Peter Jackson Reveals Delivery Driver Once Called His Notable Trilogy “Crap”
Peter Jackson has shared a funny but honest story about being mistaken for another filmmaker by a delivery driver, which led to an unexpected criticism of his work. The story was told during an on-stage appearance at Cannes.
Jackson is best known for directing The Lord of the Rings trilogy, which remains one of the most praised fantasy film series ever made. He later returned to Middle-earth to direct The Hobbit trilogy, but those films received a more mixed reaction from both critics and fans.
According to reporting from the Cannes appearance and film coverage outlets, it was during this period that the now-viral delivery driver moment took place.
The original Lord of the Rings films, released between 2001 and 2003, were widely praised for their storytelling, practical effects, emotional depth, and consistent tone. All three films were critical and commercial successes.
In contrast, The Hobbit trilogy, released between 2012 and 2014, was still successful at the box office but did not reach the same level of critical approval. For example, while the Lord of the Rings films sit around 90% on Rotten Tomatoes from critics, the final Hobbit film, The Battle of the Five Armies, is much lower at around 59%.
Part of the criticism toward The Hobbit films comes from their different tone and structure. The original story was expanded into three movies, which some viewers felt stretched the material too thin. The use of heavier CGI compared to the earlier films also divided audiences. Many fans felt that The Hobbit lacked the same grounded feel and emotional weight that defined The Lord of the Rings trilogy.
During his Cannes appearance, Peter Jackson recalled a moment involving a FedEx delivery driver who stopped by his home. Jackson explained that the man recognized him and immediately praised The Lord of the Rings films. The driver then mistakenly assumed Jackson had nothing to do with The Hobbit movies.
Jackson said the driver told him, “Hey there, you’re that fella that made Lord Of The Rings aren’t you? Lord Of The Rings that was great man, that was a fantastic film.” Jackson said he responded politely, thanking him.
The story then took a turn when the driver continued speaking. Jackson recalled him saying, “Oh they should have got you to make those Hobbit movies, because they were crap.”
Instead of correcting him, Jackson said he simply reacted with humor and chose not to explain the misunderstanding. He added, “I just wait, and I just roll my eyes and say ‘Yeah, tell me about it, mate’”.
The anecdote got a strong reaction from audiences because it highlights the long-running debate among fans about the two trilogies. While The Lord of the Rings is often considered a landmark in modern filmmaking, The Hobbit films are more divisive, with some viewers enjoying the return to Middle-earth and others criticizing the creative direction.
Despite the mixed reception of The Hobbit, both trilogies were major box office successes and remain important parts of the fantasy genre. Jackson’s work helped bring J.R.R. Tolkien’s world to life for a global audience and influenced a generation of fantasy filmmaking.
Looking ahead, Middle-earth is set to return again in new projects. One upcoming film is The Hunt for Gollum, directed by Andy Serkis, with new casting developments already generating attention. There is also another Lord of the Rings-related project in development, showing that interest in the franchise is still strong many years after the original trilogy.
Still, the delivery driver story shows how differently fans can view the same universe. For Jackson, it became a simple moment of humor, even if the criticism was unfiltered and direct.
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