The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013)
Beyond darkness... beyond desolation... lies the greatest danger of all.
The Dwarves, Bilbo and Gandalf have successfully escaped the Misty Mountains, and Bilbo has gained the One Ring. They all continue their journey to get their gold back from the Dragon, Smaug.
| Type | Movie |
|---|---|
| Released | 11 December 2013 |
| Genre | Fantasy, Adventure, Action |
| Director | Peter Jackson |
| Starring | Ian McKellen, Martin Freeman and Richard Armitage |
| Runtime | 161 min |
| Rated | PG-13 |
| Scores | Rotten Tomatoes (average) 6.8/10 · Metacritic 66/100 · Rotten Tomatoes 74% · IMDb 7.8/10 · TMDB users 7.6/10 |
| Budget | $225 million |
| Box office | $958 million worldwide |
Where to watch The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
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What kind of watch this is
Peter Jackson directs this 161-minute fantasy adventure. The tone leans heavily into spectacle, trading the quiet tension of the original for high-octane action and elaborate digital landscapes. It is a film that prioritizes visual grandeur over narrative subtlety. Expect a runtime that stretches well past the average feature length. It demands patience for a story that often feels like a trailer for itself.
How it did with audiences
The budget was $225 million. It returned $958 million worldwide, with $258 million coming from the United States. Deadline Hollywood calculated a profit of $134.1 million. On TMDB, the user score is 7.6. Audiences gave it 7.8 out of 10 as of February 2026. It earned $209 million in its opening weekend. The numbers suggest the middle chapter held up.
What came next for the cast
Martin Freeman stepped from a zombie comedy into the Marvel universe. Benedict Cumberbatch moved from a small wizard to a cosmic sorcerer. Richard Armitage traded a captain for a heist. The credits show a swarm of blockbusters. They do not prove this film caused that shift. Fame is a wide river, not a straight line.
If you liked this
TMDB's recommendations for people who watched The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug.
Read more: The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies · The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey · The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
Sources
- The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug on TMDB — synopsis, cast, ratings and recommendations
- Wikidata Q719915 — review scores, box office and awards (CC0)
- “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug” 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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