The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)
From the smallest beginnings come the greatest legends.
Bilbo Baggins, a hobbit enjoying his quiet life, is swept into an epic quest by Gandalf the Grey and thirteen dwarves who seek to reclaim their mountain home from Smaug, the dragon.
| Type | Movie |
|---|---|
| Released | 12 December 2012 |
| Genre | Adventure, Fantasy, Action |
| Director | Peter Jackson |
| Starring | Martin Freeman, Ian McKellen and Richard Armitage |
| Runtime | 169 min |
| Rated | PG-13 |
| Scores | Rotten Tomatoes (average) 6.5/10 · FilmAffinity 7/10 · Metacritic 58/100 · Rotten Tomatoes 64% · IMDb 7.8/10 · TMDB users 7.4/10 |
| Budget | $180 million |
| Box office | $1.02 billion worldwide |
Where to watch The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is streaming on Max ($18.49 a month) in the US. If that is the only reason to subscribe, one month of Max is $18.49 at list price.
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What kind of watch this is
Peter Jackson’s 2012 adaptation runs 169 minutes, a duration that prioritizes the journey over the destination. It is a fantasy action epic where a reluctant hobbit joins thirteen dwarves to reclaim a mountain from a dragon. The tone is grand, leans heavily into spectacle, and treats the quest as a monumental event. You are committing to a long haul for the dragon.
What the critics said
Critics viewed the return to Middle-earth with cautious eyes. Rotten Tomatoes lists a 64% Tomatometer score, while Metacritic assigns a 58 out of 100, a figure that signals mixed or average reception. The consensus notes that while the visuals are resplendent, the deliberate pace robs the material of its majesty. Peter Travers of Rolling Stone found the high frame rate hyper-real to the point of exposing the fakes, yet admitted things perk up once the journey begins. Robbie Collin of The Daily Telegraph was less forgiving, calling it a dire, fan-written internet tribute that bored him rigid. For a fan of Tolkien, it reportedly broke his heart.
How it did with audiences
It cost $180 million and took in $1.0 billion worldwide, a feat that places it 15th all-time in that category. In the United States and Canada, it earned $303 million. The IMDb audience score sits at 7.8/10 as of February 2026. TMDB users give it a 7.4. For a film built on fantasy and footwork, the receipts were surprisingly solid.
If you liked this
TMDB's recommendations for people who watched The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.
Read more: The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug · The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring · The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies · The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
Sources
- The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey on TMDB — synopsis, cast, ratings and recommendations
- Wikidata Q80379 — review scores, box office and awards (CC0)
- “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” on Wikipedia, by its contributors (history) — reception, audience figures and legacy, summarised and adapted here under CC BY-SA 4.0
- Where to watch and prices: Binge Boss, from TMDB watch-provider data (powered by JustWatch) and our own provider list
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