# Why can't I rent The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 21, 2014, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-rent-the-hobbit-an-unexpected-journey/679394 "2014-01-21T21:22:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2014, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-rent-the-hobbit-an-unexpected-journey/679394/21 "2014-03-02T21:09:03Z")
> [@JKilez](#): > > I am curious about that as well. I thought a big problem with the film was that they added so much ancillary material that it already felt like an extended edition. What problems are fixed by increasing the running time even more? It’s a better edit, especially of the middle section in Rivendell, which is longer, but plays smoother. The same thing happened to the Two Towers. I think it is the weakest theatrical cut, but the extended is the best movie in the series. [Here is an article about how the extended is better.](http://www.tor.com/blogs/2013/12/the-hobbit-an-unexpected-journey-extended-edition-is-actually-better-than-the-theatrical-release) ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2014, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-rent-the-hobbit-an-unexpected-journey/679394/22 "2014-03-02T21:31:03Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > And has anyone noticed how few movies Netflix has for streaming anymore? It seems like their catalog is shrinking by leaps and bounds. At the same time, I’ve noticed an alarming increase of the number of items in my DVD queue with “Wait” notations, suggesting that their DVD inventory is dwindling. (I’ve had _Bridge on the River Kwai_ on top of my list for months with the availability listed as “Long Wait.” Are they seriously having trouble keeping an in-print, 57-year-old classic in stock?) As for their streaming stock, I think Netflix is kind of remodeling itself as an internet TV station, and is putting more energy into acquiring series than movies. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2014, 8:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-rent-the-hobbit-an-unexpected-journey/679394/23 "2014-03-03T08:09:41Z")
Huh, when I watched it on HBO On Demand, it was free. I guess it’s no longer available then? ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2014, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-rent-the-hobbit-an-unexpected-journey/679394/24 "2014-03-03T15:49:15Z")
I get a lot of movies from the library, too. If you don’t mind waiting a week or two, sometimes, it’s free and reliable. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2014, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-rent-the-hobbit-an-unexpected-journey/679394/25 "2014-03-03T16:19:09Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > Huh, when I watched it on HBO On Demand, it was free. I guess it’s no longer available then? It’s currently available on Cinemax On Demand for free - it’s in their play rotation at the moment too. That’s pretty standard for the pay channels though, especially relatively recent or big budget movies - they’ll put it in the play rotation and On Demand for one or two months, then it’s gone again. ETA: and by free, I mean free to subscribers. I don’t think non-subscribers can get any pay channel On-Demand, without signing up for the whole package. I’ve definitely seen though where a movie was simultaneously in a pay channel On Demand for free as well as the carrier (FIOS in my case) On Demand for $3-6 ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2014, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-rent-the-hobbit-an-unexpected-journey/679394/26 "2014-03-03T17:07:45Z")
I can borrow a surprising number of movies from the library, too, as mentioned. If my local branch doesn’t have it, they will get it from another branch. The thing is, the bestest and newest movies always have a long waiting list. Better to find out when it’s coming out, and get your name on the reservation list ASAP. (I do this online, if I hear about a movie I want to see I just keep checking the site to see if it’s available, and reserve online) ---
**Author:** ![JKilez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e5b9ba/32.png) [@JKilez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKilez)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2014, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-rent-the-hobbit-an-unexpected-journey/679394/27 "2014-03-04T01:54:16Z")
Public Library + Redbox = Crazy DVD-licious ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2014, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-rent-the-hobbit-an-unexpected-journey/679394/28 "2014-03-04T18:33:42Z")
www.canistream.it is a cool site for finding out how and where you can get your hands on a movie or show. You can also get an alert when it comes to your preferred streaming method. [http://www.canistream.it/search/movie/the%20hobbit](http://www.canistream.it/search/movie/the%20hobbit) ---
**Author:** ![Suburban\_Plankton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suburban_plankton/32/219_2.png) [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2014, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-rent-the-hobbit-an-unexpected-journey/679394/29 "2014-03-04T20:38:26Z")
It would never have occurred to me to look at the library as a place to borrow ‘popular’ DVDs. A quick check shows that the Sacramento Public Library system has 56 copies of _The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey_, with a current waiting list of 4. I’m not terribly interested in seeing _The Hobbit_, at least until the third movie is available, but I’m glad I opened this thread; my ignorance has been fought this day! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-rent-the-hobbit-an-unexpected-journey/679394.md?page=1)