The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King. Poster of the 2003 movie and cover of the 1955 book, The Return of the King
VS3
The Return of the King
J.R.R. Tolkien, 1955
movie vs book
Peter Jackson, 2003

Two Hobbits, Sméagol and Déagol, are fishing when Déagol discovers the One Ring in the river. Gollum leads Frodo Baggins and Samwise Gamgee to Minas Morgul, where they watch the Witch-king of Angmar, leader of the nine Nazgûl, lead an army of Orcs towards Gondor.


The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. Poster of the 2001 movie and cover of the 1954 book, The Fellowship of the Ring
VS3
The Fellowship of the Ring
J.R.R. Tolkien, 1954
movie vs book
Peter Jackson, 2001

In the Second Age of Middle-earth, the lords of Elves, Dwarves, and Men are given Rings of Power. Bilbo reveals that he intends to leave the Shire for one last adventure, and he leaves his inheritance, including the Ring, to his nephew Frodo. As Frodo departs with his friend, gardener Samwise Gamgee, Gandalf rides to Isengard to meet with the wizard Saruman, but learns that he has joined forces with Sauron, who has dispatched his nine undead Nazgûl servants to find Frodo.


The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers. Poster of the 2002 movie and cover of the 1954 book, The Two Towers
VS3
The Two Towers
J.R.R. Tolkien, 1954
movie vs book
Peter Jackson, 2002

Awakening from a dream of Gandalf fighting the Balrog in Moria, Frodo Baggins and Samwise Gamgee find themselves lost in the Emyn Muil near Mordor and discover they are being tracked by Gollum, a former bearer of the One Ring. Capturing Gollum, Frodo takes pity and allows him to guide them, reminding Sam that they will need Gollum’s help to infiltrate Mordor.


The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. Poster of the 2012 movie and cover of the 1937 book, The Hobbit, or There and Back Again
VS3
The Hobbit, or There and Back Again
J.R.R. Tolkien, 1937
movie vs book
Peter Jackson, 2012

Approaching his 111th birthday, the Hobbit Bilbo Baggins begins writing down the full story of his adventure 60 years earlier for the benefit of his nephew Frodo. Long before Bilbo’s involvement, the Dwarf king Thrór brought an era of prosperity for his kin under the Lonely Mountain until the arrival of the dragon Smaug.


The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug. Poster of the 2013 movie and cover of the 1937 book, The Hobbit, or There and Back Again
VS3
The Hobbit, or There and Back Again
J.R.R. Tolkien, 1937
movie vs book
Peter Jackson, 2013

Thorin and his company are being pursued by Azog and his Orc party following the events of the previous film. Thorin confronts the Elvenking about his neglect of the Dwarves of Erebor following Smaug’s attack 60 years earlier and is consequently imprisoned with the other Dwarves. Bilbo, having avoided capture, arranges an escape using empty wine barrels that are sent downstream.


The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies. Poster of the 2014 movie and cover of the 1937 book, The Hobbit, or There and Back Again
VS3
The Hobbit, or There and Back Again
J.R.R. Tolkien, 1937
movie vs book
Peter Jackson, 2014

Bilbo and the Dwarves watch from the Lonely Mountain as the dragon Smaug sets Laketown ablaze. Bard becomes the new leader of the people of Laketown, with the Master’s conniving servant, Alfrid, acting as Bard’s reluctant servant, as they seek refuge in the ruins of Dale, while Legolas travels to investigate Mount Gundabad with Tauriel.


The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. Poster of the 2022 TV series and cover of the 1954 book, The Fellowship of the Ring
VS3
The Fellowship of the Ring
J.R.R. Tolkien, 1954
TV series vs book
Patrick McKay, John D. Payne, 2022-

Beginning in a time of relative peace, we follow an ensemble cast of characters as they confront the re-emergence of evil to Middle-earth. From the darkest depths of the Misty Mountains, to the majestic forests of Lindon, to the breathtaking island kingdom of Númenor, to the furthest reaches of the map, these kingdoms and characters will carve out legacies that live on long after they are gone.


The Hunt for Gollum. Poster of the 2009 movie and cover of the 1954 book, The Fellowship of the Ring
VS3
The Fellowship of the Ring
J.R.R. Tolkien, 1954
movie vs book
Chris Bouchard, 2009

The story follows the Heir of Isildur; the “greatest huntsman and traveller in Middle Earth” as he sets out to find the creature Gollum. The creature must be found to discover the truth about the Ring, and to protect the future Ringbearer. A prequel to The Lord of the Rings adapted from elements of the appendices of the book.


The Hobbit. Poster of the 1977 movie and cover of the 1937 book, The Hobbit, or There and Back Again
VS3
The Hobbit, or There and Back Again
J.R.R. Tolkien, 1937
movie vs book
Jules Bass, Arthur Rankin Jr., 1977

Bilbo Baggins the Hobbit was just minding his own business, when his occasional visitor Gandalf the Wizard drops in one night. One by one, a whole group of dwarves drop in, and before he knows it, Bilbo has joined their quest to reclaim their kingdom, taken from them by the evil dragon Smaug. The only problem is that Gandalf has told the dwarves that Bilbo is an expert burglar, but he isn’t.


The Lord of the Rings. Poster of the 1978 movie and cover of the 1954 book, The Two Towers
VS3
The Two Towers
J.R.R. Tolkien, 1954
movie vs book
Ralph Bakshi, 1978

Early in the Second Age of Middle-earth, elven smiths forge nine Rings of Power for mortal men, seven for the Dwarf-Lords, and three for the Elf-Kings. Soon after, the Dark Lord Sauron makes the One Ring, and uses it to attempt to conquer Middle-earth. After defeating Sauron, Prince Isildur takes the Ring, but after he is killed by orcs, the Ring lies at the bottom of the river Anduin for over 2,500 years.


The Lord of the Rings. Poster of the 1978 movie and cover of the 1954 book, The Fellowship of the Ring
VS3
The Fellowship of the Ring
J.R.R. Tolkien, 1954
movie vs book
Ralph Bakshi, 1978

Early in the Second Age of Middle-earth, elven smiths forge nine Rings of Power for mortal men, seven for the Dwarf-Lords, and three for the Elf-Kings. Soon after, the Dark Lord Sauron makes the One Ring, and uses it to attempt to conquer Middle-earth. After defeating Sauron, Prince Isildur takes the Ring, but after he is killed by orcs, the Ring lies at the bottom of the river Anduin for over 2,500 years.


Born of Hope. Poster of the 2009 movie and cover of the 1954 book, The Fellowship of the Ring
VS3
The Fellowship of the Ring
J.R.R. Tolkien, 1954
movie vs book
Kate Madison, 2009

In the late Third Age, Sauron’s power is increasing, and he has sent his Orcs to seek out the remnants of the bloodline of Elendil, kept alive in the Dúnedain. Dirhael, his wife Ivorwen and their daughter Gilraen are fleeing from an attack on their village when they are ambushed by Orcs on a forest road, and saved by a group of rangers led by Arathorn.