on their journey in “The Fellowship of the Ring.” | Photo from @lordoftherings on Instagram
Feb, 4, 2026 | Jaylin Emond-Hardin | Entertainment Editor
Two weekends in January saw the legendary “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy return to theaters across the country. This year marks the 25th anniversary of “The Fellowship of the Ring,” the first film in the trilogy, and New Line Cinema partnered with Fathom Events — which are typically shown at Regal Cinemas and AMC Theatres — for exclusive showings.
The last time the trilogy was in theaters was September of 2019, showing the extended editions in Flashback Cinema partnered theaters. With the films’ popularity, they typically return to theaters in five-year cycles for the anniversary of “The Fellowship of the Ring.”
Seeing these films in theaters is an experience that is indescribable. While I was unable to attend the showings this year, I did attend the 2019 showings when I was a sophomore in high school. “The Lord of the Rings” is perhaps my all-time favorite trilogy, with “The Two Towers” — the series’ second film — being my preferred of the three.
One major change, however, for this exclusive event from previous showings, came with the availability of D-Box motion seats and 4DX screening options, as well as all films being shown in Dolby Vision — an advanced HDR color option meant to enhance the theater experience.
With the two weekend showings, “The Lord of the Rings” also hit another major milestone: “The Return of the King” has now officially surpassed a rival blockbuster franchise-ender at the box office. With the $1.6 million of revenue generated, “Return of the King” has now beaten “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — Part 2.” That’s right. “The Lord of the Rings” has finally dethroned “Harry Potter.” While it is a small win for Peter Jackson’s trilogy, it is still a win. It is important to note, however, that neither movie is close to earning half the total of the highest-grossing domestic box office movie. That belongs to “Star Wars: Episode VII — The Force Awakens.”
Another interesting note is that “The Hobbit” trilogy, the prequel to “The Lord of the Rings,” will not be returning to theaters for its 15th anniversary next year. It is highly unlikely that it will return to cinemas due to its lack of popularity among fans. I, however, would like to see them in theaters at least once, as I was nine when the first one released, and — hot take — they’re actually good.
The next movie set in Middle-earth to hit theaters will be “The Hunt for Gollum,” which is slated for a December 2027 release. The film will follow Aragorn as he hunts for the titular character, and Andy Serkis, Ian McKellen and Elijah Wood are supposed to reprise their roles as Gollum, Gandalf and Frodo Baggins, respectively.
For now, fans can stream all movies set in Middle-earth — “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy, “The Hobbit” trilogy and “The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim,” as well as a slew of throwback animated movies — on HBO Max.
Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu
