Sauron's forces have laid siege to Minas Tirith, the capital of Gondor, in their efforts to eliminate the race of men.

The once-great kingdom, watched over by a fading steward, has never been in more desperate need of its king.

But can Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen) answer the call of his heritage and become what he was born to be? In no small measure, the fate of Middle-earth rests on his broad shoulders.

With the final battle joined and the legions of darkness gathering, Gandalf (Ian McKellen) urgently tries to rally Gondor's broken army to action. He is aided by Rohan's King Theoden (Bernard Hill), who unites his warriors for history's biggest test.

Yet even with their courage and passionate loyalty, the forces of men--with Eowyn (Miranda Otto) and Merry (Dominic Monaghan) hidden among them--are no match for the enemies swarming against Gondor.

Still, in the face of great losses, they charge forward into the battle of their lifetimes, tied together by their singular goal to keep Sauron distracted and give the Ring Bearer a chance to complete his quest.

Their hopes rest with Frodo (Elijah Wood), a tiny but determined hobbit making a perilous trip across treacherous enemy lands to cast the One Ring into the fires of Mount Doom.

The closer Frodo gets to his final destination, the heavier his burden becomes and the more he must rely on Samwise Gamgee (Sean Astin). Gollum-and the Ring itself-will test Frodo's allegiances and, ultimately, his humanity.

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King concludes the epic story of these characters, their relationships and rivalries, and reveals how through courage, commitment and determination even the least of us can change the world.

Directed by
Peter Jackson

Cast
Elijah Wood - Frodo Baggins
Ian McKellen - Gandalf
Liv Tyler - Arwen
Viggo Mortensen - Aragorn
Sean Astin - Sam
Cate Blanchett - Galadriel
John Rhys Davies - Gimli
Bernard Hill - King Theoden of Rohan
Billy Boyd - Pippin
Dominic Monaghan - Merry
Orlando Bloom - Legolas
Hugo Weaving - Elrond
Miranda Otto - Eowyn (Rohan)
David Wenham - Faramir
Karl Urban - Eomer Eadig
John Noble - Denethor
Andy Serkis - Gollum/Smeagol
Ian Holm - Bilbo Baggins

Production Co.
WingNut Films

Produced by
Mark Ordesky
Robert Shaye
Michael Lynne

Studios
New Line Cinema

Writer
J.R.R. Tolkien
Fran Walsh
Peter Jackson

Music
Howard Shore