Like with Star Wars or Marvel, it's easy to think that audiences will keep going back to Middle-Earth forever. The cinematic saga based on the work of J.R.R. Tolkien has ran for over a decade in the face of numerous, Oliphaunt-size hurdles, making it appear almost invincible. For a long time Peter Jackson struggled to get a financier to back him for three films based on The Lord Of The Rings, then a muddled production led to the distinct prospect of the last two of those going direct-to-video. And that's saying nothing of the protracted production of what is now The Hobbit Trilogy. But, as Billy Boyd soothingly sings over the credits of The Hobbit: The Battle Of The Five Armies, it's hard not to believe that this is actually The Last Goodbye. Warner Bros. don't have the rights to The Silmarilion and it's unlikely, given how outrageously expensive The Hobbit proved to be, they'll shell out for more Middle-Earth movies - it's been slight, but the new trilogy seen somewhat diminishing returns - while series helmer Peter Jackson sounds like he's ready to finally move into a new Age. But was going there and back again, twice, really worth it? Come with us as we rank the Middle-Earth movies from their ponderous worst to jaw-droppingly epic best.
