History of Middle-earth

3. Complete Watch and Reading Order

For someone entering a new franchise, the one question that plagues them is whether to read the original books or watch the live-action rendition. Well, the answer’s rather simple.

If you’re someone who loves the fantasy genre in books, Lord of the Rings is one of the finest series. On the other hand, if larger-than-life cinematic experiences are what you live for, then find the biggest screen and the best sound system, and watch the films on it. The experience will be the most memorable one.

4. Runtime and Binge Duration

The films are about three hours each. The TV show has eight episodes, with each running for about an hour. So it’d take you about 26 hours to binge the complete series. However, if you want to read the books, the exercise would take months, if not years.

The books are meant to be read at your own pace. Every chapter would feel heavy because of the intricacy with which it has been written. So, for you to finish the canonical books would easily take a year.

5. Where to Watch and Read the Books

All the LOTR movies and the TV show, The Rings of Power, are available on PrimeVideo. You can buy all the books on Amazon.

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power - Official Trailer | Prime Video

So, with this, the complete reading and watch order of the Lord of the Rings franchise comes to an end. While the universe might seem quite vast, absorb it at your own pace, and you’ll be able to appreciate its beauty well.

6. About The Lord Of The Rings (Film Series)

The Lord of the Rings is a series of three epic fantasy adventure films directed by Peter Jackson, based on the novel written by J. R. R. Tolkien. The films are subtitled The Fellowship of the Ring (2001), The Two Towers (2002), and The Return of the King (2003). Produced and distributed by New Line Cinema with the co-production of WingNut Films, it is an international venture between New Zealand and the United States.