The Lord of the Rings: The Return Facts, Trivia, Actors, Actresses, and Composers

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King is a 2003 epic fantasy-drama film directed by Peter Jackson that is based on the second and third volumes of J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings. It is the concluding film in The Lord of the Rings film trilogy, following The Fellowship of the Ring and The Two Towers . As Sauron launches the final stages of his conquest of Middle-earth, Gandalf the Wizard, and Théoden King of Rohan rally their forces to help defend Gondor's capital Minas Tirith from the looming threat. Aragorn finally claims the throne of Gondor and summons an army of...
more

quick facts

Release date:	December 17, 2003
Directed by:	Peter Jackson
Rated:
Runtime:	201 Minutes
Producer:	Peter Jackson, Barrie M. Osborne, Fran Walsh
Editor:	Jamie Selkirk
Music by:	Howard Shore
Cinematography:	Andrew Lesnie
Screenplay by:	Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, Peter Jackson
Estimated budget:	$94,000,000
Adapted from:	The Lord of the Rings
Genre:	Adventure, Fantasy

Award-Winning Cast

Dominic Monaghan

Character:Meriadoc Brandybuck

Born:December 8, 1976

Peter Jackson

Character:Mercenary On Boat

Born:October 31, 1961

John Noble

Character:Denethor

Born:August 20, 1948

Billy Boyd

Character:Peregrin Took

Born:August 28, 1968

Karl Urban

Character:Éomer

Born:June 7, 1972

Liv Tyler

Character:Arwen

Born:July 1, 1977

Orlando Bloom

Character:Legolas

Born:January 13, 1977

Miranda Otto

Character:Éowyn

Born:December 16, 1967

David Wenham

Character:Faramir

Born:September 21, 1965

Bernard Hill

Character:Théoden

Born:December 17, 1944

Cate Blanchett

Character:Galadriel

Born:May 14, 1969

Hugo Weaving

Character:Elrond

Born:April 4, 1960

Viggo Mortensen

Character:Aragorn

Born:October 20, 1958

Andy Serkis

Character:Gollum

Born:April 20, 1964

Elijah Wood

Character:Frodo Baggins

Born:January 28, 1981

Sean Bean

Character:Boromir

Born:April 17, 1959

Ian McKellen

Character:Gandalf

Born:May 25, 1939

Brad Dourif

Character:Gríma

Born:March 18, 1950

Ian Holm

Character:Bilbo Baggins

Born:September 12, 1931

John Rhys-Davies

Character:Treebeard

Born:May 5, 1944

John Rhys-Davies

Character:Gimli

Born:May 5, 1944

Cast of The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

Christopher Lee

Saruman

Born:May 27, 1922

Age:89

Sean Astin

Samwise Gamgee

Born:February 25, 1971

Age:41

Bruce Spence

Mouth of Sauron

Born:September 17, 1945

Age:66

Lawrence Makoare

Gothmog

Born:March 20, 1968

Age:43

Lawrence Makoare

Witch-king of Angmar

Born:March 20, 1968

Age:43

Sala Baker

Orc / Sauron

Born:September 22, 1976

Age:35

Honors and Awards

Year	Award Won
2003	Academy Award for Best Picture, Fran Walsh
2003	Academy Award for Best Director, Peter Jackson
2003	Academy Award for Film Editing, Jamie Selkirk
2004	Golden Globe Award for Best Drama Film, Peter Jackson
2003	Academy Award for Writing Adapted Screenplay, Peter Jackson
2004	Golden Globe Award for Best Director - Film, Peter Jackson
2003	BAFTA Award for Best Film, Peter Jackson
2004	Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation, Long Form, Fran Walsh
2003	DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film, Peter Jackson
2003	New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Picture, Peter Jackson
2003	BFCA Critics' Choice Award for Best Picture
2003	BFCA Critics' Choice Award for Best Director, Peter Jackson
2003	BFCA Critics' Choice Award for Best Acting Ensemble
2003	Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Director, Peter Jackson
2003	San Francisco Film Critics Circle Award for Best Director, Peter Jackson
2003	Toronto Film Critics Association Award for Best Director, Peter Jackson
2004	Satellite Award for Best Art Direction and Production Design, Alan Lee
2003	BFCA Critics' Choice Award for Best Composer, Howard Shore
2003	ADG Excellence in Production Design Awards - Period or Fantasy Film, Grant Major
2004	MTV Movie Award for Best Action Sequence, Peter Jackson
2004	MTV Movie Award for Best Movie
2003	BAFTA Award for Best Screenplay, Adapted, Peter Jackson
2003	BAFTA Award for Best Cinematography, Andrew Lesnie
2003	BAFTA Orange Film of the Year
2003	Academy Award for Original Music Score, Howard Shore
2003	BAFTA Award for Best Special Visual Effects, Joe Letteri
2004	Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Cast in a Motion Picture, Sean Bean
2004	Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score, Howard Shore
2003	Academy Award for Costume Design, Richard Taylor
2004	Costume Designers Guild Award for Best Costume Design - Period or Fantasy Film, Ngila Dickson
2003	Academy Award for Makeup
2004	Nebula Award for Best Script, Philippa Boyens
2003	Las Vegas Film Critics Society Award for Best Costume Design, Richard Taylor
2003	Academy Award for Best Art Direction, Grant Major
2003	Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Production Design, Grant Major
2003	Phoenix Film Critics Society Award for Best Production Design, Grant Major
2003	San Diego Film Critics Society Award for Best Production Design, Grant Major
2004	Satellite Award for Best Art Direction and Production Design, Grant Major

Year	Award Nomination
2003	Academy Award for Best Director, Peter Jackson
2003	Academy Award for Best Picture, Fran Walsh
2003	Academy Award for Writing Adapted Screenplay, Fran Walsh
2003	BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role, Ian McKellen
2003	BAFTA Award for Best Direction, Peter Jackson
2003	BAFTA Award for Best Film, Peter Jackson
2004	Golden Globe Award for Best Director - Film, Peter Jackson
2004	Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation, Long Form, Fran Walsh
2004	Golden Globe Award for Best Drama Film, Peter Jackson
2003	BFCA Critics' Choice Award for Best Picture
2003	BFCA Critics' Choice Award for Best Director, Peter Jackson
2003	BFCA Critics' Choice Award for Best Acting Ensemble
2004	Satellite Award for Best Film – Drama, New Line Cinema
2003	DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film, Peter Jackson
2004	Satellite Award for Best Visual Effects, Jim Rygiel
2004	Satellite Award for Best Editing, Jamie Selkirk
2004	Costume Designers Guild Award for Best Costume Design - Period or Fantasy Film, Ngila Dickson
2003	American Society of Cinematographers Award for Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in Theatrical Releases, Andrew Lesnie
2004	Satellite Award for Best Sound, David Farmer
2003	Satellite Award for Best Costume Design, Ngila Dickson
2003	BAFTA Award for Best Costume Design, Ngila Dickson
2003	BAFTA Orange Film of the Year
2003	BAFTA Award for Best Cinematography, Andrew Lesnie
2003	BAFTA Award for Best Editing, Jamie Selkirk
2003	BAFTA Award for Best Film Music, Howard Shore
2003	BFCA Critics' Choice Award for Best Composer, Howard Shore
2004	MTV Movie Award for Best Action Sequence, Peter Jackson
2004	MTV Movie Award for Best Movie
2004	Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Cast in a Motion Picture, Sean Astin
2003	BAFTA Award for Best Production Design/Art Direction, Grant Major
2003	BAFTA Award for Best Sound, Hammond Peek
2003	BAFTA Award for Best Makeup, Richard Taylor
2003	ADG Excellence in Production Design Awards - Period or Fantasy Film, Grant Major
2003	BAFTA Award for Best Special Visual Effects, Alex Funke
2004	Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score, Howard Shore
2004	Satellite Award for Best Original Score, Howard Shore
2003	BAFTA Award for Best Screenplay, Adapted, Peter Jackson
2003	Saturn Award for Best Costume, Richard Taylor
2003	Academy Award for Costume Design, Ngila Dickson
2003	Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Costume Design, Ngila Dickson
2003	Las Vegas Film Critics Society Award for Best Costume Design, Richard Taylor
2003	Academy Award for Best Art Direction, Grant Major
2003	Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Production Design, Grant Major
2003	Phoenix Film Critics Society Award for Best Production Design, Grant Major
2003	San Diego Film Critics Society Award for Best Production Design, Grant Major
2004	Satellite Award for Best Art Direction and Production Design, Grant Major

Director

Peter Jackson

Born: October 31, 1961

Age: 50

Sir Peter Robert Jackson, KNZM is a New Zealand film director, producer, actor, and screenwriter, known for his The Lord of the Rings film trilogy , adapted from the novel by J. R. R. Tolkien. He won international attention early in his career with his "splatstick" horror comedies beginning with...
more

Title	Released	Genre
The Lord of the Rings film trilogy		Fantasy
The Valley
Crossing the Line
The Hobbit: Part 2	2013	Adventure
The Hobbit: Part 1	2012	Adventure
The Lovely Bones	2009	Fantasy
King Kong	2005	Adventure
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King	2003	Adventure
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers	2002	Adventure
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring	2001	Adventure
The Frighteners	1996	Comedy
Forgotten Silver	1995	Comedy
Heavenly Creatures	1994	Fantasy
Dead Alive	1993	Comedy
Meet the Feebles	1989	Comedy
Bad Taste	1987	Science Fiction

Music Contributors

Howard Shore

Howard Leslie Shore is a Canadian composer, notable for his film scores. He has composed the scores for over 80 films, most notably the scores for...
more

Prequels and Sequels

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

2002

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

2003

Frequently Asked Questions

Q:
Which screenwriter wrote the movie The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King?
A:
Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, Peter Jackson and J. R. R. Tolkien performed the film's screenwriting.
Q:
Which actors starred in movie, "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King"?
A:
Elijah Wood, Sean Astin, Viggo Mortensen, Ian McKellen, Orlando Bloom and Andy Serkis starred in the movie.
Q:
Who distributed the film, "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King"?
A:
New Line Cinema distributed the film.
Q:
How long is the runtime of the motion picture "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King"?
A:
The total runtime is 201 minutes.
Q:
When did the movie "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King" debut?
A:
The movie was released in December, 2003.
Q:
Who wrote the music for the movie The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King?
A:
Howard Shore composed sheet music for the movie's soundtrack.
Q:
Who played a role in the production of the film, "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King"?
A:
Peter Jackson, Barrie M. Osborne and Fran Walsh were the movie's producers.
Q:
What is the movie, "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King" rated?
A:
The motion picture is rated PG-13 (USA).
Q:
Which movie came before The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King in the series?
A:
"The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers" is the name of the movie's prequel.
Q:
Which honors did the movie "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King" receive?
A:
The movie received the Academy Award for Best Picture, Academy Award for Best Director and .