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In January 2026, the extended versions of the acclaimed trilogy will make their way back to cinemas, marking the 25th anniversary of “The Fellowship of the Ring.”
Fans of Middle Earth are being beckoned to revisit the epic journey of the “Lord of the Rings” as it returns to the big screen.
On Friday, Fathom Entertainment and Warner Bros. Pictures revealed that Peter Jackson’s “Lord of the Rings” trilogy, in its extended format, is set for a cinematic re-release in January 2026 to honor the milestone anniversary of “The Fellowship of the Ring.”
The trilogy will be showcased over two weekends. Tickets are now on sale through Fathom’s website and at participating theater box offices. DBOX presentations, where available, are scheduled for January 16-19, with regular screenings to follow from January 23-25.
During these special screenings, theaters will feature exclusive “Lord of the Rings” themed concessions. AMC Theaters will offer collectible map tins of Middle Earth and quest magnet sets, while Regal and selected independent venues will present popcorn buckets styled after the One Ring.
The theatrical return marks a milestone for Jackson’s adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s fantasy novels. New Line Cinema first released the three films in 2001, 2002 and 2003, shot back-to-back in New Zealand. Jackson directed all three and co-wrote the screenplays with Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens.
The trilogy earned nearly $3 billion at the global box office and won 17 Academy Awards. The final installment, “The Return of the King,” took home 11 Oscars in 2004, including Best Picture, tying with “Ben-Hur” and “Titanic” for the most Academy Awards won by a single film.
Fathom and Warner Bros. released a new 25th anniversary logo and trailer to promote the theatrical event.
The extended editions add significant runtime to the already lengthy films, totaling more than 11 hours total across the trilogy. These versions include additional scenes and character development not seen in the original theatrical releases.
The re-release comes as the franchise experiences renewed activity. Warner Bros. released “The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim,” an animated prequel, in theaters in 2024, and a new live-action film, “The Hunt for Gollum,” is scheduled for December 2027. Andy Serkis, who played Gollum in the original trilogy, is set to direct and reprise his role. Amazon’s “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power” series has also aired two seasons on Prime Video, with a third in development.
