The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

Showing 10 of 10 picks

1. 

   96match

   1.The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)

   ★ 8.4 · Adventure · Fantasy · Action · 2h 59m

   Why you'll love it

   The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring shares The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug's gift for fantasy — the 2001 film delivers adventure without overstaying its welcome. Consider it required viewing once you've finished rewatching your first pick.

   Watch on

   • HBO Max
   • HBO Max Amazon Channel
   • Amazon Video(Rent)
   • Apple TV Store(Rent)
   • Google Play Movies(Rent)
   • YouTube(Rent)
   • Fandango At Home(Rent)
   • Spectrum On Demand(Rent)

   + Save for later
2. 

   94match

   2.The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)

   ★ 8.5 · Adventure · Fantasy · Action · 3h 21m

   Why you'll love it

   Much of what makes The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug compelling — the fantasy, the adventure — shows up in The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003) in a slightly different form. Both films understand that tense storytelling works best when it trusts the audience.

   Watch on

   • HBO Max
   • HBO Max Amazon Channel
   • Amazon Video(Rent)
   • Apple TV Store(Rent)
   • Google Play Movies(Rent)
   • YouTube(Rent)
   • Fandango At Home(Rent)
   • Spectrum On Demand(Rent)

   + Save for later
3. 

   92match

   3.The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)

   ★ 8.4 · Adventure · Fantasy · Action · 2h 59m

   Why you'll love it

   The fantasy energy of The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug is alive in The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002), filtered through a different story but the same emotional register. It earns its place on this list with a tense payoff that rivals the original pick.

   Watch on

   • HBO Max
   • HBO Max Amazon Channel
   • Amazon Video(Rent)
   • Apple TV Store(Rent)
   • Google Play Movies(Rent)
   • YouTube(Rent)
   • Fandango At Home(Rent)
   • Plex(Rent)

   + Save for later
4. 

   90match

   4.The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)

   ★ 7.4 · Adventure · Fantasy · Action · 2h 49m

   Why you'll love it

   The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012) operates in the same fantasy as The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, but with its own distinct voice and pacing. The tense payoff will feel satisfyingly familiar without retreading the same ground.

   Watch on

   • HBO Max
   • HBO Max Amazon Channel
   • YouTube TV
   • Amazon Video(Rent)
   • Apple TV Store(Rent)
   • Google Play Movies(Rent)
   • YouTube(Rent)
   • Fandango At Home(Rent)

   + Save for later
5. 

   88match

   5.The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (2014)

   ★ 7.3 · Action · Adventure · Fantasy · 2h 24m

   Why you'll love it

   The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (2014) belongs to the same conversation as The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug — both anchor their fantasy in adventure emotion that doesn't let go. The tense undercurrent connects them more than any plot summary would suggest.

   Watch on

   • HBO Max
   • HBO Max Amazon Channel
   • Amazon Video(Rent)
   • Apple TV Store(Rent)
   • Google Play Movies(Rent)
   • YouTube(Rent)
   • Fandango At Home(Rent)
   • Plex(Rent)

   + Save for later
6. 

   86match

   6.Warcraft (2016)

   ★ 6.4 · Action · Adventure · Fantasy · 2h 3m

   Why you'll love it

   If The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug's fantasy stayed with you, Warcraft (2016) delivers the same sensation through an entirely different story. The adventure through-line is the real common thread between them.

   Watch on

   • Amazon Prime Video
   • Amazon Prime Video with Ads
   • Amazon Video(Rent)
   • Apple TV Store(Rent)
   • Google Play Movies(Rent)
   • YouTube(Rent)
   • Fandango At Home(Rent)
   • Amazon Video(Buy)

   + Save for later
7. 

   84match

   7.Conan the Barbarian (1982)

   ★ 6.8 · Adventure · Fantasy · Action · 2h 10m

   Why you'll love it

   Where The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug excels in fantasy, Conan the Barbarian (1982) doubles down on adventure to comparable effect. The tonal similarities run deep enough that watching both back-to-back feels intentional.

   Watch on

   • AMC+ Amazon Channel
   • Amazon Video(Rent)
   • Apple TV Store(Rent)
   • Google Play Movies(Rent)
   • YouTube(Rent)
   • Fandango At Home(Rent)
   • Amazon Video(Buy)
   • Apple TV Store(Buy)

   + Save for later
8. 

   82match

   8.Damsel (2024)

   ★ 7.0 · Fantasy · Action · Adventure · 1h 47m

   Why you'll love it

   Damsel (2024) is the natural next step after The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug: same fantasy DNA, different perspective. The tense streak and adventure elevate it well above a simple genre exercise.

   Watch on

   • Netflix
   • Netflix Standard with Ads

   + Save for later
9. 

   80match

   9.Willow (1988)

   ★ 7.0 · Fantasy · Adventure · Action · 2h 6m

   Why you'll love it

   Fans of The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug who respond to its fantasy will find Willow (1988) immediately familiar. Both films share a adventure sensibility without ever feeling like carbon copies of each other.

   Watch on

   • Disney Plus
   • Amazon Video(Rent)
   • Apple TV Store(Rent)
   • Google Play Movies(Rent)
   • YouTube(Rent)
   • Fandango At Home(Rent)
   • Amazon Video(Buy)
   • Apple TV Store(Buy)

   + Save for later
10. 

    78match

    10.Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)

    ★ 8.0 · Adventure · Fantasy · 2h 21m

    Why you'll love it

    There's a reason The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug fans keep landing on Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004) — the fantasy is unmistakably related even when the plots diverge. Both films operate on the same emotional frequency, especially in their third acts.

    Watch on

    • HBO Max
    • HBO Max Amazon Channel
    • Peacock Premium
    • Peacock Premium Plus
    • Amazon Video(Rent)
    • Apple TV Store(Rent)
    • Google Play Movies(Rent)
    • YouTube(Rent)

    + Save for later