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Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Viggo Mortensen, Sean Astin, Orlando Bloom ... see more see more... , Andy Serkis , Billy Boyd , Dominic Monaghan , John Rhys-Davies , Liv Tyler , Bernard Hill , Miranda Otto , Hugo Weaving , Sean Bean , Ian Holm , Joel Tobeck , Cate Blanchett , David Wenham , Karl Urban , John Noble , Bret McKenzie , Ian Mc Kellen , Brad Dourif , Christopher Lee , Lawrence Makoare

The final battle for Middle-earth begins. Frodo and Sam, led by Gollum, continue their dangerous mission toward the fires of Mount Doom in order to destroy the One Ring.

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94% liked it

245 critics

PG-13, 3 hr. 21 min.

Directed by: Peter Jackson

Release Date: December 17, 2003

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DVD Release Date: May 25, 2004

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Flixster Reviews (2,048,438)

  • bbcfloridabound
    May 16, 2013
    bbcfloridabound
    I think that almost everything that can be said about this trilogy has been said already, but still I will try. There are so many films that destroyed the beauty and perfection of the novels they have been built upon, not this one. In front of an amazingly beautiful scenery, Pete... read morer Jackson was able to create a fantasy-movie, which unlike so many others before did not deal with old clichés and thus is far away from any trash-movie a lot of people had expected it to be beforehand.

    Although I am sure that the cast of this film will soon be forgotten, The "The Lord of the Rings"-trilogy will stand the times and be one of the most renowned pictures of the last decade. 4 Stars 9-12-07
  • aquateen2
    April 11, 2013
    aquateen2
    [img]http://images.rottentomatoes.com/images/user/icons/icon14.gif[/img]
  • fb100001048934982
    January 8, 2013
    fb100001048934982
    The epic saga's final installment may prove to be its best, due to the amazing battle sequences (of which there are many), the return of an enticing plot, and the epic proportions of the entire film. The pathos is more powerful, the battles more glorious, and the plot more perilo... read moreus. A brilliant end to a brilliant franchise, not a minute of the three hours seems to disappoint.
  • allan913
    December 30, 2012
    allan913
    A spectacular cinematic achievement. Director, Peter Jackson has crafted a beautiful piece of art. A masterpiece. An astonishing special effects extravaganza of the highest arts. An amazing way to end a great trilogy. Stunning, riveting, brilliant, deeply moving, emotionally effe... read morective and breathtaking. The action is non-stop from beginning to end with incredible effects and performances from it's cast that truly will never be forgotten. Everything about this film just shouts out classic. A breathtaking piece of work, they truly saved the best for last.
  • fb619846742
    December 23, 2012
    fb619846742
    A thrilling final chapter to the Lord of the Rings trilogy concerning the epic conclusion to Peter Jackson's enthralling look at temptation, greed, power, and good vs. evil. As it has been documented, this film fails to end on a solid note, instead electing for four-five mini-end... read moreings that feel a bit jagged and not put together as well as they could be. Otherwise this is a glorious final chapter. From Gollum's dance of glee at the foot of Mount Doom, to the final battle sequence against the orcs, Peter Jackson stuffs this film with memorable scenes and unforgettable landscapes that fit his epic scope. Although not the best in the trilogy (that belongs to 'Two Towers'), definitely a fitting conclusion to a decorated series.
  • fb733768972
    December 16, 2012
    fb733768972
    The final instalment of "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy is both triumphant and emotional. I honestly feel so enthralled in the emotion of the film that I forget I am actually watching a film. The visuals appeal so well that the story does not seem out of this world. The acting, w... read moreriting, and visuals are on a new level, and the conclusion will have everyone standing and cheering for the actors. I could not ask for a better ending to such an amazing trilogy. The heroism is not comparable to anything I've ever seen. "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King," closes out the series in a way that will give you goosebumps. It's one of my favourite films.
  • phubbs1
    December 9, 2012
    phubbs1
    The final chapter in this epic story and its an all out conquest that most probably gave all 'Games Workshoppers' a joygasm. The last film was for 'battle whores' where as this film is most surely for the complete 'war sluts' haha.

    There isn't really all that much story left in ... read morethis final segment, the way Jackson has arranged it. Its merely about the last struggle up to Mount Doom for 'Frodo' and 'Sam' and lots of battles for everyone else. I have watched the extended cut so this way you get to see what happens to 'Saruman' and 'Wormtongue' which is rather stupidly left out of the theatrical version. Without this sequence you basically have no idea where these two guys go.

    The only main thing that happens to 'Frodo' and 'Sam' until their important final act is the scuffle against 'Shelob' the spider. Now the CGI has improved somewhat over the course of these three films and finally its looking pretty nice here...at times. The whole battle against this massive spider is really well done and creepy enough to get the hairs on the back of your neck standing on end. I liked the corpses entwined in cobweb and dangling from the cave ceiling and 'Shelob' moves perfectly which is pretty terrifying for any arachnophobics.

    Lets not beat around the bush here, this film is about war, full on axe swinging, sword wielding, arrow in the gut wrenching waaaaar!. This is enforced by the fact that half the film centres around the battle at 'Minas Tirith'. Pretty much the same deal as the battle at 'Helm's Deep' but this time its in daylight and with a few more baddies to content with. Personally I actually preferred the 'Helm's Deep' battle with its dark rain swept visuals and the fact the good guys are really pushed right back to the limit.

    That's not to say the 'Minas Tirith' battle is no good, far from it, its very good. The design of 'Tirith' is also really nice and unique, dare I say slightly 'Star Wars-like' with that landing platform type section. Its the siege to top all sieges as orcs, trolls, deformed cross breeds and Nazgûl atop their flying steeds led by the 'Witch King' hit the walls of 'Tirith'. Its balls to wall as thousands of orcs slam every side of the mighty 'Tirith' walls with battering rams, catapults and mobile turrets. Can't fail to be impressed by the shear scale of this battle and the wonderful imagination involved, the sight of masses of orcs scaling ramparts whilst huge trolls use the 'wolf's head' to batter down the main gates is pretty darn epic, without trying to sound too cliched.

    At the same time you have the smaller battle at 'Osgiliath' where 'Faramir' is getting whipped pretty good but looking heroic in the process (shame he's played by Wenham who always comes across a bit wet if you ask me). Cut back to 'Tirith' and like the previous big battles Jackson likes to swing the odds as the good guys appear to be winning only to be knocked back time and time again. Lucas must have been kicking himself.

    Just as you're pausing for breath the next stage of the battle kicks into gear with the 'Haradrim' (who look suspiciously like ancient Persians) on their massive elephant-like war machines. This sequence did feel very much like a rip from 'Empire Strikes Back' and the 'battle of Hoth'. 'Éowyn' and 'Merry' charge around on their horse through the legs of these massive beasts of burden just like 'Luke' in his snowspeeder hehe.

    The whole sequence is highly imaginative yet possibly one of the worst looking sequences in the film. This is where the dreaded bluescreen issue raises its head again folks. It doesn't really look much better than the quality of the speederbike sequence on 'Endor' in 'ROTJ', its very obvious. All the CGI horses look a bit jerky, especially when they are tossed in the air and the fact that 'Éowyn' is able to simple take down one these ginormous creatures merely by slashing its tree trunk like legs with a puny sword is stretching it.

    The sequence where 'Legolas' jumps onto one elephant (I'll call it that for now) via its tusk then proceeds to leap around its body like a 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle' cutting all the straps and harnesses whilst killing every 'Haradrim' warrior on board, then killing the elephant, then calmly sliding down the tusk to safety was completely not needed and horrible to watch. Both in terms of the awful CGI and the over the top, glossy action movie conception of it. Things like that can spoil a perfectly good sequence.

    The only other sequence I must moan about is the 'army of Dead'. Now this has had some complaints and rightly so to be frank. You have this massive scale war where the good guys are on the brink of defeat, its top notch entertainment and keeping you poised on the edge of your seat. Then up pops 'Aragorn' and his new army of ghostly mates who promptly wipe out every bad guy within minutes, that's it, done, game over, finito and the good guys win.

    This kinda ruins the climax of this grand war to beat all wars. It also leads you to think, why the hell didn't they just do this in the first place?. 'Elrond' could have given 'Aragorn' the sword 'Andúril' right from day one and they could have gotten the help of the ghost army to wipe out all the bad guys. This would have spared all this heartache and death surely haha ah what do I know.

    To be fair apart from that most of the effects are much better in this film, well gotta over look the dodgy CGI horses. The 'Witch King' looked nicely evil and his flying steed always did look good, Shame he had such a weak ass death. The final part of the film on Mount Doom is a excellent visual feast and is a much better looking volcano/lava sequence than Lucas offered in 'Episode III'. Boy does it look really hot in Mount Doom! really impressed with the visuals for this part of the film. The design work on such simple things such as the jagged knife like rocks that project from the ground around the base of Mount Doom look awesome, almost 'Giger-esq'.

    'Gollum' looks much tighter and sharper in the whole film, the fire in his eyes throughout this emotionally draining finale is near pixel perfect. Finally the scrawny creature actually looks right against his live action companions. I must admit despite the fact I was sick to death of seeing Wood's huge teary puppy dog eyes in this film he and Astin do deliver the pain and anguish of this scene to the viewer in a first class parcel performance.

    Of course having lots of war also means some magical moments of dialog delivery from the cast, there are some good emotional hooks here. The sequence where 'Pippin' sings to 'Denethor' as his last son 'Faramir' surges towards certain death in a last ditch cavalry charge of 'Osgiliath' is haunting and reminds me of some proper historical epics. 'Théoden's' rousing final speech as his 'Rohirrim' army sits perched on the brow of a hill ready to tear down towards the massive waiting orc horde (William Wallace eat your heart out. I actually believe riding down the front line and tapping every mans spear before a cavalry charge is accurate, I think).

    Of course this could only be topped by the speech from 'Aragorn' to his last remaining men at the 'Black Gate'. Then with the knowledge that 'Frodo' appears to be dead and facing the end he turns and sprints towards his unknown fate only to be followed by his friends, one last glorious push. 'Once more unto the breach, dear friends once more!' is what came to mind at this point.

    The film is a bum number can't deny that, it feels like an age for the film to finally wrap up!. I don't think I've ever seen so much fighting in one film either, its none stop virtually. Admittedly it lacks the in-depth character building and dark intensity of the first film or the story development of the second, its more of an all out free fall 'Dungeons & Dragons' style.

    Would Tolkien be happy with this trilogy? I'm sure he would have been despite much alterations and bits cut out. The story is so deep it may be impossible to film it completely. The first film is probably the best for story, atmosphere and lore, whilst the second is rather dull apart from 'Helm's Deep' at the end. Overall I liked this third film even if it did feel a bit like a toy merchandise dream and almost TOO big at times if that makes any sense. I think I was battle weary at the end of it all.

    The end?
  • fb100000293612769
    August 26, 2012
    fb100000293612769
    It has more missteps than the previous two, but it is a remarkable achievement in movie making. The emotions run high and deep, making the film a powerful cinematic ride.
  • samoriley
    August 7, 2012
    samoriley
    Although probably the longest out of the trilogy, it makes up for it with the constant intense and gripping battles. With visuals that go through the roof, 'Return of The King' is one of the best endings to a trilogy. I've said that I prefer 'Fellowship', but this one is worth a ... read moretry.
  • edfilmreviews
    August 3, 2012
    edfilmreviews
    Peter Jackson has created the ultimate trilogy. "The Return of the King" has set a new standard in film-making; I doubt it will be surpassed. After I saw this I knew I was never going to see something as spectacular and well crafted as "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy. It's true. ... read moreThese films are unparalleled. They have redefined cinema and have created a new love for the work of Tolkien.

View All The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Reviews

Critic Reviews

Andrea Gronvall
February 6, 2007
Andrea Gronvall, Chicago Reader

Standing out amid an excellent cast is Elijah Wood, stymied by tweeness in the earlier films but here convincingly developing the character of Frodo as the embodiment of valor and self-sacrifice. Full Review

Geoff Andrew
February 9, 2006
Geoff Andrew, Time Out

Some story strands are crudely abbreviated; others fail to develop elements that were already well-established. Full Review

Peter Travers
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.

Anthony Lane
January 6, 2004
Anthony Lane, 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.

Bill Muller
December 18, 2003
Bill Muller, Arizona Republic

Not only has Jackson boldly and faithfully brought J.R.R. Tolkien's world to life, he's created the most epic and sweeping fantasy adventure of all time. Full Review

Peter Howell
December 17, 2003
Peter Howell, Toronto Star

Completes the picture, magnificently so, and all honour and praise are due the visionaries behind the project. Full Review

Roger Moore
December 17, 2003
Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel

The thrilling conclusion to what has become the film event of our time -- the definitive screen fantasy -- features more spellbinding moments, bigger battles, more emotion and more poetry than the ter... Full Review

Liam Lacey
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

Tom Long
December 17, 2003
Tom Long, Detroit News

It reminds you of the power of film like no other movie in memory.

Robert Denerstein
December 17, 2003
Robert Denerstein, Denver Rocky Mountain News

I went along with the first and admired the second, but it wasn't until the third that I was swept away by the magnitude of Jackson's vision.

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Facts

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    • Frodo Baggins: Ant thus it was. A Fourth Age of Middle-earth began. And the Fellowship of the Ring though eternally bound by friendship and love was ended. Thirtheen months to the day since Gandalf sent us on our long journey, we found ourselves looking upon a familiar sight. We were home.
    • Aragorn: My friends, you bow to no one.
    • Frodo Baggins: How do you go on when in your heart, you begin to understand there is no going back? There are some things that time cannot mend, some hurts that go too deep that have taken hold.
    • Frodo Baggins: How do you go on, when in your heart you begin to understand there is no going back? There are some things that time cannot mend, some hurts that go too deep that have taken hold.
    • Gimli: Never thought I'd die fighting side by side with an elf.
    • Legolas: What about side by side with a friend?
    • Gimli: I could do that.
    • Samwise Gamgee: Do you remember the taste of strawberries?
    • Frodo Baggins: No Sam...I can't recall the taste of food, nor the sound of water, or the touch of grass.
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