News

Film sets are surprisingly dangerous places. Between stunt work, the elements and the ever-present threat of a kiss from Francis Ford Coppola, on-set injuries have ranged from minor scrapes to serious tragedy. Some movies, though, can’t help but relentlessly punish the people bringing them to life.

5 ‘The Lord of the Rings’ Broke Viggo Mortensen’s Toes and Teeth

We’ve all heard the story about Mortensen breaking his toes when he grief-kicked a helmet in The Two Towers, but that’s not all he broke. While shooting the Battle of Helm’s Deep, “his front tooth snapped off at the root,” according to director Peter Jackson, broken by an Orc’s sword. He also nearly drowned floating down the Anduin after a current pulled him under and narrowly missed getting stabbed in the face twice due to prop malfunction in the first movie. It’s a wonder the king returned at all.

Having completed over two full weeks in theaters, A Minecraft Movie has hit another major milestone at the domestic box office. The video game adaptation has broken into the list of the top 100 movies of all time, having overtaken a string of iconic releases. A Minecraft Movie broke records in its domestic debut, out-performing fellow video game adaptation The Super Mario Bros. Movie and fellow Warner Bros. hit Barbie. Both those titles grossed over $1.3 billion worldwide, and A Minecraft Movie can realistically hit the coveted $1 billion milestone as well, at the rate it's going.

The movie is passing the $350 million mark domestically — a feat that it accomplished in under 20 days. Most recently, it overtook The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers to become one of the 75 highest-grossing films in domestic box office history. On its third Tuesday, it overtook blockbusters such as American Sniper and Transformers: Dark of the Moon.

Stop reading right now if you haven't watched the second episode of season 2 of "The Last of Us" — major spoilers lie ahead.

In the second episode of the sophomore season of "The Last of Us," something massive happens ... and I'm not talking about the major death that happens just before the end of the episode. What I am talking about is the assault on the protected fortress in Jackson, Wyoming where pretty much all of the show's main characters now live, including Joel Miller (Pedro Pascal), his surrogate daughter Ellie (Bella Ramsey), Joel's brother Tommy (Gabriel Luna) and Tommy's wife Maria (Rutina Wesley), and Ellie's friends (and newcomers in season 2) Dina and Jesse, played respectively by Isabela Merced and Young Mazino.

While Joel and Dina are out on a tracking mission, and Ellie and Jesse are also stranded out in the same snowstorm affecting the prior duo's visibility in the woods,...

Which one of the trilogies, The Hobbit Or The Lord Of The Rings slayed the box office?(Photo Credit –Facebook)

Middle-earth is one of the most famous fantasy realms in the world. First brought to life by J.R.R. Tolkien in The Hobbit (1937) and expanded through the epic scope of The Lord of the Rings trilogy (1954–55), these stories laid the foundation for modern fantasy storytelling. The appeal of Tolkien’s world prompted filmmaker Peter Jackson to adapt these monumental works into two separate trilogies, each packed with sweeping battles, iconic portrayals, and an unforgettable soundtrack.

Released between 2001 and 2003, The Lord of the Rings film trilogy became a cinematic landmark, earning critical acclaim and bagging 17 Academy Awards. A decade later, Jackson returned to Middle-earth with The Hobbit prequel trilogy, stretching the slim novel into three action-heavy blockbusters. Both trilogies thrilled fans and filled theatres across the globe, but which one reigned supreme at the box office?...

The talented cast of “The Pitt” includes a number of actors whose parents are also in the business. While Taylor Dearden and Fiona Dourif might, technically be considered “nepo babies,” they have more than proven themselves to be as hardworking as their emergency room characters in the hit drama on HBO’s Max.

Here is who’s related to who and where else you might have seen them before this. Some, like Dourif and Isa Briones, who plays Trinity Santos, have even acted alongside their famous family members.

Taylor Dearden

The 32-year-old actress, who plays resident Mel King on the series, is the daughter of “Breaking Bad” star Bryan Cranston and actress Robin Dearden, whose TV credits include appearances on “Murder, She Wrote,” and the soap opera “Generations.” She previously starred on Netflix’s “American Vandal,” MTV’s “Sweet/Vicious” and Apple’s “For All Mankind.”

Fiona Dourif and father Brad Dourif...

The heroic and faithful Hobbit, Samwise Gamgee, played by Sean Astin in the original Lord of the Ringstrilogy, proved to be a loyal friend to Frodo Baggins in his journey to destroy the Ring. The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum, which will be directed by Andy Serkis, is set for a 2027 release. During an appearance on a panel moderated by ScreenRant’s Joe Deckelmeier at Washington, D.C.’s AwesomeCon, Sean Astin delved into whether he’d reprise his Samwise role.

“The idea of doing Sam again…When we did it the first time, I had no idea what the relationship of the literature was to that character. To me, it was all about what we were doing and trying to understand the ideas; just connecting on an emotional level,” Astin said.

The original Lord of the Rings movies, directed by Peter Jackson, began their theatrical runs...

Quick LinksThe Ents Were Hesitant to Fight in The Lord of the RingsPippin Used a Clever Trick to Change Treebeard's MindThe Last March of the Ents Turned the Tide of the War of the Ring

The Battle of Helm's Deep is one of the most iconic moments from Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, and for good reason. In addition to serving as a thrilling action set piece full of drama and spectacle, it was crucial to the history of Middle-earth. If Saruman the White had been victorious, it would have meant the utter destruction of Rohan, but against all odds, the Rohirrim survived the onslaught. Despite heavy casualties, the Battle of Helm's Deep was the first major success for the Free Peoples of Middle-earth, and it proved that there was still hope to defeat the forces of evil. Yet there was another battle that...

George R.R. Martin is very much aware of his fans running short on patience waiting for his long-overdue novel The Winds of Winter. Yes, 14 years is more than enough to finish a book, but the author still hasn’t delivered his promise.

He’s not the only famous fantasy author who took a lot of time before publishing a highly anticipated installment. J.R.R. Tolkien notably spent almost two decades before he finished The Lord of the Rings, the sequel to The Hobbit.

George R.R. Martin via TIFF Originals / Credits: YouTube George R.R. Martin is only 14 years late, J.R.R. Tolkien took 17 years to write The Lord of the Rings

After George R.R. Martin released A Dance with Dragons in 2011, he immediately started writing the manuscript for The Winds of Winter and even announced his plan to publish it before the final season of Game of Thrones.

Quick LinksSam Did Not Want to Use the One Ring's PowerThe One Ring Tempted Sam With Power and GloryNot Even the One Ring Could Corrupt Sam's SpiritTolkien Imagined Sam as the "Chief Hero" of His StoryHobbits are Humbly Heroic In the World of The Lord of the Rings

Near the end of The Fellowship of the Ring from J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, Frodo Baggins made the difficult decision to part ways with the rest of the Fellowship. The One Ring's corrupting influence had caused Boromir to attack him at Amon Hen, and he feared that it would do the same to his other companions. He thought it was safer for himself and Middle-earth if he carried out the rest of his quest alone. But try as he might, he could not leave his stalwart friend Samwise Gamgee behind. They traveled together for months during The Lord of the Rings,...

The following contains spoilers for House of David Season 1, Episode 7, “David and Goliath – Part 1," now streaming on Prime Video.

House of David Season 1, Episode 7, "David and Goliath - Part 1," pays off the confrontation that fans glimpsed in the opening minutes of Season 1, Episode 1, “A Shepherd and King,” where David and Goliath first met. Since then, things have come full circle, as warring factions gather to contest who will rule over Israel. Victory may seem assured for the Philistines, but King Saul has more than God on his side. But this episode does more than promise a big battle.

The episode questions the power of belief against the overwhelming odds of an army with a giant in their ranks. It questions how the presence of one man -- armed with only a slingshot -- can change the course of history in the face of certain death. This storyline delves into the...

Quick LinksTolkien and Faramir Had Some of the Same PassionsTolkien Used Faramir to Communicate His Beliefs About WarFaramir's Role in The Lord of the Rings Came as a Surprise to Tolkien

J. R. R. Tolkien was adamant that The Lord of the Rings was not an allegory, but this did not preclude him from drawing upon his life experiences when writing his fantasy epics; he made a distinction between taking inspiration from the real world and directly copying it. Many of the characters in The Lord of the Rings and the rest of Tolkien's legendarium were inspired by people whom he personally knew. For example, Arwen and her ancestor, Lúthien, were modeled after Tolkien's wife, Edith. Like her, they had fair skin, gray eyes, and dark hair, and Tolkien wrote that Lúthien was the most beautiful of all Elves. Another example was Treebeard, whose booming voice was inspired by that...

Quick LinksThe Fall of the Westfold Nearly Spelled Doom for RohanGondor Had Good Reasons Not to Help RohanThéoden's Selflessness Saved Middle-earthWhat Happened to Gondor and Rohan After The Lord of the Rings?

In Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings film trilogy, the kingdoms of Gondor and Rohan had a fraught dynamic. They were once close allies, as the land of Rohan had been a gift from the Steward of Gondor to the Rohirrim's ancestors. The nations were honor bound by the Oath of Eorl to help each other in times of need, and they did so many times throughout Middle-earth's history. However, in a deviation from J. R. R. Tolkien's novel, their alliance started to crumble during the War of the Ring.

In The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, Aragorn implores King Théoden to ask for Gondor's help in fighting Saruman's forces, to which Théoden angrily replies,...

As the foundation upon which practically all forms of high fantasy were written, The Lord of the Rings franchise has some absolutely iconic lines that, even those who have not read the books or watched the movies, know to this day. Of course, a good number of these lines come from the legendary wizard, Gandalf. As the quintessential wise guardian of the Fellowship, Gandalf's words take on a certain weight and depth that people can still debate about decades after his debut.

Looking over the course of his adventures, it is hard to select which lines were his best. From threats to his enemies to warnings to his allies, Gandalf has had a chance to offer his two cents on more than one occasion. Which lines deserve to be considered his best, though? It varies from fan to fan, but some of his dialogue has more staying power than others.

Quick LinksArwen Gave Aragorn the Strength to Carry On in The Lord of the RingsAragorn's Cliff Fall Was a Major Deviation From the Novel

Unlike the previous film, Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers did not kill off any members of the Fellowship, but for a moment, it seemed as if it did. As Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli accompanied the Rohirrim on their journey from Edoras to Helm's Deep, they were ambushed by a band of Orcs riding ferocious beasts known as Wargs. Aragorn killed the Warg-riders' leader, Sharkû, but in the process, his arm became snared in the Warg's saddle. Without its rider, the Warg barreled out of control towards the edge of a nearby cliff. It ran over the precipice, dragging Aragorn with it, and they both plummeted into a river far below. After the battle, Legolas and Gimli questioned a dying Sharkû about what happened to Aragorn.

The Council of Elrond from The Lord of the Rings was a meeting between representatives of some of Middle-earth's many cultures to decide the fate of the One Ring. In J. R. R. Tolkien's novel, fate brought them together in Rivendell, while in Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring film, Elrond specifically summoned them. Either way, travelers from far and wide converged upon the Elven realm. The representative of Gondor was Boromir, the eldest son of Denethor II, the Steward of Gondor. Boromir argued that the One Ring should be used as a weapon against the Dark Lord Sauron. He was overruled, but he still joined the Fellowship and set out on the quest to destroy the One Ring. Boromir's strength and bravery made him a valuable ally, but the temptation of the One Ring was too great for him. At Amon Hen,...

Widely considered to be the most seminal work of the modern high fantasy genre, J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings is home to many creatures, ranging from graceful and magical elves to terrifying monsters, both seen and unseen. The exploration, depiction, and design of these occasionally mysterious entities helped turn Tolkien's world into one of the most immersive stories in fiction. Peter Jackson's trilogies of Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit brought many of these creatures to life for the big screen.

The various creatures of Tolkien's legendarium range from mighty demons to lumbering trolls, but all have deadly potential when faced with the other races of Middle-earth. Moreover, these beings are as much a part of the appeal of the iconic fantasy franchise as its heroes. Whether they were created evil or twisted into a darker form of their past self, the monsters of J.

Quick LinksÉowyn's Conversation With Aragorn Was Going to Occur Later in the FilmÉowyn's Conversation With Aragorn Deviated From the Novel

When creating The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, Peter Jackson, and his team had the difficult task of introducing the Rohirrim and getting the audience invested in their stories while simultaneously continuing the plot from The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. It was crucial that the newly introduced characters had scenes to establish their motivations and personalities. Jackson clearly did an excellent job, as King Théoden, Éomer, and Éowyn quickly became fan favorites. One of how the film got viewers to care about the Rohirrim was by setting up character arcs that would not be paid off until the trilogy's final installment, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King. For example, The Two Towers showcased Théoden's reluctance to work together with Gondor,...

Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings Trilogy is one of the most brilliant masterworks of cinema ever released. It's a bold and ambitious fantasy epic that is lauded for effectively balancing emotional character arcs and complex storytelling. The grand scope of the trilogy is full of substance for fans of the genre but also for fans of cinema in general. Despite all its praise, awards and iconic immortality, it's not often discussed just how well the trilogy blends multiple genres.

The Lord of the Rings is one of the greatest adventure tales in literature and cinema. It is also a masterclass in visual effects, set design, hair and make-up and just about every aspect of movie magic. However, J.R.R. Tolkien and Peter Jackson deserve a ton of credit for the world-building envisioned and then eventually brought to life on screen. This fantasy universe brings multiple genres to the forefront,...

When you think of The Lord of the Rings movies, you probably remember the big players, Frodo, Aragorn, Legolas dramatically flipping onto a horse, and, of course, Gollum arguing with himself. However, with a story as massive as Middle-earth, not everyone got the spotlight. Some characters showed up, did something kind of important, and then vanished into the background like they were never there.

Peter Jackson’s trilogy had over 11 hours of runtime, but even with all that time, some characters got the short end of the stick. Maybe they were meant to be more important but got their roles trimmed down, or maybe they were just there to move the plot along before being completely forgotten. You might remember a cool fight scene, a cryptic line, or a side character looking vaguely familiar, but can you name them? Probably not.

Elijah Wood and Ian McKellen in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring...

Quick LinksMiruvor Helped The Lord of the Rings' Heroes Endure the Bitter ColdMiruvor Had Divine Origins in The Lord of the Rings

The heroes of The Lord of the Rings faced countless dangers on their quest across Middle-earth. They were hunted by the monstrous forces of Sauron and Saruman, they needed to navigate treacherous terrain like the Dead Marshes and Cirith Ungol, and the magical influence of the One Ring threatened to turn them against one another. Yet they also needed to contend with more mundane survival aspects, such as finding food. In this regard, the Elves of Lothlórien were invaluable allies. Galadriel gave the Fellowship a supply of lembas bread. As Legolas explained in Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring film, “one small bite” could “fill the stomach of a grown man.”

The members of the Fellowship -- especially Frodo and Sam...

Blockbusters rarely get as good as Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy. Not only did it accomplish the seemingly impossible in faithfully bringing J.R.R. Tolkien’s saga to life, but it also legitimized the fantasy genre almost single-handedly and won critical acclaim, high box office returns, and countless industry awards. Yet even by those lofty standards, The Return of the King was an astonishing conclusion, giving viewers everything they could want in a massive tentpole: strong characters, epic spectacle, and emotion in spades. There’s a reason it still holds the record for the biggest sweep in Oscar history, winning every one of its 11 nominations.

Jackson’s films somehow got even richer upon release of the extended editions. Despite building upon the already-demanding runtimes (each extended edition clocks in at roughly three and a half to four and a half hours), they fly by in an instant and...

The Lord of the Rings fans have long debated Peter Jackson’s one move that could have changed the trajectory of the movies. While many find the decision infuriating, others agree with the final version of the films. In any case, the debate has gone on for decades without a reprieve.

Liv Tyler as Arwen in Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings | Credits: New Line Cinema

That is, of course, Jackson’s decision to change the movie’s original idea of making Arwen appear at the battle of Helm’s Deep. The original concept of the movie relied heavily on this plot to shape Arwen and Aragorn’s love story.

As such, many think Jackson’s idea of taking this away made their story weaker. Liv Tyler, the one who portrayed Arwen in the movie, however, justified his decision wholeheartedly in an interview. Interestingly, a lot of fans...

While a perfect film is almost unheard of, this isn’t the case when it comes to perfect sequels, and Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy is arguably one of the best to ever do it. Not only the sequel, The Two Towers, was seen as a step above the already impeccable The Fellowship of the Ring, but the threequel also transcended the bar set by its predecessors.

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King | Credit: New Line Cinema

However, despite being a perfect sequel and a great conclusion to the Middle Earth saga, just like any other artwork the medium has to offer, Return of the King isn’t immune to flaws, especially when it comes to Gandalf.

Peter Jackson’s Return of the King didn’t do Gandalf justice

Although magic and wizards in Tolkien’s works don’t embody our typical understanding of wizardry in media,...

Viggo Mortensen breaking his toe kicking a helmet in The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers is one of pop culture's most memorable behind-the-scenes fun facts, and now Andorhas given Star Warsfans their own version of this moment. Star Wars has a reputation for keeping its actors safe during filming, but things can still happen. As was the case with Mortensen's emotional portrayal of Aragorn's despair leading to two broken toes, one cast member on the set of Andor also accidentally suffered an injury.

Speaking on a Star Warslivestream, Ruescott Melshi actor Duncan Pow revealed that star Diego Luna accidentally pulled his hamstring during a running scene in Andor season 1. Andor showrunner Tony Gilroy provided commentary on the complications of filming Melshi and Cassian's escape scene as a whole, which led to Pow revealing what happened to Luna during filming. Pow himself had just suffered an injury...

Quick LinksÉowyn Felt Hopeless in The Lord of the RingsÉowyn's Dream Was a Vision of Númenor's DestructionJ. R. R. Tolkien Was Obsessed With the Great Wave

Among fans of Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings trilogy, the extended editions are typically seen as the definitive way to experience the films. None of the scenes that were removed from the theatrical cuts of the trilogy were necessary to advance the plot, but many of them still made meaningful contributions to the narrative. Often, these scenes were quieter moments that further developed the characters' personalities and their dynamics with one another. In the extended editions of The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, there were several additional scenes devoted to exploring the relationship between Aragorn and Éowyn. Though viewers familiar with the source material knew that Aragorn and...

Quick LinksThe Lord of the Rings' Most Important Characters Lost FingersThe Loss of Fingers Had Symbolic Meaning in Middle-earthCelebrimbor Was Not the First Elf to Escape Unbreakable Chains

Much of the second season of Prime Video's The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power revolved around Sauron's manipulation of the Elven smith, Celebrimbor. Under the fair guise of Annatar, he convinced Celebrimbor to create more Rings of Power. Even as war descended upon Eregion, Sauron used illusions to alter Celebrimbor's perception of time and keep him unaware of the impending danger. Celebrimbor began to slip into madness as his work consumed his entire life. Celebrimbor eventually learned the truth about Sauron, but that mattered little to the Dark Lord; he simply resorted to threats of violence. He promised to spare Eregion only if Celebrimbor forged the Nine Rings for the race of Men, and he chained Celebrimbor to...

Quick LinksArwen's Sword Was Passed Down Through Her FamilyArwen's Sword Was One of The Lord of the Rings' Oldest Weapons

Unlike J. R. R. Tolkien’s novel, Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring film depicted Arwen as a warrior. In her first scene, she playfully held her sword to Aragorn’s throat, taunting, “What’s this? A Ranger caught off his guard?” She later faced off against the Nazgûl at the Fords of Bruinen to protect Frodo Baggins. Jackson even filmed some scenes of Arwen participating in the Battle of Helm’s Deep from The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, though they were not included even in the extended edition of the film. In each of these scenes, Arwen wielded an Elven sword called Hadhafang. It featured a curved blade inscribed with Elvish script that read, “Aen estar Hadhafang i chathol hen,...

Quick LinksSam's Osgiliath Speech Was a Metacommentary On The Lord of the RingsPeter Jackson Utilized the Medium of Film to its Full ExtentThe Two Towers' Ending Proves That Peter Jackson Understands Tolkien

Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers is hailed by many -- including Jackson himself -- as the greatest installment of The Lord of the Rings film trilogy. There are many memorable events in The Two Towers, ranging from Gollum's proper debut to the pulse-pounding Battle of Helm's Deep, yet one of the film's best scenes came near the very end. In a divergence from J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings novel, Faramir brought Frodo Baggins, Samwise Gamgee, and Gollum to Gondor. His goal was to deliver the One Ring to his father in Minas Tirith, but he was stopped at Osgiliath. A Nazgûl on its flying fell beast descended upon the city,...

"The Rings of Power" is operating with an ensemble cast to rule them all. Sure, a few characters, like Galadriel (Morfydd Clark), Sauron (Charlie Vickers), and Elrond (Robert Aramayo) get extra attention. In reality, though, there are a lot of faces vying for some screen time — and the list of characters keeps expanding with each season.

One of my favorite new additions to season 2 is the moody Irish actor Ciarán Hinds. Hinds is already known for his role in another fantasy franchise, "Game of Thrones," where he played Mance Rayder. One area of the fantasy landscape that he hadn't entered yet, though, was Middle-earth -- that is, until he joined Prime Video's show, donned some elaborate robes, grabbed a fancy staff, and set up shop as a "Dark Wizard" in the series' storyline in the easter region of Rhûn.

Hinds' new character doesn't show up until early in season 2, where...

Quick LinksSean Astin Used Ralph Bakshi's Film to Learn About The Lord of the RingsSean Astin Hated Ralph Bakshi's Version of Samwise GamgeePeter Jackson's Films Treated Samwise Gamgee With Respect

Peter Jackson's live-action film adaptations of J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings became pop-cultural icons upon their release in the early 2000s, and even two decades later, they are heralded by many as the greatest fantasy films of all time. Each of the trilogy's installments was a massive success both critically and commercially, cementing Jackson's Middle-earth as the definitive version for countless fans, but this was far from the first attempt at bringing Tolkien's seminal work to the big screen. Before the release of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring in 2001, the most prominent The Lord of the Rings adaptation was Ralph Bakshi's animated film from 1978. In terms of quality,...

Quick LinksPippin Lit the Beacons of Gondor Against Denethor's WishesThe Beacons of Gondor Did Not Summon the Rohirrim in the NovelPeter Jackson's Film Combined the Beacons of Gondor With the Red Arrow

One of the most visually exciting moments in Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King film was the lighting of the beacons of Gondor. These beacons were massive bonfires stationed along the peaks of the White Mountains, which separated the kingdoms of Gondor and Rohan. The first was located just outside the Gondorian capital of Minas Tirith, and the last was located just outside the Rohirrim capital of Edoras. Guards stationed at the beacons of Gondor would look out for the adjacent beacons to be lit and light their own in response, creating a signal that stretched for hundreds of miles. Gondor and Rohan used the beacons in case of emergency...

Don't make a "Lord of the Rings" anime, they said. Look, it bombed at the box office, they said. There's no doubt that Warner Bros.' animated experiment with "The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim" looked dead on arrival — or, at least, shortly afterward. Indeed, after a relatively decent amount of buzz in the lead up to its premiere, the movie landed with a thud in theaters back in mid-December.

According to The Numbers, the movie had a production budget of around $30 million. It proceeded to bring in less than $5 million during its opening weekend. When the Rohirric prequel closed up shop less than a month later, it had just cracked the $20 million mark when adding up both domestic and international ticket sales. Remember, theaters take a significant portion of that, too. No matter what way you slice it, or what ancient sword you use to do so,...

In any form of storytelling, there are bound to be clichés or tropes to ground the narrative within the realm of believability. The Lord of the Rings, based on J. R. R. Tolkien's eponymous novels, is no exception. That said, many fans have chosen to overlook Lord of the Ring's clichés, which include numerous well-known character archetypes in addition to countless other tropes related to worldbuilding.

Considering that the original story is now over seventy years old, it makes sense to suggest that Lord of the Rings was one of the first major novel series to popularize certain archetypes. Character clichés seen in Tolkien's universe have influenced much of the fantasy genre, most notably Dungeons & Dragons and video games like World of Warcraft. While Peter Jackson's film trilogy does inevitably omit some information from the novels, the main characters largely remain faithful to the source material.

Updated...

There are a lot of crossovers and connections within Middle-earth media. Even with completely separate projects, like Prime Video's "The Rings of Power" series and Peter Jackson's "The Lord of the Rings" and "The Hobbit" trilogies, you can see the throughlines. Some are obvious, like the similarities in Balrog design between Jackson's movies and Prime Video's show. Others are more subtle, like the ways "The Rings of Power" tries to recapture the magic of Jackson's Middle-earth movies. And then there is the human link.

Overall, there isn't too much personnel crossover between the Warner Bros. and Prime Video Middle-earth universes. However, there is one actor who has managed to pop up in both of them: Jed Brophy. Even more impressive? He managed to land full-blown character roles in all six of Jackson Middle-earth films and has since shown up on "The Rings of Power." He's even developed a...

The most divisive Lord of the Rings film has made a comeback on its streaming debut on Max. The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim, which massively underperformed at the box office in 2024 and received some very mixed critical reviews, has debuted at the top of Max’s streaming chart. Following in the footsteps of many other theatrical flops, the animated movie has finally found an audience several months after its December release in cinemas.

When The War of the Rohirrim was first announced, fans seemed to be on board with the addition to the Tolkien franchise, but the film’s biggest initial stumbling block became its anime animation format. The story of Helm Hammerhand, the legendary King of Rohan from long before the events of The Lord of the Rings, was an untouched chapter of the fantasy saga’s screen adaptations. Despite bringing in a strong voice cast,...

Where Was Gondor When Westfold Fell In The Lord Of The Rings (Photo Credit – Facebook)

J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings trilogy is filled with unforgettable characters and grand moments. However, only a few storylines resonated with fans as much as King Théoden’s redemption and the fate of Rohan. His journey from a manipulated, broken ruler to a fearless warrior king was a highlight of The Two Towers and The Return of the King. One of the most iconic moments of his arc came when Aragorn urged him to seek aid from Gondor, only for Théoden to bitterly respond, “Where was Gondor when the Westfold fell?”

Despite his personal animosity, Théoden answered Gondor’s call at Pelennor Fields, proving himself a noble and honorable king. But why was he so resentful? The tension stemmed from Rohan’s own tragedy of Saruman’s brutal assault on the Westfold.

February flies by, bringing us closer to spring and a final nod to winter. With the new month comes an exciting and diverse selection of movies to stream or see in theaters. Moviegoers can choose between Last Breath, a thriller based on a true deep-sea accident, or the dark comedy with social commentary, My Dead Friend Zoe. For those staying in, the anime fantasy The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim is now on Max after a rocky theatrical run, or they can head to Netflix for the thrilling action of Demon City.

Below, you will find our top picks of what you should be checking out for the first weekend of March 2025, followed by a full list of new titles available.

'The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim' (2024) Stream on Max

Your Ratingclose10 stars9 stars8 stars7 stars6 stars5 stars4 stars3 stars...

The Lord of the Rings is inundated with a variety of creatures and races. Whilst some of these aren't particularly unusual, there are a number of them that have weird traits. Some have evolved much further than others, gaining the ability to speak and move like men.

Although it doesn't delve into the backstory of every character that's involved, the trilogy takes audiences on an adventure with exciting and often terrifying fictional creations. Some of these are part of Sauron's evil mission, whilst others are in support of defending Middle-earth. The mix of beings may make Tolkien's world surreal, but they also add to the depth and history of his design.

Shelob Was Evil But on No One's Side Image via New Line Cinema

Perhaps because she is in the form of something that viewers will come across in real life, Shelob is the kind of creature that nightmares are made of.

Gollum is an integral part of The Lord of the Rings. Played by Andy Serkis, his actions and motives influenced the direction of the films, specifically with Frodo's journey to destroy the One Ring. He was a visual representation of how strong the dark forces were, and what their corruption could do to someone.

Gollum, who was originally Smeagol, lived as a Stoor Hobbit but was disowned after his awful actions towards his cousin, Deagol. Gollum was complicated, falling between good and evil. Due to his interesting, albeit disturbing personality, there are a number of scenes that the character made iconic.

Updated on February 26, 2025 by Robert Vaux: Gollum is one of Tolkien's most complex characters, and practically every scene he's in informs his unique place in The Lord of the Rings. The article has been updated with five new entries, and the formatting has been adjusted to meet Cbr's current guidelines.

Die-hard fans of the original Lord of the Rings books have had a few bones to pick with the Peter Jackson trilogy over the years. While the films are visually stunning, with a rousing score and near-perfect casting, there is one change in particular that Jackson makes that goes against the point thatJ.R.R. Tolkien was trying to make about the Elves, specifically seen in The Two Towers. The Battle of the Hornburg (aka the Battle of Helm's Deep) is one of the greatest moments in the trilogy, there is no doubt. However, in Tolkien's original material, this battle has a different significance, one that Jackson and company changed when they added one particular element: Elves.

Quick LinksThe Great Beasts Carried the Orcs' Most Devastating WeaponThe Great Beasts Had Many Designs and Many Origins

The Battle of the Pelennor Fields from Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King showcased some of the fantasy animals employed by Sauron's army. Most notable were the oliphaunts, or mûmakil as they were known in their native land of Harad. They were similar to elephants, but they were far larger and sported two additional pairs of tusks. Haradrim warriors rode atop the oliphaunts, using them both to trample their enemies and to provide high ground for archers.

Just as significant as the physical threat they posed was the fear and confusion that they instilled in the Gondorians and Rohirrim, who had never seen such massive creatures before. The oliphaunts were more extreme versions of the war elephants used in real-world historical combat. Though oliphaunts received the most attention,...

Quick LinksGollum Was His Own Worst Enemy in The Lord of the RingsGollum Overcame His Inner Demons -- But Not For LongGollum's Conversation With Himself Highlighted the Strengths of His Character

Peter Jackson and his team had extensive plans going into The Lord of the Rings film trilogy. Pre-production began several years before cameras started rolling, giving them time to iron out the script, create elaborate sets and props, and plan out the cinematography. This was one of the crew's greatest strengths, and it kept production of The Lord of the Rings running relatively smoothly. Jackson's later The Hobbit trilogy was far more rushed, which led to countless struggles behind the scenes. However, even during the production of The Lord of the Rings, Jackson could not account for everything, so he sometimes needed to improvise. In an interview with Stephen Colbert, Jackson discussed some of his favorite scenes from the trilogy,...

The Lord of the Rings is undoubtedly one of the most beloved fantasy series ever created. From its humble beginnings in 1954, to Peter Jackson's epic trilogy that inspired a generation of filmmakers, it's crisscrossed the globe to win over the hearts of fans everywhere. For all its acclaim, though, the saga is not without its criticism. Case in point: The Lord of the Rings: The War of Rohirrim, the 2024 animated prequel that divided fans and critics, and has finally set a streaming release date.

Per Max, The War of Rohirrim will hit the streaming service on Feb. 28, 2025, so viewers who missed it in theaters, or were hesitant to pay for it on VOD, will now be able to finally see it with a subscription. It was previously announced that February would be the month the film comes to streaming, but with a date now firmly in place, fans at...

Quick LinksTreebeard Rarely Spoke Entish in The Lord of the RingsThe Lord of the Rings' Ents Valued Clarity and PrecisionMost of The Lord of the Rings' Characters Did Not Have Time For Entish

J. R. R. Tolkien, the author of The Lord of the Rings, was obsessed with languages both real and fictional. He constructed several languages for the various cultures of his Middle-earth stories, most famously the Elvish languages of Sindarin and Quenya. They were as deep and complex as real-world languages, and he even charted their fictional evolution over history as the groups that spoke them splintered apart and diverged from one another. There are entire books and websites dedicated to documenting the extensive vocabulary and grammar of Tolkien's Elvish languages. However, some of Middle-earth's languages were far more obscure than those spoken by the Elves. For example, The Lord of the Rings did not feature much of...

The Lord of the Rings trilogy is full of some of the most inspirational moments in cinematic history. There's just something about watching ordinary people step into their destinies and change the world for the better that makes every viewer feel like they have the strength to do the same. They're littered with nuggets of wisdom that encourage people to take the leap out of their comfort zone and live as fearlessly as possible.

Though nearly every moment in the films pushes viewers to be the best version of themselves, some are just a touch more effective than others. These are the moments that stick with viewers long after the movie ends. Here are some of the most inspiring moments in the Lord of the Rings trilogy.

Updated on February 20, 2025, by Robert Vaux: The Lord of the Rings trilogy is full of inspiring moments from a wealth of characters. It's...

The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim is the most recent movie in the popular Lord of the Rings franchise. Many fans have accused The War of the Rohirrim of misusing its titular characters, like Fréaláf. Although Fréaláf plays a vital role in the movie's climax, he remains absent from most of the adaption. His disagreement with King Helm of the Rohirrim sees him sent away extremely early on in the film. Yet, this decision is a significant disservice to his most iconic and final moment in the adaption.

Fréaláf's entrance is supposed to reference Gandalf's fantastical entrance from The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, but there's a disconnect between these two moments. While Gandalf is one of the most popular and important characters in the franchise, Fréaláf is only a minor character in The War of the Rohirrim. He may have many notable feats,...

The Lord of the Ringstrilogy has remained popular for a reason. From start to finish, the films beautifully tell an epic and cohesive story, and when it comes to which one is best, arguments can (and have) been made for all three. However, director Peter Jacksonweighed in on the question in an interview with Letterbox. Though Jackson admitted that if he were to rewatch the trilogy, he may feel differently, he considers The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towershis favorite. While he didn't explain his reasoning, Jackson's choice is a good one. Often, the middle film of a trilogy falls into a slump, but The Two Towers benefits by not having the burden of establishing the world nor the pressure of giving the story a satisfying conclusion. The Two Towers expertly raises the stakes by introducing iconic characters, developing the main cast, and including full-scale battles, earning the...

Quick LinksGandalf Missed a Chance to Meet Aragorn During The HobbitGandalf Provided Aragorn With Wisdom and Guidance

Many members of The Lord of the Rings' Fellowship met for the first time during the Council of Elrond, but some had established relationships long before their quest to destroy the One Ring began. That included the Fellowship's leaders, Gandalf the Gray and Aragorn. Gandalf placed a great amount of trust in Aragorn, even telling him about Frodo's secret mission to destroy the One Ring; this is why Aragorn recognized the hobbits in Bree and escorted them to the Elven realm of Rivendell. But how did the Wizard and the Ranger come to know each other? J. R. R. Tolkien answered this in the novel version of The Lord of the Rings. One might expect that they met during Aragorn's youth in Rivendell, but that was not the case.

After the death...

There is certainly no changing Hollywood’s fascination with sequels, as the industry has become reliant on established intellectual property that draws audiences in based on their nostalgia. Sometimes, returning to a franchise to tell a new and exciting story can yield brilliant results; sequels such as The Godfather: Part II, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, Aliens, The Empire Strikes Back, Before Sunset, and Terminator 2: Judgment Day aren’t just considered to be superior to their predecessors, but among the greatest films of all-time.

As Éowyn discovers in The Two Towers and a select few characters already knew, the Ranger, Aragorn,was an octogenarian when The Lord of the Rings began. Despite his youthful appearance and remarkable physical capabilities, the heir of the throne of Gondor had lived the better part of a century, having taken part in numerous battles and adventures before the War of the Ring started. After the defeat of Sauron, Aragorn would go on to live and reign for over a hundred years, finally dying at the age of 210. This was an incredible feat for a human in Middle Earth and was the result of events that transpired ages before he was ever born.

While The Lord of the Rings is full of magic, humans are still subject to the limitations and lifespans of people in the real world. Living to be a hundred, much less two hundred, was mostly unheard of,...