In The Lord of the Rings film trilogy, which company created the visual effects?

Weta Digital created the visual effects for The Lord of the Rings film trilogy.

The New Zealand effects company was founded in 1993 by Peter Jackson, Richard Taylor, and Jamie Selkirk. It became a central part of the trilogy’s production, developing digital creatures, environments, battles, and compositing work.

Weta Digital’s work included the computer-generated character Gollum, whose performance by Andy Serkis was combined with digital animation and motion-capture techniques. The company also helped create large-scale effects for places such as Mordor and the armies seen in the films.

In 2022, Weta Digital’s visual-effects division was sold to Unity and renamed Wētā FX. The separate Wētā Workshop, known for practical effects, props, costumes, and miniatures, remained a distinct company. That difference is a common source of confusion when discussing the trilogy’s effects.