

The Return of the King
Two Hobbits struggle to destroy the Ring in Mount Doom while their friends desperately fight evil Lord Sauron's forces in a final battle.
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
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
Frodo Baggins / Bilbo Baggins (voice)

Roddy McDowall
Samwise Gamgee (voice)

John Huston
Gandalf (voice)

Theodore Gottlieb
Gollum (voice)

Casey Kasem
Meriadoc 'Merry' Brandybuck (voice)

Sonny Melendrez
Peregrin 'Pippin' Took (voice)

Theodore Bikel
Aragorn (voice)

William Conrad
Lord Denethor (voice)

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

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

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











