The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003) — IMDb, Rotten Tomatoes & Audience Ratings

Last updated: 2026-03-30 3 min read

Quick Facts

IMDb9.0/10
Rotten Tomatoes94%
Metacritic94/100
DirectorPeter Jackson
GenreAdventure, Fantasy, Action
Runtime201 min
RatedPG-13
CastElijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Viggo Mortensen, Sean Astin, Andy Serkis

"The eye of the enemy is moving."

Should You Watch The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King?

With an IMDb score of 9.0, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King is widely considered one of the best films in its genre. Critics and audiences agree this is essential viewing. The 94% Rotten Tomatoes score signals near-universal critical acclaim.

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.​

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Ratings Breakdown

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King's IMDb rating?

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003) has an IMDb rating of 9.0 out of 10 based on 26,244 user votes.

Is The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King worth watching?

With an IMDb score of 9.0 and a Rotten Tomatoes score of 94%, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King is generally well-regarded and worth your time.

How long is The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King?

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King has a runtime of 201 min. It is rated PG-13.

See If The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Matches Your Taste

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