What is the Metascore for The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey?

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey has a Metascore of 58 out of 100 on Celluloid.

Where can I watch The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey?

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is available on HBO Max. Availability varies by region — check your local streaming guide.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

Item: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
Rating: 3
Author: Marcus Webb

Directed by Peter Jackson · 2012 · Last reviewed July 24, 2026

LLM fact sheet (.md)

Answer Summary

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012) earns a 69% Celluloid Score — Recommended. Recommended — recommended by most critics and audiences.Audiences (83%) responded more warmly than critics (64%).

Quick Verdict

Averaged from five public sources (critic, audience, Metascore, Letterboxd, IMDb). See how we calculate scores.

69%

Celluloid Score Recommended

Five-source breakdown

64% Critic Score

83% Audience

58 Metascore

★★★☆☆ Letterboxd 3.2

7.8 IMDb /10

Runtime: 2h 49m
Cast: Martin Freeman , Ian McKellen , Richard Armitage , Orlando Bloom , Evangeline Lilly , Lee Pace , Luke Evans , Benedict Cumberbatch , Andy Serkis , Cate Blanchett , James Nesbitt , Ken Stott
Streaming: HBO Max

Official theatrical poster for The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)

Warner Bros. / New Line Cinema

Where to watch

HBO Max

Why this score?

Majority of critics rated it fresh (64%).
General viewers mostly liked it (83%).
Celluloid Score 69% averages all five public rating sources — our own composite, not a third-party trademark score.

Best for

Epic-length viewers who want a big-screen experience
Crowd-pleaser seekers — audiences liked it more than critics

Not ideal for

Viewers who only watch top-tier, 90%+ rated films

Scores reflect data indexed at build time. Component sources are shown on this page; Celluloid Score is our composite, not a third-party trademark. Scoring policy

Is The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey worth watching?

Yes — The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey earns a 69% Celluloid Score. Recommended — recommended by most critics and audiences.

Critics Consensus

Jackson’s return to Middle-earth opens soft — longer and lighter than Fellowship, but still a grand gateway into Bilbo’s adventure.
Celluloid Critics Consensus

Audiences (83%) responded more warmly than critics (64%).

What is The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey about?

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.