The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King poster

Where to watch

Each link opens a search on that service. Checked 13 October 2026.

Streaming data from JustWatch

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

2003 · Movie · 201 min

Every rating

Platform pages last read 30 September 2026. IMDb’s figure comes from IMDb’s own data file, which we re-read about once a month.

Google: Google retired the star ratings it used to show in search results, so this one no longer updates. More on where the numbers come from →

75–98 out of 100

Mostly agreed

Lowest is Criticker on 75, highest is Google on 98.

See the films the platforms disagree about most →
Compare Trailer

As the Dark Lord Sauron launches the final stage of his war to conquer Middle-earth, the members of the fellowship are scattered. Gandalf and Aragorn lead the world's last free peoples in a desperate battle against the armies of Mordor, creating a diversion. Meanwhile, Frodo and Sam, guided by the treacherous Gollum, make their final approach to Mount Doom to destroy the One Ring.

Details

Director
Peter Jackson
Based on
The Return of the King by J. R. R. Tolkien
Released
17 December 2003
Country
New Zealand, United States
Language
English, Quenya, Old English, Sindarin
Runtime
201 min
Rated
PG-13
Budget
$94.0M
Box office
$1.1B
Awards
27 wins, 13 nominations

This title elsewhere

Elijah Wood

Elijah Wood

Frodo

Ian McKellen

Ian McKellen

Gandalf

Viggo Mortensen

Viggo Mortensen

Aragorn

Andy Serkis

Andy Serkis

Gollum / Smeagol

Billy Boyd

Billy Boyd

Pippin

John Noble

John Noble

Denethor

Awards & nominations

See all 40 →

15 major awards won · 27 wins from 40 nominations across 4 ceremonies

Academy Awards 2003 Best Costume Design Ngila Dickson and Richard Taylor Winner
Academy Awards 2003 Best Makeup Richard Taylor and Peter King Winner
Academy Awards 2003 Best Original Score Howard Shore Winner
Academy Awards 2003 Best Original Song Fran Walsh, Howard Shore and Annie Lennox Winner
Academy Awards 2003 Best Sound Mixing Christopher Boyes, Michael Semanick, Michael Hedges and Hammond Peek Winner
Academy Awards 2003 Best Picture Barrie M. Osborne, Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh Winner
Academy Awards 2003 Best Visual Effects Jim Rygiel, Joe Letteri, Randall William Cook and Alex Funke Winner
Academy Awards 2003 Best Director Peter Jackson Winner
Show all 40 awards across 4 ceremonies

Awards from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA.