The theatrical cut of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring runs for 178 minutes.
Released in 2001, the first film adapts the opening part of J. R. R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings and introduces the Shire, the One Ring, the journey to Rivendell, and the formation of the Fellowship. Its theatrical runtime is just under three hours, including the film’s credits.
The number applies specifically to the theatrical version shown in cinemas. The extended edition is substantially longer because it adds deleted and expanded scenes, including material involving the Shire, Lothlórien, Aragorn, and Boromir. Runtime figures therefore vary depending on which edition is being discussed.
The film was directed by Peter Jackson and distributed theatrically by New Line Cinema. It became a major international success and established the visual and musical style continued by The Two Towers and The Return of the King.