The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Review (2003) — 89% Celluloid Score
Directed by Peter Jackson · 2003 ·
Is The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King worth watching?
Yes. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003) earns an 89% Celluloid Score. That puts it in our Recommended tier. Critics and audiences are closely aligned on this one. See the 4 inputs.
4-input transparent breakdown
Also known as दी लार्ड ऑफ दी रिंग्स: रिटर्न ऑफ दी किंग El señor de los anillos: El retorno del rey Le Seigneur des anneaux : Le Retour du roi Der Herr der Ringe - Die Rückkehr des Königs O Senhor dos Anéis: O Retorno do Rei ロード・オブ・ザ・リング／王の帰還 반지의 제왕: 왕의 귀환 指环王3：王者无敌
Theatrical release Where to watch
- HBO Max
- YouTube TV
Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube, Fandango at Home, Spectrum On Demand
Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube, Fandango at Home
Where to watch The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King by country
| Country | Streaming on |
|---|---|
| India | Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+ Hotstar, Vi Movies & TV |
| Indonesia | Netflix, Prime Video, HBO Max |
| Japan | Netflix, Prime Video, Hulu, U-NEXT |
| Malaysia | Netflix, Prime Video, HBO Max |
| Nigeria | Prime Video |
| Pakistan | Netflix, Prime Video, HBO Max |
| Philippines | Netflix, Prime Video, HBO Max |
| South Africa | Prime Video |
| South Korea | Netflix, Prime Video |
| Thailand | Netflix, Prime Video, HBO Max |
| Turkey | Prime Video, Disney+, TV+, HBO Max |
| United Arab Emirates | Prime Video, Shahid |
| United Kingdom | HBO Max |
| United States | HBO Max, YouTube TV |
Subscription availability, refreshed from TMDB. Rental and purchase options may differ.
Why this score?
- Celluloid's editorial rating is exceptional (92/100).
- Audiences widely enjoyed it (94%).
- Metascore signals universal acclaim (86/100).
- Letterboxd diarists rate it highly (4.3/5).
- IMDb users score it 9/10.
Best for
- Viewers who want a well-regarded adventure, fantasy, action pick
- Epic-length viewers who want a big-screen experience
Not ideal for
- Viewers who dislike long runtimes
Scores reflect data indexed at build time. Component sources are shown on this page; Celluloid Score is our composite, not a third-party trademark. Scoring policy
Streaming availability, artwork and title metadata courtesy of TMDB. This product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB.
Is The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King worth watching?
Yes — The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King earns an 89% Celluloid Score. That puts it in our Recommended tier. It suits viewers who want a well-regarded adventure, fantasy, action pick, but viewers who dislike long runtimes may want to skip it. Read our full review (4.5/5).
Celluloid verdict
IMDb Top 250 #6 (9/10) — The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King remains one of the most highly rated films of all time.
Kaiser Khan, Founder & Editor
Critics and audiences are closely aligned on this one.
What is The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King 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.
Watch the Trailer
Critic Reviews
The Return of the King (2003) Review: A Colossal Payoff
★★★★½
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King closes Peter Jackson's trilogy with vast battles and real emotional weight, a finale that earns its three-plus hours.
Yes. It is a thrilling, moving conclusion for anyone who has seen the first two films; just be ready for a long runtime and an unhurried farewell.
Guides for The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King stills
Official production imagery supplied through TMDB, kept with the movie instead of split into a thin gallery page.
Images courtesy of TMDB. TMDB does not endorse or certify Celluloid.
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The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King: frequently asked questions
Is The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King worth watching?
Yes. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003) has a Celluloid Score of 89%, averaged from the available Celluloid editorial, Metascore, Letterboxd and IMDb ratings. That puts it in our Recommended tier. Audience sentiment is shown separately and does not change the score.
Where can I watch The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King?
In the United States, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King streams on HBO Max, YouTube TV with a subscription, and you can rent it from Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube. Elsewhere: Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+ Hotstar, Vi Movies & TV in India; Netflix, Prime Video, HBO Max in Indonesia; Netflix, Prime Video, Hulu, U-NEXT in Japan; Netflix, Prime Video, HBO Max in Malaysia. Availability changes; the where-to-watch table on this page is refreshed from TMDB.
How long is The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King?
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King runs 3 hours 21 minutes (201 minutes).
What is The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King rated?
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King is rated PG-13 in the United States, 12A in the UK, M in Australia, PG in Canada and 12 in South Korea. These are the official classifications as recorded on TMDB; check your local classification board for content advice.
Who stars in The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King?
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King is directed by Peter Jackson and stars Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Viggo Mortensen, Sean Astin, Andy Serkis.
What is the Metascore for The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King?
Metacritic's Metascore for The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King is 86 out of 100. It is one of the inputs to the Celluloid Score.
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