The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies 2014

Bilbo and the Dwarves watch in horror as the dragon Smaug envelops Laketown in flames from his perch on the Lonely Mountain. In a dramatic turn of events, Bard, having escaped from prison, successfully slays Smaug with the deadly black arrow. The dragon’s immense body crashes down, crushing the tyrannical Master of Laketown and his accomplices, who had been fleeing with the town’s hoard of gold. With Smaug defeated, Bard is elevated to the position of leader of Laketown and takes charge in guiding the townspeople to seek refuge in the remnants of Dale.

Meanwhile, within the depths of Dol Guldur, a fierce confrontation unfolds as Galadriel, Elrond, and Saruman arrive to rescue Gandalf. Together, they combat the fearsome Nazgûl and are ultimately able to vanquish a formless Sauron, who is forced to retreat to the East. On another front, Azog, leading a massive army of Orcs towards Erebor, dispatches his son Bolg to Mount Gundabad to summon further reinforcements. Simultaneously, Legolas and Tauriel bear witness to the grim approach of Bolg’s army, invigorated by fierce Orc berserkers and colossal bats.

The tension escalates when Thranduil and an Elf army arrive at Dale, eager to reclaim the treasure that had been denied to them by the Dwarf king Thrór. Bard pleads with Thorin for a share of the gold promised to the people of Laketown, but Thorin remains obstinately unwilling to negotiate. As the atmosphere grows increasingly tense, Gandalf arrives to caution Bard and Thranduil regarding the impending threat posed by Azog’s forces, yet Thranduil dismisses his warnings entirely.

In a strategic move, Bilbo secretly takes the Arkenstone from Erebor and offers it to Thranduil and Bard as leverage to secure the promised treasures and avert war. However, Thorin’s pride blinds him, and he vehemently rejects Bilbo’s proposition, leading to an explosive confrontation where Bilbo challenges his leader over his burgeoning greed. Just as Thorin nearly succumbs to violence against Bilbo, Gandalf intervenes to prevent further disaster. As tensions rise, Thorin’s cousin Dáin arrives, leading his Dwarf army and setting the stage for a clash between Dwarves, Elves, and Men.

Amidst the chaos, Azog’s army makes its entrance, forcing Bard’s forces to divert their attention from the ongoing battle to defend Dale. Back inside Erebor, Thorin endures vivid hallucinations of being engulfed by gold, prompting a moment of clarity where he recognizes his selfishness. Reclaimed by a sense of duty, he rallies his company to join the fight. Thorin charges alongside Dwalin, Fíli, and Kíli to confront Azog. Meanwhile, Tauriel and Legolas race to alert the Dwarves of Bolg’s imminent attack. Bilbo, ever resourceful, volunteers to deliver the warning to Thorin, using his magical ring to navigate the battlefield unseen.

The battle takes a tragic turn when Azog kills Fíli right before Bilbo and the remaining Dwarves’ eyes. In a heart-wrenching display of bravery, Bolg manages to defeat Tauriel, killing Kíli when he attempts to help her. In a fierce confrontation, Legolas ultimately vanquishes Bolg. Just as hope seems lost, the Great Eagles, accompanied by Radagast and Beorn, swoop in to turn the tide against the Orcs. In the climactic duel, Thorin finally faces Azog and manages to kill him, albeit at a grave cost to his own life. In his final moments, Bilbo and Thorin reconcile, while Tauriel mourns the loss of Kíli. To finish the journey, Thranduil advises Legolas to seek out a ranger known as Strider in the northern lands.

With the chaos settled, Thorin’s company returns to the safety of Erebor. Bilbo reflects on his journey and takes his leave from his fellow adventurers, heading back to the Shire alongside Gandalf. As they part on the outskirts, Gandalf warns Bilbo about the potential dangers of his magical ring, a concern that Bilbo dismisses, claiming he has lost it. Upon returning to Bag End, he discovers his possessions being auctioned off due to the assumption of his death. With determination, he halts the sale and begins to restore his home, revealing that he still possesses the ring. Sixty years later, on his 111th birthday, Bilbo receives a surprise visit from Gandalf, bringing their adventures full circle.