The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (2014) – Full Movie Recap
The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies is the final film in Peter Jackson’s adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit. It concludes the journey of Bilbo Baggins, the company of dwarves, and their battle to reclaim the Lonely Mountain from the clutches of the dragon Smaug. However, the victory over Smaug ignites a larger conflict involving the treasure of Erebor, leading to a massive clash between multiple armies.
Smaug’s Attack on Lake-town: The film begins with the terrifying aftermath of Smaug’s escape from Erebor. The dragon, enraged by the dwarves’ attempt to reclaim the treasure, heads straight for Lake-town to exact his revenge. Smaug unleashes a fiery assault, setting the town ablaze. The citizens scramble to escape, but Smaug’s destruction seems unstoppable.
Bard the Bowman (played by Luke Evans) becomes the town’s last hope. Using a massive black arrow, Bard successfully kills Smaug, shooting him in a weak spot in his underbelly. Smaug falls from the sky and crashes into the lake, marking the end of the dragon’s reign of terror. However, with Lake-town destroyed, the survivors, led by Bard, turn their eyes to Erebor and its treasure, believing that Thorin must share the wealth to rebuild their lives.
Thorin’s Descent into Madness: Meanwhile, inside the Lonely Mountain, Thorin Oakenshield (played by Richard Armitage) has reclaimed Erebor, but the treasure of his ancestors, particularly the search for the Arkenstone, begins to consume him. Thorin succumbs to dragon sickness, a psychological state similar to greed and paranoia, which clouds his judgment. He refuses to share any of the treasure with Bard or the people of Lake-town, breaking his promise to help them.
Thorin’s stubbornness leads to growing tension between the dwarves, as Bilbo Baggins (played by Martin Freeman) becomes increasingly concerned about his friend’s state of mind. Bilbo secretly takes the Arkenstone and offers it to Bard and Thranduil, the Elvenking (played by Lee Pace), hoping to use it as a bargaining tool to avoid conflict.
The Gathering Armies: As Thorin isolates himself and refuses to negotiate, armies begin to gather outside Erebor. Bard and the Lake-town survivors, along with the elves of Mirkwood, led by Thranduil, demand a share of the treasure. At the same time, an army of dwarves from the Iron Hills, led by Thorin’s cousin Dáin Ironfoot (played by Billy Connolly), arrives to support Thorin’s claim over the mountain.
However, the conflict is interrupted by the arrival of a more dangerous enemy: the orcs, led by Azog the Defiler (played by Manu Bennett). The orcs, under orders from Sauron, plan to seize Erebor as a strategic point in the larger war for control of Middle-earth. The stage is set for an epic battle as five armies—dwarves, elves, men, orcs, and giant eagles—converge on the Lonely Mountain.
The Battle of the Five Armies: The massive battle erupts, with the forces of men, elves, and dwarves temporarily setting aside their differences to fight against the orc legions. Thorin, initially trapped in his madness, finally snaps out of his greed-driven state, thanks to the intervention of Bilbo and his companions. Realizing the gravity of the situation, Thorin leads his company into battle, determined to defeat Azog and protect his homeland.
The battle is brutal and chaotic, with heavy losses on all sides. The orcs deploy massive trolls, wargs, and siege weapons to crush their enemies. As the tide of the battle turns against the Free Peoples, Gandalf (played by Ian McKellen) arrives with reinforcements, and the Great Eagles, accompanied by Beorn, help turn the tide.
Thorin vs. Azog: The emotional climax of the battle occurs when Thorin confronts his archenemy, Azog, on an icy battlefield. In a fierce and deadly duel, Thorin is gravely wounded but manages to kill Azog. However, the victory comes at a great cost, as Thorin succumbs to his injuries shortly after.
Before he dies, Thorin reconciles with Bilbo, expressing regret for his actions and thanking him for his friendship. It is a poignant moment that brings closure to Thorin’s tragic arc, as he finally finds peace before his death.
The Aftermath and Bilbo’s Return: With Azog dead and the orc forces defeated, the surviving armies begin to rebuild. Bard becomes the leader of the people of Lake-town, and Thranduil departs with his elven army. The treasure of Erebor is divided, and peace is temporarily restored to the region.
Bilbo, saddened by the loss of Thorin and the devastation caused by the battle, decides to return home to the Shire. He bids farewell to his dwarf companions and leaves Erebor behind. Upon his return to Bag End, Bilbo finds that he has been presumed dead and that his belongings are being auctioned off. He reclaims his home and settles back into his peaceful life, forever changed by his adventure.
The film ends with a transition to Old Bilbo (played by Ian Holm) preparing to write down the story of his journey, setting the stage for the events of The Lord of the Rings.
The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies delivers a powerful and emotional conclusion to Bilbo’s journey and the quest to reclaim Erebor. With thrilling battles, intense character moments, and a heartbreaking resolution to Thorin’s arc, the film ties together the events of The Hobbit trilogy and serves as a bridge to the larger story of The Lord of the Rings.
The Final Battle and Thorin’s Sacrifice: In the climax of The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies, the vast armies of men, elves, dwarves, and orcs clash outside Erebor, with the fate of the Lonely Mountain and its treasure at stake. As the battle rages, Thorin Oakenshield breaks free from his greed-fueled madness, thanks to Bilbo Baggins’ intervention. Realizing the true threat at hand, Thorin leads his company into the battlefield to confront Azog the Defiler.
In a tense and brutal duel atop a frozen river, Thorin and Azog face off. Though Thorin ultimately kills Azog by impaling him on his sword, the victory comes at a great personal cost. Thorin is gravely wounded in the fight and succumbs to his injuries shortly after.
Thorin’s Redemption: Before dying, Thorin reconciles with Bilbo in a deeply emotional scene. He expresses regret for letting greed and pride cloud his judgment and thanks Bilbo for his friendship and courage. Thorin’s death is a poignant moment, bringing his character’s tragic arc to a close as he finally finds peace.
The Aftermath of the Battle: With Azog’s death, the orc forces are defeated, and the survivors—including men, elves, and dwarves—begin to rebuild. Bard takes leadership of the people of Lake-town, while Thranduil and the elven army return to their homeland. The treasure of Erebor is divided among the victors, and peace returns to the region.
Bilbo’s Return to the Shire: Saddened by Thorin’s death and the devastation caused by the battle, Bilbo decides to leave Erebor and return to the Shire. He bids farewell to his dwarf companions and sets off for home. Upon arriving back at Bag End, Bilbo discovers that he has been presumed dead, and his belongings are being auctioned off. He reclaims his home, but his experiences have forever changed him.
In the film’s final moments, Old Bilbo (played by Ian Holm) is seen writing his memoirs, preparing for the events that will lead into The Lord of the Rings.
Closing Thought: The ending of The Battle of the Five Armies brings a bittersweet conclusion to Thorin’s journey and Bilbo’s adventure. Thorin’s sacrifice and reconciliation with Bilbo give the film an emotional weight, while Bilbo’s return to the Shire marks the end of his epic quest and the beginning of a quiet, reflective life.