Best Movies like The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring features a quest-centered narrative set in Tolkien's Middle-earth, involving an unlikely protagonist and a band of companions, mirroring the group adventure and fantasy journey central to The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.

Young hobbit Frodo Baggins, after inheriting a mysterious ring from his uncle Bilbo, must leave his home in order to keep it from falling into the hands of its evil creator. Along the way, a fellowship is formed to protect the ringbearer and make sure that the ring arrives at its final destination: Mt. Doom, the only place where it can be destroyed. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 59m runtime, released in 2001 with an average rating of 8.4 by 27,978 people. The movie made an estimated total of $871,368,364 in the box office.

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers continues a sweeping adventure in the same fantastical world as The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, focusing on themes of companionship, epic battles, and confronting overwhelming odds in a richly detailed fantasy setting.

Frodo Baggins and the other members of the Fellowship continue on their sacred quest to destroy the One Ring--but on separate paths. Their destinies lie at two towers--Orthanc Tower in Isengard, where the corrupt wizard Saruman awaits, and Sauron's fortress at Barad-dur, deep within the dark lands of Mordor. Frodo and Sam are trekking to Mordor to destroy the One Ring of Power while Gimli, Legolas and Aragorn search for the orc-captured Merry and Pippin. All along, nefarious wizard Saruman awaits the Fellowship members at the Orthanc Tower in Isengard. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 59m runtime, released in 2002 with an average rating of 8.4 by 24,273 people. The movie made an estimated total of $926,287,400 in the box office.

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King concludes the tale of a grand quest in Middle-earth, sharing the epic fantasy landscape, large ensemble cast, and high-stakes journey that characterize The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.

As armies mass for a final battle that will decide the fate of the world--and powerful, ancient forces of Light and Dark compete to determine the outcome--one member of the Fellowship of the Ring is revealed as the noble heir to the throne of the Kings of Men. Yet, the sole hope for triumph over evil lies with a brave hobbit, Frodo, who, accompanied by his loyal friend Sam and the hideous, wretched Gollum, ventures deep into the very dark heart of Mordor on his seemingly impossible quest to destroy the Ring of Power.​ The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 3h 21m runtime, released in 2003 with an average rating of 8.5 by 26,975 people. The movie made an estimated total of $1,118,888,979 in the box office.

Stardust, like The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, is an adventure-driven fantasy tale involving an ordinary person's transformation through a magical quest, combining fantastical elements and a journey filled with unique creatures and challenges.

In a countryside town bordering on a magical land, a young man makes a promise to his beloved that he'll retrieve a fallen star by venturing into the magical realm. His journey takes him into a world beyond his wildest dreams and reveals his true identity. Stardust is a movie from United Kingdom in English, with a total 2h 7m runtime, released in 2007 with an average rating of 7.3 by 4,521 people. The movie made an estimated total of $137,500,000 in the box office.

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe draws on a quest narrative with siblings venturing through a magical world, similar to the journey and fantastical setting found in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.

Four kids travel through a wardrobe to the land of Narnia and learn of their destiny to free it with the guidance of a mystical lion. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 23m runtime, released in 2005 with an average rating of 7.1 by 11,654 people. The movie made an estimated total of $745,013,115 in the box office.

The Dark Crystal centers around a fantasy adventure featuring a fellowship of characters on a mission in an imaginative world, paralleling The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey's themes of group quests and encounters with mythical beings.

On another planet in the distant past, a Gelfling embarks on a quest to find the missing shard of a magical crystal and restore order to his world, before the grotesque race of Skeksis find and use the crystal for evil. The Dark Crystal is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 33m runtime, released in 1982 with an average rating of 7.1 by 1,283 people. The movie made an estimated total of $44,626,631 in the box office.

Willow follows an unlikely hero who teams up with diverse companions in a fantasy world, embarking on a dangerous journey that echoes the ensemble adventure and transformative quest of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.

The evil Queen Bavmorda hunts the newborn princess Elora Danan, a child prophesied to bring about her downfall. When the royal infant is found by Willow, a timid farmer and aspiring sorcerer, he's entrusted with delivering her from evil. Willow is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 6m runtime, released in 1988 with an average rating of 7.0 by 2,203 people. The movie made an estimated total of $57,300,000 in the box office.

Pan's Labyrinth intertwines fantasy and adventure with a young protagonist navigating both perilous challenges and magical realms, much like the journey and transformative experience found in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.

In post–civil war Spain, 10-year-old Ofelia moves with her pregnant mother to live under the control of her cruel stepfather. Drawn into a mysterious labyrinth, she meets a faun who reveals that she may be a lost princess from an underground kingdom. To return to her true father, she must complete a series of surreal and perilous tasks that blur the line between reality and fantasy. Pan's Labyrinth is a movie from Mexico in Spanish, with a total 1h 58m runtime, released in 2006 with an average rating of 7.8 by 11,608 people. The movie made an estimated total of $83,258,226 in the box office.

The NeverEnding Story explores the coming-of-age journey of a protagonist through an expansive, fantastical landscape, drawing strong thematic and structural parallels with the adventure undertaken in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.

While hiding from bullies in his school's attic, a young boy discovers the extraordinary land of Fantasia, through a magical book called The Neverending Story. The book tells the tale of Atreyu, a young warrior who, with the help of a luck dragon named Falkor, must save Fantasia from the destruction of The Nothing. The NeverEnding Story is a movie from Germany in German, with a total 1h 41m runtime, released in 1984 with an average rating of 7.2 by 4,443 people. The movie made an estimated total of $20,158,808 in the box office.

The Princess Bride features a journey through a lyrical fantasy landscape, highlighting camaraderie, memorable encounters, and a blend of earnest adventure with humor, elements reminiscent of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.

In this enchantingly cracked fairy tale, the beautiful Princess Buttercup and the dashing Westley must overcome staggering odds to find happiness amid six-fingered swordsmen, murderous princes, Sicilians and rodents of unusual size. But even death can't stop these true lovebirds from triumphing. The Princess Bride is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 39m runtime, released in 1987 with an average rating of 7.7 by 5,201 people. The movie made an estimated total of $30,900,000 in the box office.

The Secret of NIMH tells of a small creature drawn into an epic quest with high stakes, mirroring The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey's structure of reluctant heroism and transformative adventure amid fantastical circumstances.

A widowed field mouse must move her family -- including an ailing son -- to escape a farmer's plow. Aided by a crow and a pack of superintelligent, escaped lab rats, the brave mother struggles to transplant her home to firmer ground. The Secret of NIMH is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 23m runtime, released in 1982 with an average rating of 7.4 by 962 people. The movie made an estimated total of $14,665,733 in the box office.

The Black Cauldron offers a perilous quest for a young protagonist in a magical realm, aligning with The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey's core structure of banding together for a high-stakes mission in a fantasy setting.

Taran is an assistant pigkeeper with boyish dreams of becoming a great warrior. However, he has to put the daydreaming aside when his charge, an oracular pig named Hen Wen, is kidnapped by an evil lord known as the Horned King. The villain hopes Hen will show him the way to The Black Cauldron, which has the power to create a giant army of unstoppable soldiers. The Black Cauldron is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 20m runtime, released in 1985 with an average rating of 6.4 by 1,459 people. The movie made an estimated total of $21,300,000 in the box office.

Eragon features an unlikely hero venturing with companions in a fantasy world filled with mythical creatures and the struggle against a powerful enemy, echoing major adventure and quest themes from The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.

In his homeland of Alagaesia, a farm boy happens upon a dragon's egg -- a discovery that leads him on a predestined journey where he realized he's the one person who can defend his home against an evil king. Eragon is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 44m runtime, released in 2006 with an average rating of 5.1 by 3,495 people. The movie made an estimated total of $250,425,512 in the box office.

Legend explores a magical realm where a group of characters battles a fearsome force, much like the quest narrative and richly fantastical world established in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.

Set in a timeless mythical forest inhabited by fairies, goblins, unicorns and mortals, this fantastic story follows a mystical forest dweller, chosen by fate, to undertake a heroic quest. He must save the beautiful Princess Lili and defeat the demonic Lord of Darkness, or the world will be plunged into a never-ending ice age. Legend is a movie from United Kingdom in English, with a total 1h 34m runtime, released in 1985 with an average rating of 6.3 by 1,408 people. The movie made an estimated total of $15,502,112 in the box office.

The Secret of Moonacre involves a young outcast entering a newly discovered magical world and facing great challenges, resonating with the transformative journey and imaginative settings of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.

When 13 year old Maria Merryweather's father dies, leaving her orphaned and homeless, she is forced to leave her luxurious London life to go and live with Sir Benjamin, an eccentric uncle she didn't know she had, at the mysterious Moonacre Manor. The Secret of Moonacre is a movie from United Kingdom in English, with a total 1h 43m runtime, released in 2009 with an average rating of 6.6 by 507 people. The movie made an estimated total of $7,162,618 in the box office.

The Golden Compass follows a young protagonist on a sweeping quest through fantastical lands, encountering unique allies and adversaries, recalling the group journey and magical world-building found in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.

In a parallel universe, after overhearing a shocking secret, precocious orphan Lyra Belacqua trades her carefree existence roaming the halls of Jordan College for an otherworldly adventure in the far North, unaware that it's part of her destiny. The Golden Compass is a movie from United Kingdom in English, with a total 1h 53m runtime, released in 2007 with an average rating of 6.1 by 4,889 people. The movie made an estimated total of $372,234,864 in the box office.

DragonHeart immerses viewers in a fantasy adventure involving dragons and valiant quests, sharing with The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey both the fantastical conflict surrounding dragons and the themes of unlikely partnerships.

In an ancient time when majestic fire-breathers soared through the skies, a knight named Bowen comes face to face and heart to heart with the last dragon on Earth, Draco. Taking up arms to suppress a tyrant king, Bowen soon realizes his task will be harder than he'd imagined: If he kills the king, Draco will die as well. DragonHeart is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 43m runtime, released in 1996 with an average rating of 6.6 by 2,190 people. The movie made an estimated total of $115,267,375 in the box office.

The Flight of Dragons takes viewers through a grand adventure involving mystical creatures and heroic challenges, similar to how The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey centers on a perilous quest and encounters with dragons.

The realm of magic is being threatened by the realm of logic, so the green wizard, Carolinus, decides to shield it for all time. Ommadon, the evil red wizard, stands in his way. Carolinus then calls for a quest that is to be led by a man named Peter Dickinson, who is the first man of both the realms of science and magic. It is Peter's job to defeat Ommadon. The Flight of Dragons is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 36m runtime, released in 1982 with an average rating of 6.7 by 114 people.

The Last Unicorn presents a journey across mythical landscapes with magical beings, weaving a tale of discovery and transformation that resembles the adventure and fantastical storytelling style of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.

A unicorn learns from a riddle-speaking butterfly that she is supposedly the last of her kind, all the others having been herded away by the monstrous Red Bull. The unicorn sets out to discover the truth behind the butterfly's words. She is eventually joined on her quest by Schmendrick, a second-rate magician, and Molly Grue, a middle-aged woman who dreamed all her life of seeing a unicorn. Their journey leads them far from home, all the way to the castle of King Haggard. The Last Unicorn is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 33m runtime, released in 1982 with an average rating of 7.3 by 605 people. The movie made an estimated total of $6,455,530 in the box office.

The Spiderwick Chronicles drops its protagonists into a world hidden within their own, launching them into magical dangers and revelations much like the adventure and world-expanding journey in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.

Upon moving into the run-down Spiderwick Estate with their mother, twin brothers Jared and Simon Grace, along with their sister Mallory, find themselves pulled into an alternate world full of faeries and other creatures. The Spiderwick Chronicles is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 35m runtime, released in 2008 with an average rating of 6.7 by 2,916 people. The movie made an estimated total of $164,200,000 in the box office.

Inkheart revolves around characters pulled into a book's fantasy world, facing magical perils and going on a transformative quest resembling the fantastical journey central to The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.

The adventures of a father and his young daughter, in their search for a long lost book that will help reunite a missing, close relative. Inkheart is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 46m runtime, released in 2008 with an average rating of 6.3 by 2,304 people. The movie made an estimated total of $62,803,180 in the box office.

Bridge to Terabithia involves young characters who access a magical realm through imagination, paralleling The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey's embrace of fantastical worlds and character growth through adventure.

Jesse Aarons trained all summer to become the fastest runner in school. So he's very upset when newcomer Leslie Burke outruns him and everyone else. Despite this and other differences including that she's rich, he's poor, she's a city girl, and he's a country boy the two become fast friends. Together they create Terabithia, a land of monsters, trolls, ogres, and giants where they rule as king and queen. Bridge to Terabithia is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 35m runtime, released in 2007 with an average rating of 7.3 by 5,387 people. The movie made an estimated total of $137,587,063 in the box office.

The 7th Voyage of Sinbad offers a voyage across strange lands with mythical creatures and harrowing obstacles, closely mirroring the adventurous spirit and epic quest model found in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.

When a princess is shrunken by an evil wizard, Sinbad must undertake a quest to an island of monsters to cure her and prevent a war. The 7th Voyage of Sinbad is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 28m runtime, released in 1958 with an average rating of 6.9 by 326 people.

The 13th Warrior follows a journeying group facing supernatural dangers on a quest, echoing the themes of courage, teamwork, and facing the unknown seen in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.

A Muslim ambassador exiled from his homeland joins a group of Vikings, initially offended by their behavior but growing to respect them. As they travel together, they learn of a legendary evil closing in and must unite to confront this formidable force. The 13th Warrior is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 43m runtime, released in 1999 with an average rating of 6.7 by 2,086 people. The movie made an estimated total of $61,698,899 in the box office.

Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves involves an unlikely group of heroes undertaking a high-fantasy adventure filled with magical challenges, aligning closely with The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey's ensemble quest and fantastical elements.

A charming thief and a band of unlikely adventurers undertake an epic heist to retrieve a lost relic, but things go dangerously awry when they run afoul of the wrong people. Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 14m runtime, released in 2023 with an average rating of 7.4 by 4,806 people. The movie made an estimated total of $208,200,000 in the box office.

The Green Knight undertakes an epic fantasy quest based on medieval legend, sharing with The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey the motifs of adventure through mythic landscapes and a protagonist's transformative journey.

An epic fantasy adventure based on the timeless Arthurian legend, The Green Knight tells the story of Sir Gawain, King Arthur's reckless and headstrong nephew, who embarks on a daring quest to confront the eponymous Green Knight, a gigantic emerald-skinned stranger and tester of men. The Green Knight is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 10m runtime, released in 2021 with an average rating of 6.6 by 2,246 people. The movie made an estimated total of $18,887,953 in the box office.

Ladyhawke features characters caught in a magical curse in a medieval setting, journeying together to overcome adversity, weaving together the companionship and high-fantasy themes seen in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.

Captain Etienne Navarre is a man on whose shoulders lies a cruel curse. Punished for loving each other, Navarre must become a wolf by night whilst his lover, Lady Isabeau, takes the form of a hawk by day. Together, with the thief Philippe Gaston, they must try to overthrow the corrupt Bishop and in doing so break the spell. Ladyhawke is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 1m runtime, released in 1985 with an average rating of 7.0 by 1,272 people. The movie made an estimated total of $18,432,000 in the box office.

Conan the Barbarian presents a heroic journey driven by personal stakes in a mythic world full of adventure and fantastical encounters—core elements also at play in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.

A horde of rampaging warriors massacre the parents of young Conan and enslave the young child for years on The Wheel of Pain. As the sole survivor of the childhood massacre, Conan is released from slavery and taught the ancient arts of fighting. Transforming himself into a killing machine, Conan travels into the wilderness to seek vengeance on Thulsa Doom, the man responsible for killing his family. In the wilderness, Conan takes up with the thieves Valeria and Subotai. The group comes upon King Osric, who wants the trio of warriors to help rescue his daughter who has joined Doom in the hills. Conan the Barbarian is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 10m runtime, released in 1982 with an average rating of 6.8 by 2,851 people. The movie made an estimated total of $68,851,475 in the box office.

The Sword in the Stone involves a young protagonist's discovery of a magical world and mentorship under a wise figure, akin to the journey of Bilbo Baggins aided by Gandalf in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.

Wart is a young boy who aspires to be a knight's squire. On a hunting trip he falls in on Merlin, a powerful but amnesiac wizard who has plans for him beyond mere squiredom. He starts by trying to give him an education, believing that once one has an education, one can go anywhere. Needless to say, it doesn't quite work out that way. The Sword in the Stone is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 19m runtime, released in 1963 with an average rating of 7.2 by 4,144 people. The movie made an estimated total of $22,200,000 in the box office.

The Secret Garden, while grounded in reality, follows a young protagonist exploring a wondrous hidden world and undergoing personal transformation, echoing The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey's themes of discovery and character growth.

A young British girl born and reared in India loses her neglectful parents in an earthquake. She is returned to England to live at her uncle's castle. Her uncle is very distant due to the loss of his wife ten years before. Neglected once again, she begins exploring the estate and discovers a garden that has been locked and forgotten. Aided by one of the servants' boys, she begins restoring the garden, and eventually discovers some other secrets of the manor. The Secret Garden is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 41m runtime, released in 1993 with an average rating of 7.4 by 988 people. The movie made an estimated total of $40,000,000 in the box office.

The Kid Who Would Be King brings contemporary children into an Arthurian adventure, blending youthful perspective, fantasy quest, and unlikely heroes in a manner that recalls The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.

Old-school magic meets the modern world when young Alex stumbles upon the mythical sword Excalibur. He soon unites his friends and enemies, and they become knights who join forces with the legendary wizard Merlin. Together, they must save mankind from the wicked enchantress Morgana and her army of supernatural warriors. The Kid Who Would Be King is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 0m runtime, released in 2019 with an average rating of 6.2 by 851 people. The movie made an estimated total of $32,140,970 in the box office.

Into the Woods unites various fairy tale characters on intersecting quests in an enchanted forest, drawing on the ensemble-adventure structure and exploration of fantasy tropes seen in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.

In a woods filled with magic and fairy tale characters, a baker and his wife set out to end the curse put on them by their neighbor, a spiteful witch. Into the Woods is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 5m runtime, released in 2014 with an average rating of 5.8 by 4,445 people. The movie made an estimated total of $212,902,372 in the box office.

Ella Enchanted is set in a magical world where its protagonist must undertake a perilous journey to break a curse, paralleling the fantasy quest, character growth, and enchanting setting of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.

Ella lives in a magical world in which each child, at the moment of their birth, is given a virtuous "gift" from a fairy godmother. Ella's so-called gift, however, is obedience. This birthright proves itself to be quite the curse once Ella finds herself in the hands of several unscrupulous characters whom she quite literally cannot disobey. Determined to gain control of her life and decisions, Ella sets off on a journey to find her fairy godmother who she hopes will lift the curse. The path, however, isn't easy -- Ella must outwit a slew of unpleasant obstacles including ogres, giants, wicked stepsisters, elves and Prince Charmont's evil uncle, who wants to take over the crown and rule the kingdom. Ella Enchanted is a movie from Ireland in English, with a total 1h 36m runtime, released in 2004 with an average rating of 6.5 by 1,994 people. The movie made an estimated total of $27,400,000 in the box office.