The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
Aggregated from 12 of 31 authoritative lists, weighted by authority and adjusted for each list's scope and age. How scoring works →
About the film
As armies mass for a final battle that will decide the fate of the world--and powerful, ancient forces of Light and Dark compete to determine the outcome--one member of the Fellowship of the Ring is revealed as the noble heir to the throne of the Kings of Men. Yet, the sole hope for triumph over evil lies with a brave hobbit, Frodo, who, accompanied by his loyal friend Sam and the hideous, wretched Gollum, ventures deep into the very dark heart of Mordor on his seemingly impossible quest to destroy the Ring of Power.
Why it ranks #218
Every list on which The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King appears, with its position as published.
| List | Authority | Position |
|---|---|---|
| Empire 100 Best (2025) | Editorial list | #21 / 100 |
| Rolling Stone 21st Century 100 (2025) | Critics' canon | #36 / 102 |
| Halliwell's Top 1000 (2005) | Critics' canon | #36 / 1041 |
| Entertainment Weekly 100 (2013) | Editorial list | #43 / 87 |
| BBC 100 Greatest of 21st Century (2016) | Major international poll | #80 / 102 |
| THR Hollywood's 100 Favorite (2014) | Critics' canon | #87 / 100 |
| Letterboxd Top 500 (2026-07 snapshot) | Editorial list | #353 / 500 |
| Empire 500 Greatest (2008) | Editorial list | #360 / 500 |
| 1001 Movies (2003-2024 union) | Critics' canon | Selected |
| TIME All-TIME 100 (2005) | Editorial list | Selected |
| Academy Award Best Picture winners | Award | Winner |
| Venice Golden Lion winners | Award | Winner |