Which 2003 Lord of the Rings film won the Academy Award for Best Picture?

Which 2003 Lord of the Rings film won the Academy Award for Best Picture? The answer is The Return of the King.

Released in December 2003, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King concluded Peter Jackson’s film trilogy and won Best Picture at the 76th Academy Awards. The ceremony took place on February 29, 2004, honoring films released during 2003. It was the first fantasy film to win the Oscar for Best Picture.

The film dominated the ceremony, winning all 11 categories in which it was nominated. Its other victories included Best Director for Peter Jackson, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Original Song, and multiple technical awards. The award was presented to producers Barrie M. Osborne, Peter Jackson, and Fran Walsh.

A common mix-up is confusing the film’s release year with the Oscar ceremony year: the movie is a 2003 release, but the awards were presented in 2004. The earlier trilogy entries, The Fellowship of the Ring and The Two Towers, received many nominations but did not win Best Picture.