Parents' Guide to

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

By Nell Minow, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 12+

Outstanding, but much violence and scariness.

Movie PG-13 2003 200 minutes
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

See all
age 11+

Based on 42 parent reviews

Movie Man
Movie Man Adult
December 11, 2009
age 13+

The Greatest Achievement in Fantasy and in Grand Epics in Movie History.

This, ladies and gentlemen, is the single greatest achievement in film making of the new millenium. The acting: superb! The direction: outstanding! The story: breathtaking! The special-effects: mind-blowing! The battles: utterly moving and, quite frankly, awesome! PARENTS: Although this film, in my opinion, is a must-see, it is extremely violent for a PG-13. Battles include, fire, lots of gore, and scary images of monsters and orcs. Simply put, this is a great movie. I loved it and many others I know enjoyed it highly, and they don't usually like these types of films. I very highly recommend it! Thanks for reading - Movie Man

This title has:

Too much violence
Great messages
Great role models
2 people found this helpful.
Jackraven123
Jackraven123 Parent
August 21, 2022
age 12+
A very detailed and delightful fantasy film amazing characters and landscapes. Totally fine for 10 - 12 and above. Very violent fight scenes including decapitations and blood spurts, mostly offscreen but, something very graphic and gory it also has some drinking and smoking weed, has very positive messages.

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
Too much violence
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
1 person found this helpful.
See all 42 parent reviews

What's the Story?

One of the most ambitious projects in the history of filmmaking comes to a heart-poundingly thrilling conclusion with THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RETURN OF THE KING, the final installment of Tolkien's trilogy directed by Peter Jackson. The second installment opened in the middle of the action, but this one begins with a flashback, in which we learn more about Gollum, the twisted, tortured creature who is supposed to be leading Frodo (Elijah Wood) and Samwise Gamgee (Sean Astin) to Mount Doom. We also learn more about the power of that ring to make anyone willing to give up all he has to possess it. After that very brief prologue, we are back where we left off, a literal cliffhanger. Frodo, Sam, and Gollum are crossing the stark peaks on the way to the volcano in the heart of Mount Doom. That's where the ring was forged and the only place where it can be destroyed. Meanwhile, the other remaining members of the Fellowship of the Ring prepare for battle with the forces led by Sauron.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (42):
Kids say (177):

As with the first two chapters, Peter Jackson's rendition of the Tolkien classic is astonishing. Every detail is just right, and from the struggles of three very small creatures to stay alive as they scale sheer rock to the huge battles with hundreds of thousands of warriors, every moment is vivid, exciting, and moving. That means not just Middle Earth citadels, a giant spider, and thousands of phantom combatants, but also smaller moments of equal power. Sam and Gollum each try to make Frodo mistrust the other. There are villains, grotesque and powerful, weak and greedy. And there are heroes, loyal, brave, devoted, honorable.

The tone of The Return of the King is epic and majestic, the battles brilliantly staged, the vistas magnificently conceived. But it's still all about the story. Characters learn and deepen. Even little Pippin and Merry go from cute comic relief to genuine heroes. There is so much going on that some characters seem like not much more than cameo guest appearances, especially Arwen (Liv Tyler) and Galadriel (Cate Blanchette). And the post-ending endings, after more than three hours, may seem a bit too much. But this is still an epic to satisfy the most devoted Tolkien fans, and viewers who are new to Middle Earth. In its own way, it is as thrilling an adventure in storytelling on film as the quest it portrays.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about why they think Frodo was charged with carrying the ring in The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King. As the movie progresses, is he still the best person for the job?

  • You can also talk about the modern-day parallels to these stories, since Tolkien wrote the books as parables. How are Tolkien's parables different from those of C.S. Lewis, Tolkien's longtime friend and colleague?

  • How do you think the movie adaptations compare with Tolkien's books?

  • How do the characters in The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King demonstrate courage, perseverance, and teamwork? Why are these important character strengths?

Movie Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

See all recommended movie lists

Related Topics

Want suggestions based on your streaming services? Get personalized recommendations

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate