The Lord of the Rings is a beloved fantasy epic that has captured the hearts of readers and viewers for decades. With its intricate world-building, unforgettable characters, and epic battle scenes, it’s no wonder that people are still discovering this masterpiece of a story. However, with so many versions and adaptations of the books and movies, it can be confusing to figure out what order to watch Lord of the Rings. In this article, we’ll explore the various options and help you decide which order is right for you.
Option 1: The Original Release Order
The most straightforward way to watch Lord of the Rings is to follow the order in which the movies were released. This means starting with The Fellowship of the Ring, followed by The Two Towers, and ending with The Return of the King. This is the order in which the movies were intended to be watched, and it’s the order that most fans are familiar with.
If you’re new to the series, this is probably the best order to watch Lord of the Rings. It allows you to experience the story in the same way that most people did when the movies first came out, and it follows the narrative structure of the books closely. You’ll get to know the characters and the world gradually, building up to the epic finale of The Return of the King.
Option 2: The Chronological Order
Another option is to watch the movies in chronological order, starting with The Hobbit trilogy and then moving on to Lord of the Rings. This order follows the events of the story in chronological order, starting with Bilbo’s adventure in The Hobbit and then moving on to the events of The Lord of the Rings.
While this order might seem logical, it’s not the best way to experience the story. The Hobbit movies were made after the Lord of the Rings movies, and they were intended to be prequels. Watching them first would spoil some of the surprises and plot twists of the Lord of the Rings, and it would also disrupt the narrative structure of the story.
Option 3: The Machete Order
The Machete Order is a fan-made order that has gained popularity in recent years. It involves watching the movies in a specific order: The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, then jumping back to The Phantom Menace, Attack of the Clones, and Revenge of the Sith before finishing with The Return of the King.
While this might seem like a strange order to watch the movies in, there’s actually some logic to it. The Machete Order suggests that by watching the Star Wars prequels in between The Two Towers and The Return of the King, you’ll get a break from the main story and gain a new appreciation for the original trilogy. However, this order can be confusing and disruptive for fans who are already familiar with the Lord of the Rings story.
Option 4: The Book Order
Finally, you could choose to watch the movies in the order that the books were written. This means starting with The Hobbit, then moving on to The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King.
While this order might seem like a logical way to experience the story, it’s not the best way to watch the movies. The Hobbit movies were made after the Lord of the Rings movies, and they were intended to be prequels. Watching them first would spoil some of the surprises and plot twists of the Lord of the Rings, and it would also disrupt the narrative structure of the story.
Conclusion
Ultimately, the best order to watch Lord of the Rings depends on your personal preferences. If you’re new to the series, the original release order is probably the best option. If you’re a die-hard fan looking for a new experience, you could try the Machete Order. Whatever