The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
94
metacriticBased on 41 Critics
91
Based on 2414 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: Fantasy , Adventure

Production Co: New Line Cinema, Saul Zaentz Company

Distributors: New Line Cinema

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

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Ratings & Reviews

  • 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

  • 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.

See all critic reviews on metacritic.com

Awards

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