

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
“The eye of the enemy is moving.”
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.
Where to watch The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King in United States
Click a service to open The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King there. Availability last verified on June 23, 2026.
Where is The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King streaming around the world?
| Country | Streaming on | Rent / Buy |
|---|---|---|
| United States | HBO Max Amazon Channel, YouTube TV, HBO Max | Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies |
| India | Netflix, JioHotstar, VI movies and tv | Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube |
| United Kingdom | HBO Max Amazon Channel, Sky Go, Now TV Cinema | Apple TV Store, Rakuten TV, Amazon Video |
| Canada | Crave, Starz Amazon Channel, Crave Amazon Channel | Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, CosmoGo |
| Australia | Netflix, Stan, Netflix Standard with Ads, HBO Max | JustWatch TV, Apple TV Store, Amazon Video |
| Germany | Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads, HBO Max, HBO Max Amazon Channel | Apple TV Store, Amazon Video, Google Play Movies |
| France | Netflix, Molotov TV, Cine+ OCS Amazon Channel , Netflix Standard with Ads | Apple TV Store, Canal VOD, Orange VOD |
| Spain | Netflix, Movistar Plus+ Ficción Total , HBO Max, Netflix Standard with Ads | Apple TV Store, Rakuten TV, Google Play Movies |
| Brazil | HBO Max, HBO Max Amazon Channel | Apple TV Store, Amazon Video, Google Play Movies |
| Japan | Netflix, Hulu, U-NEXT, Netflix Standard with Ads | Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, FOD |
About The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King is a 2003 English-language adventure, fantasy and action film directed by Peter Jackson. The cast is led by Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Viggo Mortensen. It has a runtime of 3h 21m. Viewers rate it 8.5/10 across 26700 ratings. In United States, it is currently streaming on HBO Max Amazon Channel, YouTube TV, HBO Max.
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King was produced by New Line Cinema, WingNut Films, and The Saul Zaentz Company and made in New Zealand and United States of America. It was released on December 17, 2003, and carries a PG-13 certification. Made on a budget of about $94 million, it went on to gross $1.1 billion worldwide.
- Director
- Peter Jackson
- Writers
- Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens
- Release date
- December 17, 2003
- Original language
- English
- Age rating
- PG-13
- Status
- Released
- Country
- New Zealand, United States of America
- Budget
- $94 million
- Box office
- $1.1 billion
- Production
- New Line Cinema, WingNut Films, The Saul Zaentz Company
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King cast & crew
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King was directed by Peter Jackson and written by Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh, and Philippa Boyens.
The cast features Elijah Wood as Frodo, Ian McKellen as Gandalf, Viggo Mortensen as Aragorn, Sean Astin as Sam, Andy Serkis as Gollum / Smeagol, and Dominic Monaghan as Merry.
Behind the camera, the score was composed by Howard Shore, cinematography is by Andrew Lesnie, and it was produced by Peter Jackson and Barrie M. Osborne.
Is The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King worth watching?
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King holds an audience score of 8.5/10 from 26,672 ratings, ranking it among the most acclaimed adventure films.
At 3h 21m, it's a full-evening commitment.
If you enjoy adventure, fantasy, and action, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King is worth a place on your watchlist.
How and where to watch The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
In United States, you can stream The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King on HBO Max Amazon Channel, YouTube TV, and HBO Max, or rent and buy it on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, and YouTube. Click any service above to open it directly.
Streaming rights change country by country and month by month, so the options above reflect United States today — switch your country at the top of the where-to-watch section to see availability elsewhere.
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Cast of The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

Elijah Wood
Frodo

Ian McKellen
Gandalf

Viggo Mortensen
Aragorn

Sean Astin
Sam

Andy Serkis
Gollum / Smeagol

Dominic Monaghan
Merry

Billy Boyd
Pippin

John Noble
Denethor

David Wenham
Faramir

Miranda Otto
Éowyn

Bernard Hill
Théoden

John Rhys-Davies
Gimli
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The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King — FAQs
▸Where can I watch The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King in United States?
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King is streaming on HBO Max Amazon Channel, YouTube TV, HBO Max in United States.
▸Is The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King on HBO Max Amazon Channel?
Yes — The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King is currently available on HBO Max Amazon Channel in United States.
▸What language is The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King in?
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King is originally in English. Subtitle and dub options vary by streaming service.
▸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. It holds a 8.5/10 audience score from 26,672 ratings.











