Best Movies like The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013)

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers continues the epic journey across Middle-earth, following familiar characters on a perilous quest, involving legendary creatures and battles reminiscent of the challenges faced by Bilbo and the dwarves in The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug.

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 Fellowship of the Ring features a group on a mission tied to the powerful One Ring, set in a richly detailed fantasy world with themes of friendship, courage, and large-scale adventures, paralleling the journey in The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug.

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 Return of the King shares with The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug the epic conclusion to a sweeping fantasy saga, with characters facing high-stakes confrontations and the fate of Middle-earth hanging in the balance.

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.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey serves as the direct prequel, introducing Bilbo’s adventure alongside dwarves and Gandalf, setting up the quest for treasure and the dragon Smaug, directly continuing into The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug.

Bilbo Baggins, a hobbit enjoying his quiet life, is swept into an epic quest by Gandalf the Grey and thirteen dwarves who seek to reclaim their mountain home from Smaug, the dragon. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 49m runtime, released in 2012 with an average rating of 7.4 by 19,841 people. The movie made an estimated total of $1,021,103,568 in the box office.

The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies concludes the storyline begun in The Desolation of Smaug, resolving the aftermath of confronting the dragon and exploring the consequences for Middle-earth and the central characters.

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. The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 24m runtime, released in 2014 with an average rating of 7.3 by 15,547 people. The movie made an estimated total of $956,019,788 in the box office.

Stardust follows an ordinary protagonist drawn into a magical quest across a fantastical land, encountering legendary figures and magical obstacles, echoing the hero’s journey and imaginative scope found in The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug.

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: Prince Caspian centers on a group of heroes traveling through a vast fantasy setting, undertaking a dangerous quest for justice and restoration that mirrors the adventurous themes in The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug.

One year after their incredible adventures in the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Peter, Edmund, Lucy and Susan Pevensie return to Narnia to aid a young prince whose life has been threatened by the evil King Miraz. Now, with the help of a colorful cast of new characters, including Trufflehunter the badger and Nikabrik the dwarf, the Pevensie clan embarks on an incredible quest to ensure that Narnia is returned to its rightful heir. The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 30m runtime, released in 2008 with an average rating of 6.6 by 6,850 people. The movie made an estimated total of $419,665,568 in the box office.

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe features adventures through an enchanted world, with a band of central characters confronting supernatural forces, much like the journey and group dynamic at the heart of The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug.

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.

Pan's Labyrinth blends fantastical elements with an atmospheric setting where a young protagonist navigates magical trials in a perilous world, resonating with The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug’s fusion of personal transformation and adventure.

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.

Eragon follows a young character’s transformation during a perilous journey that includes dragons and a high fantasy landscape, a premise similar to the quest and mythical creatures found in The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug.

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.

The Golden Compass presents a young protagonist swept into a magical world filled with mythical beings and an epic quest, comparable to the immersive settings and adventurous spirit of The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug.

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.

The NeverEnding Story explores a child’s entry into a vast fantasy world where they join a quest to save that realm, paralleling the journey-driven structure and imaginative environments in The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug.

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.

Willow centers on a humble protagonist’s quest through a fantastical world full of mystical creatures and daunting obstacles, echoing the narrative arc and magical landscape found in The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug.

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.

Legend delivers a hero’s journey through dark forests and magical realms, touching on battles between good and evil forces, in a style and setting reminiscent of the epic and mystical adventure in The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug.

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 NIMH features an unlikely hero embarking on a perilous mission to protect others, set against a magical and mysterious landscape, akin to the journey and fantasy adventure in The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug.

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 Dark Crystal immerses viewers in an intricately realized fantasy world rife with creatures, magic, and a struggle for power, closely paralleling the imaginative universe and quest-driven tension of The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug.

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.

The Black Cauldron presents a youthful hero’s adventure in a magical land as they seek out a dangerous artifact, sharing themes of destiny, courage, and high fantasy found in The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug.

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.

Annihilation features a journey into a perilous, mysterious territory that transforms its explorers, echoing the motif of venturing beyond the known with high personal and existential stakes, as in The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug.

A biologist signs up for a dangerous, secret expedition into a mysterious zone where the laws of nature don't apply. Annihilation is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 55m runtime, released in 2018 with an average rating of 6.4 by 9,493 people. The movie made an estimated total of $43,070,915 in the box office.

The Princess Bride offers a blend of fairy-tale quests, duels, and camaraderie as characters traverse a mythical land, drawing clear parallels to the adventure, friendship, and fantastical elements in The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug.

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.

DragonHeart brings together a human protagonist and a dragon in a medieval setting, focusing on their alliance and conflict with greater forces, recalling the dragon-centric conflict in The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug.

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 centers around adventure in a world filled with wizards and dragons, connecting with The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug’s focus on mythical creatures, particularly dragons, and a quest narrative.

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.

Beowulf follows a legendary hero as he confronts dangerous monsters and faces daunting trials, drawing strong thematic similarities to the dragon-slaying and journey-driven conflicts of The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug.

A 6th-century Scandinavian warrior named Beowulf embarks on a mission to slay the man-like ogre, Grendel. Beowulf is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 55m runtime, released in 2007 with an average rating of 5.9 by 3,114 people. The movie made an estimated total of $195,735,876 in the box office.

Conan the Barbarian involves a protagonist on an epic journey through ancient, dangerous lands, enduring battles with supernatural foes, reminiscent of the high-stakes adventure and mythical setting in The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug.

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 and the Sorcerer features a hero navigating challenges in a richly imagined fantasy world, combating magic and tyranny, similar to the quest-driven story and magical confrontations in The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug.

A mercenary with a three-bladed sword rediscovers his royal heritage when he is recruited to help a princess foil a brutal tyrant and a powerful sorcerer's plans to conquer the land. The Sword and the Sorcerer is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 40m runtime, released in 1982 with an average rating of 5.5 by 142 people. The movie made an estimated total of $39,103,425 in the box office.

The Last Unicorn traces the journey of a magical creature and companions through a fantastical landscape, confronting threats and change, mirroring the adventure structure and mystical elements found in The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug.

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 7th Voyage of Sinbad showcases a perilous quest with monsters and magical obstacles on the way to reclaiming treasure, echoing the structure and mythical confrontations present in The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug.

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 group of heroes on a mission through hostile environments, blending action and mythic adventure much like the band of travelers and looming threats seen in The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug.

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.

The Death of Stalin, while not fantasy, involves a group navigating shifting alliances and dangerous power struggles, which resonates with the themes of leadership, trust, and conflict central to the adventurers in The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug.

When dictator Joseph Stalin dies, his parasitic cronies square off in a frantic power struggle to become the next Soviet leader. As they bumble, brawl and back-stab their way to the top, the question remains — just who is running the government? The Death of Stalin is a movie from United Kingdom in English, with a total 1h 47m runtime, released in 2017 with an average rating of 7.0 by 2,178 people. The movie made an estimated total of $24,600,000 in the box office.

The Spiderwick Chronicles centers on young protagonists uncovering a hidden magical world in their midst, facing fantastical creatures and complex challenges, similar to the discovery and adventure experienced in The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug.

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 presents characters drawn into and interacting with a fantastical world from stories, sharing the motif of journeying through magical realms fraught with danger, as seen in The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug.

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.

Time Bandits chronicles a character’s journey alongside a troupe on a time-traveling adventure filled with mythic figures and wondrous settings, paralleling the camaraderie and episodic encounters in The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug.

Young history buff Kevin can scarcely believe it when six dwarfs emerge from his closet one night. Former employees of the Supreme Being, they've purloined a map charting all of the holes in the fabric of time and are using it to steal treasures from different historical eras. Taking Kevin with them, they variously drop in on Napoleon, Robin Hood and King Agamemnon before the Supreme Being catches up with them. Time Bandits is a movie from United Kingdom in English, with a total 1h 56m runtime, released in 1981 with an average rating of 6.6 by 1,175 people. The movie made an estimated total of $42,365,581 in the box office.

The Adventures of Baron Munchausen offers an imaginative, episodic quest through magical lands, blending legendary characters and whimsical challenges, comparable to the adventurous flair and ensemble journey in The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug.

An account of Baron Munchausen's supposed travels and fantastical experiences with his band of misfits. The Adventures of Baron Munchausen is a movie from Germany in English, with a total 2h 6m runtime, released in 1988 with an average rating of 7.0 by 1,018 people. The movie made an estimated total of $8,083,123 in the box office.

The Fall constructs a sweeping fantasy narrative driven by the imagination of its protagonists, mixing adventure with surreal landscapes, sharing with The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug a transportive sense of journey and wonder.

In a hospital on the outskirts of 1920s Los Angeles, an injured stuntman begins to tell a fellow patient, a little girl with a broken arm, a fantastic story about 5 mythical heroes. Thanks to his fractured state of mind and her vivid imagination, the line between fiction and reality starts to blur as the tale advances. The Fall is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 57m runtime, released in 2006 with an average rating of 7.6 by 1,577 people. The movie made an estimated total of $3,984,390 in the box office.

The Brothers Grimm reimagines folkloric heroes who navigate a world of enchantment and peril, aligning with the blend of myth, magic, and unpredictable dangers that define the adventure in The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug.

Folklore collectors and con artists, Jake and Will Grimm, travel from village to village pretending to protect townsfolk from enchanted creatures and performing exorcisms. However, they are put to the test when they encounter a real magical curse in a haunted forest with real magical beings, requiring genuine courage. The Brothers Grimm is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 58m runtime, released in 2005 with an average rating of 5.9 by 3,005 people. The movie made an estimated total of $105,300,000 in the box office.

The Pagemaster immerses its main character in a string of adventures across fictional worlds with magical creatures and challenges, sharing in the journey-driven structure and fantastical ambitions of The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug.

Rich knows a lot about accidents. So much so, he is scared to do anything that might endanger him, like riding his bike, or climbing into his treehouse. While in an old library, he is mystically transported into the unknown world of books, and he has to try and get home again. The Pagemaster is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 15m runtime, released in 1994 with an average rating of 6.4 by 798 people. The movie made an estimated total of $13,670,688 in the box office.

Dragonslayer centers on a perilous mission to confront a powerful dragon threatening a kingdom, closely paralleling the central conflict and mythical creature that drive the plot of The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug.

A sorcerer and his apprentice are on a mission to kill an evil dragon to save the King’s daughter from being sacrificed according to a pact that the King himself made with the dragon to protect his kingdom. Dragonslayer is a movie from in English, with a total 1h 48m runtime, released in 1981 with an average rating of 6.6 by 324 people. The movie made an estimated total of $14,110,013 in the box office.

Ladyhawke tells the story of companions banding together, traversing a medieval landscape under a magical curse, resonating with the themes of fellowship, mysticism, and adventure seen in The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug.

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.

The Kid Who Would Be King features a young protagonist embarking on a quest through a magical world, assembling allies to confront legendary adversaries, which reflects the structure and fantastical coming-of-age elements in The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug.

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.