The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
	Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Peter Jackson
Screenplay by	Fran Walsh; Philippa Boyens; Peter Jackson; Guillermo del Toro;
Based on	The Hobbit; by J. R. R. Tolkien
Produced by	Carolynne Cunningham; Zane Weiner; Fran Walsh; Peter Jackson;
Starring	Ian McKellen; Martin Freeman; Richard Armitage; James Nesbitt; Ken Stott; Cate Blanchett; Ian Holm; Christopher Lee; Hugo Weaving; Elijah Wood; Andy Serkis;
Cinematography	Andrew Lesnie
Edited by	Jabez Olssen
Music by	Howard Shore
Production; companies	New Line Cinema; Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures; WingNut Films;
Distributed by	Warner Bros. Pictures
Release dates	28 November 2012 (Wellington premiere); 12 December 2012 (New Zealand); 14 December 2012 (United States);
Running time	169 minutes
Countries	New Zealand; United States;
Language	English
Budget	$200–315 million
Box office	$1.017 billion

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is a 2012 epic high fantasy adventure film directed by Peter Jackson from a screenplay by Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, Jackson, and Guillermo del Toro, based on the 1937 novel The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien. It is the first installment in The Hobbit trilogy, acting as a prequel to Jackson's The Lord of the Rings trilogy.

The story is set in Middle-earth sixty years before the main events of The Lord of the Rings and portions of the film are adapted from the appendices to Tolkien's The Return of the King.^[7] An Unexpected Journey tells the tale of Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman), who is convinced by the wizard Gandalf (Ian McKellen) to accompany thirteen Dwarves, led by Thorin Oakenshield (Richard Armitage), on a quest to reclaim the Lonely Mountain from the dragon Smaug. The ensemble cast also includes Ken Stott, Cate Blanchett, Ian Holm, Christopher Lee, Hugo Weaving, James Nesbitt, Elijah Wood, and Andy Serkis, and features Sylvester McCoy, Barry Humphries, and Manu Bennett.

An Unexpected Journey premiered in Wellington on 28 November 2012, and was then released on 12 December in New Zealand and on 14 December in the United States, by Warner Bros. Pictures. It was almost nine years after the release of The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.^[8] The film received mixed reviews from critics and grossed $1.017 billion at the box office, making it the fourth highest-grossing film of 2012. The film received numerous accolades; at the 85th Academy Awards, it was nominated for Best Production Design, Best Makeup and Hairstyling, and Best Visual Effects.^[9]

Two sequels, The Desolation of Smaug and The Battle of the Five Armies, followed in 2013 and 2014, respectively.

^ "The Hobbit: An unexpected Journey (2012)". British Board of Film Classification. Retrieved 21 December 2013.
^ "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey". BFI. Archived from the original on 30 January 2013. Retrieved 21 December 2013.
^ "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)". The Numbers. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
^ Masters, Kim (17 October 2012). "'The Hobbit:' Inside Peter Jackson and Warner Bros.' $1 Billion Gamble". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 21 December 2013. A knowledgeable source says the first two installments cost $315 million each, and that's with Jackson deferring his fee. A studio source insists that number is wildly inflated and, with significant production rebates from New Zealand, the cost is closer to $200 million a movie.
^ "'Hobbit' Sequel Reigns at Box Office". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 21 December 2013.
^ "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
^ "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey : Your unexpected questions answered". CNN. Archived from the original on 12 April 2013. Retrieved 22 December 2014.
^ "The Hobbit Worldwide Release Dates". TheHobbit.com. Archived from the original on 15 December 2012. Retrieved 21 December 2013.
^ "2013 Oscar Nominees | 85th Academy Awards Nominees". Oscar.go.com. Retrieved 21 December 2013.