THE LORD OF THE RINGS’ Extended Editions Return to Theaters as FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING Turns 25
As The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring celebrates its twenty fifth anniversary, fans are getting a gift worthy of Middle-earth. Fathom Entertainment and Warner Bros. are sending all three extended editions of Peter Jackson’s legendary trilogy back to theaters in 2026, giving moviegoers a chance to experience the full epic on the big screen once again.
The extended cuts will play in DBOX from January 16 to 19 followed by standard screenings from January 23 to 25. For longtime fans and newcomers who have only watched these films at home, this is the rare opportunity to see every extra moment and every added scene the way they were meant to be seen.
Select theaters will offer limited edition Lord of the Rings concession items that tie directly into the nostalgia factor of the anniversary event. AMC audiences can snag popcorn buckets decorated with maps of Middle Earth while Regal and independent theaters are offering buckets designed around the One Ring.
Fathom and Warner Bros. are also supporting the re-release with a new logo and anniversary trailer for the trilogy. It expands the celebration beyond the screenings and reminds the world how monumental this series continues to be.
New Line Cinema unleashed Jackson’s trilogy in 2001, 2002 and 2003. Adapted from J. R. R. Tolkien’s iconic novels, the films were shot consecutively in New Zealand with Jackson collaborating on the scripts with Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens.
The trilogy became a global theatrical phenomenon earning nearly 3 billion worldwide and sweeping award season. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King won 11 Academy Awards which ties it with Ben Hur and Titanic for the most Oscars ever won by a single movie. Jackson later returned to Middle Earth for The Hobbit trilogy which arrived in 2012, 2013 and 2014.
For anyone who has only watched the theatrical cuts, the difference in scope is immense. The original trilogy runs a little over nine hours while the extended editions stretch to an impressive eleven and a half hours.
Fathom and Warner Bros. revisited the trilogy in 2024 with 4K Ultra remastered theatrical runs of the extended editions. Bringing them back once again in 2026 keeps the celebration alive and gives audiences another chance to step back into Middle earth on the biggest screens possible.
For a story this sweeping and emotional, it feels like the perfect way to mark twenty five years of The Fellowship of the Ring. I’m very excited to revisting these films on the big screen again!