The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

2002, Fantasy/Adventure, 2h 59m

256 Reviews 250,000+ Ratings

critics consensus

The Two Towers balances spectacular action with emotional storytelling, leaving audiences both wholly satisfied and eager for the final chapter. Read critic reviews

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The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers Videos

Gollum and Smeagol Talk in ‘The Two Towers’ | Rotten Tomatoes’ 21 Most Memorable Moments

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Movie Info

The sequel to the Golden Globe-nominated and AFI Award-winning "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring," "The Two Towers" follows the continuing quest of Frodo (Elijah Wood) and the Fellowship to destroy the One Ring. Frodo and Sam (Sean Astin) discover they are being followed by the mysterious Gollum. Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen), the Elf archer Legolas and Gimli the Dwarf encounter the besieged Rohan kingdom, whose once great King Theoden has fallen under Saruman's deadly spell.

Rating:

PG-13 (Scary Images|Epic Battle Sequences)
Genre:

Fantasy, Adventure
Original Language:

English
Director:

Peter Jackson
Producer:

Peter Jackson, Barrie M. Osborne, Fran Walsh, Eric Monette
Writer:

Peter Jackson, Philippa Boyens, Fran Walsh, Stephen Sinclair, J.R.R. Tolkien
Release Date (Theaters):

Dec 18, 2002 wide
Release Date (Streaming):

Aug 26, 2003
Box Office (Gross USA):

$342.6M
Runtime:

2h 59m
Distributor:

New Line Cinema
Sound Mix:

Dolby EX, Dolby SR, Dolby Stereo, Dolby Digital, Surround, DTS, Dolby A, SDDS
Aspect Ratio:

Scope (2.35:1)
View the collection:

Lord of The Rings

Cast & Crew

Elijah Wood
Frodo Baggins

Ian McKellen
Gandalf

Liv Tyler
Arwen

Viggo Mortensen
Aragorn (Strider)

Sean Astin
Samwise Gamgee

Cate Blanchett
Galadriel

Show all Cast & Crew

News & Interviews for The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

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Critic Reviews for The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

All Critics (256) | Top Critics (57) | Fresh (244) | Rotten (12)

Full Review… Alexander Walker London Evening Standard

Full Review… Mark Monahan Daily Telegraph (UK)

Full Review… Sarah Sands Daily Telegraph (UK)

Full Review… Suzi Feay Independent (UK)

Full Review… Anthony Lane New Yorker

Full Review… Keith Phipps AV Club

Full Review… Keith Garlington Keith & the Movies

Full Review… Fico Cangiano CineXpress Podcast

Full Review… Sean Axmaker Stream on Demand

Full Review… Leigh Paatsch Herald Sun (Australia)

Full Review… Film Companion Staff Film Companion

Full Review… Mike Massie Gone With The Twins

View All Critic Reviews (256)

Audience Reviews for The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

Nov 04, 2017

Burdened somewhat by a lack of giddy awe that characterized the first LOTR outing, The Two Towers is both grand and spectacular but almost unrelentingly grim, cascading with battles and dark forces galore. All is done in service of deepening the mythology and narrative of the series, but it isn't necessarily much fun. It proves nearly a drag, albeit a gorgeous and epic one, in the over an hour climactic battle that has no reason being as long as it is. While the conclusion is powerful and beckons the audience to join them for the final outing, The Two Towers is long and ponderous but so well-filmed and engaging for fans of the series, it is hard to fault it completely. Rating: 67

Bradley J Super Reviewer
Feb 13, 2016

Unbelievable second act that raises the stakes and sets up the third film just as well as the Empire Strikes back.

Kameron W Super Reviewer
May 24, 2013

Absolute perfection.

Jason 123 D Super Reviewer
Mar 28, 2013

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Directors C Super Reviewer

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