The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Review (2003) — 89% Celluloid Score
Directed by Peter Jackson · 2003 ·
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003) earns a 89% Celluloid Score — Recommended. Recommended — recommended by most critics and audiences.Critics and audiences are closely aligned on this one.
Calculated from 4 available inputs: Celluloid editorial rating, Metascore, Letterboxd and IMDb. Audience sentiment is shown separately and never changes the composite. See how we calculate scores.
4-input transparent breakdown
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, Disney+ Hotstar, Vi Movies & TV |
| Indonesia | Netflix, HBO Max |
| Japan | Netflix, Hulu, U-NEXT |
| Malaysia | Netflix, HBO Max |
| Nigeria | Prime Video |
| Pakistan | Netflix, HBO Max |
| Philippines | Netflix, HBO Max |
| South Africa | Prime Video |
| South Korea | Netflix |
| Thailand | Netflix, HBO Max |
| Turkey | Netflix, Disney+, TV+, HBO Max |
| United Arab Emirates | Shahid |
| United Kingdom | HBO Max, Sky Cinema |
| 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 a 89% Celluloid Score. Recommended — recommended by most critics and audiences.
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.
Celluloid editorial verdict
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 Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003) Review
★★★★½
Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003) remains a defining Adventure landmark from New Zealand, with scores that still shape how audiences discover the title.
Essential viewing — a certified classic.
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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