J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings film trilogy was completed with The Return of the King in 2003.
Directed by Peter Jackson, The Return of the King was released theatrically in December 2003. It followed The Fellowship of the Ring in 2001 and The Two Towers in 2002. The three films were shot as a connected production in New Zealand.
The film dramatizes the final stage of the struggle against Sauron, including the battle for Minas Tirith, the journey to Mount Doom, and the aftermath of the Ring’s destruction. It adapts material from Tolkien’s third volume, though the film’s structure and emphasis differ from the book.
The Return of the King received major awards recognition. At the 76th Academy Awards, it won all 11 categories in which it was nominated, including Best Picture and Best Director. Its success made it one of the most prominent literary adaptations in cinema history.