The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies
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Following Smaug's attack on Laketown, Bilbo and the dwarves try to defend Erebor's mountain of treasure from others who claim it: the men of the ruined Laketown and the elves of Mirkwood. Meanwhile an army of Orcs led by Azog the Defiler is marching on Erebor, fueled by the rise of the dark lord Sauron. Dwarves, elves and men must unite, and the hope for Middle-Earth falls into Bilbo's hands.
What critics thought
The final chapter of Jackson's Hobbit trilogy lands in genuinely mixed territory: fans and many critics found it a satisfying, if imperfect, close to the Middle-earth saga, while a vocal contingent felt the film epitomized the trilogy's bloat — repetitive battle sequences, thin plotting, and spectacle crowding out story. The gap between audience warmth and critical skepticism is real and worth knowing about going in.
“The result is at once the trilogy's most engrossing episode, its most expeditious (at a comparatively lean 144 minutes) and also its darkest—both visually and in terms of the forces that stir in the hearts of men, dwarves and orcs alike.”
Scott Foundas·Variety
“The 144-minute running time showcases Jackson's worst tendencies: eons-long battle scenes, sloppy and abrupt resolutions, portentous romances, off-rhythm comic timing, and, newly in this case, patience-testing fan service.”
Inkoo Kang·TheWrap
“Bilbo may fully learn a sense of friendship and duty, and have quite a story to tell, but somewhere along the way, Mr. Jackson loses much of the magic.”
Nicolas Rapold·The New York Times
“There's a little too much padding in the final Hobbit flick, and the best sequence is without doubt the film's first. But the central battle is indeed spectacular, and as 'The Age of Orc' approaches, it rounds out this particular story in stirring and emotional fashion.”
Chris Tilly·IGN Movies
“After six films, 13 years and 1031 minutes of accumulated running time, Peter Jackson has concluded his massively remunerative genuflection at the altar of J.R.R. Tolkien with a film that may be the most purely entertaining of any in the collection.”
Todd McCarthy·The Hollywood Reporter
Accolades
Genres
Adventure, Fantasy
Cast & Crew
Peter JacksonDirector
Ian McKellenGandalf the Grey
Martin FreemanBilbo Baggins
Richard ArmitageThorin Oakenshield
Orlando BloomLegolas
Evangeline LillyTauriel
Luke EvansBard
Lee PaceKing Thranduil
Benedict CumberbatchSmaug / Sauron (voice)
Ken StottBalin
Aidan TurnerKili
Dean O'GormanFili
Billy ConnollyDain Ironfoot
Howard ShoreComposer
J. R. R. TolkienWriter
Guillermo del ToroWriter
Philippa BoyensWriter
Fran WalshWriter
Andrew LesnieCinematographyFrom the studio
The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies
Following Smaug's attack on Laketown, Bilbo and the dwarves try to defend Erebor's mountain of treasure from others who claim it: the men of the ruined Laketown and the elves of Mirkwood. Meanwhile an army of Orcs led by Azog the Defiler is marching on Erebor, fueled by the rise of the dark lord Sauron. Dwarves, elves and men must unite, and the hope for Middle-Earth falls into Bilbo's hands.
What critics thought
The final chapter of Jackson's Hobbit trilogy lands in genuinely mixed territory: fans and many critics found it a satisfying, if imperfect, close to the Middle-earth saga, while a vocal contingent felt the film epitomized the trilogy's bloat — repetitive battle sequences, thin plotting, and spectacle crowding out story. The gap between audience warmth and critical skepticism is real and worth knowing about going in.
“The result is at once the trilogy's most engrossing episode, its most expeditious (at a comparatively lean 144 minutes) and also its darkest—both visually and in terms of the forces that stir in the hearts of men, dwarves and orcs alike.”
Scott Foundas·Variety
“The 144-minute running time showcases Jackson's worst tendencies: eons-long battle scenes, sloppy and abrupt resolutions, portentous romances, off-rhythm comic timing, and, newly in this case, patience-testing fan service.”
Inkoo Kang·TheWrap
“Bilbo may fully learn a sense of friendship and duty, and have quite a story to tell, but somewhere along the way, Mr. Jackson loses much of the magic.”
Nicolas Rapold·The New York Times
“There's a little too much padding in the final Hobbit flick, and the best sequence is without doubt the film's first. But the central battle is indeed spectacular, and as 'The Age of Orc' approaches, it rounds out this particular story in stirring and emotional fashion.”
Chris Tilly·IGN Movies
“After six films, 13 years and 1031 minutes of accumulated running time, Peter Jackson has concluded his massively remunerative genuflection at the altar of J.R.R. Tolkien with a film that may be the most purely entertaining of any in the collection.”
Todd McCarthy·The Hollywood Reporter
Accolades
Genres
Adventure, Fantasy
Cast & Crew
Peter JacksonDirectorIan McKellenGandalf the GreyMartin FreemanBilbo BagginsRichard ArmitageThorin OakenshieldOrlando BloomLegolasEvangeline LillyTaurielLuke EvansBardLee PaceKing ThranduilBenedict CumberbatchSmaug / Sauron (voice)Ken StottBalinAidan TurnerKiliDean O'GormanFiliBilly ConnollyDain IronfootHoward ShoreComposerJ. R. R. TolkienWriterGuillermo del ToroWriterPhilippa BoyensWriterFran WalshWriterAndrew LesnieCinematographyFrom the studio
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