The quest to reclaim Erebor intensifies as Bilbo Baggins and Thorin Oakenshield's company of dwarves continue their perilous journey East. Having survived the Misty Mountains, they must now navigate the treacherous forest of Mirkwood, escape the dungeons of the Wood-elves, and secure the aid of the people of Lake-town. But the greatest danger lies ahead within the Lonely Mountain, where the terrifying dragon Smaug awakens to protect his stolen hoard.
Information |
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Language |
English |
Country |
United States New Zealand |
Premiere date |
December 13, 2013 |
Running time |
161 minutes |
Genre |
Fantasy Adventure Action |
Budget |
$225,000,000 |
Box Office |
$958,366,855 |
Crew |
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Directed by |
Peter Jackson |
Produced by |
Carolynne Cunningham Zane Weiner Fran Walsh Peter Jackson |
Written by |
Fran Walsh Philippa Boyens Peter Jackson Guillermo del Toro |
Music by |
Howard Shore |
Cinematography |
Andrew Lesnie |
Edited by |
Jabez Olssen |
Production Co. |
New Line Cinema Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) WingNut Films |
Distributed by |
Warner Bros. Pictures |
Top Cast |
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Official Trailer |
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Movie Collection |
Movie Order: #02 in The Hobbit Collection
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The Plot
A Chance Meeting in Bree
On a rain-swept evening in the human village of Bree, Thorin Oakenshield arrives discreetly at the Prancing Pony inn. He is approached by the wizard Gandalf the Grey, who bears a grave warning: a bounty has been placed on Thorin’s head, and someone is actively seeking to assassinate him. Gandalf advises the exiled Dwarf King that to reclaim his homeland, he must unite the scattered Dwarven clans, and the only way to persuade them is to recover the Arkenstone. This legendary gem lies deep within the Lonely Mountain (Erebor), a kingdom conquered and occupied by the terrifying dragon Smaug. To retrieve the jewel without waking the beast, Gandalf suggests they need stealth rather than force, recommending the services of a "burglar."
The Skin-Changer and the Necromancer's Call
Twelve months later, following their escape from the Goblin tunnels, Thorin and his company are pursued down the Carrock by Azog the Defiler and his Orc pack. Bilbo Baggins, scouting from a ridge, spots a colossal bear stalking them and rushes back to warn the group. Gandalf, recognizing the beast, hurriedly guides the company toward a nearby dwelling for shelter. The bear picks up their scent and gives chase, forcing the Dwarves to make a desperate sprint for the safety of the house. They barely manage to barricade the doors before the beast attacks. Gandalf reveals that their host is Beorn, a skin-changer who wanders as a violent bear by night but is a man of reason by day. Though unpredictable, he is their only hope for aid.
While the company rests, Azog’s war band watches the house from a distance, unable to attack while Beorn guards the perimeter in his bear form. Suddenly, Bolg, Azog's son, arrives with a message from the Necromancer summoning Azog to the fortress of Dol Guldur. Azog reluctantly abandons the hunt to lead the Necromancer’s armies, commanding Bolg to take over the pursuit of the Dwarves. The following morning, Beorn—now in human form—expresses his disdain for Dwarves but admits he hates Orcs far more, having lost his people to Azog’s cruelty. He provides the company with ponies to reach the edge of Mirkwood and transforms back into a bear to guard their rear from the pursuing Orcs.
Into the Deep Forests of Mirkwood
At the edge of the forest, Gandalf discovers ancient Black Speech graffiti on a statue, coinciding with a telepathic plea from Galadriel to investigate the High Fells of Rhudaur. Without explaining his reasons, Gandalf abruptly departs, warning the company to stick strictly to the Elf-path and wait for him before entering the mountain. The Dwarves plunge into the labyrinthine gloom of Mirkwood. Days pass without sunlight, and the oppressive atmosphere induces paranoia and disorientation. Eventually, they lose the path at a chasm and succumb to hysteria. Bilbo climbs a tree to find their bearings, breaking through the canopy to see the sun and the distant Long Lake. He calls down to his friends, but receives no answer.
Descending back into the gloom, Bilbo realizes the trees are vibrating with movement. He trips, falling into a massive web where a giant spider binds him in silk. Waking later, Bilbo sees the Dwarves wrapped in cocoons. Utilizing his sword, he frees himself and kills a spider. He then puts on the One Ring, allowing him to understand the spiders' speech as they discuss devouring the Dwarves. Using the Ring’s invisibility and throwing stones to create distractions, Bilbo slashes through the webs to cut the Dwarves loose. During the chaos, he brutally kills a spider, whispering "It stings" as it dies, christening his blade "Sting." However, he momentarily loses the Ring and flies into a terrifying rage to recover it, brutally killing a small creature to retrieve his "precious," a moment that leaves him shaken by his own violence.
Prisoners of the Wood Elves
The Dwarves, though free from the webs, are overwhelmed by the returning spiders until a squad of Wood Elves, led by Prince Legolas and Captain Tauriel, intervenes. The Elves execute the spiders but immediately capture the Dwarves. Legolas confiscates Orcrist from Thorin, refusing to believe the Dwarf obtained the Elvish blade honestly. The company is marched to the Elvenking's Halls, though Bilbo manages to remain unseen thanks to the Ring. King Thranduil offers Thorin a deal: freedom and assistance in exchange for a share of Erebor's treasure. Thorin angrily refuses, recalling how Thranduil turned his back on the Dwarves when Smaug attacked. Furious, Thranduil imprisons the company in his dungeons.
In the dungeons, a bond forms between KÃli and Tauriel as they converse through the cell bars, discussing a runestone talisman and their different worlds. Meanwhile, Thranduil learns from a captured Orc that "The One" has returned; he decapitates the creature and orders his kingdom sealed against the coming evil. Bilbo, having stolen keys from a drunken guard, frees the Dwarves. He leads them to the cellar, ordering them into empty wine barrels which are then dropped through a trapdoor into the rushing river below to facilitate their escape.
The Barrel Escape and the Poisoned Arrow
The barrels plunge into the river, but the escape is noticed. The Elves pursue the Dwarves, but they are simultaneously ambushed by Bolg’s Orcs, who have infiltrated the woodland realm. A chaotic three-way battle ensues down the rapids. KÃli is struck by a poisoned Morgul arrow while trying to open the water gate. Legolas and Tauriel fight off the Orcs, allowing the Dwarves to escape into the open water. Although ordered to remain within the kingdom, Tauriel leaves to track the Orcs and help the wounded KÃli. Legolas, learning of her departure, reluctantly follows her.
Smugglers of Esgaroth
On the shores of Long Lake, the company is intercepted by Bard, a bargeman from Lake-town (Esgaroth). Realizing they need a guide to cross the lake, they pay him to smuggle them into the city. Bard hides the Dwarves inside barrels filled with fish to bypass the inspection of the corrupt Master of Lake-town and his sycophant deputy, Alfrid. They successfully sneak into Bard's home, where the Dwarves attempt to arm themselves but are caught. It is revealed that Bard is a descendant of Girion, the Lord of Dale, who failed to kill Smaug with a Black Arrow generations ago.
Brought before the Master, Thorin dramatically reveals his identity and promises to share the mountain's vast wealth with the impoverished townspeople in exchange for supplies and passage. The greedy Master, ignoring Bard’s warnings about the prophecy of fire and ruin, eagerly agrees. The company is given a grand send-off, but KÃli is too weak from his wound to travel. Thorin orders him to stay behind; FÃli refuses to leave his brother, and Óin and Bofur also elect to stay and tend to the sick Dwarf at Bard’s house.
The High Fells and the Trap at Dol Guldur
Meanwhile, Gandalf reaches the High Fells and finds the iron-barred tombs of the Nazgûl ripped open from the inside. Radagast the Brown appears, and Gandalf concludes that the Nine have been summoned by the Necromancer. They travel to Dol Guldur, where Gandalf enters alone, commanding Radagast to warn Galadriel. Inside the ruined fortress, Gandalf dispels an illusion of abandonment, revealing Azog and a massive army of Orcs preparing for war. Azog taunts the wizard, but Gandalf manages to defend himself momentarily.
As Gandalf attempts to retreat, the Necromancer manifests as a colossal entity of shadow and fire. They engage in a duel of magic, but Gandalf is overwhelmed. The Necromancer disintegrates Gandalf's staff and pins him to a wall, revealing his true identity: Sauron. Gandalf is imprisoned in a hanging cage, forced to watch helplessly as the Orc army begins its march toward the Lonely Mountain.
The Secret Door
Thorin and his remaining company reach the desolate ruins of Dale and climb the slopes of the Lonely Mountain. They locate the hidden door, but despite their maps, they cannot find the keyhole. As the sun sets on Durin’s Day, the Dwarves lose hope and begin to descend, believing the opportunity is lost. Bilbo, however, stays behind, deciphering the riddle as the moon rises. The moonlight reveals the keyhole, and he shouts for the others to return. Thorin rushes back, inserts his key, and opens the door to the lost kingdom.
A Thief in the Shadows
Bilbo enters the mountain alone, tasked with finding the Arkenstone within the incomprehensibly vast treasure hoard. As he searches, the shifting gold awakens Smaug. The dragon, immense and terrifying, emerges from the coins, smelling the intruder. Bilbo puts on the Ring to hide, but Smaug senses his presence and engages him in a cat-and-mouse game. The dragon deduces that Bilbo has been sent by Dwarves and hints at a dark connection between the Arkenstone and madness. Smaug also senses the Ring, noting something "made of gold, but far more precious." When Bilbo removes the Ring to avoid being eaten, Smaug unleashes his fire, forcing the Hobbit to flee.
Healing and Hunters in Lake-town
Back in Lake-town, Bard senses the dragon waking and attempts to prepare the wind lance with the last Black Arrow, which he had hidden in his home. He is arrested by the Master’s guards before he can act. Shortly after, Bolg’s Orcs attack the town to kill the remaining Dwarves. Legolas and Tauriel arrive just in time to fight them off. While Legolas chases Bolg out of town, Tauriel stays behind to treat KÃli. Using kingsfoil and Elvish magic, she heals his poisoned wound. As KÃli recovers in a dreamlike state, he confesses his love for her.
The Battle of the Forges
Inside Erebor, the Dwarves rush in to save Bilbo. Smaug, furious at their return, unleashes a torrent of fire. The company flees toward the forges, hoping to use the mountain's machinery against the beast. Thorin baits Smaug into rekindling the dormant furnaces with his dragonfire. A chaotic chase ensues through the industrial depths of the mountain. Finally, the Dwarves lead Smaug to the Gallery of the Kings. Bilbo taunts the dragon about the men of Lake-town, unknowingly giving Smaug a new target, but the dragon pauses to watch their final gambit.
Thorin commands the Dwarves to pull the release chains, stripping away a giant casing to reveal a towering statue made of molten gold. Smaug is momentarily mesmerized before the statue collapses, burying him in a tidal wave of liquid gold. The Dwarves cheer, believing the beast is dead.
Unleashing the Dragon
The victory is short-lived. Smaug bursts from the molten gold, enraged but unharmed. He shakes off the liquid metal and crashes through the mountain's gate, taking flight into the night sky. Realizing the Dwarves enlisted the help of the lake-men, he decides to wreak vengeance upon Esgaroth. As he soars toward the unsuspecting town, Smaug declares, "I am Fire, I am... Death!" Bilbo, watching in horror from the mountainside, whispers to himself, "What have we done?" as the screen cuts to black.
