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The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
New Line Cinema New Line Cinema
The Saul Zaentz Company The Saul Zaentz Company
WingNut Films WingNut Films
The Lord of the Rings Collection The Lord of the Rings Collection

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

There can be no triumph without loss. No victory without suffering. No freedom without sacrifice.

2003 201 min ★ 8.5 (27,260) Released
Action Adventure Fantasy

As armies mass for a final battle that will decide the fate of the world--and powerful, ancient forces of Light and Dark compete to determine the outcome--one member of the Fellowship of the Ring is revealed as the noble heir to the throne of the Kings of Men. Yet, the sole hope for triumph over evil lies with a brave hobbit, Frodo, who, accompanied by his loyal friend Sam and the hideous, wretched Gollum, ventures deep into the very dark heart of Mordor on his seemingly impossible quest to destroy the Ring of Power.​

Original title
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
Language
EN
Country
US
Budget
$94,000,000
Revenue
$1,118,888,979
Reviews & Ratings 6
Dr Nostromo

Dr Nostromo

Jul 2, 2026 · via TMDB

★ 10.0

100/100 As the war for middle-earth grows to unbearable levels, Frodo and Sam's desperate attempts to get to Mount Doom and destroy the ring faces horrific resistance both externally and internally. Quite simply the best fantasy film ever made and, overall, one of the finest films ever made. The ability of the film to continue the events presented in the first two films and take them to a phenomenal level is grand in scale and epic in vision. The warfare scenes are a visceral, sometimes painful, sight to behold. An amazing end to an incredible journey! - DrNostromo.com

CinemaSerf

CinemaSerf

Sep 3, 2023 · via TMDB

★ 8.0

I've just seen this on the big screen for the first time since I saw it at London's sadly now long-gone Odeon at Marble Arch, which - at the time - boasted the biggest screen in the UK, and it has lost little of it's magic. Continuing with the interwoven tales of "Frodo", "Sam" and their treacherous guide "Gollum" as they trek through fire and brimstone to get the ring to Mount Doom; whilst Gandalf, Aragorn and the surviving members of the fellowship try to stem the might of "Sauron" and his armies of orcs and their allies. While this is undoubtedly a magnificent piece of cinema, I find the story drags a bit. I found the the focus to be too much on the less interesting characters - the lovelorn "Eowyn" (Miranda Otto); the delusional "Denethor" (John Noble) and decent but rather wimpish "Faramir" (David Wenham) as "Gondor" faces the wrath of their nemesis, and that slows the pace from the action just when it ought to be building. The delightful, friendly, rivalry between "Gimli" & "Legolas" features all too sparingly and it's got too ponderous a narrative to sustain the four hours the otherwise visionary Peter Jackson has created. Fortunately, the triple-header quest with Elijah Wood, Sean Astin and a superb Andy Serkis keep the other strand moving along suspensefully and tensely. The battle scenes are superb, though - when we get them, the effects really do rise to the occasion and, of course, the striking cinematography coupled with the inspired themes from Howard Shore contribute to a thoroughly entertaining adaptation of a thoroughly captivating fantasy adventure. If you make it past the start of the credits, there is the gloriously haunting "Into the West" from Annie Lennox to top off this finest of trilogies. The Oscar/BAFTA awards this achieved are a just reward for years of stunningly creative effort from thousands of people who turned the imagination of a 20th Century English academic into films that will last forever.

drystyx

drystyx

Apr 18, 2023 · via TMDB

★ 10.0

A fitting end to a classic trilogy. Frodo, Samwise, and Gollum journey through a Hell on what is called "Middle Earth", while Gandalf, Aragorn, Gimli, and Legolas go to war. King Theoden must decide whether to help those who would not help him. Merry wants to war, but is too small. Pippin finds himself getting in more and more mischief. Lots of subplots. Never a dull second. Masterfully dierected. What more can be said? Truly mesmerizing every step of the way, and a movie with maybe four endings that just lead into each other, and we still can't get enough.

P

pokycoder

Nov 16, 2021 · via TMDB

As an avid fan of Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings from long before New Line announced this movie "trilogy," I must say all three films were fairly large disappointments. Now, mind you, I am not your usual, "The book is better" movie reviewer. But it is almost like Peter Jackson went out of his way to take out the most crucial elements of the books and replace it with drivel. Also every line that sounds even remotely cool in the books must be given to Gandalf, no matter who actually said it... That's just frustrating, despite Sir Ian McKellen's stellar performance. With what I would hope is the obvious exception of Orlando Bloom's third dismal performance as Legolas, the actors all did quite well; the characters were just not allowed to shine as they do in the books. I see that the common consensus is that this movie is too long, and I agree. What's most frustrating about that to me is that this movie had to finish The Two Towers since that film did not complete, and then this film left out the pivotal ending of the saga. The Return of the King is actually the shortest volume of the three (there are six books, two in each volume). As some have noted, the film noticeably scraps the scouring of the Shire, but for those who might have hoped for a fourth installment to finish that story, Peter Jackson dashed all hopes by disturbingly killing off Saruman at the beginning of the extended edition. By the by, I understand many people feel that the scouring of the Shire is anticlimactic after the final defeat of Sauron, but for myself, I think the point that there is still evil in the world, and that heroes must still rise to fight it, is one of Tolkien's triumphs. Back to my main point, though: the books were shorter while telling more story, because despite his depth and detail, Tolkien understood how to drive a story along. Peter Jackson, on the other hand, fails on that count. Anyway, I am someone who always hoped that these movies would be made (I grew up watching the animations produced by Rankin/Bass and Fantasy Films). But now I suppose I'll have to wait until someone is daring enough to try again, despite the overwhelming success of these films (which will probably not happen in my lifetime). In the meantime, I'll continue to read the books every year.

r96sk

r96sk

Feb 19, 2021 · via TMDB

★ 10.0

An outstanding end to the trilogy. I expected a lot from <em>'The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King'</em> so I am delighted to see it produce on so many levels. I, funnily enough, wouldn't actually say it's necessarily the most perfect execution - what with the plot coincidences and extreme character armour. But that doesn't matter one jot whatsoever, as the story wraps up in arguably the best way - at least to watch - possible. It has so much heart and feeling to it. The story involving the characters of Elijah Wood, Sean Astin and Andy Serkis remained the most interesting to me, I was very satisfied with how it concluded in regards to them. I also enjoyed the bits we got of Viggo Mortensen, Ian McKellen & Co. All that added to the beautiful look and creation of the film, with the world coming alive splendidly. If I were to nit-pick further, I would say the run time is slightly too long. The pacing is absolutely fine, very good in fact, but I coulda done without a few of the many end scenes - a lot of which are necessary and welcome, but a couple could've been left out to allow the viewer to imagine how the world continued. That's just how I feel mind, I'm sure I'm one of only a few that think that way. Back onto the positives: how about those battle sequences? Astonishingly good. A sensational trilogy, no question about it. I look forward to seeing <em>'The Hobbit'</em> films.

JPV852

JPV852

Sep 21, 2020 · via TMDB

★ 10.0

Great finale to a great trilogy. The action and battle sequences were amazing and even though I've seen this a few times over the years, still thrilling to the end. I didn't even mind the multiple endings as I had in the past, nice each character got their due. **4.75/5**

User reviews courtesy of TMDB.

Keywords 41
army based on novel or book bravery castle cheerful comforting companionship complex dwarf elves epic battle epic fantasy fantasy world giant spider good versus evil hero's journey high fantasy hobbit honor journey king kingdom live action and animation madness magic magical creature melodramatic obsession power madness quest ring sequel split personality sword and sorcery sword making trekking volcano winged creatures wistful wizard wraith
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Cast 67
Elijah Wood

Elijah Wood

Frodo

Ian McKellen

Ian McKellen

Gandalf

Viggo Mortensen

Viggo Mortensen

Aragorn

Sean Astin

Sean Astin

Sam

Andy Serkis

Andy Serkis

Gollum / Smeagol

Dominic Monaghan

Dominic Monaghan

Merry

Billy Boyd

Billy Boyd

Pippin

John Noble

John Noble

Denethor

David Wenham

David Wenham

Faramir

Miranda Otto

Miranda Otto

Éowyn

Bernard Hill

Bernard Hill

Théoden

John Rhys-Davies

John Rhys-Davies

Gimli

Orlando Bloom

Orlando Bloom

Legolas

Hugo Weaving

Hugo Weaving

Elrond

Liv Tyler

Liv Tyler

Arwen

Cate Blanchett

Cate Blanchett

Galadriel

Karl Urban

Karl Urban

Éomer

Ian Holm

Ian Holm

Bilbo

Sean Bean

Sean Bean

Boromir

Lawrence Makoare

Lawrence Makoare

Witchking / Gothmog

Marton Csokas

Marton Csokas

Celeborn

Paul Norell

Paul Norell

King of the Dead

Noel Appleby

Noel Appleby

Everard Proudfoot

Sarah McLeod

Sarah McLeod

Rosie Cotton

Ali Astin

Ali Astin

Elanor Gamgee

Maisy McLeod-Riera

Maisy McLeod-Riera

Baby Gamgee

David Aston

David Aston

Gondorian Soldier 3

John Bach

John Bach

Madril

Sadwyn Brophy

Sadwyn Brophy

Eldarion

Alistair Browning

Alistair Browning

Damrod

Jason Fitch

Jason Fitch

Uruk 2

Bruce Hopkins

Bruce Hopkins

Gamling

Ian Hughes

Ian Hughes

Irolas

Bret McKenzie

Bret McKenzie

Elf Escort

Bruce Phillips

Bruce Phillips

Grimbold

Shane Rangi

Shane Rangi

Harad Leader 2

Todd Rippon

Todd Rippon

Harad Leader 1

Thomas Robins

Thomas Robins

Déagol

Harry Sinclair

Harry Sinclair

Isildur

Peter Tait

Peter Tait

Shagrat

Joel Tobeck

Joel Tobeck

Orc Lieutenant 1

Stephen Ure

Stephen Ure

Gorbag

Sala Baker

Sala Baker

Featured Orc

Robert Pollock

Robert Pollock

Featured Orc

Ross Duncan

Ross Duncan

Featured Orc

Pete Smith

Pete Smith

Featured Orc

Jed Brophy

Jed Brophy

Featured Orc

Lee Hartley

Lee Hartley

Featured Orc

Billy Jackson

Billy Jackson

Featured Child

Katie Jackson

Katie Jackson

Featured Child

Alan Howard

Alan Howard

The Ring (voice)

Gino Acevedo

Gino Acevedo

Corsair of Umbar (uncredited)

Emma Deakin

Emma Deakin

Diamond of Long Cleave (uncredited)

Michael Elsworth

Michael Elsworth

Círdan the Shipwright (uncredited)

Zo Hartley

Zo Hartley

Orc Helper (uncredited)

Peter Jackson

Peter Jackson

Corsair Bosun (uncredited)

Sandro Kopp

Sandro Kopp

Coronation Elf (uncredited)

Andrew Lesnie

Andrew Lesnie

Corsair of Umbar (uncredited)

Henry Mortensen

Henry Mortensen

Pelennor Orc (uncredited)

Craig Parker

Craig Parker

Gothmog / Orc Lieutenant 1 (voice) (uncredited)

Rick Porras

Rick Porras

Corsair of Umbar / Beacon Guard (uncredited)

Christian Rivers

Christian Rivers

Corsair of Umbar / Beacon Guard (uncredited)

Michael Semanick

Michael Semanick

Drinking Rohan Soldier (uncredited)

Howard Shore

Howard Shore

Drinking Rohan Soldier (uncredited)

John Stephenson

John Stephenson

Witchking (voice) (uncredited)

Richard Taylor

Richard Taylor

Corsair of Umbar (uncredited)

Royd Tolkien

Royd Tolkien

Gondorian Ranger (uncredited)

Crew 76
Jules Cook

Jules Cook

Assistant Art Director

Alan Lee

Alan Lee

Conceptual Design

John Howe

John Howe

Conceptual Design

Daniel Falconer

Daniel Falconer

Sculptor

Alan Lee

Alan Lee

Set Decoration

Dan Hennah

Dan Hennah

Set Decoration

Dan Hennah

Dan Hennah

Supervising Art Director

Andrew Lesnie

Andrew Lesnie

Director of Photography

Ngila Dickson

Ngila Dickson

Costume Design

Richard Taylor

Richard Taylor

Costume Design

Peter Swords King

Peter Swords King

Hair Designer

Jeremy Woodhead

Jeremy Woodhead

Hairstylist

Jeremy Woodhead

Jeremy Woodhead

Makeup Artist

Rick Findlater

Rick Findlater

Makeup Artist

Peter Swords King

Peter Swords King

Makeup Designer

Richard Taylor

Richard Taylor

Special Effects Makeup Artist

Augie Davis

Augie Davis

Stunt Coordinator

Bob Anderson

Bob Anderson

Stunt Coordinator

Tim Wong

Tim Wong

Stunt Double

Casey O'Neill

Casey O'Neill

Stunts

Jacob Tomuri

Jacob Tomuri

Stunts

Justin B. Carter

Justin B. Carter

Stunts

Mana Hira Davis

Mana Hira Davis

Stunts

Peter Dillon

Peter Dillon

Stunts

Rodney Cook

Rodney Cook

Stunts

Sala Baker

Sala Baker

Stunts

Shane Dawson

Shane Dawson

Stunts

Shaughan Campbell

Shaughan Campbell

Stunts

Stuart Thorp

Stuart Thorp

Stunts

Winham Hammond

Winham Hammond

Stunts

Peter Jackson

Peter Jackson

Director

Carolynne Cunningham

Carolynne Cunningham

First Assistant Director

Jamie Selkirk

Jamie Selkirk

Editor

John Hubbard

John Hubbard

Casting

Liz Mullane

Liz Mullane

Casting

Victoria Burrows

Victoria Burrows

Casting

Jamie Selkirk

Jamie Selkirk

Co-Producer

Rick Porras

Rick Porras

Co-Producer

Bob Weinstein

Bob Weinstein

Executive Producer

Harvey Weinstein

Harvey Weinstein

Executive Producer

Michael Lynne

Michael Lynne

Executive Producer

Robert Shaye

Robert Shaye

Executive Producer

Barrie M. Osborne

Barrie M. Osborne

Producer

Fran Walsh

Fran Walsh

Producer

Peter Jackson

Peter Jackson

Producer

Lora Hirschberg

Lora Hirschberg

Additional Sound Re-Recording Mixer

Katy Wood

Katy Wood

Foley Editor

Howard Shore

Howard Shore

Original Music Composer

Hammond Peek

Hammond Peek

Production Sound Mixer

Annie Lennox

Annie Lennox

Songs

Fran Walsh

Fran Walsh

Songs

Howard Shore

Howard Shore

Songs

David Farmer

David Farmer

Sound Designer

John Warhurst

John Warhurst

Sound Editor

Addison Teague

Addison Teague

Sound Effects Editor

Beau Borders

Beau Borders

Sound Effects Editor

Tim Nielsen

Tim Nielsen

Sound Effects Editor

Christopher Boyes

Christopher Boyes

Sound Re-Recording Mixer

Michael Semanick

Michael Semanick

Sound Re-Recording Mixer

Mark Willsher

Mark Willsher

Supervising Music Editor

Ethan Van der Ryn

Ethan Van der Ryn

Supervising Sound Editor

Mike Hopkins

Mike Hopkins

Supervising Sound Editor

Erik Winquist

Erik Winquist

2D Sequence Supervisor

Guy Williams

Guy Williams

3D Supervisor

Randall William Cook

Randall William Cook

Animation Director

Paul Story

Paul Story

Senior Animator

Alexander Nowotny

Alexander Nowotny

VFX Artist

Jason Lei Howden

Jason Lei Howden

VFX Artist

Christian Rivers

Christian Rivers

Visual Effects Designer

Dean Wright

Dean Wright

Visual Effects Producer

Jim Rygiel

Jim Rygiel

Visual Effects Supervisor

Joe Letteri

Joe Letteri

Visual Effects Supervisor

J. R. R. Tolkien

J. R. R. Tolkien

Novel

Fran Walsh

Fran Walsh

Screenplay

Peter Jackson

Peter Jackson

Screenplay

Philippa Boyens

Philippa Boyens

Screenplay

Gallery 741
Videos 9
Similar Movies 578
Recommended 39
US Release Dates 4

Dec 3, 2003

Los Angeles, California

PG-13 Premiere

Dec 17, 2003

PG-13 Theatrical

Dec 14, 2004

Extended Edition

PG-13 Physical

Jan 18, 2026

Extended Edition

PG-13 Theatrical (Limited)

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