The 74-year-old British star, who plays Gandalf the wizard in the series, turned up unannounced at a theatre in New York for the screening, reported Contactmusic.
When McKellen took to the stage in front of the big screen before the movie began, the audience jumped to their feet to give him a standing ovation.
"Congratulations on being the first audience in New York to see The Desolation of Smaug. This is where I wanted to be right now as we turn midnight on to lucky Friday the 13th.
McKellen is currently residing in New York City while appearing on Broadway in a double bill of Harold Pinter's 'No Man's Land' and Samuel Beckett's 'Waiting for Godot' alongside Patrick Stewart.
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