Ranked: The Middle Earth Saga

*DISCLAIMER: This list is based purely off my own opinion*

6- LOTR: The Return of the King

You could not ask for a better ending to a story. Not even Avengers: Endgame could pull off a satisfying conclusion like this, and they had 10 years to do it. Howard Shore’s extrordinary score, Weta Workshop’s astounding effects and every character’s acting all reach their peak here. This was crafted with alot of love and care and it shows.

5- LOTR: The Fellowship of the Ring

The one that started it all, and did it in such spectacular fashion. Characters can grow, stories can grow, but they don’t grow as well without a steady first step. It takes its time and crafts a world that you will spend much time in, without feeling slow.

4- LOTR: The Two Towers

Despite how much I want to, I cannot place the entire LOTR trilogy at number one. Mainly because it is in 3 parts and also because this list would be 2 items long as a result. Part 2 provides a bridge between the beginning of the trilogy and the end. It could feel plot heavy and like it’s dragging us along, but it doesn’t.

3- The Hobbit:The Battle of the Five Armies

Perhaps to the surprise of absolutely nobody, the Hobbit trilogy finds itself not quite living up to standard of its predecessor in my eyes. It was a lot to live up to, and of the 3 films, this comes closest. It provides a solid ending to the trilogy and a nice bridge to LOTR while also being a fine parting to this beloved saga.

2- The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

Much like Fellowship of the Ring, this needed to set up the backstory for things to come. It doesn’t manage it to the same degree but it still does an admirable job. After all this time, it was nice to return to the comfort of The Shire.

1- The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

Tauriel. Enough said.