Summary
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TheLord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrimdebuted in US theaters on December 13, but will be available on digital platforms before the end of the year. That means people who haven’t had the chance to see this newThe Lord of the Ringsmovie in theaters will be able to watch it during the holidays. Those who enjoyed it will also be able to watch it again (or purchasethe steelbook version of the movie).
It tells the story of the eponymous war, set 183 years before the events inThe Lord of the Rings, focusing on King Helm Hammerhand and Wulf, a Dunlending lord. The strife begins after Freca, Wulf’s father, tries to arrange a marriage between his son and Héra, the daughter of King Helm. This leads to Helm killing Freca in anger, and Wulf seeking revenge.
The moviewill be released on Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV and Fandango at Home on July 29, 2025,which means it will leave theaters this week.
The War of the Rohirrim Disappointing Box Office
The box office was disappointing compared to what we would expect from aLord of the Ringsproduction, earning $15 million worldwide, opening in 5th place in the US in its first weekend. The budget is estimated at $30 million, so it’s a significant loss for Warner (if they were hoping for a return with the theatrical release, it seems that might not be the case). We don’t know how much streaming platforms have paid to add the movie to their catalogs/stores.
Warner’s Main Objective Was Something Else
Many fans have stated that they felt the movie had a lackluster marketing strategy, with some mentioning they discovered it by accident after its release. Viewers generally found the movie good but too cliché, and ssome also feeling that the animation was somewhat off, as it tries to blend 2D with 3D techniques.
The mild reception for a movie that could indeed be a bolder investment might be better understood when we learn that the main reason Warner decided to produce it wasto retain the rights forLord of the Ringsfilms, in order to continue producing stories for the franchise. From this perspective, it’s no surprise the movie will be available for streaming so soon (and some have even claimed that it felt like watching a direct-to-streaming movie in the cinema).
The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrimwill be available on Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV and Fandango at Home starting June 10, 2025,
