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You can stream "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy on HBO Max in the U.S., along with "The Hobbit" trilogy and "The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim." The Extended Editions of all three "Lord of the Rings" movies are also available on HBO Max.
"The Rings of Power" is the exception. Amazon's Middle-earth series streams exclusively on Prime Video, with season 3 premiering November 11, 2026. Below, we'll break down where to stream, rent, or buy each title and the best order for watching the entire saga.
HBO Max is the easiest place to watch "The Lord of the Rings" movies in the U.S. Its current library includes Peter Jackson's original trilogy, "The Hobbit" trilogy, and the animated prequel "The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim."
Don't confuse movies listed on Amazon Video with movies included in a Prime membership. You can rent or buy the films through Amazon Video, but you'll need HBO Max or another service that includes HBO Max to stream the movies as part of a subscription. "The Rings of Power," meanwhile, is included with Prime Video.
| Title | Year | Subscription streaming | Rent or buy |
| "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring" | 2001 | HBO Max | Amazon Video, Apple TV, Fandango at Home |
| "The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers" | 2002 | HBO Max | Amazon Video, Apple TV, Fandango at Home |
| "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King" | 2003 | HBO Max | Amazon Video, Apple TV, Fandango at Home |
| "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" | 2012 | HBO Max | Amazon Video, Apple TV, Fandango at Home |
| "The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug" | 2013 | HBO Max | Amazon Video, Apple TV, Fandango at Home |
| "The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies" | 2014 | HBO Max | Amazon Video, Apple TV, Fandango at Home |
| "The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim" | 2024 | HBO Max | Amazon Video, Apple TV, Fandango at Home |
| "The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power" | 2022-present | Prime Video | Not applicable |
You may also see some of the movies through services or bundles that provide HBO Max access. For example, Hulu offers an HBO Max add-on and a Disney+, Hulu, HBO Max bundle. You don't need Hulu specifically to watch the movies, though; subscribing directly to HBO Max is simpler if "The Lord of the Rings" is all you're after.
If you want to marathon the movies, one month of HBO Max is the simplest and likely cheapest subscription option. HBO Max Basic with Ads costs $10.99/mo and gives you access to the seven modern Middle-earth movies currently on the service, including the original "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, "The Hobbit" trilogy, and "The War of the Rohirrim."
| HBO Max plan | Monthly price | What you get |
| Basic with Ads | $10.99/mo | Full HD, 2 devices |
| Standard | $18.49/mo | Full HD, 2 devices, up to 30 downloads |
| Premium | $22.99/mo | 4K UHD, 4 devices, up to 100 downloads |
If you're only interested in one movie, renting it individually may cost less than a month of HBO Max. But if you plan to watch several movies or both trilogies, a month of HBO Max is generally the better value.
Keep in mind that "The Rings of Power" isn't included with HBO Max. You'll need Prime Video to watch that series.
You can stream all three "Lord of the Rings" Extended Editions on HBO Max in the U.S. The longer cuts add substantial footage to Peter Jackson's theatrical releases, so make sure you select the title labeled Extended Edition if that's the version you want to watch.
| Extended Edition | Approx. runtime | Where to stream |
| "The Fellowship of the Ring" | 3 hr. 28 min. | HBO Max |
| "The Two Towers" | 3 hr. 55 min. | HBO Max |
| "The Return of the King" | 4 hr. 23 min. | HBO Max |
The Extended Editions are also available to purchase digitally through services such as Amazon Video and Apple TV. Streaming availability can change, so buying the movies digitally or on Blu-ray or 4K UHD may make more sense if you want permanent access.
"The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power" streams exclusively on Prime Video. All 16 episodes from seasons 1 and 2 are available now.
Season 3 premieres November 11, 2026. Prime Video will release the first four episodes on November 11, followed by episodes 5 and 6 on November 18 and the final two episodes on November 25.
The series is set thousands of years before "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings" during Middle-earth's Second Age. Season 3 jumps forward several years after season 2 as the War of the Elves and Sauron escalates.
No, "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy isn't currently available on Netflix in the U.S. The three movies are streaming on HBO Max instead.
Netflix libraries vary by country and change frequently, so you may see "The Lord of the Rings" available in other regions. If you're traveling, check your local Netflix library and your existing streaming subscriptions before signing up for another service.
You don't need a streaming subscription if you'd rather rent or own the movies. The "Lord of the Rings" and "Hobbit" trilogies are widely available through digital storefronts, including:
Digital rental and purchase prices can change by movie, format, and promotion. If you're planning to watch several films in a short period, compare the total rental price with the cost of one month of HBO Max before buying individually.
Physical DVD, Blu-ray, and 4K UHD collections are also available if you prefer to own the movies rather than depend on a streaming catalog.
There's more than one way to travel through Middle-earth. First-time viewers will probably have the best experience watching the movies in release order, beginning with Peter Jackson's original "Lord of the Rings" trilogy. If you've already seen the movies, chronological order lets you follow the story according to when events take place within Middle-earth.
If you want to follow the major screen adaptations according to the Middle-earth timeline, use this order:
"The Rings of Power" takes place thousands of years before "The Hobbit" and the original trilogy. "The War of the Rohirrim" is set 183 years before the events of "The Lord of the Rings," while "The Hobbit" takes place roughly 60 years before Frodo's journey.
You don't need to watch everything chronologically to understand the movies. Starting with "The Fellowship of the Ring" preserves the order in which Peter Jackson's films were introduced to audiences and avoids beginning a first-time marathon with prequels made years later.
Streaming libraries and services vary by country, so HBO Max or another service you use at home may offer different titles while you're traveling.
A virtual private network (VPN) can mask your IP address and connect you to a server in another location. A VPN doesn't guarantee access to a particular streaming library, and using one may conflict with a streaming provider's terms, so check your service's availability and policies when traveling.
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HBO Max is the easiest way to watch "The Lord of the Rings" movies in the U.S. in 2026. It currently carries the original "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, all three "Hobbit" movies, "The War of the Rohirrim," and the three "Lord of the Rings" Extended Editions. Plans start at $10.99/mo.
"The Rings of Power" is separate and streams exclusively on Prime Video. Seasons 1 and 2 are available now, and season 3 premieres November 11, 2026.
If you don't want another subscription, you can also rent or buy the movies through Amazon Video, Apple TV, and Fandango at Home. Just remember that seeing a "Lord of the Rings" movie listed on Amazon Video doesn't necessarily mean it's included with an ordinary Prime membership.
You can stream "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy on HBO Max in the U.S. HBO Max also carries "The Hobbit" trilogy, "The War of the Rohirrim," and the Extended Editions of all three "Lord of the Rings" movies.
No. "The Lord of the Rings" movies aren't currently available on Netflix in the U.S. You can stream the trilogy on HBO Max instead. Netflix availability varies by country and can change over time. Netflix itself currently shows Fellowship as unavailable in the U.S.
Yes. The Extended Editions of "The Fellowship of the Ring," "The Two Towers," and "The Return of the King" are currently available to stream on HBO Max in the U.S.
"The Rings of Power" is included with Prime Video, but the "Lord of the Rings" movies aren't currently included with a standard Prime Video subscription. You may see the movies listed on Amazon because you can rent or buy them through Amazon Video or access HBO Max through the HBO Max Amazon Channel.
For a marathon, HBO Max Basic with Ads is the simplest low-cost option. It costs $10.99/mo and currently includes the original "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, "The Hobbit" trilogy, and "The War of the Rohirrim."
"The Rings of Power" season 3 premieres November 11, 2026, exclusively on Prime Video. The first four episodes arrive November 11, two more on November 18, and the final two episodes on November 25.
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