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The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers Review (2002) — 87% Celluloid Score

Directed by Peter Jackson · 2002 ·

Short answer

Is The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers worth watching?

Yes. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002) earns an 87% Celluloid Score. That puts it in our Recommended tier. Critics and audiences are closely aligned on this one. See the 4 inputs.

87%
Celluloid Score Recommended

4-input transparent breakdown

90% Editorial Rating
92% Audience snapshot · excluded
84 Metascore
★★★★☆ Letterboxd 4.2
8.8 IMDb /10
0
Watch Trailer
Released
Runtime
2h 59m
Age rating
PG-13 (US) · 12A (UK) · M (Australia) · PG (Canada) · 12 (South Korea)
Streaming
HBO Max, YouTube TV
Language
English

Also known as दी लार्ड ऑफ दी रिंग्स: दी टू टॉवरस El señor de los anillos: Las dos torres Le Seigneur des anneaux : Les Deux Tours Der Herr der Ringe - Die zwei Türme O Senhor dos Anéis: As Duas Torres ロード・オブ・ザ・リング／二つの塔 반지의 제왕: 두 개의 탑 指环王2：双塔奇兵

Where to watch

  • HBO Max
  • YouTube TV

Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube, Fandango at Home

Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube, Fandango at Home

Where to watch The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers by country

Country Streaming on
India Netflix, 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, Wavve
Thailand Netflix, Prime Video, HBO Max
Turkey Prime Video, Disney+, TV+, HBO Max
United Arab Emirates 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 (90/100).
  • Audiences widely enjoyed it (92%).
  • Metascore signals universal acclaim (84/100).
  • Letterboxd diarists rate it highly (4.2/5).
  • IMDb users score it 8.8/10.

Best for

  • Viewers who want a well-regarded adventure, fantasy, action pick
  • Epic-length viewers who want a big-screen experience

Not ideal for

    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 Two Towers worth watching?

    Yes — The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers earns an 87% Celluloid Score. That puts it in our Recommended tier. It suits viewers who want a well-regarded adventure, fantasy, action pick. Read our full review (4.5/5).

    Celluloid verdict

    IMDb Top 250 #11 (8.8/10) — The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers remains one of the most highly rated films of all time.

    , Founder & Editor

    Critics and audiences are closely aligned on this one.

    What is The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers about?

    Frodo Baggins and the other members of the Fellowship continue on their sacred quest to destroy the One Ring--but on separate paths. Their destinies lie at two towers--Orthanc Tower in Isengard, where the corrupt wizard Saruman awaits, and Sauron's fortress at Barad-dur, deep within the dark lands of Mordor. Frodo and Sam are trekking to Mordor to destroy the One Ring of Power while Gimli, Legolas and Aragorn search for the orc-captured Merry and Pippin. All along, nefarious wizard Saruman awaits the Fellowship members at the Orthanc Tower in Isengard.

    Watch the Trailer

    Critic Reviews

    Short review 4 min read English The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

    The Two Towers (2002) Review: The Middle Chapter Done Right

    The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers splits the fellowship across Middle-earth and gives the trilogy its war film, its Gollum and its defining siege at Helm's Deep.

    Yes. It is a darker, more action-driven middle chapter that trilogy fans should not skip, though it only works if you have seen The Fellowship of the Ring first.

    Kaiser Khan Founder & Editor

    Guides for The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

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    The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers stills

    Official production imagery supplied through TMDB, kept with the movie instead of split into a thin gallery page.

    The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers production still 1
    The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers production still 2
    The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers production still 3
    The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers production still 4
    The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers production still 5
    The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers production still 6

    Images courtesy of TMDB. TMDB does not endorse or certify Celluloid.

    Reader takes

    No reader takes published yet. Send yours and we may publish it after editing.

    The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers: frequently asked questions

    Is The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers worth watching?

    Yes. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002) has a Celluloid Score of 87%, 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 Two Towers?

    In the United States, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers 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, 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 Two Towers?

    The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers runs 2 hours 59 minutes (179 minutes).

    What is The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers rated?

    The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers 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 Two Towers?

    The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers 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 Two Towers?

    Metacritic's Metascore for The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers is 84 out of 100. It is one of the inputs to the Celluloid Score.

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