As 2026 gets underway, I do not think it is too much of a stretch to say that one of the goals for the year for every committed Lord of the Rings fan is to spend even more time immersed in the alternate universe of Middle-earth, whether they admit to it or not. Given that the extended editions are having a limited re-release in movie theaters this month to mark 25 years since the first of Peter Jackson’s trilogy graced our screens, such a resolution should be off to a very successful start.

Still, it takes a lot of dedication to make a hobby out of Tolkien’s masterpiece (also, it was his birthday a few days ago, so yet another reason to celebrate). There are only so many hours in a day to dedicate to a rewatch or a reread, much as you may want to do it. 

Thankfully, the internet exists, and there are plenty of avid LOTR fans out there who love nothing more than sharing their passion with the world by producing endless memes on the topic. If you want to top up on your enjoyment of these works without too much commitment, this is exactly what these tidbits of humor are for.