History YMMV / TheHobbitFilmTrilogy

** [[Music/CrowdedHouse Neil Finn's]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zakVfDY0xZk "Song of the Lonely Mountain"]]; it's a fantastic (non-orthodox) ExpositoryThemeTune! It yearns for a kickass cover done in ''Music/RhapsodyOfFire'' 's or ''Music/BlindGuardian'' 's style. See a good example [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45GdDRrFBwI here]], but there are many others around.

** Bifur, despite having a smaller role than any of the above characters, is quite popular on Website/{{Tumblr}} (mainly because of his head injury).

* AuthorsSavingThrow: The extended cuts of the films redeemed the trilogy in the eyes of many disappointed fans. Like with ''Film/TheLordOfTheRings'', they include more scenes from the book (e.g. the Goblin Town song, the first proper meeting of Beorn) and explain certain things (e.g. the fate of Thrain which according to the second film's extended commentary was filmed when it was meant to be two movies and Kili's crush on Tauriel is foreshadowed in the extended cut for the first film). The third film's extended cut especially has received acclaim from both fans and critics for fixing a lot of problems for what was considered the weakest of the three movies, including the effects and giving the dwarves a chance to shine.

* CompleteMonster:
** See [[Monster/TolkiensLegendarium here]] for Sauron.
** [[GeniusBruiser Azog the Defiler]], leader of the [[OurOrcsAreDifferent Orcs]], pledged to [[FamilyExtermination wipe out]] the [[FamilialFoe line of Durin]] even though they had done nothing to him. In the ensuing battle, Azog murdered King Thrór and beheaded him, and then severed Thráin's finger. When Thorin Oakenshield cut off his arm, Azog vowed to gain revenge on the Dwarf by any means necessary, putting a bounty on his head, and when Azog finally corners him, he lies about killing his father to goad Thorin into attacking him. It is eventually revealed that Azog slaughtered the Skinchangers by raiding their lands and then caging and torturing them for his own amusement, leaving Beorn as the LastOfHisKind. Upon taking command of Sauron's armies, Azog decides to target innocent civilians in order to distract his enemies and gain an advantage, intending to exterminate the races of Elves, Men, and Dwarves all at once. When Thorin rides to Azog's command center to kill him, Azog has Thorin's nephew Fíli brought to him and then kills him in front of Thorin, taking sadistic glee at the moment.

* VindicatedByHistory: While the films are still rather divisive, general fan opinion of them has improved quite a bit over time. [[BetterOnDVD Especially after the extended editions were released]], and it became clearer that the final products were the result of Warner Bros. being too involved. And with ''[[Series/TheLordOfTheRingsTheRingsOfPower The Rings of Power]]'' having even more criticism of its severe deviation to its main source, further reevaluation of The Hobbit trilogy is expected.

* VindicatedByHistory: While the films are still rather divisive, general fan opinion of them has improved quite a bit over time. [[BetterOnDVD Especially after the extended editions were released]], and it became clearer that the final products were the result of Warner Bros. being too involved. And with [[Series/TheLordOfTheRingsTheRingsOfPower The Ring of Power]] having even more criticism of its severe deviation to its main source, further reevaluation of The Hobbit trilogy is expected.

* VindicatedByHistory: While the films are still rather divisive, general fan opinion of them has improved quite a bit over time. [[BetterOnDVD Especially after the extended editions were released]], and it became clearer that the final products were the result of Warner Bros. being too involved.

** [[GeniusBruiser Azog the Defiler]], leader of the [[OurOrcsAreDifferent Orcs]], pledged to [[FamilyExtermination wipe out]] the [[FamilialFoe line of Durin]] even though they had done nothing to him. In the ensuing battle, Azog murdered King Thrór and beheaded him, and then severed Thráin's finger. When Thorin Oakenshield cut off his arm, Azog vowed to gain revenge on the Dwarf by any means necessary, putting a bounty on his head, and when Azog finally corners him, he lies about killing his father to goad Thorin into attacking him. It is eventually revealed that Azog slaughtered the Skinchangers by raiding their lands and then caging and torturing them for his own amusement, leaving Beorn as the LastOfHisKind. Upon taking command of Sauron's armies, Azog decides to target innocent civilians in order to distract his enemies and gain an advantage, intending to exterminate the races of Elves, Men, and Dwarves all at once. When Thorin rides to Azog's command center to kill him, Azog has Thorin's nephew Fili brought to him and then kills him in front of Thorin, taking sadistic glee at the moment.

** The Master of Laketown. Not only does he suffer an unnecessary DeathByAdaptation, his role was taken by widely-hated CanonForeigner Alfrid Lickspittle. Many fans felt that veteran comedy actor Stephen Fry could have pulled off the storyline without becoming TheScrappy.

** Thranduil's and Bard's wives. In the books, virtually nothing is known about them except that they exist, meaning that they were a perfect opportunity to include two canonical female characters whose personalities were free for interpretation without feeling shoehorned. Instead, they are both yet another case of dead/absent mothers in Middle Earth who remain blank slates.

* VindicatedByHistory: While the films are still rather divisive, general fan opinion of them has improved quite a bit over time. [[BetterOnDVD Especially after the extended editions were released.]]

* CompleteMonster: [[GeniusBruiser Azog the Defiler]], leader of the [[OurOrcsAreDifferent Orcs]], pledged to [[FamilyExtermination wipe out]] the [[FamilialFoe line of Durin]] even though they had done nothing to him. In the ensuing battle, Azog murdered King Thrór and beheaded him, and then severed Thráin's finger. When Thorin Oakenshield cut off his arm, Azog vowed to gain revenge on the Dwarf by any means necessary, putting a bounty on his head, and when Azog finally corners him, he lies about killing his father to goad Thorin into attacking him. It is eventually revealed that Azog slaughtered the Skinchangers by raiding their lands and then caging and torturing them for his own amusement, leaving Beorn as the LastOfHisKind. Upon taking command of Sauron's armies, Azog decides to target innocent civilians in order to distract his enemies and gain an advantage, intending to exterminate the races of Elves, Men, and Dwarves all at once. When Thorin rides to Azog's command center to kill him, Azog has Thorin's nephew Fili brought to him and then kills him in front of Thorin, taking sadistic glee at the moment.

* OlderThanTheyThink: Tauriel is not the first entirely made up female CanonForeigner woven into an adaption of ''Literature/TheHobbit''. Gene Deitch already did that with [[http://tolkiengateway.net/wiki/Mika_Milovana Princess Mika Milovana]] in his (rather loose) [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBnVL1Y2src 1966 adaption]].

** Bofur's NiceHat. Yes, [[http://www.neatoshop.com/product/Bofur-Hat it did get defictionalised.]]

** Bofur as well, in part because of his greater character development, and his SugarWiki/{{Heartwarming Moment|s}} with Bilbo. It may also have something to do with him being played by the always charming James Nesbitt. He also has some of the best facial hair in the film, which is saying something in a film full of bearded men. And he's the one wearing a CoolHat.

* CompleteMonster: [[GeniusBruiser Azog the Defiler]], leader of the [[OurOrcsAreDifferent Orcs]], pledged to [[FamilyExtermination wipe out the line of Durin]] even though they had done nothing to him. In the ensuing battle, Azog murdered King Thrór and beheaded him, and then severed Thráin's finger and took him to Dol Guldur to be tortured. When Thorin Oakenshield cut off his arm, Azog vowed to gain revenge on the Dwarf by any means necessary, putting a bounty on his head, and when Azog finally corners him, he lies about killing his father to goad Thorin into attacking him. It is eventually revealed that Azog [[FinalSolution slaughtered the Skinchangers]] by raiding their lands and then caging and torturing them for his own amusement, leaving Beorn as the LastOfHisKind. Upon taking command of Sauron's armies, Azog decides to target innocent civilians in order to distract his enemies and gain an advantage, intending to exterminate the races of Elves, Men, and Dwarves all at once. When Thorin rides to Azog's command center to kill him, Azog has Thorin's nephew Fili brought to him and then kills him in front of Thorin, taking sadistic glee at the moment.

* ImprovedByTheReCut:
** Like the ''Lord of the Rings'' trilogy, the ''Hobbit'' films also have extended cuts that are generally consisted improvements, with characters added and plot points explained. The extended edition of ''The Hobbit: Battle of the Five Armies'' even has an R rating for adding in more violence and action.

* SeparatedAtBirthCasting: Creator/LeePace and Creator/OrlandoBloom are believable portraying Elven father and son because their facial features are quite similar.

* AuthorsSavingThrow: The extended cuts of the films redeemed the trilogy in the eyes of many disappointed fans. Like with ''Film/TheLordOfTheRings'', they include more scenes from the book (the Goblin Town song, the first proper meeting of Beorn) and explain certain things (the fate of Thrain which according to the second film's extended commentary was filmed when it was meant to be two movies and Kili's crush on Tauriel is foreshadowed in the extended cut for the first film). The third film's extended cut especially has received acclaim from both fans and critics for fixing a lot of problems for what was considered the weakest of the three movies, including the effects and giving the dwarves a chance to shine.

** Some people also go pretty far into justifying Thranduil's jerkassery, courtesy of Lee Pace's performance and a few other things (such as riding ''a goddamn giant deer'' to battle).

* {{Fanon}}: Many people wonder if Film-Thranduil is at least partially blind [[spoiler: thanks to the massive burn scars [[GlamourFailure that suddenly appeared on his face]] while he was ranting to Thorin, particularly the milky white of his eye]]. There are many subtle hints to support it due to Lee Pace's acting choices--he doesn't look anyone in the eye, rarely blinks if at all, and [[TruthInTelevision other partly-sighted people]] have noted that he constantly forces his eyes wide open, like he's straining to look at everything. Coupled with Film-Legolas' tendencies to [[CaptainObvious state the obvious in LOTR]], it would make sense if he's used to doing that because [[TheCaretaker his father no longer has full range of vision.]]

* SugarWiki/HeReallyCanAct: Luke Evans as Bard impressed both critics and audiences, especially in [[Film/TheHobbitTheBattleOfTheFiveArmies in the third film.]]

* IncestYayShipping: Three guesses which pairing[[note]] Fíli, Kíli, and Thorin, in various combinations[[/note]].

* JustHereForGodzilla: General critical consensus for ''The Desolation of Smaug'' is that the film greatly improves on ''An Unexpected Journey'' and that it's quite a good film on its own merits. However, many fans admitted to seeing the movie just for Smaug himself. Still others for Benedict Cumberbatch as Smaug, despite the fact that he's visually unrecognizable, being a dragon and all.

* CompleteMonster: [[GeniusBruiser Azog the Defiler]], leader of the [[OurOrcsAreDifferent Orcs]], pledged to [[FamilyExtermination wipe out the line of Durin]] even though they had done nothing to him. In the ensuing battle, Azog murdered King Thrór and beheaded him, and then severed Thráin's finger and took him to Dol Guldur to be tortuted. When Thorin Oakenshield cut off his arm, Azog vowed to gain revenge on the Dwarf by any means necessary, putting a bounty on his head, and when Azog finally corners him, he lies about killing his father to goad Thorin into attacking him. It is eventually revealed that Azog [[FinalSolution slaughtered the Skinchangers]] by raiding their lands and then caging and torturing them for his own amusement, leaving Beorn as the LastOfHisKind. Upon taking command of Sauron's armies, Azog decides to target innocent civilians in order to distract his enemies and gain an advantage, intending to exterminate the races of Elves, Men, and Dwarves all at once. When Thorin rides to Azog's command center to kill him, Azog has Thorin's nephew Fili brought to him and then kills him in front of Thorin, taking sadistic glee at the moment.

* CompleteMonster: [[GeniusBruiser Azog the Defiler]], leader of the [[OurOrcsAreDifferent Orcs]], pledged to wipe out the line of Durin even though they had done nothing to him. In the ensuing battle, Azog murdered King Thror and [[OffWithHisHead beheaded]] him, and then [[{{Fingore}} severed Thrain's finger]] and took him to Dol Guldur to torture. When Thorin Oakenshield [[AnArmAndALeg cut off his arm]], Azog vowed to gain revenge on the Dwarf by any means necessary, putting a bounty on his head, and when Azog finally corners him, he lies about killing his father to goad Thorin into attacking him. Upon taking command of Sauron's armies, Azog decides to target innocent civilians in order to distract his enemies and gain the advantage. When Thorin rides to his command center to kill him, Azog has [[spoiler:Thorin's nephew Fili brought to him and then kills him in front of Thorin]], taking sadistic glee in the moment.

* FandomEnragingMisconception: Whenever someone mispronounces Smaug's name, usually gets this reaction. The correct way is "sm-''ow''-g," not "smog".

* CompleteMonster: [[GeniusBruiser Azog the Defiler]], leader of the [[OurOrcsAreDifferent orcs]], pledged to wipe out the line of Durin even though they had done nothing to him. In the ensuing battle, Azog murdered King Thror and [[OffWithHisHead beheaded]] him, and then [[{{Fingore}} severed Thrain's finger]] and took him to Dol Guldur to torture. When Thorin Oakenshield [[AnArmAndALeg cut off his arm]], Azog vowed to gain revenge on the Dwarf by any means necessary, putting a bounty on his head, and when Azog finally corners him, he lies about killing his father to goad Thorin into attacking him. Upon taking command of Sauron's armies, Azog decides to target innocent civilians in order to distract his enemies and gain the advantage. When Thorin rides to his command center to kill him, Azog has [[spoiler:Thorin's nephew Fili brought to him and then kills him in front of Thorin]], taking sadistic glee in the moment.

** Radagast, mostly thanks to his CrazyAwesome badassery, dealing with the giant spiders, the Nazgûl and the orcs with ease. (And among older fans, for being the [[Series/DoctorWho Seventh Doctor]] in addition to the above.)

** [[BoisterousBruiser Dáin]] [[TheCavalry Ironfoot]] from the third film for saving The Company's (and pretty much everyone else's) asses in the nick of time, his CrazyAwesome tendencies (such as riding a boar to battle and headbutting everyone to death), and his magnificent ScrewYouElves speech. His great [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6clCn2we8ew theme song]] doesn't hurt either.

* CrazyAwesome:

** The casting is further justified by Philippa Boyens, who stated that [[RealityEnsues the amount of stunts and work required for the role would have been impossible for an actor in his 70s and 80s]], and that it would be difficult to care about Thorin's quest [[Main/ForegoneConclusion if he's on the verge of death anyway.]]

** Bolg. In the book, Bolg was the commander of the goblin army in the Battle of Five Armies, is the last antagonist that Thorin and Company had to deal with in the wake of Smaug's death, and was ultimately responsible for the deaths of Thorin, Fili, and Kili. Bolg could easily have been the tertiary antagonist of the film trilogy and taken the exact same role that his father Azog ended up playing. Very little changes would have needed to be made to the script, except making his vendetta against the line of Durin a matter of revenge for his father's death at the Battle of Moria. Instead, Azog is SparedByTheAdaptation and gets used as said tertiary antagonist, while Bolg is [[DemotedToDragon reduced]] to a henchman for Legolas to fight.

* UnfortunateImplications: During the making of ''An Unexpected Journey'', a casting director was [[http://www.theguardian.com/film/2010/dec/05/hobbit-race-row fired]] over rejecting a British woman of Pakistani descent for not being fair-skinned enough to play a hobbit. While hobbits were based on old-fashioned English country people per WordOfGod, some ''are'' described as browner as well as fairer than others in the books... in any case, the proviso was apparently only added for casting ''female'' hobbit extras, which is another can of worms. ''The Desolation of Smaug'', perhaps having the incident in mind, includes a few non-white people in Lake-town.

* BrokenBase: The trilogy is considered to be the ''Franchise/StarWars'' prequels of the new decade. Much like those films, there is a split fanbase: