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The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

2003·Movie·PG-13·201 min·8.5(26,672)

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.​

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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?

CountryStreaming onRent / Buy
United StatesHBO Max Amazon Channel, YouTube TV, HBO MaxAmazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies
IndiaNetflix, JioHotstar, VI movies and tvApple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube
United KingdomHBO Max Amazon Channel, Sky Go, Now TV CinemaApple TV Store, Rakuten TV, Amazon Video
CanadaCrave, Starz Amazon Channel, Crave Amazon ChannelApple TV Store, Google Play Movies, CosmoGo
AustraliaNetflix, Stan, Netflix Standard with Ads, HBO MaxJustWatch TV, Apple TV Store, Amazon Video
GermanyNetflix, Netflix Standard with Ads, HBO Max, HBO Max Amazon ChannelApple TV Store, Amazon Video, Google Play Movies
FranceNetflix, Molotov TV, Cine+ OCS Amazon Channel , Netflix Standard with AdsApple TV Store, Canal VOD, Orange VOD
SpainNetflix, Movistar Plus+ Ficción Total , HBO Max, Netflix Standard with AdsApple TV Store, Rakuten TV, Google Play Movies
BrazilHBO Max, HBO Max Amazon ChannelApple TV Store, Amazon Video, Google Play Movies
JapanNetflix, Hulu, U-NEXT, Netflix Standard with AdsAmazon 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
#army#based on novel or book#elves#dwarf#magic#kingdom#obsession#bravery#castle#volcano#giant spider#sequel#honor#king

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

Elijah Wood

Frodo

Ian McKellen

Ian McKellen

Gandalf

Viggo Mortensen

Viggo Mortensen

Aragorn

Sean Astin

Sean Astin

Sam

Andy Serkis

Andy Serkis

Gollum / Smeagol

Dominic Monaghan

Dominic Monaghan

Merry

Billy Boyd

Billy Boyd

Pippin

John Noble

John Noble

Denethor

David Wenham

David Wenham

Faramir

Miranda Otto

Miranda Otto

Éowyn

Bernard Hill

Bernard Hill

Théoden

John Rhys-Davies

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.

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