The Most Popular Lord of the Rings Movie, Ranked
Voting rules: Choose the Lord you think is the most popular!
Updated on Apr 28, 2024 06:42
In the realm of epic fantasy, the Lord of the Rings series holds a special place in the hearts of many. Determining which film stands out the most could ignite passionate debates among friends, each defending their preferred chapter of the saga. By ranking these movies, fans gain a unique opportunity to see how their favorites stack up against the community consensus.
Voting on this list not only fuels discussions but also helps new viewers decide where to start or what to expect from each film. As the votes pour in, the dynamic list adjusts, reflecting the shifting opinions of the global audience. This ongoing interaction ensures that the rankings stay fresh and relevant, offering a continually updated pulse on fan preferences.
What Is the Most Popular Lord of the Rings Movie?
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124votes
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
Directed by Peter JacksonThis movie is considered the most popular because it introduces audiences to the world of Middle-earth and sets the stage for the epic adventure that follows. It also features memorable characters like Frodo, Gandalf, and Aragorn.The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) is a fantasy adventure film based on J.R.R. Tolkien's novel of the same name. It is the first installment in the Lord of the Rings film trilogy directed by Peter Jackson.- Release Date: December 19, 2001
- Running Time: 178 minutes
- Genre: Fantasy, Adventure
- Language: English
- Budget: $93 million
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228votesThis movie won 11 Academy Awards, including Best Picture, and is often considered the best of the trilogy. It features some of the most memorable moments, including the Battle of the Pelennor Fields and the destruction of the One Ring.The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003) in other rankings
- Position 3 of 10 in Most anticipated movie of all time
- Position 4 of 10 in Most popular Warner Bros. movie
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320votes
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)
Directed by Peter JacksonThis movie is notable for its epic battle scenes, including the Battle of Helm's Deep. It also features the introduction of key characters like Gollum and Éowyn.The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002) is the second installment in the epic fantasy film series based on J.R.R. Tolkien's novel. Directed by Peter Jackson, the movie continues the journey of the Fellowship of the Ring as they face new challenges and encounters. The story is set in the fictional world of Middle-earth and focuses on the battle against the dark forces led by the evil Sauron.- Release year: 2002
- Running time: 179 minutes
- Genre: Fantasy, Adventure, Drama
- Based on: J.R.R. Tolkien's novel 'The Two Towers'
- Main actors: Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Viggo Mortensen, Orlando Bloom
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422votes
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)
Peter JacksonWhile not as popular as the Lord of the Rings trilogy, this movie still garnered a large following due to its connection to the Middle-earth universe. It also features a memorable performance by Martin Freeman as Bilbo Baggins.The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012) is the first installment in the three-part film adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien's novel 'The Hobbit'. Directed by Peter Jackson, it follows the journey of Bilbo Baggins as he accompanies a group of dwarves led by Thorin Oakenshield to reclaim their homeland from the fearsome dragon Smaug.- Release Date: December 14, 2012
- Genre: Fantasy, Adventure
- Running Time: 169 minutes
- Box Office: $1.021 billion
- Budget: $200 million
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520votes
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013)
Peter JacksonThis movie features the introduction of the dragon Smaug, one of the most iconic villains in Middle-earth lore. It also features memorable action sequences and character moments.The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013) is the second installment in the Hobbit film trilogy based on J.R.R. Tolkien's novel The Hobbit. Directed by Peter Jackson, it takes place in Middle-earth and follows the journey of Bilbo Baggins as he accompanies a group of dwarves on their quest to reclaim their homeland from the dragon Smaug.- Release Date: December 13, 2013
- Running Time: 161 minutes
- Genre: Adventure, Fantasy
- Cast: Martin Freeman, Ian McKellen, Richard Armitage
- Writing Credits: Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, Peter Jackson, Guillermo del Toro
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614votes
The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (2014)
Directed by Peter JacksonThis movie brings the Hobbit trilogy to a satisfying conclusion with epic battle scenes and emotional character moments. It also features a standout performance by Richard Armitage as Thorin Oakenshield.The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (2014) is the final installment in Peter Jackson's film adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien's book, 'The Hobbit'. The movie is an epic fantasy adventure that concludes the story of Bilbo Baggins and the quest to reclaim the Lonely Mountain from the dragon Smaug. It follows the events of the previous two installments, 'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey' and 'The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug'. The Battle of the Five Armies depicts the climactic battle between the various races and factions of Middle-earth fighting for control of the mountain and its treasure.- Release date: December 1, 2014
- Running time: 144 minutes
- Genre: Fantasy, Adventure
- Production company: New Line Cinema, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, WingNut Films
- Budget: $250 million
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715votesWhile not as well-known as the live-action trilogy, this animated movie is still beloved by fans for its faithful adaptation of the book and memorable music by Leonard Rosenman.The Lord of the Rings: The Animated Movie (1978) is an animated fantasy film based on J.R.R. Tolkien's epic novel, 'The Lord of the Rings.' It follows the journey of Frodo Baggins and his friends as they set out to destroy the powerful One Ring and defeat the Dark Lord Sauron.
- Release Date: November 15, 1978
- Runtime: 132 minutes
- Animation Style: Combination of traditional hand-drawn animation and rotoscoping
- Voice Cast: Includes Christopher Guard, William Squire, Michael Scholes, and John Hurt
- Music: Score composed by Leonard Rosenman
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88votes
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (1981)
Ralph BakshiThis animated movie is notable for being the first adaptation of the Lord of the Rings book and features the voice talent of John Hurt as Aragorn.The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (1981) is an animated fantasy film based on J.R.R. Tolkien's epic novel 'The Lord of the Rings.' It is the second part of a two-part animated film adaptation of the book, following 'The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (1978).' The movie continues the story of Frodo Baggins and his fellowship as they journey through Middle-earth, facing various challenges and encountering new allies and enemies along the way.- Release Year: 1981
- Runtime: 133 minutes
- Genre: Animation, Adventure, Fantasy
- Director: Ralph Bakshi
- Screenplay: Chris Conkling, Peter S. Beagle
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910votesThis animated movie features the voice talent of John Hurt as Aragorn and is notable for its trippy visuals and unique animation style.The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (1978) is an animated fantasy-adventure film based on J.R.R. Tolkien's novel of the same name. It was directed by Ralph Bakshi and produced by Saul Zaentz.
- Release Date: November 15, 1978
- Running Time: 132 minutes
- Animation Technique: Combination of live-action footage and rotoscoping
- Voices: Christopher Guard, William Squire, Michael Scholes
- Music: Leonard Rosenman
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108votesThis animated movie is notable for its unique animation style and memorable performances by Roddy McDowall as Samwise Gamgee and John Huston as Gandalf.The Return of the King (1980) is an animated fantasy film based on J.R.R. Tolkien's novel of the same name. It serves as the third and final installment in the animated adaptation of The Lord of the Rings trilogy.
- Release Year: 1980
- Running Time: 98 minutes
- Animation Studio: Rankin/Bass Productions
- Genre: Fantasy, Adventure
- Language: English
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Ranking factors for popular Lord
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Box office successEvaluate each movie's earnings at the box office. A higher-grossing movie may be considered more popular.
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Critical receptionConsider the critiques and reviews from film critics, such as scores on Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic. A higher-rated movie may have been better received by the public.
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Audience ratingsLook at how audiences reacted to the movies, through audience scores on platforms such as IMDb and Rotten Tomatoes. A higher audience rating indicates greater popularity.
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Awards and nominationsCheck for accolades, such as Academy Awards, BAFTAs, and Golden Globes, that each movie received. Movies with more awards and nominations may be seen as more popular.
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Cultural impactAssess each movie’s influence on popular culture, such as references in television shows, memes, and merchandise sales. A film with a lasting cultural impact might be considered more popular.
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Character popularityConsider the popularity of the characters within each movie, such as iconic quotes and memorable performances.
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Fan engagementEvaluate the level of fan engagement for each movie, like the active discussions on forums (e.g., Reddit), fan-fiction, fan art, and social media presence.
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Re-watchabilityConsider each movie's potential for being re-watched. A movie that fans enjoy watching multiple times may be more popular than those they don't.
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Marketing campaignsAssess the effectiveness of each movie's promotional efforts, such as trailers, posters, and viral marketing campaigns.
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LegacyConsider the impact each movie had on the film industry, along with the influence it made on future movies, TV shows, and other media. A movie that leaves a significant legacy may be deemed more popular.
About this ranking
This is a community-based ranking of the most popular Lord of the Rings movie. We do our best to provide fair voting, but it is not intended to be exhaustive. So if you notice something or Lord is missing, feel free to help improve the ranking!
Statistics
- 1542 views
- 166 votes
- 10 ranked items
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Voting Rules
A participant may cast an up or down vote for each Lord once every 24 hours. The rank of each Lord is then calculated from the weighted sum of all up and down votes.
More information on most popular lord of the rings movie
The Lord of the Rings trilogy is undoubtedly one of the most iconic and beloved film franchises in cinematic history. Based on the epic fantasy novel by J.R.R. Tolkien, the movies were directed by Peter Jackson and released between 2001 and 2003. The trilogy comprises of The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King, each of which follows the journey of hobbit Frodo Baggins and his companions as they attempt to destroy the One Ring and defeat the dark lord Sauron. The films were critically acclaimed and won numerous awards, including 17 Academy Awards out of a total of 30 nominations. With such an incredible legacy, it's no wonder that fans continue to debate which of the three movies is the most popular.
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