Known for Writing
John Ronald Reuel Tolkien, CBE, was an English writer, poet, philologist, and university professor, best known as the author of the classic high-fantasy works The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and The Silmarillion. He served as the Rawlinson and Bosworth Professor of Anglo-Saxon and Fellow of Pembroke College, Oxford, from 1925 to 1945 and Merton Professor of English Language and Literature and Fellow of Merton College, Oxford from 1945 to 1959. He was at one time a close friend of C. S. Lewis —they were both members of the informal literary discussion group known as the Inklings. Tolkien was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II on 28 March 1972. After Tolkien's death, his son Christopher published a series of works based on his father's extensive notes and unpublished manuscripts, including The Silmarillion. These, together with The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings form a connected body of tales, poems, fictional histories, invented languages, and literary essays about a fantasy world called Arda, and Middle-Earth within it. Between 1951 and 1955, Tolkien applied the term “legendarium” to the larger part of these writings. While many other authors had published works of fantasy before Tolkien, the great success of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings led directly to a popular resurgence of the genre. This has caused Tolkien to be popularly identified as the father of modern fantasy literature —or, more precisely, of high fantasy. In 2008, The Times ranked him sixth on a list of The 50 greatest British writers since 1945.
Born
January 3, 1892
Died
September 2, 1973 (age 81)
Birthplace
Bloemfontein, Orange Free State, South Africa
Filmography
35 films, 4 shows
showing 16 of 17 films


The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Global Fan Screening
2022 · 2h 3m · US
An edited version of the first two episodes of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, shown exclusively to fans in cinemas around the world in August 2022. In a time of relative peace, an ensemble cast of characters confronts the re-emergence of evil to Middle-earth.


The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies
2014 · 2h 24m · NZ
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 Desolation of Smaug
2013 · 2h 41m · NZ
The Dwarves, Bilbo and Gandalf have successfully escaped the Misty Mountains, and Bilbo has gained the One Ring. They all continue their journey to get their gold back from the Dragon, Smaug.


The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
2012 · 2h 49m · NZ
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.


Mr. Bliss
2004 · 33m · RU
Based on a children story by J.R.R. Tolkien, Mr. Bliss is a tale of a man who set out to buy a motor-car and of what followed afterwards. The adventures include meeting with three bears, a visit to a fat family of Dorkinses, and a nightly adventure in the woods.


The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2003 · 3h 21m · NZ
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.


Secrets of Middle-Earth: Inside Tolkien's The Hobbit
2003 · 51m
Explores Tolkien's classic fantasy/adventure novel The Hobbit and examines the story behind its conception.


The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
2002 · 2h 59m · NZ
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.


The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
2001 · 2h 59m · NZ
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 Hobbit: Treasures Under the Mountain
1994 · 6m · RU
Unrealized animated film based on Tolkien's works. The project was launched in 1991 and suspended due to the collapse of the Soviet Union. As for today only six minutes of prologue has been found and preserved.


The Hobbit: The Fabulous Journey of Mr. Bilbo Baggins
1985 · 1h 11m · SU
Author J. R. R. Tolkien (Zinovij Gerdt) tells the story of Bilbo Baggins, a quiet and enjoyable hobbit, whose life is turned upside down when he decides to join the wizard Gandalf and a company of thirteen dwarves in an attempt to regain a treasure stolen from the latter. Soviet television movie adaptation of "The Hobbit".


The Return of the King
1980 · 1h 38m · US
Two Hobbits struggle to destroy the Ring in Mount Doom while their friends desperately fight evil Lord Sauron's forces in a final battle.


The Lord of the Rings
1978 · 2h 12m · UK
Young Hobbit Frodo Baggins is thrown into an amazing adventure when he's tasked with destroying the One Ring, created by the dark lord Sauron. Frodo must travel in a small fellowship of nine warriors and accomplices. But it won't be an easy journey for the Fellowship of the Ring, on the ultimate quest to rid Middle-earth of evil.


The Hobbit
1977 · 1h 17m · JP
The story follows the adventures of Bilbo Baggins, a diminutive creative who resides in a place called Middle-Earth before he is compelled to go on a quest to find a treasure buried deep in the heart of the Lonely Mountain.


Sagan om ringen
1971 · 28m · SE
Sagan om ringen is a 1971 Swedish live action television film in two parts, adapting the first part of The Fellowship of the Ring. The film was inspired by the progressive rock album of the same name, by Bo Hansson (in turn inspired by J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings).


J. R. R. Tolkien's The Hobbit
1967 · 12m
This short film is the first film adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien's 1937 novel, The Hobbit. The film is a considered an "ashcan copy" as it was made quickly and cheaply by the producer to keep the rights to to the material.