The Hobbit to be shown in new HFR 3D format at Odeon cinemas across the UK

With Peter Jackson's return to Middle Earth arriving soon in cinemas, Odeon and UCI Cinemas have announced that The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey will be released in High Frame Rate (HFR 3D) across a 100 of its screens in Europe.

The flagship Odeon cinema at Leicester Square in London will be one of a total of 37 cinemas across the UK showing the HFR 3D version of The Hobbit.

Presenting the film at 48 frames per second (fps), this doubles the rate at which film productions have traditionally been shot (24 fps).

Being the first film to do so, The Hobbit promises incredible detail, getting closer to replicating what the human eye sees, while also claiming added benefits for 3D viewers by way of a reduction in the amount of eye strain and fatigue experienced.

The HFR 3D version of The Hobbit will also be shown at a number of Odeon digital IMAX sites, including Odeon ISENSE screens.

Odeon Chief Executive Rupert Gavin, said: "By embracing the HFR 3D format, we are offering The Hobbit fans the most choice of any cinema chain in Europe and ultimately the opportunity to enjoy it in whichever format they choose.”

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey opens on December 13th and will be screened in HFR 3D nationwide and you can book tickets now.

Fulll list of participating Odeon cinemas:

Bath, Belfast, Birmingham Broadway Plaza, Blackpool, Bournemouth, Braehead, Brighton, Cardiff, Chelmsford, Dundee (Douglas Field), Dunfermline, Glasgow Quay, Greenwich, Guildford, Hatfield, Huddersfield, Kensington, Kettering, Kingston, Leicester Square, Lincoln, Liverpool One, Manchester Printworks, Marble Arch, Metrocentre Norwich, Oxford Magdalen St, Silverlink, Southampton, Surrey Quays, Taunton, Trafford Centre, Tunbridge Wells, Uxbridge, Whiteleys - The Lounge, Wimbledon, Wrexham Eagles Meadow.

Follow whathifi.com on Twitter.

Join us on Facebook.

Joe Cox
Content Director

Joe is the Content Director for What Hi-Fi? and Future’s Product Testing, having previously been the Global Editor-in-Chief of What Hi-Fi?. He has worked on What Hi-Fi? across the print magazine and website for almost 20 years, writing news, reviews and features on everything from turntables to TVs, headphones to hi-fi separates. He has covered product launch events across the world, from Apple to Technics, Sony and Samsung; reported from CES, the Bristol Show, and Munich High End for many years; and written for sites such as the BBC, Stuff and The Guardian. In his spare time, he enjoys expanding his vinyl collection and cycling (not at the same time).

Latest in Streaming & Entertainment
Lucknow Super Giants' Marcus Stoinis plays a shot during the Indian Premier League (IPL) Twenty20 cricket match ahead of Delhi Capitals vs Lucknow Super Giants in the 2025 Indian Premier League
DC vs LSG live stream: how to watch IPL cricket online, Delhi win toss and bowl first
Kolkata Knight Riders' Rinku Singh plays a shot during the Indian Premier League (IPL) Twenty20 cricket match between Gujarat Titans and Kolkata Knight Riders at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on April 9, 2023. (Photo by INDRANIL MUKHERJEE / AFP) (Photo by INDRANIL MUKHERJEE/AFP via Getty Images)
IPL live stream 2025: how to watch Indian Premier League cricket online from anywhere, teams, schedule, GT vs PBKS
Qobuz
Qobuz reveals average payout per stream – and claims it is higher than rivals
George Benson Give Me the Night album cover
This Quincy Jones-produced disco tune has become my go-to test track – and taught me a valuable lesson about hi-fi, too
A woman flicking through stacks of vinyl records in a Rough Trade shop.
Vinyl records and music streaming both hit landmark highs – but the one growing faster in revenue may surprise you
Google TV Streamer video streamer
Google TV Streamer
Latest in News
RCA Roku TV 24-inch (RK24HF1) small TV
My favourite kitchen TV has dropped to under £100 for Amazon Spring Deal Days
Sony XR-48A90K
Amazon has slashed the price of this five-star Sony OLED, but we have found an even better deal
Fiio FX17 in-ear headphones
Fiio's flagship in-ear headphones are packed full of drivers to put your music in pole position
Apple AirPods Max 2024 in blue finish on bookshelf
Lossless audio and wired listening finally comes to AirPods Max
iFi Valkyrie in gold with a laptop
iFi's flagship iDSD Valkyrie DAC/amp teases cutting-edge tech for a sound that's worthy of Valhalla
Amazon Spring Deal Days 2025 promotional image with Amazon boxes
Amazon Big Spring Sale live: our TV and headphone experts’ real-time buying advice