The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies
Final instalment of The Hobbit trilogy, prequel to The Lord of the Rings.
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**The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies** is a 2014 fantasy film. Peter Jackson directed it, with a screenplay co-written by Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, Jackson, and Guillermo del Toro. The movie adapts J. R. R. Tolkien’s 1937 novel *The Hobbit*. As the sequel to 2013’s *The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug*, it closes out the *Hobbit* trilogy and serves as a prequel to Jackson’s *Lord of the Rings* films (2001–2003). The story wraps up the journey of Bilbo Baggins and Thorin Oakenshield’s dwarf company. After they seize the treasure inside the Lonely Mountain, dwarves, elves, and men fight over it, while the orc Azog the Defiler and his troops advance on them.
The cast includes Martin Freeman, Ian McKellen, Richard Armitage, Evangeline Lilly, Luke Evans, Lee Pace, Benedict Cumberbatch, Ken Stott, Aidan Turner, Dean O’Gorman, Billy Connolly, Graham McTavish, James Nesbitt, Stephen Fry, and Ryan Gage. The ensemble also features Cate Blanchett, Ian Holm, Christopher Lee, Hugo Weaving, and Orlando Bloom.
The film premiered in London on 1 December 2014. It came out in New Zealand on 11 December and in the United States on 17 December, distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures. Critics gave it mixed reviews. It earned $962.2 million worldwide, making it the second-highest-grossing film of 2014. It received several accolades, including a nomination for Best Sound Editing at the 87th Academy Awards.
**Plot**
From inside the Lonely Mountain, Bilbo and the dwarves see Smaug set Laketown on fire. Bard breaks free from prison and kills the dragon with the black arrow. Smaug’s body crashes down, crushing the Master of Laketown and his followers as they flee by boat with the town’s gold. Bard becomes Laketown’s new leader and guides its people to the ruins of Dale for shelter. Thorin, now in control of the mountain’s vast treasure, frantically searches for the Arkenstone—which Bilbo had found earlier but kept hidden. When Thorin hears that Laketown’s survivors have reached Dale, he orders the mountain’s entrance sealed.
Meanwhile, Galadriel, Elrond, and Saruman arrive at Dol Guldur. They free Gandalf and send him to safety with Radagast. After defeating the Nazgûl, they confront a formless Sauron, whom Galadriel drives east. Azog, leading a huge
- director
- Peter Jackson
- screenplay_by
- Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, Peter Jackson, Guillermo del Toro
- based_on
- The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien
- release_date
- 1 December 2014 (London premiere); 11 December 2014 (New Zealand); 17 December 2014 (United States)
- box_office
- $962.2 million worldwide
- academy_award_nomination
- Best Sound Editing at the 87th Academy Awards
Lore & Background
The film stars Martin Freeman, Ian McKellen, Richard Armitage, Evangeline Lilly, Luke Evans, Lee Pace, Benedict Cumberbatch, Ken Stott, Aidan Turner, Dean O'Gorman, Billy Connolly, Graham McTavish, James Nesbitt, Stephen Fry, and Ryan Gage. The ensemble cast also features Cate Blanchett, Ian Holm, Christopher Lee, Hugo Weaving, and Orlando Bloom. The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies premiered in London on 1 December 2014, and was released on 11 December in New Zealand and on 17 December in the United States, by Warner Bros. Pictures. The film received mixed reviews from critics and grossed $962.2 million worldwide, making it the second-highest-grossing film of 2014. It received numerous accolades, including being nominated for Best Sound Editing at the 87th Academy Awards.
Reader's Guide
The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies concludes the story of Bilbo Baggins and Thorin Oakenshield's company, depicting the titular battle between dwarves, elves, men, and orcs. The film was originally planned as part of a two-part adaptation, but director Peter Jackson confirmed plans for a third film on 30 July 2012, turning his adaptation into a trilogy. The third film was initially titled There and Back Again in August 2012, but in April 2014 Jackson changed the title to The Battle of the Five Armies, a decision supported by Shaun Gunner, chairman of The Tolkien Society. The score was composed by Howard Shore, with a song for the end credits written and recorded by Billy Boyd, who played Peregrin Took in The Lord of the Rings. The film's marketing included a teaser trailer released on 28 July 2014, a second theatrical trailer on 6 November 2014, and a special jersey worn by the Wellington Phoenix football club on 13 December 2014. Two video games were developed to coincide with the theatrical release, including a tie-in fighting game for Android.
Did You Know?
- The film was originally titled There and Back Again before being changed to The Battle of the Five Armies in April 2014.
- Billy Boyd, who played Peregrin Took in The Lord of the Rings, wrote and recorded the song 'The Last Goodbye' for the end credits.
- Smaug made a guest appearance on The Colbert Report on 12 December 2014, animated by WETA and voiced by Benedict Cumberbatch.
- Peter Jackson's and Andy Serkis's daughters made cameo appearances as girls rowing away during Smaug's attack.
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