And so all good things come to an end. For three years in a row, Peter Jackson has banished our winter blues with the individual instalments of his Tolkien trilogy, effectively shifting the focus of our cinematic excitement from the summer months to the end of the year. But now that his epic has been unveiled in its en…
8.5/10Adventure · Fantasy · Action
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
“The journey ends.”
- 2003
- 3h 21m
- PG-13
- EN
- Released
The story
What The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King is about
As armies mass for a final battle that will decide the fate of the world--and powerful, ancient forces of Light and Dark compete to determine the outcome--one member of the Fellowship of the Ring is revealed as the noble heir to the throne of the Kings of Men. Yet, the sole hope for triumph over evil lies with a brave hobbit, Frodo, who, accompanied by his loyal friend Sam and the hideous, wretched Gollum, ventures deep into the very dark heart of Mordor on his seemingly impossible quest to destroy the Ring of Power.
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King is an adventure, fantasy and action film from 2003, directed by Peter Jackson. It runs 3h 21m and is rated PG-13 in the US. It was produced by New Line Cinema, WingNut Films and The Saul Zaentz Company, with production in New Zealand, United States of America.
The main cast is led by Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Viggo Mortensen, Sean Astin. The screenplay was written by Fran Walsh, Peter Jackson. Reported worldwide gross stands at $1118.9M.
Why it matters: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King currently holds 8.5/10 from 27744 TMDB user ratings and has taken $1118.9M worldwide against a $94.0M budget. Figures move as more ratings and box-office updates arrive.
Editor’s note
Should you watch The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King?
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King is best suited to a big-screen journey. At 3h 21m, it is a long sitting, so plan the evening around it. The draw is Elijah Wood and Ian McKellen, directed by Peter Jackson.
With 27,744 TMDB ratings averaging 8.5/10, this is one of the most widely seen titles in our library, so the score is a reliable signal.
TMDB tags the film with themes including army, based on novel or book, elves and dwarf.
The US certification is PG-13: may include intense action or themes that are unsuitable for younger children.
If you like this, try The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers or The Odyssey.
Auto-generated from TMDB data (runtime, cast, ratings, keywords, certification). Last updated November 4, 2026.
Availability
Where to watch The Lord of the Rings
54 official sources across 5 regions. Rows with a direct link open this exact title on the provider’s own site; the others open that provider’s own search for the title, where price, video quality and audio options are confirmed before you pay.
Best option now
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Included with a YouTube TV subscription, no extra charge · United States
United States12 options
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Checked 4 November 2026. Listings from TMDB / JustWatch data and they change daily; the provider page always shows the final price. Compare every option on JustWatch. MovieState links only to licensed services.
Who is in it
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King cast
Character names follow the film's credits. Open a name to see that person's other work on MovieState.
Behind the camera
Direction and crew
DirectorPeter Jackson
WritersFran Walsh, Peter Jackson
ProducersBarrie M. Osborne, Peter Jackson
MusicHoward Shore
CinematographyAndrew Lesnie
EditingJamie Selkirk
Audience reaction
Ratings and reviews
8.5/1027744 ratings
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King sits at 8.5 out of 10 from 27744 user ratings. For context, the film's worldwide gross is $1118.9M.
Scores show TMDB user ratings at the time of publishing and shift as new votes arrive.
Too much CGI, redundancy, clichés and drawn out “looks of love” for my tastes. RELEASED 2003 and directed by Peter Jackson, “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King” adapts the third part of JRR Tolkien’s popular fantasy trilogy about adventures on Middle-Earth: Frodo (Elijah Wood), Sam (Sean Astin) and Gollum…
The facts
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King key details
| Original title | The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King |
|---|---|
| Status | Released |
| Release date | December 3, 2003 |
| Runtime | 3h 21m |
| Certification | PG-13 in United States, 12A in United Kingdom |
| Original language | EN |
| Spoken languages | English |
| Country | New Zealand, United States of America |
| Budget | $94.0M |
| Worldwide gross | $1118.9M |
| Studios | New Line Cinema, WingNut Films, The Saul Zaentz Company |
| Also known as | The Return of the King, Sagan om konungens återkomst, Le Seigneur des Anneaux: Le Retour du Roi |
Release information
Release dates by country
| Country | Date | Cert |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Dec 3, 2003 | PG-13 |
| United Kingdom | Dec 11, 2003 | 12A |
| India | Feb 6, 2004 | NR |
| Canada | Dec 17, 2003 | PG |
| Australia | Dec 26, 2003 | M |
| Argentina | Jan 1, 2004 | NR |
| Austria | Dec 17, 2003 | 16 |
| BH | Jan 28, 2004 | NR |
| BO | Dec 26, 2003 | NR |
| Belgium | Dec 17, 2003 | 12 |
Official trailer for The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, via Warner Bros. Entertainment. Open on YouTube
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
Who directed The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King?
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King was directed by Peter Jackson.
Who is in the cast of The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King?
The main cast includes Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Viggo Mortensen, Sean Astin, Andy Serkis.
How long is The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King?
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King runs 3h 21m.
When was The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King released?
It was released in the United States on December 3, 2003. Release dates vary by country — see the table above.
What is The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King rated?
Certification depends on the country: PG-13 in United States, 12A in United Kingdom. Always check your local rating before watching with family.
Where can I watch The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King online?
Availability changes by region and by week. The table above lists the streaming, rental and purchase services reported for major markets. Check the provider page for today's price and quality.
Can I watch The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King in HD or 4K?
Most digital stores offer The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King in HD, and newer releases are often available in 4K. Check the quality label on the provider's page before you pay.
How much did The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King earn?
Reported worldwide gross is $1118.9M against a budget of $94.0M. Box office figures update over time.
Director filmography
More from Peter Jackson
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Data sources: TMDB (titles, cast, crew, release dates, provider listings and user ratings). Availability and box office figures change over time; this page was last rebuilt on November 4, 2026. We publish information only; we do not host or stream video files.
Exact record pages: IMDb recordTMDB record
At a glance: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King runs 3h 21m, opened in US cinemas on December 3, 2003, has 54 licensed options across 5 regions tracked here.