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The Return of the King

1980·Movie·NR·98 min·6.4(220)

Two Hobbits struggle to destroy the Ring in Mount Doom while their friends desperately fight evil Lord Sauron's forces in a final battle.

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Where to watch The Return of the King in United States

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About The Return of the King

The Return of the King is a 1980 English-language animation, fantasy and adventure film directed by Arthur Rankin, Jr. and Jules Bass. The cast is led by Orson Bean, Roddy McDowall, John Huston. It has a runtime of 1h 38m. Viewers rate it 6.4/10 across 200 ratings.

The Return of the King was produced by Rankin/Bass Productions and Topcraft and made in United States of America and Japan. It was released on May 11, 1980, and carries a NR certification.

Director
Arthur Rankin, Jr., Jules Bass
Writers
Romeo Muller
Release date
May 11, 1980
Original language
English
Age rating
NR
Status
Released
Country
United States of America, Japan
Production
Rankin/Bass Productions, Topcraft
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The Return of the King cast & crew

The Return of the King was directed by Arthur Rankin, Jr. and Jules Bass and written by Romeo Muller.

The cast features Orson Bean as Frodo Baggins / Bilbo Baggins (voice), Roddy McDowall as Samwise Gamgee (voice), John Huston as Gandalf (voice), Theodore Gottlieb as Gollum (voice), Casey Kasem as Meriadoc 'Merry' Brandybuck (voice), and Sonny Melendrez as Peregrin 'Pippin' Took (voice).

Behind the camera, the score was composed by Maury Laws and it was produced by Jules Bass and Masaki Îzuka.

Is The Return of the King worth watching?

The Return of the King holds an audience score of 6.4/10 from 220 ratings, a solidly received animation films.

At 1h 38m, it's an easy, time-light watch.

If you enjoy animation, fantasy, and adventure, The Return of the King is worth a place on your watchlist.

How and where to watch The Return of the King

The Return of the King isn't currently available on major streaming services in United States. We track availability continuously — add it to your watchlist and we'll keep an eye out.

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 Return of the King

Orson Bean

Orson Bean

Frodo Baggins / Bilbo Baggins (voice)

Roddy McDowall

Roddy McDowall

Samwise Gamgee (voice)

John Huston

John Huston

Gandalf (voice)

Theodore Gottlieb

Theodore Gottlieb

Gollum (voice)

Casey Kasem

Casey Kasem

Meriadoc 'Merry' Brandybuck (voice)

Sonny Melendrez

Sonny Melendrez

Peregrin 'Pippin' Took (voice)

Theodore Bikel

Theodore Bikel

Aragorn (voice)

William Conrad

William Conrad

Lord Denethor (voice)

Don Messick

Don Messick

King Theoden / Easterling / The Mouth of Sauron (voice)

Paul Frees

Paul Frees

Orc / Uruk-Hai / Capt. Shagrat / Lt. Snaga / Lord Elrond (voice)

John Stephenson

John Stephenson

Gondorian Guard / Dwimmerlaik - The Witch-King of Angmar (voice)

No photo

Nellie Bellflower

Eowyn / Dernhelm (voice)

More from the The Lord of the Rings (Animated) Collection

The Return of the King — FAQs

Where can I watch The Return of the King in United States?

The Return of the King is not currently available on major streaming services in United States. Availability changes often — check back soon.

What language is The Return of the King in?

The Return of the King is originally in English. Subtitle and dub options vary by streaming service.

How long is The Return of the King?

The Return of the King runs 1 hours 38 minutes (98 minutes).

What is The Return of the King rated?

The Return of the King is rated NR. It holds a 6.4/10 audience score from 220 ratings.

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