Peter Jackson’s film adaptations of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings are widely considered to be some of the best films, and one of the best trilogies, ever put to screen. The films were an instant sensation when they were released in the early 2000s, with many people praising their grand scope, faithfulness to the source material, and the numerous feats of technology and visual effects that were utilized in their production. As time has gone on, The Lord of the Rings has continued to grow its fan base. The films have truly become modern classics in every sense.
However, when sitting down to watch the epic trilogy, fans new and old find themselves faced with a decision. Should they watch the theatrical versions or the special extended editions? The extended editions of The Lord of the Rings are longer cuts of the beloved films, which were first made available on DVD about a year after the theatrical release of each corresponding film. These lengthier versions of the movies have developed a reputation for being the quintessential way to experience The Lord of the Rings on film, with many die-hard and casual fans alike opting for the longer haul more times than not. But how different are the extended editions actually? Here’s what you need to know:
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How Much Longer Are They?
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First of all, it should be noted that the theatrical cuts of The Lord of the Rings are already extremely long. They are each significantly longer than most movies that are released today, with each entry pushing three hours long at the very least. The extended editions doubled down on that length by adding to the films a vast amount of new content which had previously been left on the cutting room floor. The difference in length between the theatrical and extended cuts of The Lord of the Rings can be dramatic. But is it really that much of a difference when you’re settling down for a three-hour experience either way? Here are how the runtimes for the theatrical and extended editions differ for each film:
The Fellowship of the Ring:
Theatrical: 178 minutes (2 hours and 58 minutes)
Extended: 208 minutes (3 hours and 28 minutes)
The Two Towers:
Theatrical: 179 minutes (2 hours and 59 minutes)
Extended: 223 minutes (3 hours and 43 minutes)
The Return of the King:
Theatrical: 201 minutes (3 hours and 21 minutes)
Extended: 251 minutes (4 hours and 11 minutes)
The amount of material added back into the extended editions varies from film to film. For example, despite the theatrical cuts of The Fellowship of the Ring and The Two Towers being essentially the same length, 30 additional minutes were added to Fellowship while The Two Towers has about 45 minutes of new content. The biggest addition comes in The Return of the King, which, despite already being the longest film of the three, has nearly an hour of new material in the extended cut. Another thing worth noting is the disparity between the lengths of the extended editions that have been provided here and what is actually listed on the physical copies. The box set release of the extended versions of The Lord of the Rings lists the films’ lengths at 238 minutes, 235 minutes and 263 minutes, respectively. However, these lengths include additional “Fan Club Credits” that can be found at the end of the discs, which account for 20 minutes for The Fellowship of the Ring and 12 minutes for both The Two Towers and The Return of the King.
What Is Added?
The additional content that can be found in the extended editions of The Lord of the Rings consists mainly of new and extended scenes that add further context to the overall story and adventure. The extended version of The Fellowship of the Ring includes about a half-dozen complete scenes that were previously excluded from the theatrical cut of the film. These additions include: an extended introduction to the Shire directly inspired by the novel’s prologue titled “Concerning Hobbits;” a scene with the Hobbits drinking and discussing the Big Folk at the Green Dragon; a moment where Frodo and Sam, shortly after departing Hobbiton, witness a company of Elves journeying to the Grey Havens; a sequence with the Hobbits and Aragorn traversing marshlands before reaching Weathertop, which is immediately followed by a short scene of Aragorn singing a lament for the tale of Beren and Lúthien, which mirrors his own story with Arwen. After the Hobbits reach Rivendell, there are only two more new scenes in the second half of the film. One is a depiction of Aragorn visiting his mother’s memorial in Rivendell, and the other is the moment the Fellowship actually departs from the House of Elrond. Intermixed among all of that are nearly two dozen instances where previously existing scenes are noticeably extended with new lines of dialogue and additional material. These additions mainly serve to further develop the characters and their relationships with one another. One key example is the relationship between Aragorn and Boromir, which is more fully developed through their multiple discussions about their differing perspectives on Gondor and the race of Men. These new sequences, in turn, make Aragorn’s promise to a dying Boromir at the end of the film all the more potent.
The extended editions of The Two Towers and The Return of the King continue the precedent set by The Fellowship of the Ring, as every new addition brings new support and depth to the characters and overall story of the films. The second two films in the trilogy include even more of these kinds of changes than Fellowship does. The Two Towers includes about 15 brand-new scenes in addition to the nearly 20 that are significantly expanded upon. These new additions to the film do a lot more to establish the Rohirrim and their culture, build up Aragorn’s journey to becoming the King of Gondor, provide more lore regarding the Ents and Fangorn Forest and further increase the utter awesomeness of the Battle of Helm’s Deep.
As for The Return of the King, the final film in The Lord of the Rings trilogy features some of the most notable additions in its extended cut. There are, once again, about 15 new scenes with about two dozen extended sequences as well. However, some of the new scenes in The Return of the King are so crucial and have such an impact on the story that it is hard to imagine why they were cut in the first place. One such scene comes early on and depicts a conversation between Gandalf and Saruman, the latter of which is imprisoned in his tower of Orthanc. Saruman was previously excluded from The Return of the King entirely, which was an odd choice considering he was the primary antagonist of the second film. The extended edition remedies that by providing a solid conclusion to the character’s story. There are also several new scenes that serve to tie many of the film’s battle sequences together more seamlessly. Another great scene that was cut from the end of the theatrical edition, which reappears in the extended cut, is the confrontation between Aragorn and the Mouth of Sauron at the Black Gate before the final battle begins. The scene is one of the most memorable from the books, as it provides a rare moment of crossover between the two major storylines of the tale. The filmed version is just as electrifying, and it makes for a wonderful addition to the extended edition.
Speaking on the overall effect of watching The Lord of the Rings, there are significant changes to the experience when watching the extended editions rather than the theatrical cuts. While the theatrical versions of the film still provide outstanding experiences that immerse the viewer in the world of Middle-Earth and the epic story at the center of it all (they were all Oscar-winning films, at the end of the day), the journey provided by the extended editions takes what was already working and adds even more greatness to the top of it. Choosing to watch the extended editions will add about two more hours to the already over-nine-hour journey of watching The Lord of the Rings, but those two hours are more than worth it. They are packed with the same incredible quality that is found in the rest of the films and, in many cases, the new additions serve to strengthen what was already there, making the story and characters even more compelling than they already were. Whether you’re a die-hard fan or a casual viewer, the extended editions of The Lord of the Rings are the definitive way to experience Tolkien’s legendary story on-screen.
