Extended Editions of Peter Jackson’s Epic ‘Lord of the Rings’ Movies Are Coming to Theaters

image from the 2002 movie — Pictured: Gollum with two clever "hobbitses" in *The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers* © New Line/Warner Bros. Entertainment. All Rights Reserved./™ The Saul Zaentz Company/Courtesy of Fathom Events

I’ve tried reading J.R.R. Tolkien’s classic Lord of the Rings books a number of times at various points in my life, but for whatever reason, I just could never get into them. I appreciate the world, characters and languages the author created, but there seems to be something about the way in which they are written that prevents me from getting lost in Middle-earth via the written word.

The Lord of the Rings movie adaptations directed by Peter Jackson in the early 2000s, on the other hand, I can wholly become lost in, so I know the issue is not the overall LOTR storyline. I loved these films during their initial theatrical runs, I have them on DVD and any time they come on TV they are among those certain movies that I will always stop and watch for at least a little while, often straight through to the end from wherever I picked it up. They are also those types of productions that, no matter how long they are, seem to fly by, and I wouldn’t mind spending even more time in these cinematic worlds.

I, and others like me, are in luck, because Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy is coming back to the big screen in a very limited theatrical re-release from Fathom Events and Warner Bros., in remastered and even longer extended editions.

image from the 2001 movie "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring." It depicts Elijah Wood as the hobbit Frodo. He is laying on the ground, reaching up for the ring falling in the air toward him, wanting to land on his finger.

The Fellowship of the Ring (2001), The Two Towers (2002) and The Return of the King (2003) will each air on one evening over two weekends in early June (Saturday-Monday). They will also screen in 4DX at select Regal Cinemas over three nights later in the month.

The date info is below; for more details, to order tickets and see if screenings are available in your area (and where the nearest 4DX Regal Cinema might be), visit the Fathom Events website.

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring Extended Edition (runtime 3 hours, 28 minutes) — Saturday, June 8 & Saturday, June 15, 2024 (in 4DX at select Regal Cinemas on Saturday, June 22, 2024)

poster for the 2024 theatrical re-release of the "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring" from Fathom Events

In The Fellowship of the Ring, shy young hobbit Frodo Baggins (Elijah Wood) inherits what seems to be a simple gold ring. He knows that the ring holds power, but not that he alone holds the secret to the survival — or enslavement — of Middle-earth.

Now Frodo, accompanied by the wizard Gandalf (Ian McKellen), elf Legolas (Orlando Bloom), dwarf Gimli (John Rhys-Davies), two men, Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen) and Boromir (Sean Bean), and three loyal hobbit friends, Sam (Sean Astin), Pippin (Billy Boyd) and Merry (Dominic Monaghan), must embark on a journey to become the hero who will save the land and people he loves.

Remembering the Life and Career of J.R.R. Tolkien

He passed away 50 years ago on September 2, 1973.

Remind

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers Extended Edition (runtime 3 hours, 44 minutes) — Sunday, June 9 & Sunday, June 16, 2024 (in 4DX at select Regal Cinemas on Sunday, June 23, 2024)

poster for the 2024 theatrical re-release of "The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers"

In The Two Towers, Frodo and the other members of the Fellowship continue on their quest to destroy the One Ring, but on separate paths. Their destinies like at two towers — Orthanc Towern in Isengard, where the corrupt wizard Saruman (Christopher Lee) awaits, and the dark lord Sauron’s fortress at Barad-dur, deep within the dark lands of Mordor.

This film also offers you the chance to once again experience spectacularly staged Battle of Helm’s Deep on the big screen.

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Extended Edition (runtime 4 hours, 13 minutes) — Monday, June 10 & Monday, June 17, 2024 (in 4DX at select Regal Cinemas on Monday, June 24, 2024)

poster for the 2024 theatrical re-release of "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King"

In the concluding installment, The Return of the King, as armies mass for a final battle that will decide the fate of Middle-earth — and powerful, ancient forces of light and dark compete to determine the outcome — one member of the Fellowship of the Ring is revealed as the noble heir to the throne of the Kings of Men.

image from the 2003 movie "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King." It depicts Viggo Mortensen as Aragorn in the center of the image, holding a sword up vertically in front of his face with a determined look. Behind him, tinted with an eerie green glow, is a ghost army at his command.

Yet the sole hope for triumph over evil lies with brave hobbit Frodo, who, accompanied only by his loyal friend Sam and the hideous, wretched Gollum (Andy Serkis), ventures deep into the very dark heart of Mordor on his seemingly impossible quest to destroy the Ring of Power.

image from the 2003 movie "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King." It shows Gandalf, Aragorn and others on horseback fleeing from the open black gate of Mordor, with an army of orcs and other creatures in pursuit. In the background is the glowing red Eye of Sauron atop a tower.