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The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
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 Two Towers

The journey continues.

2002 179 min ★ 8.4 (24,499) Released
Action Adventure Fantasy

Frodo Baggins and the other members of the Fellowship continue on their sacred quest to destroy the One Ring--but on separate paths. Their destinies lie at two towers--Orthanc Tower in Isengard, where the corrupt wizard Saruman awaits, and Sauron's fortress at Barad-dur, deep within the dark lands of Mordor.

Original title
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
Language
EN
Country
US
Budget
$79,000,000
Revenue
$926,287,400
Reviews & Ratings 6
Dr Nostromo

Dr Nostromo

Jun 23, 2026 · via TMDB

★ 9.0

93/100 While Frodo & Sam, with the addition of a new traveling companion, Gollum, travel to Mordor, the other hobbits try to convince a tree shepherd to go to war and the Rohan go to Helm's Deep in an attempt to save their people from a massive army. The fact that this film effectively splits the story into several threads, all given proper depth and connecting them all together into a cohesive whole, is what makes this such an epic film. The first time I saw the siege of Helm's Deep, I was stunned. And yet, "...the battle for Middle-earth is about to begin." Amazing film! -- DrNostromo.com

CinemaSerf

CinemaSerf

Sep 3, 2023 · via TMDB

★ 8.0

Having used the first film to magnificently, if - at times - a little too earnestly, set the scene and establish the characters, Peter Jackson now cleverly interweaves the continuation of the story as "Frodo" (Elijah Wood) and "Sam" (Sean Astin) take their evil talisman and make their way to the treacherous "Mount Doom" - alighting on the untrustworthy "Gollum" (a wonderful Andy Serkis) en route - to destroy it. Meantime "Gandalf", "Aragorn"; "Gimli" and "Legolas" must track down "Pip" and "Merry" and stop "Rohan" from being over-run by the marauding hordes of "Saruman". This is certainly my favourite of any of the Wingnut Productions - the drama is compelling, exciting and the performances from all really draw you into the jeopardy of our questers. The imagination of the author is now in full swing as battle lines are firmly drawn - even the mud seems to be taking sides; the trees certainly do! The CGI is less effective in this film; particularly when used against the close up and the "Treebeard" scenes where it is oddly static and sterile, but the siege and battle scenes at "Helm's Deep", some poignant bonding moments between the elf and his dwarf companion and again the terrific accompaniment from Howard Shore make this, for my money, one of the best adventure films ever made. The director's cut - at a meagre 235 minutes - flew by on the big screen and sets it all up for a gripping finale in "Return of the King".

drystyx

drystyx

Apr 18, 2023 · via TMDB

★ 10.0

An awesome middle story of the trilogy. The world of hobbits, elves, dwarves, and others finds a fellowship of nine beings separated to go on different paths. One is dead. Two are captured by orcs. One is presumed dead, but returns in a more powerful form. Three go to war. The other two become the focus of this story. Hobbits Frodo and Samwise take a magic ring into the land of a devil and his beings, and find a guide, the pathetic Gollum, to aid them. Meanwhile, the three at war meet with the most interesting and multi dimensional character, King Theoden, and aid him against an onslaught of orcs and Uruk Hai. A lot of subplots go on, making this an unusually good connecting piece to the first and third films.

r96sk

r96sk

Feb 17, 2021 · via TMDB

★ 9.0

I might not have enjoyed it as much as the first film, but <em>'The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers'</em> is still a terrific film no doubt. Visually it still looks superb, I really do love the look of these films so far. The main plot is engaging and very interesting, while things like the costumes et al. remain at a high level. There is also top action, including some noteworthy battle sequences. There are, though, a few bits I found less great - still very good in the grand overall scheme, but just comparably with the 2001 release. I found the pacing to be slightly off in moments, while a few of the new cast members didn't connect to me - e.g. Bernard Hill. The side story, meanwhile, with Billy Boyd and Dominic Monaghan didn't interest me at all... they spend too much of the run time just walking through a forest. Elijah Wood remains good though. I did enjoy seeing the journey of Frodo and Sam (Sean Astin). Andy Serkis also gets more screen time with that aforementioned duo as Gollum, which is most definitely only a major positive - a fun character! Any scene with those three = outstanding. Overall, as noted, it is still an excellent film. One very much worthy of following <em>'The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring'</em>, despite a few 'issues' I have with it.

JPV852

JPV852

Sep 15, 2020 · via TMDB

★ 9.0

Still probably my favorite of the three, while it's pretty streamlined and far more action centric with little development compared with Fellowship of the Ring and Return of the King, I always find this one really entertaining with the Helm's Deep battle. **4.5/5**

Wuchak

Wuchak

Mar 10, 2018 · via TMDB

★ 6.0

That Damned Ring. RELEASED IN 2002 and directed by Peter Jackson, “The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers” adapts the second part of JRR Tolkien’s popular fantasy trilogy about adventures on Middle-Earth. The surviving ‘Fellowship’ of the first film has been divided into three small groups for this one: The Hobbits Frodo and Sam (Elijah Wood and Sean Astin) team-up with the mad Gollum (Andy Serkis) to make their way to Mordor, but are captured by Faramir (David Wenham), the brother of the deceased Boromir. Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen), Legolas the Elf (Orlando Bloom) and Gimli the Dwarf (John Rhys-Davies) encounter the once-great King Theoden (Bernard Hill), who has fallen under the spell of Saruman (Christopher Lee) via his devious minion Grima Wormtongue (Brad Dourif). Meanwhile the Hobbits Pippin and Merry (Billy Boyd and Dominic Monaghan) try to enlist the help of huge tree creatures. Gandalf is also on hand (Ian McKellen). These story threads culminate in the great Battle at Helms Deep in the third hour. This three-hour fantasy/adventure starts out more engaging than the first film, which was laden by its overlong, convoluted and (for the most part) unnecessary prologue. Like that movie, the characters are colorful, the tale is imaginative, there’s a lot of brutal action rounded out by quieter moments and everything LOOKS and SOUNDS great. Unfortunately, after the first act, Jackson opts for CGI porn (excessive use of CGI with the corresponding dizzying visual effects). The first film did this too, but this one ups the ante and so there’s not as much spectacular New Zealand cinematography (i.e. real forests, mountains, rivers, etc.). If cartoony CGI is your thang then you’ll likely appreciate this installment more than me. There are other problems: While the characters are imaginative, they’re also shallow and rather dull, at least for mature people who require more depth to maintain their interest. Also, the wide-spanning (meandering) story with numerous characters and hard-to-remember names tends to be disengaging. I was never much captivated by the characters and their causes, although uber-fans of Tolkien might be. Another problem is the lack of prominent female protagonists. We have Miranda Otto as Éowyn, Théoden's niece, who falls in love with the noble Aragorn and that’s about it, except for cameos by Liv Tyler as Arwen and Cate Blanchett as Galadriel. “Mythica: A Quest for Heroes” (2014) cost LESS THAN $100,000 to make, which is a mere fraction of the $94 million it cost to make this blockbuster and the filmmakers knew enough to include a couple of prominent babes as key protagonists in the story. Despite these negatives, “The Two Towers” was an ultra-ambitious undertaking and is a must for fantasy/adventure aficionados who liked the first movie. THE MOVIE RUNS 2 hours 59 minutes and was shot in New Zealand. GRADE: B-/C+

User reviews courtesy of TMDB.

Keywords 32
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Cast 80
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

John Rhys-Davies

John Rhys-Davies

Gimli / Treebeard (voice)

Orlando Bloom

Orlando Bloom

Legolas

Bernard Hill

Bernard Hill

Théoden

Miranda Otto

Miranda Otto

Éowyn

Dominic Monaghan

Dominic Monaghan

Merry

Billy Boyd

Billy Boyd

Pippin

Christopher Lee

Christopher Lee

Saruman

Cate Blanchett

Cate Blanchett

Galadriel

Liv Tyler

Liv Tyler

Arwen

Hugo Weaving

Hugo Weaving

Elrond

David Wenham

David Wenham

Faramir

Brad Dourif

Brad Dourif

Wormtongue

Karl Urban

Karl Urban

Éomer

Craig Parker

Craig Parker

Haldir

Bruce Allpress

Bruce Allpress

Aldor

John Bach

John Bach

Madril

Sala Baker

Sala Baker

Man Flesh Uruk

Jed Brophy

Jed Brophy

Sharku / Snaga

Sam Comery

Sam Comery

Eothain

Calum Gittins

Calum Gittins

Haleth

Phil Grieve

Phil Grieve

Hero Orc

Bruce Hopkins

Bruce Hopkins

Gamling

Nathaniel Lees

Nathaniel Lees

Ugluk

John Leigh

John Leigh

Háma

Robbie Magasiva

Robbie Magasiva

Mauhúr

Robyn Malcolm

Robyn Malcolm

Morwen

Bruce Phillips

Bruce Phillips

Rohan Soldier

Robert Pollock

Robert Pollock

Mordor Orc

Olivia Tennet

Olivia Tennet

Freda

Raymond Trickitt

Raymond Trickitt

Bereg

Stephen Ure

Stephen Ure

Grishnakh

Billy Jackson

Billy Jackson

Cute Rohan Refugee Child

Katie Jackson

Katie Jackson

Cute Rohan Refugee Child

Lee Hartley

Lee Hartley

Hero Orc (uncredited)

Ben Barrington

Ben Barrington

Gondorian Soldier / Ranger / Orc (uncredited)

Owen Black

Owen Black

Rivendell Elf (uncredited)

Alistair Browning

Alistair Browning

Damrod (uncredited)

Rodney Cook

Rodney Cook

Uruk-hai (uncredited)

Augie Davis

Augie Davis

Uruk-hai (uncredited)

Mana Hira Davis

Mana Hira Davis

Gondorian Soldier / Harad Warrior / Orc / Rohan Soldier / Uruk-hai (uncredited)

Shane Dawson

Shane Dawson

Harad Warrior / Uruk-hai (uncredited)

Karlos Drinkwater

Karlos Drinkwater

Easterling Warrior (uncredited)

Aron Eastwood

Aron Eastwood

Rohan Soldier (uncredited)

Frank Edwards

Frank Edwards

Rohan Man (uncredited)

Daniel Falconer

Daniel Falconer

Elf Warrior / Rivendell Elf (uncredited)

Siaosi Fonua

Siaosi Fonua

Orc / Uruk-hai (uncredited)

Ben Fransham

Ben Fransham

Anendel / Thandronen (uncredited)

Winham Hammond

Winham Hammond

Uruk-hai (uncredited)

Dan Hennah

Dan Hennah

Rohan Recruit (uncredited)

Jason Hood

Jason Hood

Théoden's Royal Guard (uncredited)

Peter Jackson

Peter Jackson

Spear-Throwing Rohan Soldier (uncredited)

Richard Knowles

Richard Knowles

Rohan Soldier (uncredited)

Sandro Kopp

Sandro Kopp

Elven Warrior (uncredited)

Michael Lawrence

Michael Lawrence

Wildman (uncredited)

Alan Lee

Alan Lee

Rohan Recruit (uncredited)

Dra McKay

Dra McKay

Rohan Woman (uncredited)

Joseph Mika-Hunt

Joseph Mika-Hunt

Uruk-hai / Gondorian Soldier (uncredited)

Henry Mortensen

Henry Mortensen

Rohan Boy Recruit (uncredited)

Francis Mountjoy

Francis Mountjoy

Elf / Gondorian Soldier / Orc / Uruk-hai (uncredited)

Paul Norell

Paul Norell

Easterling (uncredited)

Barrie M. Osborne

Barrie M. Osborne

Rock-throwing Rohan Soldier (uncredited)

Allan Poppleton

Allan Poppleton

Uruk-hai (uncredited)

Gareth Reeves

Gareth Reeves

Fighting Elf (uncredited)

Campbell Rousselle

Campbell Rousselle

Tree-cutting Orc (uncredited)

Matthew J. Saville

Matthew J. Saville

Gondorian Soldier (uncredited)

Samuel E. Shore

Samuel E. Shore

Rohan Refugee / Elf (uncredited)

Allan Smith

Allan Smith

Dead Marshes Elf (uncredited)

Piripi Waretini

Piripi Waretini

Uruk-hai Warrior (uncredited)

Tim Wong

Tim Wong

Uruk-hai (uncredited)

John Wraight

John Wraight

Stable Hand (uncredited)

Kelley Kerr Young

Kelley Kerr Young

Rohan Refugee (uncredited)

Robert Young

Robert Young

Uruk-hai (uncredited)

Caleb Ross

Caleb Ross

Rohan Helms Deep Warrior (uncredited)

Sean Bean

Sean Bean

Boromir (uncredited)

John Noble

John Noble

Denethor (Extended Cut)

Crew 79
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

John Howe

John Howe

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

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

Makeup Supervisor

James Rhodes

James Rhodes

Additional Music

Andrew Jack

Andrew Jack

Dialect Coach

Victoria Mielewska

Victoria Mielewska

Dialect Coach

Allan Smith

Allan Smith

Stunts

Andrew Stehlin

Andrew Stehlin

Stunts

Augie Davis

Augie Davis

Stunts

Casey O'Neill

Casey O'Neill

Stunts

Jacob Tomuri

Jacob Tomuri

Stunts

Joshua Randall

Joshua Randall

Stunts

Justin B. Carter

Justin B. Carter

Stunts

Mana Hira Davis

Mana Hira Davis

Stunts

Robert Young

Robert Young

Stunts

Rodney Cook

Rodney Cook

Stunts

Sala Baker

Sala Baker

Stunts

Shaughan Campbell

Shaughan Campbell

Stunts

Slade Leef

Slade Leef

Stunts

Stuart Thorp

Stuart Thorp

Stunts

Tim McLachlan

Tim McLachlan

Stunts

Tim Wong

Tim Wong

Stunts

Vincent Roxburgh

Vincent Roxburgh

Stunts

Winham Hammond

Winham Hammond

Stunts

Peter Jackson

Peter Jackson

Director

Carolynne Cunningham

Carolynne Cunningham

First Assistant Director

Jabez Olssen

Jabez Olssen

Additional Editor

Jamie Selkirk

Jamie Selkirk

Supervising 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

Katy Wood

Katy Wood

Foley Editor

Mark Willsher

Mark Willsher

Music Editor

Howard Shore

Howard Shore

Original Music Composer

Hammond Peek

Hammond Peek

Production Sound Mixer

David Farmer

David Farmer

Sound Designer

Kyrsten Mate

Kyrsten Mate

Sound Effects Editor

Christopher Boyes

Christopher Boyes

Sound Re-Recording Mixer

Michael Semanick

Michael Semanick

Sound Re-Recording Mixer

Ethan Van der Ryn

Ethan Van der Ryn

Supervising Sound Editor

Mike Hopkins

Mike Hopkins

Supervising Sound Editor

Guy Williams

Guy Williams

3D Supervisor

Shane Prigmore

Shane Prigmore

Animation

Randall William Cook

Randall William Cook

Animation Supervisor

Erik Winquist

Erik Winquist

Compositing Artist

Marc Dominic Rienzo

Marc Dominic Rienzo

Compositing Artist

Paul Story

Paul Story

Senior Animator

Jason Lei Howden

Jason Lei Howden

VFX Artist

Christian Rivers

Christian Rivers

Visual Effects Designer

Dean Wright

Dean Wright

Visual Effects Producer

John Clinton

John Clinton

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 678
Videos 4
Similar Movies 576
Recommended 38
US Release Dates 3

Dec 18, 2002

PG-13 Theatrical

Nov 18, 2003

Extended Edition

PG-13 Physical

Jan 17, 2026

Extended Edition

PG-13 Theatrical (Limited)

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