This month marked 25 years of having the Lord of the Rings trilogy on the big screen (in live action form, at least).

Who knew back then that this humble Tolkien adaptation would become one of the most beloved and prolific fandoms of the 21st century? It has been a wild ride through the decades ever since, with the way that people interact with this timeless collection of books and movies only moving from strength to strength. Of course, Tolkien fans remain blessed in the fact that returning to the original works over and over will never get old, but they are also lucky that the entertainment industry is still eager to add to the hefty franchise. It seems like the luck for LOTR is never going to run out.

Sure, some of these additions to the Middle-earth universe do not exactly reach the giddy heights of the classics. It is kind of inevitable that not every single thing is going to remain as stunningly consistent as the best of the best from J.R.R. Tolkien and Peter Jackson. This is a fandom that knows how to have fun, though, so it should never be too much of a problem for them. 

Exhibit A when it comes to providing evidence for the LOTR fandom’s sense of humor is the glut of silly memes that they take responsibility for producing. They offer a low-commitment way to keep the enjoyment of the series going, while also showing off the knowledge and adoration that only a longtime fan could have. In short, they are exactly the kind of thing that is great to complement one of the greatest fantasy series of all time. It doesn’t have to take itself so seriously.