A legendary fantasy franchise is making a comeback on Netflix just as its spin-off prepares for a highly anticipated return on Prime Video. As one of the greatest franchises of all time, The Lord of the Rings has expanded from J.R.R. Tolkien's bestselling novel into multiple screen adaptations, bringing Middle-earth's beloved history to life. Its latest TV entry is Amazon's The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, set thousands of years before the book.
The Rings of Power depicts key events of Middle-earth's Second Age, beginning after the defeat of the Dark Lord Morgoth and his army of Orcs, as Morgoth's lieutenant, Sauron, rises to become a new Dark Lord. The series premiered on September 1, 2022, drawing massive viewership: 25 million people worldwide watched in its first 24 hours, making it the streamer's biggest premiere ever. The fantasy series is now expected to return for Season 3 in a few days.
As anticipation builds for The Rings of Power Season 3, an older franchise hit is climbing streaming charts worldwide. More than a decade after its release, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is among Netflix's most-watched titles, consistently ranking in the Top 10 this week. The adaptation is experiencing a resurgence after dividing critics and fans at release, as reflected on Rotten Tomatoes. The review aggregator gives the film a 64% critics' score based on 302 reviews, while audience reception is more positive at 83%.
'The Lord of the Rings' Franchise Is Making a Major Comeback on Netflix
Released in 2012, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey premiered nearly nine years after The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King. Despite mixed reviews, it grossed more than a billion dollars at the box office, becoming the fourth-highest-grossing film of 2012. The movie also earned numerous accolades, including multiple Oscar nominations. Two sequels, The Desolation of Smaug and The Battle of the Five Armies, followed in 2013 and 2014, respectively.
As the first installment in The Hobbit trilogy, An Unexpected Journey follows young Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman), who lives a quiet life among his fellow Hobbits in the Shire. That's until the wizard Gandalf (Ian McKellen) arrives and persuades him to join a band of Dwarves on a quest to reclaim Erebor. Bilbo's journey leads him through treacherous lands filled with Orcs, Goblins, and other dangers. Among them is an encounter with Gollum (Andy Serkis) and a simple gold ring, whose connection to Middle-earth's fate is beyond Bilbo's imagination. Peter Jackson directed the film.
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey streams on Netflix.
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