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Directed by
Peter Jackson Written by
J.R.R. Tolkien, Frances Walsh Cast
Noel Appleby, Alexandra Astin, Sean Astin, David Aston, John Bach [more]
Release Date
• USA: Dec 19, 2003
• UK: 11 Dec 2003
DVD Release Date
• R1: May 25, 2004
• R2: 25 May 2004
Budget USD 94,000,000
Official Website:
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Website
MPAA Rating
Rated PG-13 for intense epic battle sequences and frightening images. (also extended edition)
Running Time
3 hours, 21 minutes
Country USA, New Zealand, Germany
Production Companies
New Line Cinema, WingNut Films, Lord Dritte Productions Deutschland Filmproduktion GmbH & Co. KG (in association with), The Saul Zaentz Company (licensor) (d/b/a Tolkien Enterprises)
Studio WingNut Films
More info on IMDb.com
Other Titles
• The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
• The Return of the King
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The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Reviews |
There's not a whole lot more I can say without spilling some beans that readers may not want spilled so I'll just say "Return of the King" was time well spent and ended to much applause and many tears. I don't think anyone will be disappointed with this magnificent ending to Jackson's masterful telling of Tolkien's series. [read review] A
--Amy Lawrence (FilmJerk.com)
On the whole, Return of the King is a smashing success. It looks great, but it’s also the only film in the series to generate a real emotion from the audience and tell us something about how Jackson looks at life and how J.R.R. Tolkein might have as well. [read review] 
--Christopher Null (FilmCritic.com)
The movie's refusal to end will likely test the patience of even the most ardent Lord of the Rings fan, and it's a shame that the series ends on such a flat note. Still, there's no denying that The Return of the King is, viscerally, one of the most exciting movies to emerge out of Hollywood in a good long while. [read review] 
--David Nusair (Reel Film Reviews)
As a single three-hour plus film, "The Return of the King" is outstanding entertainment, staging battle sequences that make "The Last Samurai" look small and pathetic, crafting suspense sequences that left imprints of my clutched fingers on the arms of my seat. [read review]
--Jeffrey M. Anderson (San Francisco Examiner)
Much of the movie carries a somber tone, appropriate to the destruction that ensues in the epic battle scenes. When release finally comes, when the burden finally is lifted and the survivors of the original fellowship reunite, the movie unlocks a flood of emotion that is palpable. [read review]
--Ron Weiskind (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
Just say to yourself "next Christmas...there is NO 'Lord of the Rings' to look forward to". How depressing a thought is that? It's almost enough to make me give up film criticism, as I sincerely doubt I'll ever see anything to rival this, Peter Jackson and a great set of actors has raised the bar 'that' high. [read review]
-- (eFilmCritic.com)
The third part of Peter Jackson’s epic trilogy delivers everything we have been led to expect: stunning battle sequences, glorious scenery, jaw-dropping special effects and wonderful performances. Please make The Hobbit, Mr Jackson – you know you want to… [read review] 
--Matthew Turner (ViewLondon)
So why is “Return of the King” the greatest in the trilogy? There is a very simple answer to that. Considering all films come in three acts, this film is probably the greatest third act in film history, lasting longer than three hours (which pass like a flim by the way) and presenting probably the greatest and longest battle scene in film history. [read review] 10/10
--Oktay Ege Kozak (Movie-Vault.com)
Expectedly, the special effects set a new standard. The CGI participants of the major battles look more like real combatants than cartoonish computer creations. The locations, set design, and costumes are without flaw. By building many of the elaborate locales, Jackson achieves a sense of verisimilitude that he might not have attained by relying more heavily on computers. [read review] 
--James Berardinelli (ReelViews)
The battles themselves are beyond spectacular, both in the long shots filled with marvelously convincing computer-generated armies and in the ferocious hand-to-hand combat. There's so much happening so fast, there's no time to notice the seams of specialeffects, even knowing they're there. [read review]
--Jack Mathews (New York Daily News)
Majestic, moving and immense, The Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The King is about as awesome as cinema gets. Sure, there are some problems, but it's hard to imagine a more assured adaptation of the final volume of JRR Tolkien's fantasy masterwork. [read review]
--Nev Pierce (BBC Films)
With the possible exception of the Russian "War and Peace,'' such a combination of monetary resources, creative talent and technical mastery has never been brought to bear on a movie project, and nothing on this scale is likely to occur again soon. [read review]
--Mick LaSalle (San Francisco Chronicle)
"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 films. [read review] 
--Roger Ebert (Chicago Sun-Times)
Who can resist right now a classic fantasy adventure that never drags and is simply ravishing to look at thanks to the thousands of craftsmen, performers, animals and postproduction refiners? [read review]
-- (Hollywod Reporter)
In place of pure emotion and dependable character interaction, “Return of the King” is one long (205 minutes) battle sequence that robs the story of what it really needs: a breather. [read review] C+
--Brian Orndorf (FilmJerk.com)
Captures the visual grandeur and thematic complexities of the novel well, while moving gracefully from moments of the intensely personal to epic scenes of staggering enormity. [read review] 91/100
--Dan Jardine (Apollo Guide)
The final chapter completes "The Lord of the Rings" series in thrilling style -- and restores faith in the idea that popular entertainment can soar to majestic heights. [read review]
--Andrew O'Hehir (Salon)
With a sweeping narrative, mind-blowing battle sequences and gut-wrenching performances, could there be a grander finale to a classic epic? Not in this millennium. [read review]
--Kit Bowen (Hollywood.com)
If there are flaws in the film, they seem to be flaws inherited directly from Tolkien's original conception, rather than newly minted movie flaws. [read review]
--Stephen Hunter (Washington Post)
Yet despite maddening liberties and narrative asymmetry, "Return" works well enough on its own terms of rousing, whistle-stop spectacle. [read review]
-- (Boxoffice Magazine)
King pops your eyes, excites your senses and brings you in as close as a whisper for scenes of startling emotion. [read review] 
-- (Rolling Stone)
What makes this enormous undertaking work so well is the interweaving of the small- and large-scale plots. [read review]
--Desson Thomson (Washington Post)
The most massively epic film you'll ever see and the perfect ending to a timeless story. [read review]
--Brian Balchack (MovieWeb)
Jackson has now completed his trilogy and I cannot imagine the films being done better. [read review]
--Carl Lazarevic (MovieWeb)
Without a doubt, the most epic film in the history of cinema. [read review]
--Joshua 'Clark' Bertram (MovieWeb)
Quite possibly the best movie ever made. [read review] 10/10
--Gary Panton (Movie Gazette)
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