Peter Jackson admits delivery driver was right: The Hobbit trilogy was crap
At Cannes, the Lord of the Rings director shared a self-deprecating story that has reignited the long-running debate over his two Middle-earth trilogies.
Peter Jackson has a new anecdote that perfectly sums up how many fans still feel about his two Middle-earth trilogies. In an on-stage talk at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this month, the director recounted a delivery driver who praised The Lord of the Rings as “fantastic,” then bluntly told him The Hobbit movies were “crap.” Jackson’s deadpan response? “Yeah, tell me about it, mate.”
The story quickly went viral and has reignited the long-running debate. The Lord of the Rings is considered one of the greatest film trilogies ever made, while The Hobbit is often viewed as a disappointing, overstuffed follow-up.
The full quote from Jackson’s Cannes appearance
Here is the complete story as Jackson told it.
“He just looks at me [at the door] and says, ‘Hey there, you’re that fella that made Lord of the Rings aren’t you? Lord of the Rings that was great man, that was a fantastic film’. I said ‘Yeah, oh thanks.’ He turns back to the van and says: ‘Oh they should have got you to make those Hobbit movies, because they were crap.’ I just wait, and I just roll my eyes and say ‘Yeah, tell me about it, mate.’”
Jackson delivered the line with a self-deprecating eye-roll that drew laughs from the audience and immediate recognition from fans online.
Lord of the Rings averages 93% on Rotten Tomatoes. The Hobbit averages 66%
The gap between the two trilogies has been clear for years on Rotten Tomatoes.
The Lord of the Rings trilogy holds an average Tomatometer score of 93% and an average audience score of 92%. The Hobbit trilogy sits at a 66% average Tomatometer and 81% audience score.
Looking at individual entries, The Fellowship of the Ring scored 91%, The Two Towers 95%, and The Return of the King 94%. All three are Certified Fresh masterpieces that swept the Oscars.
The Hobbit films landed much lower. An Unexpected Journey earned 64%, The Desolation of Smaug 74%, and The Battle of the Five Armies 59%.
Audiences have been even harsher in hindsight. The Lord of the Rings remains a cultural benchmark with near-perfect scores across the board. The Hobbit trilogy, while still enjoyed by some as light escapism, is frequently criticized for feeling bloated, overly reliant on CGI, and far less emotionally resonant.
Why The Hobbit fell short
The Lord of the Rings was a passion project with years of careful pre-production, practical effects, and a clear vision. The Hobbit was the opposite.
Originally planned as two films to be directed by Guillermo del Toro, the project was rushed when del Toro stepped away. Jackson stepped in with almost no prep time. He later admitted he began shooting without finalized scripts or storyboards for large portions of the films.
The decision to stretch one relatively short book into three films led to extensive filler material and subplots that many viewers found unnecessary. The heavy use of CGI, in contrast to the practical effects that defined Lord of the Rings, drew further criticism.
Jackson himself has been candid about the production struggles, which makes his lighthearted agreement with the delivery driver feel especially relatable.
A 17-Oscar legacy versus a commercial cash grab
The Lord of the Rings trilogy is still celebrated as a landmark achievement in filmmaking, epic, emotionally powerful, and remarkably faithful to J.R.R. Tolkien‘s spirit. It won 17 Oscars and continues to rank among the greatest films ever made.
The Hobbit trilogy, by contrast, is remembered more as a commercial cash grab that never quite lived up to its predecessor. While it has defenders who enjoy the lighter tone and expanded dwarven backstories, the consensus among longtime fans is that it pales in comparison.
Even Jackson’s own self-aware retelling of the delivery driver story shows that he understands the gap. The viral clip has sparked fresh conversations online, with many fans echoing the driver’s blunt assessment while still appreciating what Jackson accomplished with Lord of the Rings.
Article compiled and edited by Derek Gibbs (entertainment editor) and the Clownfish TV newsroom.
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Hat Tips:
Peter Jackson’s on-stage talk at the Cannes Film Festival (May 2026)
Rotten Tomatoes, historical Tomatometer and audience scores for both trilogies
Peter Jackson interviews on The Hobbit production challenges