The Lord of the Rings (film series)
Updated: 12/30/2025, 12:43:52 PM Wikipedia source
The Lord of the Rings is a trilogy of epic high fantasy adventure films directed by Peter Jackson based on the novel The Lord of the Rings by the English author J. R. R. Tolkien. The films are titled identically to the three volumes of the novel: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001), The Two Towers (2002), and The Return of the King (2003). Produced and distributed by New Line Cinema with the co-production of Jackson's WingNut Films, the films feature an ensemble cast combining established and younger actors. Set in the fictional world of Middle-earth, the films follow the hobbit Frodo Baggins as he and the Company of the Ring embark on a quest to destroy the One Ring to defeat its maker, the Dark Lord Sauron. The Company eventually splits up and Frodo continues the quest with his loyal companion Sam and, eventually, the treacherous Gollum. Meanwhile, Aragorn, heir in exile to the throne of Gondor, along with the elf Legolas, the dwarf Gimli, Merry, Pippin, Boromir, and the wizard Gandalf, unite to save the Free Peoples of Middle-earth from the forces of Sauron and rally them in the War of the Ring to aid Frodo by distracting Sauron's attention. The three films were shot simultaneously in Jackson's native New Zealand from 11 October 1999 until 22 December 2000, with pick-up shots from 2001 to 2003. It was one of the biggest and most ambitious film projects ever undertaken, with a budget of $281 million (equivalent to $530 million in 2024). The first film in the series premiered at the Odeon Leicester Square in London on 10 December 2001; the second film premiered at the Ziegfeld Theatre in New York City on 5 December 2002; the third film premiered at the Embassy Theatre in Wellington on 1 December 2003. An extended edition of each film was released on home video a year after its release in cinemas. The Lord of the Rings is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential film series ever made. It was a major financial success and is among the highest-grossing film series of all time, having grossed over $2.9 billion worldwide. Its faithfulness to the source material was a subject of discussion. The series received numerous accolades, winning 17 Academy Awards out of 30 total nominations, including Best Picture for The Return of the King. In 2021, the Library of Congress selected The Fellowship of the Ring for preservation in the United States National Film Registry for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".
Infobox
Directed by
Peter Jackson
Screenplay by
mw- Fran Walsh Philippa Boyens Peter Jackson Stephen SinclairTT
Based on
The Lord of the Ringsby J. R. R. Tolkien
Produced by
Barrie M. Osborne Peter Jackson Fran Walsh Tim SandersFOTR
Starring
Elijah Wood Ian McKellen Viggo Mortensen Sean Astin Liv Tyler Bernard Hill Cate Blanchett John Rhys-Davies Andy Serkis Billy Boyd Dominic Monaghan Orlando Bloom Christopher Lee Hugo Weaving Sean Bean
Cinematography
Andrew Lesnie
Edited by
John GilbertFOTR Michael HortonTT Jamie SelkirkROTK
Music by
Howard Shore
Productioncompanies
New Line Cinema WingNut Films
Distributed by
New Line Cinema
Running time
Total (three films): 558 minutes (theatrical) 683 minutes (extended)
Countries
New Zealand United States
Language
English
Budget
Total (three films):$281 million
Box office
Total (three films):$2.964 billion
Release dates
2001 (2001) (The Fellowship of the Ring) 2002 (2002) (The Two Towers) 2003 (2003) (The Return of the King)
Tables
· Cast and crew › Cast
Ian Holm
Ian Holm
Character
Bilbo Baggins
The Fellowship of the Ring
Ian Holm
The Return of the King
Ian Holm
Sarah McLeod
Sarah McLeod
Character
Rosie Cotton
The Fellowship of the Ring
Sarah McLeod
The Return of the King
Sarah McLeod
Norman Forsey
Norman Forsey
Character
Gaffer Gamgee
The Fellowship of the Ring
Norman Forsey
The Return of the King
Norman Forsey
Noel Appleby
Noel Appleby
Character
Everard Proudfoot
The Fellowship of the Ring
Noel Appleby
The Return of the King
Noel Appleby
Marton Csokas
Marton Csokas
Character
Celeborn
The Fellowship of the Ring
Marton Csokas
The Return of the King
Marton Csokas
Bret McKenzie
Bret McKenzie
Character
Figwit
The Fellowship of the Ring
Bret McKenzie
The Return of the King
Bret McKenzie
Alan HowardV
Alan HowardV
Character
The One Ring
The Fellowship of the Ring
Alan HowardV
The Return of the King
Alan HowardV
Sala BakerAlan HowardV
Sala BakerAlan HowardV
Character
Sauron
The Fellowship of the Ring
Sala BakerAlan HowardV
The Return of the King
Sala BakerAlan HowardV
Lawrence Makoare
Lawrence Makoare
Character
Witch-king of Angmar
The Fellowship of the Ring
Brent McIntyreAndy SerkisV
The Return of the King
Lawrence Makoare
Thomas Robins
Thomas Robins
Character
Déagol
The Fellowship of the Ring
Thomas Robins (hand only)
The Return of the King
Thomas Robins
Harry Sinclair
Harry Sinclair
Character
Isildur
The Fellowship of the Ring
Harry Sinclair
The Return of the King
Harry Sinclair
| Character | The Fellowship of the Ring | The Two Towers | The Return of the King |
| The Fellowship | |||
| Frodo Baggins | Elijah Wood | ||
| Aragorn | Viggo Mortensen | ||
| Boromir | Sean Bean | ||
| Meriadoc "Merry" Brandybuck | Dominic Monaghan | ||
| Samwise Gamgee | Sean Astin | ||
| Gandalf | Ian McKellen | ||
| Gimli | John Rhys-Davies | ||
| Legolas | Orlando Bloom | ||
| Peregrin "Pippin" Took | Billy Boyd | ||
| The Shire and Bree | |||
| Bilbo Baggins | Ian Holm | Ian Holm | |
| Mrs. Bracegirdle | Lori Dungey | ||
| Barliman Butterbur | David Weatherley | ||
| Rosie Cotton | Sarah McLeod | Sarah McLeod | |
| Gaffer Gamgee | Norman Forsey | Norman Forsey | |
| Elanor Gamgee | Alexandra Astin | ||
| Bree Gate-Keeper | Martyn Sanderson | ||
| Farmer Maggot | Cameron Rhodes | ||
| Old Noakes | Bill Johnson | ||
| Everard Proudfoot | Noel Appleby | Noel Appleby | |
| Mrs. Proudfoot | Megan Edwards | ||
| Otho Sackville | Peter Corrigan | ||
| Lobelia Sackville-Baggins | Elizabeth Moody | ||
| Ted Sandyman | Brian Sergent | ||
| Gollum / Sméagol | Andy Serkis | ||
| Rivendell and Lothlórien | |||
| Arwen | Liv Tyler | ||
| Celeborn | Marton Csokas | Marton Csokas | |
| Elrond | Hugo Weaving | ||
| Figwit | Bret McKenzie | Bret McKenzie | |
| Galadriel | Cate Blanchett | ||
| Haldir | Craig Parker | ||
| Rúmil | Jørn Benzon | ||
| Mordor, Isengard, and Minas-Morgul | |||
| Saruman | Christopher Lee | ||
| Gorbag | Stephen Ure | ||
| Gothmog | Lawrence MakoareCraig ParkerV | ||
| Gríma Wormtongue | Brad Dourif | ||
| Grishnákh | Stephen Ure | ||
| Lurtz | Lawrence Makoare | ||
| Mauhúr | Robbie MagasivaAndy SerkisV | ||
| Mouth of Sauron | Bruce Spence | ||
| The One Ring | Alan HowardV | Alan HowardV | |
| Sauron | Sala BakerAlan HowardV | Sala BakerAlan HowardV | |
| Shagrat | Peter Tait | ||
| Sharku | Jed Brophy | ||
| Snaga | Jed BrophyAndy SerkisV | ||
| Uglúk | Nathaniel Lees | ||
· Cast and crew › Crew
The Fellowship of the Ring
The Fellowship of the Ring
Crew
The Fellowship of the Ring
Col 2
The Two Towers
Col 3
The Return of the King
Director
Director
Crew
Director
Col 2
Peter Jackson
Producers
Producers
Crew
Producers
Col 2
Barrie M. Osborne, Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh, and Tim SandersFOTR
Screenwriters
Screenwriters
Crew
Screenwriters
Col 2
Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, Peter Jackson, and Stephen SinclairTT
Composer
Composer
Crew
Composer
Col 2
Howard Shore
Cinematographer
Cinematographer
Crew
Cinematographer
Col 2
Andrew Lesnie
Editors
Editors
Crew
Editors
Col 2
John GilbertFOTR
Col 3
Michael HortonTT
Col 4
Jamie SelkirkROTK
Production designers
Production designers
Crew
Production designers
Col 2
Dan Hennah and Grant Major
Conceptual designers
Conceptual designers
Crew
Conceptual designers
Col 2
Alan Lee and John Howe
Costume designers
Costume designers
Crew
Costume designers
Col 2
Ngila Dickson and Richard Taylor
Visual effects supervisor
Visual effects supervisor
Crew
Visual effects supervisor
Col 2
Jim Rygiel
Production companies
Production companies
Crew
Production companies
Col 2
New Line Cinema and WingNut Films
Distributing company
Distributing company
Crew
Distributing company
Col 2
New Line Cinema
| Crew | |||
| The Fellowship of the Ring | The Two Towers | The Return of the King | |
| Director | Peter Jackson | ||
| Producers | Barrie M. Osborne, Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh, and Tim SandersFOTR | ||
| Screenwriters | Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, Peter Jackson, and Stephen SinclairTT | ||
| Composer | Howard Shore | ||
| Cinematographer | Andrew Lesnie | ||
| Editors | John GilbertFOTR | Michael HortonTT | Jamie SelkirkROTK |
| Production designers | Dan Hennah and Grant Major | ||
| Conceptual designers | Alan Lee and John Howe | ||
| Costume designers | Ngila Dickson and Richard Taylor | ||
| Visual effects supervisor | Jim Rygiel | ||
| Production companies | New Line Cinema and WingNut Films | ||
| Distributing company | New Line Cinema | ||
· Music › Soundtracks
The Fellowship of the Ring: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
The Fellowship of the Ring: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Title
The Fellowship of the Ring: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
U.S. release date
20 November 2001 (2001-11-20)
Length
71:29
Composer
Howard Shore
Label
Reprise Records
The Two Towers: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
The Two Towers: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Title
The Two Towers: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
U.S. release date
10 December 2002 (2002-12-10)
Length
72:46
The Return of the King: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
The Return of the King: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Title
The Return of the King: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
U.S. release date
25 November 2003 (2003-11-25)
Length
72:05
| Title | release date | Length | Composer | Label |
| The Fellowship of the Ring: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack | 20 November 2001 (2001-11-20) | 71:29 | Howard Shore | Reprise Records |
| The Two Towers: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack | 10 December 2002 (2002-12-10) | 72:46 | ||
| The Return of the King: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack | 25 November 2003 (2003-11-25) | 72:05 |
· Reception › Box office
91
91
Film
The Fellowship of the Ring
U.S. release date
19 December 2001 (2001-12-19)
Box office gross
$319,372,078
Box office gross
$568,468,333
Box office gross
$887,840,411
All-time ranking
91
All-time ranking
9
All-time ranking
77
All-time ranking
5
Budget
$93 million
72
72
Film
The Two Towers
U.S. release date
18 December 2002 (2002-12-18)
Box office gross
$345,518,923
Box office gross
$592,392,292
Box office gross
$937,911,215
All-time ranking
72
All-time ranking
7
All-time ranking
71
All-time ranking
4
Budget
$94 million
51
51
Film
The Return of the King
U.S. release date
17 December 2003 (2003-12-17)
Box office gross
$381,878,219
Box office gross
$756,308,664
Box office gross
$1,138,186,883
All-time ranking
51
All-time ranking
6
All-time ranking
31
All-time ranking
2
Budget
$94 million
$281 million
$281 million
Film
Total
U.S. release date
$1,046,769,220
Box office gross
$1,917,169,289
Box office gross
$2,963,938,509
All-time ranking
$281 million
| Film | release date | Box office gross | All-time ranking | Budget | Ref(s) | |||||
| and Canada | Other territories | Worldwide | and Canada | Worldwide | ||||||
| Rank | mw- Peak | Rank | Peak | |||||||
| The Fellowship of the Ring | 19 December 2001 (2001-12-19) | $319,372,078 | $568,468,333 | $887,840,411 | 91 | 9 | 77 | 5 | $93 million | |
| The Two Towers | 18 December 2002 (2002-12-18) | $345,518,923 | $592,392,292 | $937,911,215 | 72 | 7 | 71 | 4 | $94 million | |
| The Return of the King | 17 December 2003 (2003-12-17) | $381,878,219 | $756,308,664 | $1,138,186,883 | 51 | 6 | 31 | 2 | $94 million | |
| Total | $1,046,769,220 | $1,917,169,289 | $2,963,938,509 | $281 million | ||||||
· Reception › Critical and public response
The Fellowship of the Ring
The Fellowship of the Ring
Film
The Fellowship of the Ring
Rotten Tomatoes
92% (8.20/10 average rating) (237 reviews)
Metacritic
92/100 (34 reviews)
CinemaScore
A−
The Two Towers
The Two Towers
Film
The Two Towers
Rotten Tomatoes
95% (8.50/10 average rating) (260 reviews)
Metacritic
87/100 (39 reviews)
CinemaScore
A
The Return of the King
The Return of the King
Film
The Return of the King
Rotten Tomatoes
94% (8.70/10 average rating) (282 reviews)
Metacritic
94/100 (41 reviews)
CinemaScore
A+
| Film | Rotten Tomatoes | Metacritic | CinemaScore |
| The Fellowship of the Ring | average rating) (237 reviews) | 92/100 (34 reviews) | A− |
| The Two Towers | average rating) (260 reviews) | 87/100 (39 reviews) | A |
| The Return of the King | average rating) (282 reviews) | 94/100 (41 reviews) | A+ |
The Lord of the Rings film series at the Academy Awards[121][122][123] · Reception › Accolades
74th Academy Awards
74th Academy Awards
Category
74th Academy Awards
Col 2
75th Academy Awards
Col 3
76th Academy Awards
The Fellowship of the Ring
The Fellowship of the Ring
Category
The Fellowship of the Ring
Col 2
The Two Towers
Col 3
The Return of the King
Picture
Picture
Category
Picture
Col 2
Nominated
Col 3
Nominated
Col 4
Won
Director
Director
Category
Director
Col 2
Nominated
Col 4
Won
Adapted Screenplay
Adapted Screenplay
Category
Adapted Screenplay
Col 2
Nominated
Col 4
Won
Supporting Actor
Supporting Actor
Category
Supporting Actor
Col 2
Nominated
Art Direction
Art Direction
Category
Art Direction
Col 2
Nominated
Col 3
Nominated
Col 4
Won
Cinematography
Cinematography
Category
Cinematography
Col 2
Won
Costume Design
Costume Design
Category
Costume Design
Col 2
Nominated
Col 4
Won
Film Editing
Film Editing
Category
Film Editing
Col 2
Nominated
Col 3
Nominated
Col 4
Won
Makeup
Makeup
Category
Makeup
Col 2
Won
Col 4
Won
Original Score
Original Score
Category
Original Score
Col 2
Won
Col 4
Won
Original Song
Original Song
Category
Original Song
Col 2
Nominated
Col 4
Won
Sound Editing
Sound Editing
Category
Sound Editing
Col 3
Won
Sound Mixing
Sound Mixing
Category
Sound Mixing
Col 2
Nominated
Col 3
Nominated
Col 4
Won
Visual Effects
Visual Effects
Category
Visual Effects
Col 2
Won
Col 3
Won
Col 4
Won
| Category | |||
| 74th Academy Awards | 75th Academy Awards | 76th Academy Awards | |
| The Fellowship of the Ring | The Two Towers | The Return of the King | |
| Picture | Nominated | Nominated | Won |
| Director | Nominated | Won | |
| Adapted Screenplay | Nominated | Won | |
| Supporting Actor | Nominated | ||
| Art Direction | Nominated | Nominated | Won |
| Cinematography | Won | ||
| Costume Design | Nominated | Won | |
| Film Editing | Nominated | Nominated | Won |
| Makeup | Won | Won | |
| Original Score | Won | Won | |
| Original Song | Nominated | Won | |
| Sound Editing | Won | ||
| Sound Mixing | Nominated | Nominated | Won |
| Visual Effects | Won | Won | Won |
· Home media
The Fellowship of the Ring
The Fellowship of the Ring
Film
The Fellowship of the Ring
Theatrical edition length
178 minutes (2 hr, 58 min)
Extended edition length
208 minutes (3 hr, 28 min)
The Two Towers
The Two Towers
Film
The Two Towers
Theatrical edition length
179 minutes (2 hr, 59 min)
Extended edition length
223 minutes (3 hr, 43 min)
The Return of the King
The Return of the King
Film
The Return of the King
Theatrical edition length
201 minutes (3 hr, 21 min)
Extended edition length
252 minutes (4 hr, 12 min)
Total runtime
Total runtime
Film
Total runtime
Theatrical edition length
558 minutes (9 hr, 18 min)
Extended edition length
683 minutes (11 hr, 23 min)
| Film | Theatrical edition length | Extended edition length |
| The Fellowship of the Ring | 178 minutes (2 hr, 58 min) | 208 minutes (3 hr, 28 min) |
| The Two Towers | 179 minutes (2 hr, 59 min) | 223 minutes (3 hr, 43 min) |
| The Return of the King | 201 minutes (3 hr, 21 min) | 252 minutes (4 hr, 12 min) |
| Total runtime | 558 minutes (9 hr, 18 min) | 683 minutes (11 hr, 23 min) |
References
- Sources other than Box Office Mojo that refer to the trilogy's budget being $281 million include: The New York Times, Th
- For Ian McKellen as Gandalf.
- For "May It Be".
- For "Into the West".
- Before the 76th Academy Awards, and since the 93rd Academy Awards known as 'Best Sound'.
- The folding cases are decorated with drawn concept art behind each DVD and an in-sleeve map of the Fellowship's travels
- The case features an Alan Lee painting of the Fellowship entering Moria, with the Moria Gate depicted on the back of the
- The case features a Lee painting of Gandalf the White's entrance. The collector's edition includes a Sméagol statue, wit
- The case exhibits a Lee painting of the Grey Havens. A model of Minas Tirith is included with the collector's edition, w
- The extended editions also feature longer credit sequences listing the names of The Lord of the Rings fan-club members w
- Attendees were given a limited-edition keepsake from Sideshow Collectibles containing a random frame of film from each o
- The Fellowship of the Ring video game is not based on the film. Electronic Arts incorporated some of the plot and footag
- Return Of The Jedihttps://deadline.com/2021/12/national-film-registry-2021-list-star-wars-return-of-the-jedi-fellowship-of-the-ring-sounder-nightmare-on-elm-street-wall-e-1234890666/
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- "Lord of the Rings Composer Confirmed"https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/08/15/lord-of-the-rings-composer-confirmed
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