The Lord of the Rings is a trilogy of epic fantasy adventure films directed by Peter Jackson, adapted from J.R.R. Tolkien's novel of the same name. The films, titled The Fellowship of the Ring (2001), The Two Towers (2002), and The Return of the King (2003), were produced by New Line Cinema in collaboration with WingNut Films. The ensemble cast includes Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Liv Tyler, Viggo Mortensen, Sean Astin, Cate Blanchett, John Rhys-Davies, Christopher Lee, Billy Boyd, Dominic Monaghan, Orlando Bloom, Hugo Weaving, Andy Serkis, and Sean Bean.
Set in the fictional world of Middle-earth, the films follow hobbit Frodo Baggins as he and a group of companions—known as the Fellowship—embark on a mission to destroy the One Ring, an evil artifact created by the Dark Lord Sauron. After the Fellowship is divided, Frodo, with the loyal Sam and the duplicitous Gollum, continues the perilous quest. Meanwhile, Aragorn, the exiled heir to the throne of Gondor, alongside Legolas, Gimli, Merry, Pippin, Boromir, and the wizard Gandalf, leads a battle against Sauron's forces, rallying the Free Peoples of Middle-earth in the War of the Ring to aid Frodo by diverting Sauron's attention.
Filming took place in Jackson's homeland of New Zealand from 11 October 1999 to 22 December 2000, with additional shots filmed from 2001 to 2003. It was one of the largest and most ambitious cinematic projects ever, with a combined budget of $281 million (equivalent to $514 million in 2023). The films premiered between 2001 and 2003 in prestigious venues, including the Odeon Leicester Square in London and the Ziegfeld Theatre in New York. Extended editions of each film were later released on home video.
The trilogy is widely recognized as one of the greatest and most influential film series in cinematic history. It achieved massive financial success, grossing over $2.9 billion worldwide, and earned critical praise for its fidelity to Tolkien's work. The series received numerous accolades, winning 17 Academy Awards from 30 nominations, including Best Picture for The Return of the King. In 2021, The Fellowship of the Ring was added to the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress for its cultural, historical, and aesthetic significance.
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