In which country was most of The Lord of the Rings film trilogy filmed?

Most of The Lord of the Rings film trilogy was filmed in New Zealand.

Principal photography took place across New Zealand from October 1999 to December 2000, with the three films shot as one continuous production. The country supplied mountains, forests, plains, rivers, and coastlines that became the visual landscapes of Middle-earth.

Locations included Tongariro National Park, Fiordland, Wellington, Queenstown, and the South Island. The production also used studios and constructed sets around Wellington, where many effects, miniature, costume, and post-production activities were based.

The films’ association with New Zealand became central to the country’s screen identity and tourism industry. Some locations represented fictional places directly, while others were digitally altered or combined with studio work. Australia, Canada, and Ireland were not the main filming country.