The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies facts for kids

The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies is an exciting action, fantasy, and adventure movie from 2014. It is the third and final movie in The Hobbit series, based on the famous book by J.R.R. Tolkien. The story continues from the previous film, where the brave hobbit Bilbo Baggins and a group of dwarves accidentally woke up the giant dragon Smaug.

This movie shows what happens after Smaug is unleashed. Many different groups, like dwarves, elves, and humans, must decide if they will fight together or against each other. It features many well-known characters from Middle-earth. For example, Lee Pace plays the Elf King Thranduil, and Orlando Bloom plays the skilled Elf archer Legolas. Evangeline Lilly plays Tauriel, a brave Elf warrior. Other important characters include Christopher Lee as the wizard Saruman, Hugo Weaving as the Elf lord Elrond, and Cate Blanchett as the powerful Elf queen Galadriel.

The movie was a huge success, earning over $956 million worldwide. Critics generally liked the film, praising its action and special effects.

The Story Continues: Smaug's Attack

The movie begins right after the dragon Smaug has been set free from the Lonely Mountain. He flies to Lake-town, a town built on water, and starts to destroy it with his fiery breath. The people of Lake-town try to escape, but many are trapped.

Bard the Bowman's Courage

Among the chaos, Luke Evans plays Bard the Bowman, a brave human who was in prison. He manages to escape and becomes the only hope for the people of Lake-town. Bard is a skilled archer, and he faces Smaug in an epic battle. He uses a special arrow, called a Black Arrow, to try and defeat the dragon.

The Lonely Mountain and Its Treasure

After Smaug is gone, the dwarves, led by Thorin Oakenshield, reclaim their home inside the Lonely Mountain. They find a huge amount of gold and jewels. However, Thorin becomes obsessed with the treasure, especially a special jewel called the Arkenstone. This obsession makes him act selfishly and distrust his friends.

Bilbo's Difficult Choices

Bilbo Baggins, played by Martin Freeman, tries to help Thorin. He sees that Thorin's greed is causing problems. Bilbo has to make some very hard decisions to try and prevent a war over the treasure. He even risks his own life to do what he thinks is right.

Gathering Armies for Battle

News of the treasure spreads, and different groups arrive at the Lonely Mountain. The humans from Lake-town, now homeless, want a share of the gold to rebuild their lives. The Elves, led by King Thranduil, also arrive to claim ancient jewels they believe are theirs.

Unexpected Enemies Appear

Just as the humans, elves, and dwarves are about to fight each other, a much bigger threat appears. Armies of Orcs and Goblins, led by the evil Azog and Bolg, arrive to claim the mountain for themselves. These creatures are servants of the dark lord Sauron. This forces the different groups to make a choice: fight each other or unite against a common enemy.

The Battle of the Five Armies

The main part of the movie is the huge battle that takes place outside the Lonely Mountain. It's called the Battle of the Five Armies because five different groups are involved:

• Dwarves
• Elves
• Humans
• Orcs and Goblins
• Giant Eagles (who arrive later to help)

Heroes and Sacrifices

Many characters show great bravery during the battle. Gandalf the wizard, played by Ian McKellen, helps guide the good forces. Legolas and Tauriel fight bravely against the Orcs. Thorin and his dwarf companions also join the fight, showing their warrior skills. The battle is intense, with many exciting moments and sad sacrifices.

Main Characters and Their Actors

Many talented actors brought the characters of Middle-earth to life in this movie.

• Ian McKellen as Gandalf, the wise wizard.
• Martin Freeman as Bilbo Baggins, the hobbit who started this adventure.
• Richard Armitage as Thorin Oakenshield, the leader of the dwarves.
• Luke Evans as Bard the Bowman, the hero of Lake-town.
• Lee Pace as Thranduil, the proud Elf King.
• Orlando Bloom as Legolas, the skilled Elf warrior.
• Evangeline Lilly as Tauriel, a brave Elf archer.
• Benedict Cumberbatch as the voice of Smaug and the Necromancer.
• Cate Blanchett as Galadriel, the powerful Elf queen.
• Hugo Weaving as Elrond, another wise Elf lord.
• Christopher Lee as Saruman, a wizard who turns to evil.
• Billy Connolly as Dain Ironfoot, Thorin's cousin and a strong dwarf leader.
• Manu Bennett as Azog, the fearsome Orc leader.
• John Tui as Bolg, Azog's equally dangerous son.

The movie received good reviews from critics. For more details on what critics thought, you can check out its page on Rotten Tomatoes.

Images for kids

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  The Battle of the Five Armies panel at 2014 SDCC

See also

In Spanish: El hobbit: la batalla de los Cinco Ejércitos para niños