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The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)

English and Old English fantasy film directed by Peter Jackson

PG-13US

Rated PG-13 in the US

Parents strongly cautioned: some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

Runtime
3h 20m 200 min
Released
17 December 2003

Runtime and rating from Wikidata. The Indian CBFC certificate is added if the film releases in India.

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King has a runtime of 3 hours 20 minutes (200 min). In the US it is rated PG-13. The English film released on 17 December 2003. It is directed by Peter Jackson and stars Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen and Andy Serkis.

Official trailer

Cast and crew

Cinematography
Andrew Lesnie
Produced by
Peter Jackson, Barrie M. Osborne, Fran Walsh
Production
New Line Cinema, WingNut Films
Distribution
New Line Cinema

Box office, awards and more

Budget
$94 million
Box office
$1.14 billion
Awards
Academy Award for Best Picture; Academy Award for Best Director; Academy Award for Best Film Editing; Academy Award for Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay; Academy Award for Best Costume Design; Academy Award for Best Makeup and Hairstyling and 6 more
Based on
The Return of the King
Set in
Middle-earth
Filmed in
New Zealand

Release and where to watch

In theatres
17 December 2003
First shown
1 December 2003 festival or first country
On OTT
Not announced yet. We add the platform and date once the makers confirm them.

Can children watch it?

Best for 13 and above. Younger children should watch with a parent. This is the MPA rating in the US; other countries rate films separately.

Questions people ask

What is the runtime of The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King?

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King has a runtime of 3 hours 20 minutes, or 200 min.

When did The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King release?

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King released on 17 December 2003.

Who directed The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King?

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King is directed by Peter Jackson.

Who is in the cast of The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King?

The cast of The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King includes Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Andy Serkis, Viggo Mortensen, Liv Tyler and Sean Astin.

How much did The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King earn at the box office?

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King grossed $1.14 billion on a budget of $94 million.

What is The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King rated in the US?

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King is rated PG-13 by the Motion Picture Association.

Is The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King based on a true story or a book?

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King is based on The Return of the King.

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Updated 1 November 2026 by Pragati. Cast and crew from Wikidata. Found a mistake? Tell us.