Andy Serkis, Billy Boyd, David Wenham

Sauron's forces have laid siege to Minas Tirith, the capital of Gondor, in their efforts to eliminate the race of men. The once-great kingdom, watched over by a fading steward, has never been in more ...( read more  read more... )desperate need of its king. But can Aragorn answer the call of his heritage and become what he was born to be? In no small measure, the fate of Middle-earth rests on his broad shoulders. With the final battle joined and the legions of darkness gathering, Gandalf urgently tries to rally Gondor's broken army to action. He is aided by Rohan's King Theoden, who unites his warriors for history's biggest test. Yet even with their courage and passionate loyalty, the forces of men--with Eowyn and Merry hidden among them--are no match for the enemies swarming against Gondor. Still, in the face of great losses, they charge forward into the battle of their lifetimes, tied together by their singular goal to keep Sauron distracted and give the Ring Bearer a chance to complete his quest. Their hopes rest with Frodo, a tiny but determined hobbit making a perilous trip across treacherous enemy lands to cast the One Ring into the fires of Mount Doom. The closer Frodo gets to his final destination, the heavier his burden becomes and the more he must rely on Samwise Gamgee. Gollum--and the Ring itself--will test Frodo's allegiances and, ultimately, his humanity.

Flixster Users

83% liked it

24,125,873 ratings

Critics

94% liked it

232 critics

PG-13, 3 hrs. 30 min.

Directed by: Peter Jackson

Release Date: December 17, 2003

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DVD Release Date: May 25, 2004

Stats: 2,019,862 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (2,019,862)


  • October 10, 2006
    An visually spectacular end to an trilogy that has thrilled and dazzled audiences since 2001.
  • August 22, 2009
    Oh my goodness, it was so long.
  • July 18, 2009
    This is really just more of the same, its good action and great battles but the second gave that and this is no different. The look is still too cgi and not dark enough and the story gets alittle silly near the finale as a dead army comes to life to save the day. If they did that...( read more) at the start it would have been easier surely haha its good to see the way it ends but its very over hyped.
  • May 22, 2009
    With its contemporary yet timeless emotional richness and wondrous scale, 'The Lord of the Rings' trilogy is the reason I love movies. It is a perfect match between a great story and a great storyteller. It is a monumental achievement, the pinnacle of modern cinema.
  • April 25, 2009
    Totally overrated
  • November 7, 2009
    no me gusto esta aburrida
  • November 7, 2009
    dont like fights and war
  • November 7, 2009
    these a movie that i like
  • November 7, 2009
    I hardly watch movies as a result I am not familar with any these movies
  • November 7, 2009
    it is the best adventure ever to me

Critic Reviews


May 4, 2005
Nick Schager, Lessons of Darkness

Imbues its central conflicts with mythic timelessness. full review

January 15, 2004
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

Pops your eyes, excites your senses and brings you in as close as a whisper for scenes of startling emotion. full review

January 6, 2004
Anthony Lane, The New Yorker

As I watched this film, an eager victim of its boundless will to astound, I found my loyal memories of the book beginning to fade. full review

December 17, 2003
Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail

A movie for our time, perhaps for all time, mostly a good time and definitely a long time. full review

December 17, 2003
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Return of the King is such a crowning achievement, such a visionary use of all the tools of special effects, such a pure spectacle, that it can be enjoyed even by those who have not seen the first two... full review

December 16, 2003
David Edelstein, Slate

This is the best of the three Rings movies -- more than that, it makes the others look even better. full review

December 16, 2003
Moira MacDonald, Seattle Times

A rich, layered tale of a king, a wizard and two little hobbits whose courage saved their world. full review

December 16, 2003
Colin Covert, The Minneapolis Star Tribune

A magical movie in every sense of the word. full review

December 15, 2003
Claudia Puig, USA Today

The jewel in the crown of the masterful trilogy. full review

View more The Lord of the Rings - The Return of the King reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

Comments


  • auramatei41
    June 24, 2009
    very nice
  • sara00128
    March 3, 2009
    realy this very nice filme
  • amakaviviana
    February 20, 2009
    i love this gruop and also pray to be one of them, i can't stop whaching this movie, cose a smile is the light in your window that tells others that thee is a caring, sharing person inside.
  • enwerestella
    January 20, 2009
    Can't stop watching this movie... Its the best eva!
  • joejonass1flower
    January 13, 2009
    I starting reading the lord of the rings books when i was like about 14 years old i love the second and threed movie i love Legolas Frodo I feel like a hobbit becase i am kina the same size as a hobbit
  • dorikshmenerik
    January 7, 2009
    great movie I hope to do These films
  • Fanged
    January 6, 2009
    Play the H&H: LoTR Edition
  • jamieissexc
    October 1, 2008
    hi ya mack is dis u lol its jamie wat u up 2
  • airjordantim
    September 2, 2008
    GREATEST MOVIE EVA!!!!!!
  • dineshcr2050dean
    August 4, 2008
    Awesome Trilogy... Don't think about any stuffs .. just think the hard work done by the team you will start loveing this trilogy.. i don't know about others but i love the trilogy the most.. My fav is those war sequences and the toughest special effects done in many sequences... My Rating 10/10

    And 1 more thing my advice to every1 is that see the movie in order.. U will love it.

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The Lord of the Rings - The Return of the King Trivia

The Lord of the Rings - The Retur... Trivia


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