Menu
. New Zealand. United States Language English Budget $100 million Box office $1.120 billion The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King is a 2003 co-produced, co-written, and directed by based on the and of 's. It is the third and final instalment in, following (2001) and (2002), preceding (2012–14). Released on 17 December 2003, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King became one of the most critically and commercially successful films of all time, and is considered one of the greatest films ever made.
It was the second film to gross $1 billion worldwide ($1.12 billion), becoming the highest-grossing film released by, as well as the biggest financial success for in general at the time. The film was the and, by the end of its theatrical run, the second highest-grossing film in history. As of August 2018, it is the.
At the, it won all 11 for which it was nominated, therefore holding the record for the highest clean sweep at the Oscars. The wins included the award for, the first time a fantasy film had done so; it was also the second sequel to win Oscars for Best Picture and (following ).
The film jointly holds the record for most Academy Awards won by a single film with (1959) and (1997). Main article: The film was nominated for eleven:,. At the in 2004, the film won all the categories for which it was nominated and it holds the record for highest Academy Award totals along with. It was the first fantasy film to win the.
It also was the last movie for 14 years to win the without being chosen as one of the top ten films of the year by the, until the release of in 2017. The film also won four (including Best Picture for Drama and Best Director), five, two, two, nine, the award for Best Picture, the, and the. See also. Retrieved December 28, 2018. From the original on 5 July 2015. Retrieved 4 July 2015.
From the original on 27 November 2016. Retrieved 27 November 2016. From the original on 2 April 2014.
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003) cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. Movies, TV & Showtimes. Gandhi (1982) #227 on IMDb Top Rated. Download Audio Books. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King - the Oscar-winning final part of Peter. Reaches Mordor, desolate home of the all-seeing epitome of evil, Sauron.
Retrieved 6 December 2012. From the original on 15 September 2011. Retrieved 6 December 2012.
From the original on 15 January 2014. Retrieved 6 December 2012. From the original on 1 February 2009.
Retrieved 3 February 2009. Archived from on 11 June 2012.
The San Francisco Chronicle. 30 December 2001.
From the original on 6 November 2012. Rotten Tomatoes. From the original on 29 March 2010.
Retrieved 24 March 2010. Deke Parsons (31 October 2014). The New York Times. Associated Press. 29 December 2003. Archived from on 15 June 2013.
Retrieved 7 September 2008. ^ Cameras in Middle-earth: Filming the Return of the King (DVD). New Line Cinema. Dowling, Stephen (17 December 2003). BBC News online.
From the original on 10 May 2007. Retrieved 20 October 2006. From the original on 14 December 2007. Retrieved 18 June 2007. Ian McKellen (2004). Cast Commentary (DVD). New Line Cinema.
^ Finding the Story: Forging the Final Chapter (Special Extended Edition documentary) (DVD). New Line Cinema. Peter Jackson: A Film-maker's Journey. London: Harpercollins. ^ Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens (2004). Director/Writers' Special Extended Edition commentary (DVD). New Line Cinema.
Lee, Alana. From the original on 4 March 2007. Retrieved 20 October 2006. Watkin, Tim (12 August 2001). New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 20 October 2006. Peter Jackson online transcript from Ain't It Cool News.
Retrieved 24 October 2006. ^ Designing and Building Middle-earth (Special Extended Edition documentary) (DVD). New Line Cinema.
^ Weta Workshop (Special Extended Edition documentary) (DVD). New Line Cinema.
Ngila Dickson (2004). Costume Design (Special Extended Edition documentary) (DVD).
New Line Cinema. ^ Big-atures (Special Extended Edition documentary) (DVD). New Line Cinema.
The Lord of the Rings: The Art of the Return of the King. Cameras in Middle-earth: Filming the Fellowship of the Ring (DVD). New Line Cinema. ^ 'Tehanu' (11 October 2000). The One Ring.net. From the original on 12 September 2006.
Retrieved 22 October 2006. Samantha Sofka (15 March 2015). From the original on 22 October 2015. Retrieved 23 March 2016. From the original on 15 January 2016.
Retrieved 23 March 2016. Home of the Horse Lords (DVD). New Line Cinema. Davidson, Paul (14 November 2000). Archived from on 31 August 2011. Retrieved 24 October 2006. ^ Davidson, Paul (27 June 2003).
Archived from on 18 January 2012. Retrieved 21 October 2006. ^ Music for Middle-earth (DVD). New Line Cinema. ^ Editorial: Completing the Trilogy (Special Extended Edition documentary) (DVD). New Line Cinema.
^ The Passing of an Age (Special Extended Edition documentary) (DVD). New Line Cinema. The Lord of the Rings: The Making of the Movie Trilogy.
BBC News online. 12 November 2003. From the original on 17 March 2006.
Retrieved 17 October 2006. Wootton, Dan (30 April 2006). New Zealand Herald.
Retrieved 17 October 2006. ^ The End of All Things (Special Extended Edition documentary) (DVD).
New Line Cinema. ^ Weta Digital (Special Extended Edition documentary) (DVD). New Line Cinema. The Soundscapes of Middle-earth (DVD). New Line Cinema.
The 'fondest recollections' of the principal fiddler, were from 'an eight strong trumpet session.' . Doug Adams, pp. Mercer, Phil (1 December 2003). From the original on 15 January 2009. Retrieved 24 March 2010.
Gary Susman (9 June 2004). Entertainment Weekly. From the original on 16 June 2007. Retrieved 17 February 2007. From the original on 25 February 2010. Retrieved 18 February 2010.
Calogne, Juan (23 June 2010). From the original on 26 June 2010. Retrieved 28 November 2010. From the original on 30 May 2011. Retrieved 31 May 2011.
From the original on 24 November 2012. Retrieved 26 November 2012. From the original on 19 July 2012. From the original on 24 August 2009. From the original on 20 July 2014. Box Office Mojo. From the original on 4 March 2016.
Retrieved May 31, 2016. From the original on 3 November 2012. From the original on 1 October 2007. ^ Gray, Brandon (18 December 2003). From the original on 15 February 2012. Retrieved 20 June 2012.
Archived from on 23 June 2011. Retrieved 15 June 2011. From the original on 21 June 2011. Retrieved 15 June 2011. From the original on 2 March 2011.
From the original on 1 July 2012. From the original on 5 February 2010.
From the original on 3 November 2012. From the original on 29 October 2012. ^ Gray, Brandon (22 December 2003). From the original on 19 June 2012. Retrieved 20 June 2012.
Box Office Mojo.com. From the original on 29 January 2007. Retrieved 10 February 2007. 2 August 2006. Archived from on 26 January 2007. From the original on 17 January 2013. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
From the original on 27 December 2012. Retrieved 1 February 2013. D'Alessandro, Anthony (22 December 2014). Retrieved 10 February 2018. From the original on 3 June 2013. Retrieved 1 February 2013.
(18 December 2003). From the original on 11 November 2007. Retrieved 9 November 2007. (19 December 2003). From the original on 13 March 2006.
Retrieved 16 February 2007. 30 March 2007. Archived from on 8 April 2007. Retrieved 1 April 2007. 'The 100 Greatest Movies of All Time'.
30 January 2004. 'Ten Greatest Films of the Past Decade'. Archived from on 15 October 2012. Retrieved 20 November 2011. Crean, Ellen (25 January 2004). From the original on 29 January 2011.
Retrieved 10 March 2011. 26 January 2004. Archived from on 25 September 2012. Retrieved 10 March 2011. Armstrong, Mark (25 January 2004). From the original on 9 March 2011. Retrieved 10 March 2011.
External links Wikiquote has quotations related to:. on. at. at. at. at the.
I admit it, I love all three Lord of the Rings films. People may say Return of the King is the best of the trilogy, some may say it is the worst. I personally think Two Towers is the best for its scope and better exploration of some of the characters, but while it is still great Return of the King is better than Fellowship of the Ring. My only slight disappointment is the ending, it does feel overlong and bloated for me, almost as if there was more than one ending filmed. That said, what does make the ending at least watchable for me is the way it is shot, the marvellous score and the performance of Gollum.
Despite this minor discrepancy, Return of the King is extremely good and in my view one of the better Best Picture winners last decade. Peter Jackson's direction is very impressive here, and the scope is massive and just dazzling to watch. All three films of the trilogy are very well made, but Return of the King defines the term epic.
The cinematography is mind-blowing, the scenery is superb, the costumes and make-up are well tailored, the effects are superb and don't distract too much and the lighting is authentic. The score is phenomenal.
Fellowship of the Ring had some ethereal, rousing, haunting and charming themes, whereas Two Towers was somewhat darker and more complex. Return of the King merges these together and the result is a perfect mixture of charm, darkness, etherality and complexity. The story is compelling with themes of friendship, strength and loyalty, the screenplay is well-written and literate and while the film is very long the three hours or so fly by seamlessly.
The characters are engaging, Aragorn is even more interesting here than he is in the previous films while Gollum continues to steal every scene he appears in. The acting is very good.
Orlando Bloom(who I can find dashing yet uncharismatic and bland) and John Rhys-Davies are given less to do but do carry their parts very well, and Elijah Wood is likable enough. Sean Astin captures Sam perfectly and provides the heart of the picture, and Viggo Mortenssen is at his charismatic best here. Ian McKellen is perfectly cast, while the design of Gollum is still superb and Andy Serkis is equally phenomenal. I was slightly disappointed by the lack of any Sarauman, but I was more than I was satisfied with the final result.
All in all, an outstanding entry to a great trilogy. 10/10 Bethany Cox.