Peter Jackson's award-winning, almost universally adored Lord of the Rings trilogy needs no introduction. The love for these films only seems to grow as time passes, and they're now generally agreed to be the benchmark by which all other fantasy adaptations are measured. The trilogy's star-studded cast, iconic scenes and unforgettable dialogue cemented its exalted place in cultural history. And with Amazon's hotly anticipated high-budget series set in the Second Age coming up fast, it's the perfect time to look back on critical reactions to these cherished movies.
Using an average of Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic scores, here's a definitive ranking of the Lord of the Rings trilogy according to critics. It should be noted that the score differences are incredibly small -- all three of these movies are beloved in their own right. Nonetheless, there is a definitive ranking, and it's interesting to see why some of the chapters are more well-loved than others.
3. The Two Towers - 91 Percent
Coming in at a very close third, the second installment of the trilogy seems to drag a bit in some critics' opinions, which is a common problem for sophomore entries in franchises. The sheer amount of plot movement that needs to happen in The Two Towers and the density of its lore are two reasons it's not a great starting point for new viewers, on top of the simple fact that it's a direct continuation of the first film.
Obviously, that doesn't mean The Two Towers is a bad film by any stretch of the imagination. Among other highlights, it features the introduction of Rohan, an essential kingdom in the world of Middle-Earth, and culminates with the famous Battle of Helm's Deep. The action scenes are somewhat divisive -- some find the shot of Legolas shield-surfing down a staircase iconic and epic, while others believe it's entirely ridiculous. Either way, no one could argue that it's not memorable.
2. The Fellowship of the Ring - 91.5 Percent
The first chapter of the trilogy was a watershed moment in cinematic history, a film that truly swept the world and dazzled audiences and critics alike. No one had ever envisioned such an ambitious adaptation of such a famously difficult-to-adapt work, and a full fantasy trilogy being greenlit and made all in one go was an entirely foreign concept in the movie industry at the time. To the relief of all involved, The Fellowship of the Ring was an immediate and roaring success.
The pitch-perfect casting drew particular notice; critics couldn't get enough of Ian McKellen's Gandalf or Cate Blanchett's luminous, towering Galadriel. Then there was the enchanting craftsmanship and dedication on display in every frame of the film. Perhaps most importantly, people were blown away by the evident artistic passion in the script and story, which were supported by the enormous budget rather than supplanted by it. Looking back on this film, it's truly astonishing how many standout sequences it contains -- from Bilbo's raucous birthday party to Gandalf's epic faceoff with the Balrog.
Fellowship is so well-regarded that some may be surprised it didn't take first place in this list. When one considers the heated anticipation it and The Two Towers stirred up for the epic conclusion, though, it makes perfect sense that the next and final entry is the winner.
1. The Return of the King - 93.5 Percent
The Return of the King was an unalloyed triumph, sweeping the Oscars the year of its release and breaking multiple records for the most awards won by a single film. In fact, as of this very moment, it still holds the record for the most Academy Awards won by one movie -- not bad for a picture released over 15 years ago. It's difficult to convey just how highly anticipated this final chapter was. After a breathless wait of several years, Return of the King brought the whole Tolkien saga to a moving, memorable end, capped off with lingering farewells to many beloved characters.
Reviews raved about the strength of the script and the powerful performances of the cast, with many finding the story's conclusion deeply moving. Iconic scenes such as Eowyn's famed moment of triumph on the Pelennor Fields became engraved in cultural memory for generations to come. As with the first two chapters, the film's extravagant CGI and practical effects were lauded as groundbreaking. Though there were a few half-hearted voices less enamored with the movie than others -- some felt Viggo Mortensen didn't quite pull off the gravitas demanded by the character of Aragorn, for example -- the majority of critics seemed to agree that The Return of the King is Jackson's crowning achievement, breathtakingly epic in scope and satisfying to the last moment.