:The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

Before his 111th birthday, the Hobbit Bilbo Baggins writes a story of his adventure for his nephew, Frodo.

Sixty years ago, the Dwarf king Thrór led his kin to prosperity under the Lonely Mountain until the dragon Smaug arrived. Smaug destroyed Dale, which drove the Dwarves from their mountain, and took their gold. Thrór's grandson, Thorin Oakenshield, sees King Thranduil and his Wood-elves on a hillside and feels dismayed when they leave instead of helping, causing Thorin's hatred for Elves.

In the Shire, 51-year-old Bilbo is tricked by the wizard Gandalf the Grey into hosting a dinner for Thorin and his company of Dwarves: Balin, Dwalin, Fíli, Kíli, Dori, Nori, Ori, Óin, Glóin, Bifur, Bofur, and Bombur. Gandalf aims to recruit Bilbo as the company's "burglar" to assist them in their quest to enter the Lonely Mountain. Reluctant at first, Bilbo changes his mind after the company leaves without him the next day, racing to join them. Traveling onward, they are captured by three Trolls. Bilbo delays the Trolls from eating them until dawn, and Gandalf exposes them to sunlight, turning them to stone. The company discovers the Trolls' cave and finds treasure and Elven blades. Thorin and Gandalf each take an Elf-made blade, Orcrist and Glamdring, respectively; Gandalf gives an Elven dagger to Bilbo.

The wizard Radagast the Brown finds Gandalf and the company, and reencounters the Necromancer, a sorcerer who has been corrupting Greenwood with dark magic, at Dol Guldur. Chased by Orcs, Gandalf leads them through a hidden passage to Rivendell. There, Lord Elrond discloses a hidden indication of a secret door on the company's map of the Lonely Mountain, which will be visible only on Durin's Day. Gandalf approaches the White Council — consisting of Elrond, Galadriel and Saruman the White — and presents a Morgul blade, the Witch-king of Angmar's weapon, which Radagast obtained from Dol Guldur as a sign that the Necromancer is linked to an eventual return of Sauron. Saruman expresses concern about the Dwarves' quest and requests Gandalf to end it. However, Gandalf secretly reveals to Galadriel that he anticipated this and had the Dwarves move forward without him.

The company ventures into the Misty Mountains and battles Stone Giants. They seek refuge in a cave but are captured by Goblins and taken to their leader, the Great Goblin. Bilbo becomes separated from the Dwarves and falls into a crevice where he meets Gollum, who accidentally drops a golden ring. Bilbo pockets the ring and confronts Gollum. They play a riddle game, wagering that if Bilbo wins, he will be shown the way out; if he loses, Gollum will eat him. Bilbo tricks Gollum and wins, but Gollum realizes his ring is missing. Chased by Gollum, Bilbo discovers the ring grants him invisibility. Instead of killing Gollum, Bilbo spares him and escapes.

The Great Goblin informs the Dwarves that Azog, an Orc war-chief who killed Thrór and lost to Thorin outside of Moria, has placed a bounty on Thorin. Gandalf arrives, helps the Dwarves escape, and kills the Great Goblin. Bilbo reunites with the group and hides his new ring. Azog ambushes the company and takes refuge in trees. Thorin charges Azog but is injured by his Warg. Bilbo saves Thorin and confronts Azog, just as eagles summoned by Gandalf to rescue them arrive. They escape to Carrock, where Gandalf heals Thorin, who then renounces his disdain for Bilbo.

They see the Lonely Mountain in the distance, where the sleeping Smaug is awoken by a thrush knocking a snail against a stone.

{{Further|The Hobbit (film series)#Cast|l1=Cast of The Hobbit film series|The Hobbit (film series)#Casting|l2=Casting of The Hobbit film series}}

The characters of Galadriel, Saruman, and Frodo Baggins appear in the novel The Lord of the Rings, but not in the novel The Hobbit. (Radagast was also dropped from the film version of Lord of the Rings, merely being mentioned in passing). Gandalf, Gollum, Bilbo Baggins, Elrond and the Necromancer appear in both novels, although the latter is referred to in Lord of the Rings as Sauron. Only Bilbo is portrayed by a different actor in the two sets of films, as the age difference affects his character more. The older Bilbo (Ian Holm) appears in the prologue section of this film.

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• Martin Freeman as Young Bilbo Baggins: a hobbit hired by the wizard Gandalf to accompany 13 dwarves on a quest to reclaim the Lonely Mountain from the dragon Smaug.{{Cite news | url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-11604193| title = Martin Freeman to play Bilbo Baggins in The Hobbit | date = 22 October 2010| publisher =BBC | work = News|access-date=24 October 2010|place=United Kingdom}}
• Ian Holm, who portrayed Old Bilbo Baggins in The Lord of the Rings trilogy appears also in scenes that take place directly before the events of The Fellowship of the Ring.{{cite magazine|title='The Hobbit': Ian Holm is officially in as old Bilbo|url=http://insidemovies.ew.com/2011/04/22/the-hobbit-ian-holm-is-officially-in-as-old-bilbo/|magazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=22 April 2011 |first= Hillary |last=Busis |access-date=26 November 2012}}
• Ian McKellen as Gandalf the Grey: a wizard who recruits Bilbo and helps to arrange the quest to reclaim the dwarves' lost treasure in Erebor. Gandalf was also portrayed by McKellen in The Lord of the Rings film trilogy.{{cite web | url= http://www.mckellen.com/cinema/hobbit-movie/ | title =Ian McKellen as Gandalf in The Hobbit |publisher= McKellen |access-date=11 January 2011}}
• Richard Armitage as Thorin Oakenshield II: the leader of the Company of dwarves who has set out to reclaim his birthright as King of the Lonely Mountain from Smaug.
• Ken Stott as Balin: Dwalin's brother. He is described in the novel as "always their look-out man".
• Graham McTavish as Dwalin: Balin's brother.
• Aidan Turner as Kíli: Thorin's nephew and Fíli's younger brother.
• Dean O'Gorman as Fíli: Thorin's nephew and Kíli's older brother.
• Mark Hadlow as Dori: Nori and Ori's brother. He is described in the novel as "a decent fellow, despite his grumbling", while Thorin described him as being the strongest member of the company. Hadlow also plays Bert the Stone-troll.
• Jed Brophy as Nori: Dori and Ori's brother.
• Adam Brown as Ori: Dori and Nori's brother.
• John Callen as Óin: Gloin's brother.
• Peter Hambleton as Glóin: Óin's brother. Hambleton also plays William the Stone-troll.
• William Kircher as Bifur: Bofur and Bombur's cousin. Kircher also plays Tom the Stone-troll.
• James Nesbitt as Bofur: Bombur's brother and Bifur's cousin, described as "a disarmingly forthright, funny and occasionally brave Dwarf".
• Stephen Hunter as Bombur: Bofur's brother and Bifur's cousin; described in the novel as fat and clumsy.
• Cate Blanchett as Galadriel: the elven co-ruler of Lothlórien along with her husband, Lord Celeborn. She was also portrayed by Blanchett in The Lord of the Rings film trilogy.
• Hugo Weaving as Elrond: the Elven-Lord of Rivendell, who gives shelter to Bilbo's party, despite Thorin's great suspicion of Elves. He was also portrayed by Weaving in The Lord of the Rings film trilogy.{{Cite news|url = http://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/film/4948801/Kiwi-actor-steps-into-Hobbit-breach |agency=The Dominion Post|title=Kiwi actor steps into Hobbit breach|date=2 May 2011|access-date=2 May 2011}}
• Christopher Lee as Saruman the White: the head of the Istari Order and its White Council. He was also portrayed by Lee in The Lord of the Rings film trilogy.{{cite web|title=Christopher Lee Talks Saruman in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey|date=31 December 2011|url=http://www.movieweb.com/news/christopher-lee-talks-saruman-in-the-hobbit-an-unexpected-journey|access-date=26 November 2012|archive-date=7 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120107035919/http://www.movieweb.com/news/christopher-lee-talks-saruman-in-the-hobbit-an-unexpected-journey|url-status=dead}}
• Elijah Wood as Frodo Baggins: Bilbo's favourite nephew. His scenes take place shortly before the events of The Fellowship of the Ring.{{cite web|title=New Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Pics: Elijah Wood Returns as Frodo; Martin Freeman's Bilbo Gets His Sword|date=18 October 2012|url=http://au.eonline.com/news/355189/new-hobbit-an-unexpected-journey-pics-elijah-wood-returns-as-frodo-martin-freeman-s-bilbo-gets-his-sword|access-date=26 November 2012}}
• Sylvester McCoy as Radagast the Brown: a wizard whose wisdom involves nature and wildlife.
• Andy Serkis as Gollum: a wretched hobbit-like creature corrupted by the One Ring. Serkis portrayed Gollum through motion capture, as he did in The Lord of the Rings film trilogy.{{Cite news|url = https://deadline.com/2011/01/andy-serkis-signed-to-reprise-gollum-in-the-hobbit-95307/ |agency=Deadline Hollywood|title=Andy Serkis Signed To Reprise Gollum In 'The Hobbit'|date= 10 January 2011|access-date=11 January 2011}} Serkis also acted as second unit director of the trilogy.{{IMDb name|id=0785227|name=Andy Serkis}}. Retrieved 16 December 2013.
• Manu Bennett as Azog the Defiler: the Orc chieftain of Moria who beheaded King Thrór in the battle of Azanulbizar and now hunts for Thorin and his company after taking an oath to break the line of Durin. He leads a band of Hunter Orcs and rides a huge white warg.
• Barry Humphries as the Great Goblin: the king of the caverns of Goblin Town in the Misty Mountains.
• Conan Stevens as Bolg: son of Azog.
• John Rawls as Yazneg: Azog's second-in-command. Movement choreographer Terry Notary played Yazneg during pick-up shots.
• Bret McKenzie as Lindir: an elf of Rivendell.
• Kiran Shah as the Goblin scribe: a scribe and messenger for the Great Goblin.
• Jeffrey Thomas as Thrór: the former king of Durin's Folk and Thorin's grandfather.
• Stephen Ure as Fimbul, one of Azog's Orc hunters, and lieutenant to Yazneg. After Yazneg is killed, Fimbul becomes Azog's right-hand man. Ure also played a goblin, named Grinnah, who acted as the Great Goblin's acolyte.
• Michael Mizrahi as Thráin II: the last Dwarf-King of Erebor and Thorin's father.
• Benedict Cumberbatch as the voice of the dragon Smaug, as well as The Necromancer, a mysterious sorcerer residing in Dol Guldur with the ability to summon the spirits of the dead. Cumberbatch provided performance capture for the character's brief appearance in this film.{{cite web|last=Fleming |first=Mike |url=https://deadline.com/2011/06/benedict-cumberbatch-to-voice-smaug-in-the-hobbit-140694/ |title=Benedict Cumberbatch To Voice Smaug in 'The Hobbit' |date=16 June 2011 |publisher=Deadline Hollywood |access-date=8 January 2013}}

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Cameos in the film include director Peter Jackson and editor Jabez Olssen as Erebor Dwarf refugees running from the dragon Smaug in the opening prologue; picture double Hayden J. Weal as a dwarf carrying gems during Thranduil's visit in Erebor; James Nesbitt's then-wife Sonia Forbes-Adam as Belladonna Took, Bilbo's mother; Nesbitt's daughters Peggy and Mary as children of Dale; Luke Evans as Girion; and production designer Dan Hennah as the Old Took, Belladonna's father. Peter Jackson's daughter, Philippa Boyens's second son, and Andy Serkis' children appeared in the Old Took's party; and Jabez Olssen's wife and children, Weta Workshop founder Richard Taylor's children, and set decorator Ra Vincent's children can all be seen in the market scene. Writer for Ain'tItCoolNews.com, Eric Vespe, portrays Fredegar Chubb, the fish seller at the market. The appearances in the Old Took's party and the market scene are shown only in the extended edition.

{{Further|The Hobbit (film series)#Development|l1=Development of The Hobbit film series|The Hobbit (film series)#Production|l2=Production of The Hobbit film series}}

A film adaptation of J. R. R. Tolkien's novel The Hobbit (1937) was in development for several years after the critical and financial success of The Lord of the Rings film trilogy (2001–2003), co-written, co-produced, and directed by Peter Jackson. Jackson was initially going to produce and write a two-film adaptation of The Hobbit, which was to be directed by Guillermo del Toro.{{cite news|last=Netburn|first=Deborah|title=Guillermo del Toro to direct 'The Hobbit' and sequel|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-et-hobbitt25apr25,0,6356146.story|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=22 September 2012|date=24 April 2008}} Del Toro left the project in May 2010, after about two years of working with Jackson and his production team, due to delays caused in part by financial problems at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.{{cite news|last=Alexander|first=Bryan|title=Guillermo del Toro on Losing the 'Hobbit': 'I Have a Huge Heartbreak'|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/guillermo-del-toro-losing-hobbit-37277|work=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=22 September 2012|date=5 November 2010}} Jackson was announced as director that October. The Hobbit films were produced back to back, like The Lord of the Rings films. Principal photography for The Hobbit films began on 21 March 2011 in New Zealand{{cite web|last=Trumbore|first=Dave|title=Production Officially Begins on Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit; Plus Two New Images and the Official Synopsis|url=https://collider.com/the-hobbit-movie-images-synopsis/81524/|work=Collider|access-date=22 September 2012|date=20 March 2011|archive-date=10 September 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120910030500/http://collider.com/the-hobbit-movie-images-synopsis/81524/|url-status=dead}} and ended on 6 July 2012, after 266 days of filming.{{cite news|last=Zakarin|first=Jordan|title='The Hobbit' Completes Filming, Peter Jackson Posts Facebook Message (Photo)|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/hobbit-completes-filming-peter-jackson-345996|work=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=22 September 2012|date=6 July 2012}} Pick-ups for An Unexpected Journey'' were filmed in July 2012 as well.{{cite news|last=Masters|first=Kim|title=No One Knows How Much Peter Jackson's New 'Hobbit' Film Will Cost|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/no-one-knows-how-peter-356696|work=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=22 September 2012|date=1 August 2012}} Work on the film was expected to be completed on 26 November, just two days prior to the film's Wellington premiere.{{cite news|last=Watercutter|first=Angela|title=Peter Jackson Races to Complete The Hobbit in Time for Premiere|url=https://www.wired.com/underwire/2012/11/peter-jackson-hobbit-post-production/|publisher=Wired|access-date=28 November 2012|date=26 November 2012}}

Jackson had said that del Toro's sudden exit created problems as he felt he had a very little preparation time remaining before shooting had to begin, with unfinished scripts and without storyboards, which increased the difficulty to direct it. Jackson stated, "Because Guillermo del Toro had to leave and I jumped in and took over, we didn't wind the clock back a year and a half and give me a year and a half prep to design the movie, which was different to what he was doing. It was impossible, and as a result of it being impossible I just started shooting the movie with most of it not prepped at all. You're going on to a set and you're winging it, you've got these massively complicated scenes, no storyboards and you're making it up there and then on the spot."{{cite web|last1=Shepherd|first1=Jack|title=Peter Jackson admits The Hobbit was a shambles: 'I just started shooting without most of it prepped at all'|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/peter-jackson-admits-hobbit-was-shambles-i-just-starting-shooting-without-most-it-prepped-all-a6740136.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220618/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/peter-jackson-admits-hobbit-was-shambles-i-just-starting-shooting-without-most-it-prepped-all-a6740136.html |archive-date=18 June 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|website=The Independent|date=19 November 2015|access-date=19 November 2015}}{{cite web|last1=Child|first1=Ben|title=Peter Jackson: 'I didn't know what the hell I was doing' when I made The Hobbit|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/nov/19/peter-jackson-battle-of-the-five-armies-i-didnt-know-what-the-hell-i-was-doing-when-i-made-the-hobbit|website=The Guardian|date=19 November 2015|access-date=19 November 2015}}{{cite web|last1=McMillan|first1=Graeme|title=Peter Jackson: I Didn't Know What the Hell I Was Doing on 'The Hobbit'|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/peter-jackson-i-didnt-know-842271|website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=19 November 2015|access-date=19 November 2015}}

Jackson also said, "I spent most of The Hobbit feeling like I was not on top of it. Even from a script point of view, Fran [Walsh], Philippa [Boyens] and I hadn't got the entire scripts written to our satisfaction, so that was a very high pressure situation".{{cite web|last1=Hall|first1=Jacob|title=Peter Jackson Explains Why the 'Hobbit' Movies Are Such a Huge Mess|url=https://www.slashfilm.com/peter-jackson-hobbit-movie-problems/|website=/Film|date=19 November 2015|access-date=19 November 2015}}{{cite web|last1=Trumbore|first1=Dave|title='The Hobbit' Trilogy: Peter Jackson Admits He Was "Winging It" the Entire Time|url=https://collider.com/the-hobbit-peter-jackson-winging-it/|website=Collider|date=19 November 2015|access-date=19 November 2015}}{{cite web|last1=Jagernauth|first1=Kevin|title=Peter Jackson Admits He "Winged It" With 'The Hobbit,' And Felt Like He Was "Not On Top Of It"|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2015/11/peter-jackson-admits-he-winged-it-with-the-hobbit-and-felt-like-he-was-not-on-top-of-it-104614/|website=IndieWire|date=19 November 2015|access-date=19 November 2015}} However, Jackson goes on to explain in the DVD/Blu-ray featurettes the various ways in which he and his crew overcame the obstacles encountered during filming. They found ways of making things work, even in a "very high pressure situation" in which he and his crew found themselves, especially the shooting of the Battle of the Five Armies which was shifted from 2012 to 2013 to be properly planned and shot.{{cite web|last1=Gallagher|first1=Brian|title=Peter Jackson Admits Why The Hobbit Trilogy Was a Mess|url=https://movieweb.com/hobbit-movie-trilogy-problems-peter-jackson/|website=MovieWeb|date=19 November 2015|access-date=19 November 2015}}{{cite web|title=Peter Jackson's comments provoke a 'Gathering Storm' in a teacup…|url=https://www.theonering.net/torwp/2015/11/20/99676-peter-jacksons-comments-provoke-a-gathering-storm-in-a-teacup/|website=TheOneRing.net|date=20 November 2015|access-date=20 November 2015}}{{cite web|last1=Hunt|first1=Tom|title=Cold water poured on Sir Peter Jackson's Hobbit revelations|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/film/74245071/cold-water-poured-on-sir-peter-jacksons-hobbit-revelations|website=Stuff.co.nz|date=20 November 2015|access-date=20 November 2015}}

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey used a shooting and projection frame rate of 48 frames per second, becoming the first feature film with a wide release to do so.{{cite news|author=Carolyn Giardina | url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/showeast-2012-major-exhibitors-sign-387289|title=Showeast 2012: Major Exhibitors Sign for High Frame-Rate 'Hobbit' Despite Format Challenges| work=The Hollywood Reporter |date=7 November 2012|access-date=8 November 2012}} The new projection rate was advertised as "High Frame Rate" to the general public. However, the majority of cinemas projected the film at the industry standard 24 fps after the film was converted.{{cite web |last=Trenholm |first=Rich |url=http://crave.cnet.co.uk/homecinema/the-hobbit-in-48fps-hfr-limited-to-select-uk-cinemas-50009746/ |title=The Hobbit in 48fps HFR limited to select UK cinemas |publisher=CNET |date=15 November 2012 |access-date=16 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121118100738/http://crave.cnet.co.uk/homecinema/the-hobbit-in-48fps-hfr-limited-to-select-uk-cinemas-50009746/ |archive-date=18 November 2012 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web|author=Jeff Blagdon |url=https://www.theverge.com/2012/11/8/3616708/hobbit-48fps-450-theaters |title=Peter Jackson's 48fps version of 'The Hobbit' screening at 450 theaters in North America |publisher=The Verge |date=8 November 2012 |access-date=16 June 2013}}

{{Main|Music of The Hobbit film series}}

The musical score for An Unexpected Journey was composed, orchestrated, conducted and produced by Howard Shore. It was performed by the London Philharmonic Orchestra, London Voices and Tiffin' Boys Choir and featured several vocal soloists. The score reprised many themes from the Lord of the Rings trilogy but also introduced numerous new themes, including Shore's orchestral setting of the diegetic "Misty Mountains" song.{{cite web|url=http://www.jwfan.com/forums/index.php?/topic/25375-score-the-hobbit-an-unexpected-journey-howard-shore-part-2-a-track-by-track-analysis-of-the-special-edition-soundtrack-album/ |title=SCORE: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (Howard Shore) - Part 2: A Track-by-Track Analysis of the Special Edition Soundtrack Album - JWFan Reviews - JOHN WILLIAMS Fan Network |website=Jwfan.com |date=25 May 2015 |access-date=27 July 2017}}

At the facility where about 150{{Cite web|agency=Associated Press |date=19 November 2012|title=Wranglers: 'The Hobbit' Production Responsible for Up to 27 Animal Deaths|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/hobbit-animal-deaths-wranglers-blame-392010/|access-date=14 September 2021|website=The Hollywood Reporter|language=en-US}} animals were housed for the production of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, up to 27 animals died.{{cite news|last1= Wyatt |first1= Daisy |last2= Walker |first2= Tim |title= 27 animals died during filming of Hollywood blockbuster The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, says report |date= 26 November 2013 |access-date= 22 June 2016 |newspaper= The Independent |url= https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/27-animals-died-during-filming-of-hollywood-blockbuster-the-hobbit-an-unexpected-journey-says-report-8965357.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220618/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/27-animals-died-during-filming-of-hollywood-blockbuster-the-hobbit-an-unexpected-journey-says-report-8965357.html |archive-date=18 June 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live}}{{cite news|last= Memmott |first= Mark |title= 27 Animals In 'Hobbit' Movie Died At Farm Where They Were Housed |date= 19 November 2012 |access-date= 22 June 2016 |website= NPR |url= https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2012/11/19/165483232/27-animals-in-hobbit-movie-died-at-farm-where-they-were-housed}} The animals in question were horses, goats, chickens and one sheep.

File:London 12 2012 LHR 4836.JPG B-777-300 with "The Airline of Middle-earth" livery to promote the film The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, at London Heathrow Airport]]

The first trailer for An Unexpected Journey was first screened before the Jackson-produced The Adventures of Tintin in the US on 21 December 2011,{{cite web|first=Tom|last=Eames|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/movies/news/a356414/the-hobbit-trailer-confirmed-to-air-before-tintin-in-us.html|title='The Hobbit' trailer confirmed to air before 'Tintin' in US|work=Digital Spy|date=16 December 2011|access-date=22 September 2012}} and released on the Internet on the same day.{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/celebritology/post/the-hobbit-trailer-once-more-into-middle-earth/2011/12/20/gIQAN9dJ8O_blog.html |title='The Hobbit' trailer: Once more into Middle-earth |last=Chaney |first=Jen |date=20 December 2011|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=22 September 2012}} Geoff Boucher of the Los Angeles Times said, "While it was all too fleeting there was enough in it to stir the heart of fans."{{cite news |url=http://herocomplex.latimes.com/movies/hobbit-trailer-brings-back-the-magic-and-not-just-for-fans/ |title='The Hobbit' trailer brings back magic (and not just for fans) |last=Boucher |first=Geoff |date=20 December 2011 |work=Los Angeles Times |access-date=22 September 2012}} Jen Chaney of The Washington Post stated, "Visually and tonally, this preview for [An Unexpected Journey] looks like a perfect match for the Frodo Baggins tales that released in 2001, 2002 and 2003. […] But plot isn't the main matter at hand in the trailer… This clip is all about reacquainting us with Middle-earth."

Jackson, Freeman, McKellen, Armitage, Serkis, Wood, and co-screenwriter Philippa Boyens appeared at the 2012 San Diego Comic-Con promoting the film and screening 12 minutes of footage.{{cite magazine |last=Vary |first=Adam B. |url=http://insidemovies.ew.com/2012/07/14/the-hobbit-comic-con-panel/ |title='The Hobbit' Comic-Con panel: Peter Jackson gifts a bounty of footage upon Hall H |date=14 July 2012 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |access-date=25 September 2012 |archive-date=18 September 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120918111614/http://insidemovies.ew.com/2012/07/14/the-hobbit-comic-con-panel/ |url-status=dead }}

On 8 October 2012, Wellington Mayor Celia Wade-Brown announced that for the week of the premiere of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, the capital of New Zealand would be renamed the "Middle of Middle-earth".{{Cite news|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10839152|title=Wellington: The Middle of Middle-Earth|newspaper=The New Zealand Herald|date=8 October 2012|access-date=23 October 2012}}

• Guardians of Middle-earth, which was released with the special disclaimer on the front art, marking the connection to the feature film and contains models and characters from The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, including Nori, Gollum, Dwalin and others.
• Lego The Lord of the Rings, which was released around the same time as the motion picture and contains a Lego model of Radagast, based on his portrayal in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.
• The Hobbit: Kingdoms of Middle-earth, which features characters and locations as well as the elements of the official soundtrack.

File:The Hobbit - An Unexpected Journey premiere.jpg outside the Embassy Theatre in Wellington, New Zealand at the world premiere of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey]]

The world premiere of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey took place on 28 November 2012 at the Embassy Theatre in Wellington, New Zealand,{{cite news|last=Bulbeck|first=Pip|title=New Zealanders to See 'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey' on Nov. 28|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/new-zealanders-see-hobbit-an-334183|work=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=24 September 2012|date=6 June 2012}} with a full theatrical release in New Zealand on 12 December. The film was released 13 December 2012 in Europe, 14 December 2012 in India, Canada and United States,{{cite web | work = Facebook | author = The Hobbit UK | title = The adventure begins a day early! | date = 19 October 2012 | url = https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=432623330118202&set=a.377113225669213.81910.175992219114649&type=1&theater }}{{cite news| last= McClintock|first= Pamela| title= Third 'Hobbit' Film Sets Release Date|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/third-hobbit-film-sets-release-367258|work=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=31 August 2012|date=31 August 2012}} and 26 December 2012 (Boxing Day) in Australia. It was also screened at the 65th Royal Film Performance in London on 12 December 2012, an event that was held in aid of the Film & TV Charity and saw Prince William in attendance, who spoke with Martin Freeman about his enthusiasm for Tolkien's works.{{cite news|last=Kemp|first=Stuart|title='The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey' Gets Royal Appointment|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/hobbit-an-unexpected-journey-gets-373366|work=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=24 September 2012|date=24 September 2012}}{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39knJ8jcB10 |title=CNN: UK:PRINCE WILLIAM AT HOBBIT PREMIERE |date=2012-12-12 |access-date=2025-01-26 |via=YouTube}}{{Cite web |title=Wills Misses His Precious At Hobbit Premiere |url=https://news.sky.com/story/wills-misses-his-precious-at-hobbit-premiere-10460939 |access-date=2025-01-26 |website=Sky News |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Baker |first=Marc |date=2014-04-19 |title=Prince William HOOKED on the Hobbit and Lord of the Rings says star Martin Freeman |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/prince-william-hooked-hobbit-lord-3434215 |access-date=2025-02-23 |website=The Mirror |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Ian McKellen {{!}} Hobbit Blog {{!}} 1 November 2012 {{!}} Premieres |url=https://mckellen.com/cinema/hobbit-movie/121101.html |access-date=2025-03-13 |website=mckellen.com}}{{Cite web |title=Ian McKellen {{!}} Hobbit Blog {{!}} 23 November 2012 {{!}} Upcoming premieres |url=https://mckellen.com/cinema/hobbit-movie/121123.htm |access-date=2025-03-13 |website=mckellen.com}} Prince Charles had visited Peter Jackson, the Wētā Workshop and met members of the cast a week before the New Zealand premiere.{{Cite news |last=Howard |first=Rebecca |date=2012-11-14 |title=Prince Charles and the 13 Dwarves of 'The Hobbit' |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/BL-SEB-72488 |access-date=2025-01-26 |work=Wall Street Journal |language=en-US |issn=0099-9660}}{{Cite web |title=Prince Charles Has A Hobbit Birthday In NZ |url=https://news.sky.com/story/prince-charles-has-a-hobbit-birthday-in-nz-10463895 |access-date=2025-01-26 |website=Sky News |language=en}}

Around 100,000 people lined the red carpet on Courtenay Place for the film's premiere, and the entire event was broadcast live on TV in New Zealand, as well as streaming over the internet.{{cite news| url= http://www.3news.co.nz/Entertainment/TheHobbit/Livestream.aspx| work= 3 News NZ| title= Live Stream of the Hobbit Premiere| date= 28 November 2012| access-date= 27 November 2012| archive-url= https://archive.today/20121228001551/http://www.3news.co.nz/Entertainment/TheHobbit/Livestream.aspx| archive-date= 28 December 2012| url-status= dead| df= dmy-all}}

An extended edition of the film had a limited re-release on 5 October 2015, accompanied by a special greeting from Peter Jackson.{{cite web|url=http://www.ibtimes.co.in/hobbit-battle-five-armies-will-be-rated-r-extended-edition-trilogy-be-re-released-645514|title='The Hobbit: The Battle of The Five Armies' will be Rated R, Extended Edition Trilogy to be Re-Released in Theaters This October|work=International Business Times|last=Saurav|first=Shubhang|date=5 September 2015|access-date=6 September 2015}}

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey was released on DVD, Blu-ray and Blu-ray 3D on 19 March 2013,{{cite web|title=The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey|url=http://www.blu-ray.com/movies/The-Hobbit-An-Unexpected-Journey-Blu-ray/8529/|publisher=Blu-ray.com|access-date=18 January 2013}} with an extended edition, with 13 minutes of additional footage and three bonus discs containing approximately nine hours of special features, released on 5 November 2013.{{cite web|url=http://www.blu-ray.com/movies/The-Hobbit-An-Unexpected-Journey-Blu-ray/57035/ |title=The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Blu-ray: Extended Edition |publisher=Blu-ray.com |access-date=23 September 2013}}{{cite web|url=http://www.hypable.com/2012/12/08/hobbit-unexpected-journey-extended-edition-run-time|title='The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey' Extended Edition will run over 3 hours|last=Sims|first=Andrew|work=Hypable|date=8 December 2012|access-date=15 December 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121212004604/http://www.hypable.com/2012/12/08/hobbit-unexpected-journey-extended-edition-run-time/|archive-date=12 December 2012}}{{cite web|url = http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2013/10/25/81272-the-hobbit-an-unexpected-journey-extended-edition-scene-guide/|title=The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Extended Edition Scene Guide|date=25 October 2013|work=The Onering.net|access-date=5 November 2013}}{{cite web|url = http://www.blu-ray.com/movies/The-Hobbit-An-Unexpected-Journey-Blu-ray/57035/#Review|title= The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Blu-ray Review (Extended Edition)|date=31 October 2013|work=Blu-ray.com|access-date=7 November 2013}}

An Unexpected Journey{{'}}s home video sales made a revenue of $99 million with 6.2 million copies sold, making it the third best-selling title of 2013 behind Despicable Me 2 and The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2.{{cite web|title=Top-Selling Video Titles in the United States in 2013|url=http://www.the-numbers.com/home-market/packaged-media-sales/2013|website=The Numbers|access-date=21 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150401184600/http://www.the-numbers.com/home-market/packaged-media-sales/2013|archive-date=1 April 2015|url-status=live}} In the United Kingdom, the film was released on 8 April 2013.{{cite web|url= http://www.totalfilm.com/news/the-hobbit-an-unexpected-journey-blu-ray-extras-revealed|title= The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Blu-ray extras revealed|date=6 February 2013|work=Total Film|access-date=28 February 2013 }}

An Unexpected Journey was released in Ultra HD Blu-ray on 30 November 2020 in the United Kingdom and on 1 December 2020 in the United States, along with the other films of the trilogy, including both the theatrical and the extended editions of the films.{{cite web |last=Brew |first=Simon |url=https://www.filmstories.co.uk/news/lord-of-the-rings-and-the-hobbit-set-for-4k-release-in-december/ |title=Lord Of The Rings and The Hobbit set for 4K release in November |website=filmstories.co.uk |date=9 October 2020 |access-date=30 November 2020 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201021183914/https://www.filmstories.co.uk/news/lord-of-the-rings-and-the-hobbit-set-for-4k-release-in-december/ |archive-date=21 October 2020}}

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey grossed $303 million in the United States and Canada and $718.1 million elsewhere for a worldwide total of $1.017 billion, becoming the 15th film in history to reach $1 billion. It is the fourth highest-grossing film of 2012.{{cite web|title=2012 Worldwide Grosses|url=https://boxofficemojo.com/yearly/chart/?view2=worldwide&yr=2012&p=.htm|publisher=Box Office Mojo|access-date= 15 March 2012}} It scored a worldwide opening weekend of $222.6 million,{{cite web|url=https://boxofficemojo.com/alltime/world/worldwideopenings.htm|title=All Time Worldwide Opening Records at the Box Office|work=boxofficemojo.com}} including $15.1 million from 452 IMAX theatres around the world, which was an IMAX opening-weekend record for December.{{cite web|url=http://www.boxoffice.com/latest-news/2012-12-17-the-hobbit-an-unexpected-journey-grosses-151-million-in-452-imax-theatres-worldwide-in-its-opening-weekend|title='THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY' GROSSES $15.1 MILLION IN 452 IMAX THEATRES WORLDWIDE IN ITS OPENING WEEKEND|publisher=boxoffice.com|access-date=24 December 2012|date=17 December 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130129204955/http://www.boxoffice.com/latest-news/2012-12-17-the-hobbit-an-unexpected-journey-grosses-151-million-in-452-imax-theatres-worldwide-in-its-opening-weekend|archive-date=29 January 2013|url-status=dead}}

An Unexpected Journey earned $13.0 million during its midnight run, setting a December midnight record{{cite news|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/hobbit-box-office-grosses-16-402536|title=Box Office Report: 'The Hobbit' Grosses $16 Million Overseas on Thursday|work=The Hollywood Reporter|first=Pamela|last=McClintock|access-date=24 December 2012|date=14 December 2012}} (previously held by Avatar).{{cite web|url=https://boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=3585&p=.htm|title=Forecast: 'The Hobbit' Expected to Set December Opening Record|publisher=Box Office Mojo|first=Ray|last=Subers|access-date=24 December 2012|date=14 December 2012}} It then topped the box office on its opening day (Friday, 14 December 2012) earning $37.1 million{{cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=daily&id=hobbit.htm|title=The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012) – Daily Box Office Results|publisher=Box Office Mojo|access-date=24 December 2012}} from 4,045 theatres (midnight earnings included), setting a December opening-day record (previously held by The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King).{{cite web|url=https://boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=3586&p=.htm|title=Friday Report: 'The Hobbit' Steals $37.5 Million|publisher=Box Office Mojo|first=Ray|last=Subers|access-date=24 December 2012|date=14 December 2012}} By the end of its first weekend it grossed $84.62 million, finishing in first place and setting a then December opening-weekend record (previously held by I Am Legend).{{cite web|url=https://boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=3587&p=.htm|title=Weekend Report: 'Hobbit' Takes December Record, Misses $100 Million|publisher=Box Office Mojo|access-date=17 December 2012}} 3D showings accounted for 49% of weekend ticket sales while IMAX showings generated $10.1 million (12% of the weekend gross). The film held onto the top spot for a second weekend, despite declining 57% to $36.7 million.{{cite web|url=https://boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=3591&p=.htm|title=Weekend Report: 'Hobbit' Plummets, Holds Off Slew of Newcomers|publisher=Box Office Mojo|access-date=23 December 2012}} An Unexpected Journey remained at the top of the box office during its third weekend, dropping only 11% to $32.9 million.{{cite web|url=https://boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=3597&p=.htm|title=Weekend Report: 'Hobbit' Holds Off 'Django' on Final Weekend of 2012|publisher=Box Office Mojo|access-date=30 December 2012}}

An Unexpected Journey earned $11.2 million on its opening day (Wednesday, 12 December 2012) from 16 markets.{{cite web|url=http://www.boxoffice.com/latest-news/2012-12-13-the-hobbit-grabs-best-non-holiday-wednesday-opening-in-new-zealand|title=UPDATED: $138 Million for 'The Hobbit' Overseas|publisher=boxoffice.com|access-date=24 December 2012|date=13 December 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121217044946/http://www.boxoffice.com/latest-news/2012-12-13-the-hobbit-grabs-best-non-holiday-wednesday-opening-in-new-zealand|archive-date=17 December 2012|url-status=dead}} Through its first Sunday, it managed a five-day opening-weekend gross of just under $138 million. It topped the box office outside North America on two consecutive weekends. In Sweden, it scored the second-largest five-day opening with $6.2 million (behind Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2). Its three largest openings occurred in the UK, Ireland, and Malta ($18.8 million); Russia and the CIS ($17.8 million), and Germany ($17.1 million).{{cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=3588&p=.htm|title=Around-the-World Roundup: 'The Hobbit' Collects $138 Million Overseas|publisher=Box Office Mojo|first=Ray|last=Subers|access-date=24 December 2012|date=18 December 2012}}{{cite web|url=https://boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=3592&p=.htm|title=Around-the-World Roundup: 'Hobbit' Adds $96 Million Overseas|publisher=Box Office Mojo|first=Ray|last=Subers|access-date=24 December 2012|date=23 December 2012}}

After the New Zealand premiere, Television New Zealand noted that critical responses were "largely positive" but with "mixed responses to the film's technological advances".{{cite web|url=http://www.tvnz.co.nz/hobbit-news/gets-positive-reviews-although-doubts-surface-5261321 |title=Hobbit gets positive reviews although doubts surface |work=Television New Zealand |date=4 December 2012 |access-date=30 January 2013}} After the film's international release, Forbes called reviews "unenthusiastic" and the Los Angeles Times said the critical consensus is that the film "stumbles".{{cite news|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/markhughes/2012/12/15/critics-um-but-audiences-awe-the-hobbit-wins-huge-opening-and-high-ratings/ |title=Critics Um, But Audiences In Awe – 'The Hobbit' Wins Huge Opening And High Ratings |work=Forbes |date=15 December 2012 |access-date=15 January 2013 |first=Mark |last=Hughes}}{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/moviesnow/la-et-the-hobbit-an-unexpected-journey-movie-reviews-critics-20121214,0,7309214.story |title='The Hobbit' stumbles on first leg of its journey, critics say |work=Los Angeles Times |date=14 December 2012 |access-date=15 January 2013 |first=Oliver |last=Gettell}}

The film holds a 64% rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 303 reviews, with an average score of 6.60/10. The site's consensus reads "Peter Jackson's return to Middle-earth is an earnest, visually resplendent trip, but the film's deliberate pace robs the material of some of its majesty."{{cite web| title=The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_hobbit_an_unexpected_journey/ |work=Rotten Tomatoes |publisher=Fandango |access-date=6 May 2025}} On Metacritic, the film has a score of 58 out of 100 based on collected reviews from 40 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/the-hobbit-an-unexpected-journey |title=The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Reviews, Ratings, Credits, and More |publisher=Metacritic |access-date=8 January 2013}}

The main contention of debate was regarding the film's length, its high frame rate, and whether or not the film matched the level of expectation built from The Lord of the Rings film trilogy, while the film's visual style, special effects, music score, and cast were praised, especially the performances of Martin Freeman, Ian McKellen, Richard Armitage, and Andy Serkis.{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/blogs/entertainment/2012/12/movie-review-the-hobbit-an-unexpected-journey-not-as-good-as-lord-of-the-rings/|title=The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Reviews|publisher=ABC News|access-date=10 February 2013}} Audiences polled by CinemaScore, during the opening weekend, gave the film an "A" grade on a scale from A+ to F.{{cite news |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/box-office-report-peter-jacksons-403073|title=Box Office Report: Peter Jackson's 'The Hobbit' Scores Record $84.8 Million Weekend |work=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=15 February 2013 |first=Pamela |last=McClintock |date=16 December 2012 |quote=Hobbit received an A CinemaScore from moviegoers, portending good word-of-mouth. }}

Peter Travers of Rolling Stone criticised the film's use of "48 frames per second… Couple that with 3D and the movie looks so hyper-real that you see everything that's fake about it… The 169 minutes of screen time hurts, since the first 45 minutes of the film traps us in the hobbit home of the young Bilbo Baggins," but continued with "Once Bilbo and the dwarves set on their journey… things perk up considerably. Trolls, orcs, wolves and mountainous monsters made of remarkably pliable stone bring out the best in Jackson and his Rings co-screenwriters Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens."{{cite web|url=http://rollingstone.com/movies/reviews/the-hobbit-an-unexpected-journey-20121213|title=The Hobbit Review|date=14 December 2012|publisher=Rolling Stone|access-date=15 December 2012}}

Robbie Collin of The Daily Telegraph gave the film two stars out of five and said "Thank heavens for Andy Serkis, whose riddling return as Gollum steals the entire film. It is the only time the digital effects and smoother visuals underline, rather than undermine, the mythical drama of Bilbo's adventure. As a lover of cinema, Jackson’s film bored me rigid; as a lover of Tolkien, it broke my heart." He thought the film was "so stuffed with extraneous faff and flummery that it often barely feels like Tolkien at all – more a dire, fan-written internet tribute."{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/filmreviews/9730525/The-Hobbit-An-Unexpected-Journey-movie-review.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/filmreviews/9730525/The-Hobbit-An-Unexpected-Journey-movie-review.html |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=The Hobbit – An Unexpected Journey, film review|publisher=The Telegraph|access-date=9 December 2012|location=London|first=Robbie|last=Collin|date=9 December 2012}}{{cbignore}}

Time Out magazine's Keith Uhlich called the film "a mesmerizing study in excess, Peter Jackson and company's long-awaited prequel to the Lord of the Rings saga is bursting with surplus characters, wall-to-wall special effects, unapologetically drawn-out story tangents and double the frame rate (48 over 24) of the average movie."{{cite web|title=The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (PG-13)|date=6 December 2012 |url=https://www.timeout.com/us/film/the-hobbit-an-unexpected-journey|publisher=Time Out|access-date=16 December 2012}}

The Guardian magazine's Peter Bradshaw commented on use of high frame rate technology and length of the film, writing "After 170 minutes, I felt that I had had enough of a pretty good thing. The trilogy will test the stamina of the non-believers, and many might feel ... that the traditional filmic look of Lord of the Rings was better."{{cite web|title=The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey – review|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2012/dec/09/hobbit-an-unexpected-journey-review|work=The Guardian|date=9 December 2012|access-date=16 December 2012}}

Richard Lawson from The Atlantic Wire commented on the film's "video game"-like visual effects, saying "this is a dismally unattractive movie, featuring too many shots that I'm sure were lovely at some point but are now ruined and chintzified by the terrible technology monster."{{cite web|title='The Hobbit': Like One Bad Video Game|url=http://www.theatlanticwire.com/entertainment/2012/12/the-hobbit-movie-review/59903/|publisher=theatlanticwire.com|access-date=16 December 2012|archive-date=14 December 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121214201819/http://www.theatlanticwire.com/entertainment/2012/12/the-hobbit-movie-review/59903/|url-status=dead}}

Matthew Leyland of Total Film gave the film a five-star rating and said that it is "Charming, spectacular, technically audacious… in short, everything you expect from a Peter Jackson movie. A feeling of familiarity does take hold in places, but this is an epically entertaining first course."{{cite web|url=http://www.totalfilm.com/reviews/cinema/the-hobbit-an-unexpected-journey|title=The Hobbit Review|last=Leyland|first=Matthew|publisher=Total Magazine|access-date=9 December 2012}} Ed Gonzalez of Slant Magazine awarded the film three stars out of four and called it "The first of an arguably gratuitous three-part cine-extravaganza."{{cite web|url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/review/the-hobbit-an-unexpected-journey/6732|title=The Hobbit Review|last=Gonzalez|first=Ed|date=8 December 2012 |publisher=Slant Magazine|access-date=9 December 2012}}

Todd McCarthy of The Hollywood Reporter said that "Jackson and his colleagues have created a purist's delight… [And leads to] an undeniably exciting, action-packed climax." McCarthy did however think that "Though there are elements in this new film that are as spectacular as much of the Rings trilogy was… there is much that is flat-footed and tedious as well, especially in the early going."{{cite news|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movie/hobbit-an-unexpected-journey/review/397416|last=McCarthy|first=Todd|title=The Hobbit Review|work=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=9 December 2012}}

Kate Muir of The Times gave the film four out of five stars, saying Martin Freeman "perks up" the film as Bilbo Baggins and that Jackson's use of 48 frames per second 3D technology gives the film "lurid clarity".{{cite news|url=http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/arts/film/reviews/article3625874.ece|title=The Hobbit Review|work=The Times|last=Muir|first=Kate|access-date=9 December 2012}}

Dan Jolin of Empire gave the film four out of five stars and thought "The Hobbit plays younger and lighter than Fellowship and its follow-ups, but does right by the faithful and has a strength in Martin Freeman's Bilbo that may yet see this trilogy measure up to the last one" and he stated that "There is treasure here".{{cite web|url=https://www.empireonline.com/reviews/review.asp?FID=9834|last=Jolin|first=Dan|title=The Hobbit Review|publisher=Empire|access-date=9 December 2012}}

{{Main|List of accolades received by The Hobbit film series}}

The film received three Academy Award nominations for Best Visual Effects, Best Production Design, and Best Makeup and Hairstyling as well as praise from critics organisation Broadcast Film Critics Association and from critics groups, such as the Houston Film Critics Society, Phoenix Film Critics Society and Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association. The film's team won an Academy Scientific and Technical Award—the Scientific and Engineering Award for inventing a technique which has made huge advances in bringing to life computer-generated characters such as Gollum in the film to the screen.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-21409266|title=The Hobbit picks up technical Oscar|work=BBC News|date=11 February 2013}} In January 2013, it was announced The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey was nominated in the Best Live Action Motion Picture category at the Cinema Audio Society Awards, awarded on 16 February.{{cite news | url= http://www.3news.co.nz/The-Hobbit-and-Les-Miserables-up-for-audio-awards/tabid/418/articleID/282432/Default.aspx | work= 3 News NZ | title= The Hobbit and Les Miserables up for audio awards | date= 9 January 2013 | access-date= 8 January 2013 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130210095829/http://www.3news.co.nz/The-Hobbit-and-Les-Miserables-up-for-audio-awards/tabid/418/articleID/282432/Default.aspx | archive-date= 10 February 2013 | url-status= dead }}

An Unexpected Journey led the nominations at the 39th Saturn Awards with nine, more than The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring which earned eight nominations at the time of its release. These nominations included Best Director (Peter Jackson's eleventh Saturn Award nomination), Best Actor for Martin Freeman, Best Supporting Actor for Ian McKellen (his third nomination for playing Gandalf) and Best Music for Howard Shore.{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/movies/2013/02/20/the-hobbit-saturn-awards-movie-tv-nominations/1933067/|title='The Hobbit' leads Saturn Awards with nine nomination | work=USA Today | first1=Brian|last1=Truitt|date=20 February 2013}}{{cite web|url=http://social.entertainment.msn.com/movies/blogs/paralleluniverse-blogpost.aspx?post=4952c6d6-1266-4377-9ae6-ff6a00a5b59e|title=Nominations for 39th annual Saturn Awards unveiled|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130225153211/http://social.entertainment.msn.com/movies/blogs/paralleluniverse-blogpost.aspx?post=4952c6d6-1266-4377-9ae6-ff6a00a5b59e|archive-date=25 February 2013}} It won Best Production Design for Dan Hennah, Ra Vincent and Simon Bright.

An Unexpected Journey also earned five nominations at the 18th Empire Awards, winning in two categories, Best Actor for Martin Freeman and Best Science Fiction/Fantasy Film.{{cite web|url=https://www.empireonline.com/news/story.asp?NID=36651 |title=Jameson Empire Awards 2013 Are Go! |first=Helen |last=O'Hara |date=1 March 2013 |work=Empire |access-date=21 March 2013}}{{cite web|url=https://www.empireonline.com/awards2013/winners/bestscififantasy.asp |title=Best Sci-Fi/Fantasy – The Hobbit an Unexpected Journey |work=Empire |access-date=26 March 2013 }}{{cite web|url=https://www.empireonline.com/awards2013/winners/bestactor.asp |title=Best Actor – Martin Freeman |work=Empire |access-date=26 March 2013 }} It also earned two nominations at the 2013 MTV Movie Awards in the categories Best Scared-as-S**t Performance and Best Hero for Martin Freeman.{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1703068/2013-mtv-movie-awards-nominees.jhtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130307132702/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1703068/2013-mtv-movie-awards-nominees.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=7 March 2013 |title= 2013 MTV Movie Awards Nominations: Full List |publisher=abc.com |access-date=7 March 2013}}[https://web.archive.org/web/20130405064441/http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2013/04/02/mtv-movie-awards-best-hero/ MTV Movie Awards Soars With New Best Hero Category] Retrieved 5 April 2013 Freeman won the latter award for his performance.[http://insidemovies.ew.com/2013/04/14/mtv-movie-awards-winners-2013/ Check out the winners for the MTV Movie Awards!] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141109220905/http://insidemovies.ew.com/2013/04/14/mtv-movie-awards-winners-2013/ |date=9 November 2014 }} Retrieved 14 April 2013 It has gathered 6 nominations at the 2013 SFX Awards, including Best Film, Best Director for Peter Jackson and four acting nominations.{{Notelist}}

{{Reflist}}

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{{Guillermo del Toro}}

{{Empire Award for Best Sci-Fi/Fantasy}}

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Category:2010s adventure films

Category:2010s American films

Category:2010s British films

Category:2010s English-language films

Category:2012 3D films

Category:2012 fantasy films

Category:2012 films

Category:American 3D films

Category:American fantasy adventure films

Category:American prequel films

Category:Animal cruelty incidents in film

Category:Annie Award–winning films

Category:English-language adventure films

Category:English-language fantasy films

Category:Films about dragons

Category:Films about dwarfs

Category:Films about treasure hunting

Category:Films about trolls

Category:Films directed by Peter Jackson

Category:Films produced by Carolynne Cunningham

Category:Films produced by Fran Walsh

Category:Films produced by Peter Jackson

Category:Films produced by Zane Weiner

Category:Films scored by Howard Shore

Category:Films using motion capture

Category:Films with screenplays by Fran Walsh

Category:Films with screenplays by Guillermo del Toro

Category:Films with screenplays by Peter Jackson

Category:Films with screenplays by Philippa Boyens

Category:High fantasy films

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Category:IMAX films

Category:Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer films

Category:Middle-earth (film franchise) films

Category:New Line Cinema films

Category:New Zealand 3D films

Category:New Zealand fantasy adventure films

Category:New Zealand prequel films

Category:New Zealand sequel films

Category:Saturn Award–winning films

Category:Warner Bros. films

Category:WingNut Films films