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The Rings of Power Watch Order in the correct order

How to watch The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power and where it fits in the Middle-earth timeline

Last updated: July 20 2026

Written by: ChronoBob

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power takes viewers back to the Second Age of Middle-earth — thousands of years before the events of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings — to witness the forging of the One Ring and the rise of Sauron.

Amazon Prime Video's The Rings of Power premiered in 2022 as the most expensive television series ever produced. Set in Tolkien's Second Age of Middle-earth, it tells the story of Galadriel, Elrond, and other legendary figures as they face a growing darkness. While the show draws on Tolkien's appendices and mythology rather than his main novels, it is set in the same world as The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit — making it essential viewing for fans of the legendarium who want to understand the full history of Middle-earth.

🕐 Release Order

For new viewers, the recommended release-order watch list starts with Peter Jackson's trilogies before moving to the prequel series.

  1. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
  2. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)
  3. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
  4. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)
  5. The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013)
  6. The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (2014)
  7. The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power — Season 1 (2022)
  8. The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power — Season 2 (2024)

The Rings of Power is set thousands of years before the films, so in story terms it is a prequel — but watching the films first gives you essential context for the world and its characters.

📖 Story Chronology

In chronological story order, The Rings of Power comes first since it depicts events from the Second Age — thousands of years before the Third Age events of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.

  1. The Rings of Power — Seasons 1–2 (Second Age: forging of the Rings, rise of Sauron)
  2. The Hobbit Trilogy (Third Age: approximately 60 years before LotR)
  3. The Lord of the Rings Trilogy (Third Age: the War of the Ring)

Which Order Should You Choose?

Watch the Peter Jackson films first, then The Rings of Power. The films establish the mythology of Middle-earth in an accessible way, and many of The Rings of Power's emotional beats — seeing Galadriel's long history, or the early forging of Elrond's relationships — hit harder when you know how the story ultimately ends. If you're a Tolkien veteran already familiar with the Third Age, feel free to dive straight into The Rings of Power. Either way, the series is a stunning addition to Middle-earth storytelling.

🔗 Related Guides

  • Lord of the Rings Watch OrderGuide
  • The Hobbit Watch OrderGuide
  • Game of Thrones Watch OrderGuide

Did we miss anything? Let us know and we'll keep this guide up to date!