The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

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The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

PG-13

2013

2h 40m

Fantasy

Adventure

Drama

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Popcornmeter

74%

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250 Reviews

85%

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250,000+ Ratings

Having survived the first part of their unsettling journey, Bilbo Baggins and his companions continue east. More dangers await them, including the skin-changer Beorn and the giant spiders of Mirkwood. After escaping capture by the dangerous Wood Elves, Bilbo and the dwarves journey to Lake-town and, finally, to the Lonely Mountain, where they face the greatest danger of all: the fearsome dragon Smaug.

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Critics Consensus

While still slightly hamstrung by "middle chapter" narrative problems and its formidable length, The Desolation of Smaug represents a more confident, exciting second chapter for the Hobbit series.

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Candice Frederick

Reel Talk Online

Sep 5, 2017

Jackson managed to do something that I never thought was possible--make me care about a Hobbit tale. He also delivered one of the best cliffhangers of the year. Kudos to that.

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Max Nelson

Film Comment Magazine

Jan 14, 2014

Nearly everyone in the film is creaking under the weight of the past.

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Bruce Diones

The New Yorker

Dec 30, 2013

The tale has no emotional resonance, and the thinness of the plot (only five of the book's chapters are adapted here) and the colorless depictions of the leading characters do it no favors.

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Matt Oakes

Silver Screen Riot

Oct 15, 2026

C-

I guess at least this time, instead of walking, they're mostly running.

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Don Shanahan

Every Movie Has a Lesson

Oct 17, 2024

4/5

The continued character development is another perk of the patience of The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug.

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JD Duran

InSession Film

Aug 19, 2024

B-

The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug was anything but impressive. Just because you have the resources and abilities to do anything with CGI, doesn’t mean you should go crazy with it.

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Kurt D

Jan 12, 2026

Great story and acting, wish it was the extended version.

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Ivan

Jan 11, 2026

Without spoilers. There is a lot that is not in the book of course. The Smaug scenes are amazing but it can be much shorter

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Movie Guy

Jan 11, 2026

Great on the big screen.

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Lucy

Jan 11, 2026

Love love love this movie

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Shona H

@RT19899047 Sep 17, 2026

The extended version is much better, but the 'Desolation of Smaug' is magnificent in the scenes that are straight from the book. The scene of Bilbo 'sneaking' around Erebor is perfection. | However, Tauriel is the greatest disgrace of The Hobbit films. Her character has been shoehorned into Tolkein's world and she fits so poorly that she drags the rest of The Hobbit down with her. | It is worth mentioning that for films 2 & 3 of The Hobbit, Peter Jackson couldn't decide between a family film or a dark prequel to LOTR. Due to this indecision of thematic tone, The Hobbit films suffer with a lack of identity.

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stephenpaul C

@ash20261234567890 Sep 13, 2026

The worldwide gross is $959,027,992.00.

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Peter Jackson

Director

Ian McKellen

Gandalf

Martin Freeman

Bilbo Baggins

Richard Armitage

Thorin Oakenshield

Benedict Cumberbatch

Smaug

Evangeline Lilly

Tauriel

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Synopsis

Having survived the first part of their unsettling journey, Bilbo Baggins and his companions continue east. More dangers await them, including the skin-changer Beorn and the giant spiders of Mirkwood. After escaping capture by the dangerous Wood Elves, Bilbo and the dwarves journey to Lake-town and, finally, to the Lonely Mountain, where they face the greatest danger of all: the fearsome dragon Smaug.

Director: Peter Jackson
Producer: Fran Walsh, Carolynne Cunningham, Zane Weiner
Screenwriter: Philippa Boyens, Guillermo del Toro
Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures
Production Co: New Line Cinema, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), WingNut Films
Rating: PG-13 (Frightening Images|Fantasy Action Violence)
Genre: Fantasy, Adventure, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 13, 2013, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 25, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA): $258.4M
Runtime: 2h 40m
Sound Mix: Datasat, Dolby Digital

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