It's time we rethink The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit

At first glance, The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings seem almost identical. Both begin in the Shire, feature a hobbit and a wizard setting off on a journey, gather a group of companions, encounter elves, face danger in the mountains, battle orcs, travel through mysterious forests, and end in a grand battle followed by a return home. The parallels are obvious. But dig deeper, and you’ll find they’re fundamentally different stories.

Why Do They Feel So Different Despite Their Similarities?

Both trilogies were made by the same team, with many of the same actors, based on books by the same author, and directed by Peter Jackson. And yet The Lord of the Rings is a cohesive, powerful epic full of meaning, metaphors, and deep character development, while The Hobbit feels like a chaotic mix of tones — trying to be both a prequel and a standalone adventure.

The Lord of the Rings became a classic because it worked on three levels: spectacle, emotion, and philosophy. It’s a story about good and evil, free will, and sacrifice. Jackson and his team understood that the key wasn’t in copying the book word for word, but in capturing its heart and ideas.

How LOTR Was Made — and Why It Worked

At the start, no studio wanted to greenlight three films. Jackson had to fight hard to make it happen. New Line Cinema finally took the risk — and everything changed. Jackson spent two and a half years preparing, designing every detail of the world. The result? A living, breathing Middle-earth that felt real, with characters we truly cared about.

The battles in The Lord of the Rings aren’t just visually stunning — they’re emotionally intense. Characters die. Stakes are high. The charge of the Rohirrim isn’t just epic; it’s moving. Because we care about who’s riding into battle. Because it means something.

Why The Hobbit Couldn't Repeat That Success

Unlike LOTR, The Hobbit was rushed. Jackson didn’t want to direct it. Guillermo del Toro was supposed to take over, but left. Jackson was pulled into a project he didn’t have time to prep for. Much of it was shot on green screens, and the visual style became glossy and cartoonish.

The tone was stuck between light children’s fantasy and dark epic prequel. It tried too hard to connect with LOTR, losing the simplicity and charm of the original book. Bilbo — who should’ve been the emotional center — fades into the background. Conflicts feel weak. There’s little reason to truly invest in what’s happening.

Still, Why Do People Love The Hobbit?

Despite its flaws, The Hobbit offers a return to Middle-earth. It’s not a masterpiece, but it’s warm and nostalgic. For many, that’s enough. But in trying to replicate LOTR, it only highlights just how unique and irreplaceable The Lord of the Rings truly was.

The Lord of the Rings changed cinema. It proved audiences would embrace complex, serious fantasy if it was made with care and passion. But it also kicked off a wave of franchise-building where studios copied the formula without understanding the soul behind it. Jackson’s trilogy set a gold standard — one no one has quite managed to reach again.