The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
94
metacriticBased on 41 Critics
91
Based on 2548 Users

Release Date: December 17th, 2003

DVD Release Date: May 25th, 2004

PG-13 |3 hr 20 min

Plot Summary

The culmination of nearly 10 years' work and conclusion to Peter Jackson's epic trilogy based on the timeless J.R.R. Tolkien classic, "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King" presents the final confrontation between the forces of good and evil fighting for control of the future of Middle-earth. Hobbits Frodo and Sam reach Mordor in their quest to destroy the `one ring', while Aragorn leads the forces of good against Sauron's evil army at the stone city of Minas Tirith.

Cast: Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Liv Tyler, Viggo Mortensen, Sean Astin, Cate Blanchett, John Rhys-Davies, Bernard Hill

Director: Peter Jackson

Genres: Adventure , Fantasy

Production Co: New Line Cinema, Saul Zaentz Company

Distributors: New Line Cinema

Keywords: Survival, Intense, Suspenseful, Underdog, Dark, Quest, Rivalry, Temptation

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Ratings & Reviews

  • 100
    Joe MorgensternWall Street Journal

    The invisible wizard Peter Jackson makes use of every scene to show us the meaning of magnificence. Never has a filmmaker aimed higher, or achieved more.

  • 100
    The Hollywood Reporter

    An epic success and a history-making production that finishes with a masterfully entertaining final installment. show more

  • 75
    Steven ReaPhiladelphia Inquirer

    The Return of the King is too long...The various story lines...come together in stilted, episodic ways. The narrative is less-than-seamless. show more

See all critic reviews on metacritic.com

Awards

Winner Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
Screen Actors Guild Awards (2004)
Winner Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
Screen Actors Guild Awards (2004)
Winner Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
Screen Actors Guild Awards (2004)
Winner Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
Screen Actors Guild Awards (2004)
Winner Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
Screen Actors Guild Awards (2004)
Winner Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
Screen Actors Guild Awards (2004)
Winner Best Motion Picture - Drama
Golden Globes (2004)
Winner Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
Screen Actors Guild Awards (2004)
Nominated Costume Design
British Academy of Film & Television Arts (2004)
Winner Costume Design
Oscars Academy Awards (2003)
Winner Best Picture
Oscars Academy Awards (2003)
Winner Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
Screen Actors Guild Awards (2004)
Winner Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
Screen Actors Guild Awards (2004)
Winner Orange Film of the Year
British Academy of Film & Television Arts (2004)
Winner Best Original Song - Motion Picture
Golden Globes (2004)
Winner Art Direction
Oscars Academy Awards (2003)
Winner Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
Screen Actors Guild Awards (2004)
Nominated Production Design
British Academy of Film & Television Arts (2004)
Winner Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
Screen Actors Guild Awards (2004)
Nominated David Lean Award for Achievement in Direction
British Academy of Film & Television Arts (2004)
Winner Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
Screen Actors Guild Awards (2004)
Winner Best Original Score - Motion Picture
Golden Globes (2004)
Winner Cinematography
British Academy of Film & Television Arts (2004)
Winner Music (Original Song)
Oscars Academy Awards (2003)
Winner Directing
Oscars Academy Awards (2003)
Winner Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
Screen Actors Guild Awards (2004)
Nominated Sound
British Academy of Film & Television Arts (2004)
Winner Film Editing
Oscars Academy Awards (2003)
Winner Makeup
Oscars Academy Awards (2003)
Winner Adapted Screenplay
British Academy of Film & Television Arts (2004)
Winner Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
Screen Actors Guild Awards (2004)
Winner Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
Screen Actors Guild Awards (2004)
Winner Best Director - Motion Picture
Golden Globes (2004)
Nominated Editing
British Academy of Film & Television Arts (2004)
Winner Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
Screen Actors Guild Awards (2004)
Winner Film
British Academy of Film & Television Arts (2004)
Winner Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
Screen Actors Guild Awards (2004)
Nominated Make Up and Hair
British Academy of Film & Television Arts (2004)
Winner Sound Mixing
Oscars Academy Awards (2003)
Winner Music (Original Score)
Oscars Academy Awards (2003)
Winner Achievement in Special Visual Effects
British Academy of Film & Television Arts (2004)
Nominated Anthony Asquith Award for Original Film Music
British Academy of Film & Television Arts (2004)
Winner Writing (Adapted Screenplay)
Oscars Academy Awards (2003)
Winner Visual Effects
Oscars Academy Awards (2003)