Peter Jackson’s cinematic portrayal of The Lord of the Rings is one of my favorite film series. Writing this in 2026, it’s staggering to think the trilogy began its release 25 years ago; yet, each time I watch it, I’m impressed by how well it stands up against modern films—it could have been released yesterday.

Seeing them in the cinema is an opportunity not to be missed. To my delight, whether for a milestone anniversary or just a bit of extra box-office profit, my local cinema chain has been screening the extended versions. One does not simply walk into a theater and find these masterpieces playing—so whenever they are on, I am there.

Here I keep a log of those times.

The Fellowship of The Ring

* For the 25th anniversary release, this screening included an approximately 8-minute-long introduction from Peter Jackson. He reflected on the negative press regarding the risk of filming all three movies at once and the fear of what would happen if the first failed. This led New Line Cinema to request a 20-minute preview in May 2001 (before the December release) to be shown at Cannes. They ended up using the Mines of Moria sequence because it had a natural beginning and end: the Fellowship entered the mines and then left them. He also shared a story from prior to filming the scenes in Balin’s Tomb: Viggo Mortensen had gotten a black eye while surfing, so he was only filmed from the left side.

The Two Towers

*  For the 25th anniversary release, this screening included an approximately 6-minute-long introduction from Peter Jackson. He discussed The Two Towers being the “awkward middle film” of a trilogy, noting that middle installments typically lack a clear beginning or end. They addressed this by introducing new characters and concluding the film with the epic Battle of Helm’s Deep. Jackson also remarked on the grueling filming schedule: he worked Monday through Friday on the first unit, while the second unit filmed Helm’s Deep from Tuesday through Saturday. Realizing he needed to direct some of the pivotal dialogue scenes—such as Théoden standing on the ramparts as the rain begins and delivering the famous line, “And so it begins”—he ended up working a full 24-hour day, transitioning straight from his first unit responsibilities to the second unit set in the evening.

The Return of the King

*  Much like the previous two films, we expected an introduction from Peter Jackson. However, due to what Finnkino later described as a “playlist error,” the message was skipped and the film began immediately. After contacting customer service, they offered an apology and a popcorn voucher, but confirmed they couldn’t share the footage or host additional screenings. Fortunately, I was able to track down a fan-recording online. While the audio was a bit muffled, I could still make out the details of Peter’s longest introduction yet—clocking in at approximately 13 minutes.

Addressing the “spoiler” complaints found online, Jackson seemed to operate under the fair assumption that the audience was already familiar with the story. He spent significant time discussing the death of Saruman; the scene was originally intended to end The Two Towers, but the team felt it was an anticlimax following the victory at Helm’s Deep. It was moved to the opening of The Return of the King, but eventually cut from the theatrical release entirely—a decision that remained a major sticking point for Christopher Lee until the scene was restored in the Extended Edition.

Jackson also reflected on the 266-day principal photography schedule. He highlighted the “mixed-up” nature of filming by recalling one specific day where they shot two vastly different scenes: Gandalf knocking on Bilbo’s door from the very beginning of the trilogy, and Samwise Gamgee returning home at the very end. He noted telling Sean Astin at the time that it would be nearly five years before the world would actually see that final moment.

Finally, before thanking the fans for their decades of support, Jackson gave a somber nod to the cast and crew members who have passed away, including Bernard Hill, Christopher Lee, and Ian Holm. He spoke most poignantly about the death of cinematographer Andrew Lesnie; Jackson revealed that in the 11 years since Lesnie’s passing, he hasn’t felt ready to direct another drama, as he couldn’t face the prospect of working without his longtime collaborator.