The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ Read critic reviews

New Zealand, United States

2003

Rated PG-13 · 3h 21m

Director Peter Jackson

Starring Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Viggo Mortensen, Sean Astin

Genre Action, Adventure, Fantasy

Aragorn, revealed to be the heir to the ancient kings, struggles to save Gandor from Sauron's forces alongside Gandalf and the other members of the broken fellowship. Meanwhile, Frodo and Sam bring the ring closer to the heart of Mordor, the dark lord's realm.

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WHAT ARE PEOPLE SAYING?

Megan Rochlin

This is one of my absolute favorite films of all time. it is so hard to adapt a book that is both as beloved, and as complex as the Lord of The Rings. Peter Jackson gives us a faithful adaptation that captured the spirit of the original books and introduced a whole new generation to The Lord of the Rings.

Eddie Godino

Return of the King closes out one of the greatest movie trilogies ever created, leaving no stone unturned as it guides viewers towards the long-awaited conclusion. The third film loses none of Two Towers' momentum, once again plunging audiences into epic battle scenes and raising the stakes to the max. As many other franchises have proven, a poor final installment can ruin a series, but Return of the King undoubtedly sticks the landing, becoming the only sequel next to The Godfather II to win an Academy Award for Best Picture. As the last piece of the puzzle, Return of the King is what makes Lord of the Rings the defining fantasy epic of our time.

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WHAT ARE CRITICS SAYING?

100

The Hollywood Reporter by

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

100

Empire by Alan Morrison

Those who have walked beside these heroes every step of the way on such a long journey deserve the emotional pay-off as well as the action peaks, and they will be genuinely touched as the final credits roll.

100

Newsweek by David Ansen

The second installment was better than the first, and this one is best of all. It has spectacular action scenes and imaginary creatures, and it’s by far the most moving chapter. The performances have deepened.

100

New York Daily News by Jack Mathews

The most emotionally satisfying because, in addition to having both more intimate drama and more spectacular battles, it resolves all of the issues raised before.

100

ReelViews by James Berardinelli

Labeling this as a "movie" is almost an injustice. This is an experience of epic scope and grandeur, amazing emotional power, and relentless momentum.

100

Entertainment Weekly by Lisa Schwarzbaum

The conclusion of Peter Jackson's masterwork is passionate and literate, detailed and expansive, and it's conceived with a risk-taking flair for old-fashioned movie magic at its most precious.

100

New York Post by Lou Lumenick

A majestic conclusion to a nine-plus-hours epic that stirs the heart, mind and soul as few films ever have.

100

New York Magazine (Vulture) by Peter Rainer

Jackson is rare among the makers of epic movies in that he knows how to do the small stuff, too. The Return of the King has “heart”--how else could it pump out all that blood?

100

Time by Richard Corliss

The second half of the film elevates all the story elements to Beethovenian crescendo. Here is an epic with literature's depth and opera's splendor -- and one that could be achieved only in movies. What could be more terrific?

100

Variety by Todd McCarthy

Represents that filmmaking rarity -- a third part of a trilogy that is decisively the best of the lot. With epic conflict, staggering battles, striking landscapes and effects, and resolved character arcs all leading to a dramatic conclusion to more than nine hours of masterful storytelling.

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