Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Mild
- whimsical
- adventurous
- uplifting
- family movie night
- fantasy marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly recognize effective moments, memorable dragon and Gollum sequences, and strong source material while finding the compressed adaptation and unusual animation style uneven.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Bilbo and the dwarves travel to reclaim their kingdom and its gold from Smaug.
Bilbo is a home-loving hobbit falsely presented as an expert burglar before joining the expedition.
The television film reshapes Tolkien's novel as a short family-oriented animated musical.
The Rankin/Bass and Topcraft production uses stylized drawings and fantastical character designs.
Films like The Hobbit, and why
The Last Unicorn
animated family fantasy adventure with songs, mythical creatures, and a quest narrative
The Return of the King
Rankin/Bass animated fantasy with musical storytelling, monsters, and a perilous journey
The Flight of Dragons
family-oriented animated fantasy adventure centered on dwarves, magic, and a dragon
Movie Details
- Directors
- Jules Bass, Arthur Rankin Jr.
- Release Date
- 1977-11-27
- Runtime
- 77 min
- Rating
- 6.6 / 10 (382)
Cast
- Orson Bean
- John Huston
- Hans Conried
- Richard Boone
- Theodore Gottlieb
- Otto Preminger
- Cyril Ritchard
- Paul Frees
- Don Messick
- John Stephenson
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- HBO Max Amazon Channel, HBO Max
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Hobbit about?
- A comfort-loving hobbit is swept into a colorful musical quest to help dwarves reclaim their kingdom from the dragon Smaug.
- What is The Hobbit like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Hobbit as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is The Hobbit violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in The Hobbit as mild.
- What did critics think of The Hobbit?
- Critics broadly recognize effective moments, memorable dragon and Gollum sequences, and strong source material while finding the compressed adaptation and unusual animation style uneven.
- Which films are like The Hobbit?
- Films with a similar feel include The Last Unicorn, The Return of the King, and The Flight of Dragons.
- How long is The Hobbit?
- The Hobbit runs 77 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Hobbit?
- In United States, The Hobbit streams on HBO Max Amazon Channel, HBO Max.
In Ember's collections
Movies like The Hobbit
- Pooh's Grand Adventure: The Search for Christopher Robin1997
- The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh1977
- The Flight of Dragons1982
- The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring2001
- The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies2014
- Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town1970
- The Thief and the Cobbler1993
- The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers2002
- The Lord of the Rings1978
- How to Train Your Dragon2010
