FWIW, for the LOTR books, I liked them MORE as the series progressed--I merely tolerated FOTR, but enjoyed the trilogy. For the movies, I liked them LESS as the series progressed--I merely tolerated ROTK, but enjoyed the trilogy. Then there's the added complication of the Extended Editions, which I also found to work less well as the series progressed.
IMO:
BOOKS:
ROTK>TT=Hobbit>>FOTR
FILMS:
FOTR:EE>FOTR>>TT:EE=TT>ROTK>ROTK:EE>>>any of the hobbit films