Released in 2001, “THE LORD OF THE RINGS: The Fellowship of the Ring” was the first movie in a trilogy based on the popular book series of the same name by J.R.R. Tolkien. The movie tells the story of Frodo Baggins, a hobbit chosen to destroy the One Ring, a powerful ring that would allow Sauron, the dark lord, to enslave the world. Accompanied by a group of friends, Frodo sets out on a dangerous journey to Mount Doom, where the ring must be destroyed.
THE LORD OF THE RINGS: The Fellowship of the Ring was directed by Peter Jackson and starred Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Viggo Mortensen, and Orlando Bloom. The movie was a critical and commercial success, earning over $897 million at the box office. Like its successors, the Fellowship of the Ring is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential films ever made.
The film received numerous accolades; at the 74th Academy Awards, it was nominated for thirteen awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Supporting Actor for McKellen, Best Art Direction, Best Costume Design, Best Film Editing, Best Original Song for “May It Be” and Best Sound, winning four: Best Cinematography, Best Makeup, Best Original Score and Best Visual Effects.
Two decades have passed since the Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring cast first brought J.R.R. Tolkien’s beloved characters to life on the big screen. Here’s what they look like now and how they’ve changed over the years!
1. Sean Astin – Sam
2. Sala Baker – Sauron
3. Sean Bean – Boromir
4. Cate Blanchett – Galadriel
5. Orlando Bloom – Legolas
6. Billy Boyd – Pippin
7. Marton Csokas – Celeborn
8. Mark Ferguson – Gil-galad
9. Ian Holm – Bilbo
10. Christopher Lee – Saruman
11. Lawrence Makoare – Lurtz
12. Ian McKellen – Gandalf
13. Sarah McLeod – Cotton
14. Dominic Monaghan – Merry
15. Viggo Mortensen – Aragorn
16. Ian Mune – Bounder
17. Craig Parker – Haldir
18. Cameron Rhodes – Farmer Maggot
19. John Rhys-Davies – Gimli
20. Harry Sinclair – Isildur
21. Liv Tyler – Arwen
22. Hugo Weaving – Elrond
23. Elijah Wood – Frodo
24. Ray Henwood – Council Man (uncredited)
25. Peter Jackson – Albert Dreary (uncredited)
In 2021, the film was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress for being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.” The movie received an impressive 95% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Whether you’re a diehard fan of the books or enjoy a good fantasy film, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring is worth watching. And if you’re already familiar with the story, you’ll appreciate all the details that were put into creating this film. So whether you’re a Lord of the Rings fanatic or just looking for something to watch on a rainy day, this film is sure to please.
