The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)

Fellowship ends without a final battle, a beaten villain or a single big problem solved, which is a bold way to kick off a trilogy. It’s 178 minutes of setup, and the stretch between Bree and Rivendell drags like a hobbit with sore feet. Then the Mines of Moria happen and the movie stops asking for patience. Ian McKellen’s Gandalf is fireworks and disappointment under one gray hat. Sean Astin’s Sam is the most loyal man in fantasy, and Viggo Mortensen walks around like he was born in those boots. Peter Jackson makes Middle-earth look like a place you’d sell your car to visit, from the round doors of the Shire to a bridge over nothing. It made $897.5 million worldwide on a reported $93 million, and 2.2 million IMDb ratings average an 8.9. A 9.0 because it builds an entire world and makes you want to move there, even if it stops more than it ends. $2,114 says you take a regular walk this week and narrate it in your head like a quest.

What works: Moria, Gandalf and the handmade detail of Middle-earth, from the Shire’s round doors to the mines under the mountain.

What doesn’t: The stretch between Bree and Rivendell drags, and the ending stops the story more than it finishes anything.

Who it’s for: Anyone with a free weekend and a couch, especially people who swear they don’t like fantasy.