The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)

Our Rating

Analyzing...

Leans Right

Viewer Rating

Rating: 9.1

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King poster

Overview

The final confrontation between the forces of good and evil fighting for control of the future of Middle-earth. Frodo and Sam reach Mordor in their quest to destroy the One Ring, while Aragorn leads the forces of good ag...

Starring Cast

Elijah Wood • Viggo Mortensen • Ian McKellen

Where to watch

HBO Max

Prime Video

Apple TV

Rating categories

Political: Leans Right

Diversity: Low

FemPower: Yes

Overview

Starring Cast

Elijah Wood • Viggo Mortensen • Ian McKellen

Where to watch

HBO Max

Prime Video

Apple TV

Detailed Analysis

Analyzing...

Leans Right

Primary

Political: Leans RightConfidence: High

While featuring universal themes of fighting tyranny and environmental preservation, the film's ultimate solution to the central conflict is the restoration of a traditional, legitimate monarchy, emphasizing lineage, duty, and established order, which aligns with right-leaning values.

Diversity: LowConfidence: High

The film features a traditional cast that aligns with the source material, without intentional race or gender swaps. Its narrative focuses on classic epic fantasy themes, presenting traditional identities in a neutral to positive light without explicit critique.

Secondary

FemPower: YesConfidence: High

The film features Éowyn, a human woman, who engages in and wins a direct physical confrontation against the Witch-king of Angmar using a sword during the Battle of the Pelennor Fields.

LGBTQ: N/AConfidence: High

The film does not contain any identifiable LGBTQ+ characters or themes. Its narrative is centered on a high-fantasy epic, focusing on the fellowship's quest and the battle for Middle-earth, without exploring queer identities or relationships.

Gender Swap: NoConfidence: High

The film faithfully adapts J.R.R. Tolkien's source material. All major and named characters retain their established genders from the original novels, with no instances of gender swapping observed.

Race Swap: NoConfidence: High

The film faithfully adapts the established racial portrayals of its characters from J.R.R. Tolkien's novels and the preceding films in the series, with no instances of a character's race being changed from their canonical or previously established depiction.