What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedThe Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
Peter Jackson · Film · 2012
If you loved The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, start with The Hobbit (J. R. R. Tolkien, 1937) — a book from the same story. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey across media.
What hooked you in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey was the way an ordinary protagonist embarks on a grand, world-altering quest.
Start with the source
Adaptation
The Hobbit
Arthur Rankin, Jr. · Film · 1977
Adaptation
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
Peter Jackson · Film · 2013
Books on the same thread
The Fellowship of the Ring
John Ronald Reuel Tolkien · Book · 2002
Shares 3 threads with The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey: Good vs Evil, The Hero's Journey, High Fantasy.
Just as Bilbo Baggins begins his journey in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, this foundational text deepens the sense of heroic peril and friendship found within Middle-earth.
The two towers
John Ronald Reuel Tolkien · Book · 1981
Shares 3 threads with The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey: Good vs Evil, Epic Fantasy, High Fantasy.
If the immersive world-building of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey captured your imagination, this continuation offers a more complex look at the epic scale of Tolkien's legendary landscape.
The Lord of the Rings
J. R. R. Tolkien · Book · 1954
Shares 3 threads with The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey: Good vs Evil, High Fantasy, Epic Fantasy.
This definitive series establishes the heroic quest structure that makes The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey such a compelling tale of good versus evil in a vast, dangerous world.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
J. K. Rowling · Book · 1997
Explores: Good vs. Evil, Orphanhood, Friendship.
Much like the transition of Bilbo in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, this story follows a young underdog discovering his destiny while navigating a hidden world of magic.
Series on the same thread
Hunter x Hunter
Series · 2011
Explores: self-discovery, overcoming adversity, friendship.
The spirit of adventure driving The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is mirrored here as a young boy leaves his ordinary life to pursue a challenging, life-defining goal.
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure
Series · 2012
Explores: Intergenerational Conflict, Destiny, Friendship.
The intergenerational struggle against ancient evil echoes the stakes in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, providing a similarly grand narrative of heroes facing overwhelming odds and dark forces.
Game of Thrones
David Benioff · Series · 2011
Shares a thread with The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey: High Fantasy.
While darker than The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, the focus on warring factions and an awakening ancient evil will satisfy your craving for high-stakes fantasy and political intrigue.
Dragon Ball
Series · 1986
Explores: Finding the extraordinary in the ordinary, The Power of Friendship, Self-Improvement.
The quest-driven narrative of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey finds a vibrant parallel here as a young hero sets out on a journey to find powerful, mystical objects.
Podcasts on the same thread
The Adventure Zone
The McElroys · Podcast · 2026
Explores: improvised storytelling, group dynamics, high fantasy satire.
If you enjoyed the camaraderie and high fantasy setting of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, this improvised adventure offers a humorous, character-driven take on the classic heroic quest.
The Joe Rogan Experience
Joe Rogan · Podcast · 2026
Explores: intellectual curiosity, unfiltered dialogue, lifestyle exploration.
While distinct from the narrative of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, the unfiltered curiosity and long-form exploration provide a different way to engage with expansive ideas and perspectives.
Keep exploring
Common questions
What order should I watch The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey in?
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is the first film in the trilogy. After watching it, you should proceed to the sequel, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, to continue the story of Bilbo Baggins and the dwarves as they journey to reclaim their home from the dragon Smaug.
Is The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey based on a book?
Yes, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is based on the 1937 novel titled The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien. This source material follows the same narrative of Bilbo Baggins being recruited by Gandalf the Grey to assist thirteen dwarves in their quest to reclaim their mountain home from Smaug.
How does the 1977 version of The Hobbit compare to The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey?
The 1977 version is an earlier adaptation of the same 1937 book that served as the source material for The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. While both depict the quest of Bilbo Baggins and the dwarves, Peter Jackson directed the 2012 film as a distinct live-action cinematic interpretation.
Should I watch The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug after The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey?
Yes, you should watch The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug after completing The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. The second film continues the epic quest of Bilbo Baggins and the thirteen dwarves as they progress toward their mountain home to confront the dragon Smaug following the events of the first movie.