Outdoor Movie Idea: Lord of The Rings Trilogy
The Lord of the Rings film trilogy (based on the three-volume book by J. R. R. Tolkien) is an excellent choice for your next outdoor movie series! The films are one of the highest-grossing film series of all time and are highly acclaimed, winning 17 Academy Awards out of a whopping 30 nominations. The series was considered one of the most ambitious undertakings in filmmaking history and created millions of new Tolkien fans. Here is the theatrical release trailer for the third film, The Return of the King:
The three films in the series are The Fellowship of the Ring (2001), The Two Towers (2002), and The Return of the King (2003). The series features a star-studded cast, with Elijah Wood as Frodo Baggins, Viggo Mortensen as Aragorn, Ian McKellen as Gandalf, Orlando Bloom as Legolas, and Liv Tyler as Arwen, among many others. The films follow the hobbit Frodo Baggins (Elijah Wood) and a special fellowship as they set out to destroy the One Ring, keeping it from its creator, the Dark Lord Sauron, who threatens to take over the world. The fellowship becomes divided, and Frodo continues the journey with his best friend Sam (Sean Astin) and the weaselly Gollum (Andy Serkis). The series is action-packed and woven with humor, ultimately delivering one of the best narrative adaptations ever put on film.
The Lord of the Rings trilogy is a great choice for your next film series, as it will bring your community out to all three films! The films are universally loved and provide some great pre-show opportunities for entertaining and engaging your community. If you screen them prior to Halloween (or at any time, for that matter), a costume contest is a great activity that involves your community in a significant way. Prizes from local businesses could be given to the best hobbit, best elf, and best wizard! You could even have your MC dress up as the wizard Gandalf.
These films are pretty long, so you may want to screen them later in the year when the days are shorter, so you won’t be finishing up at midnight. Also, remember to get your film licensing through Swank Motion Pictures (unless, of course, you’re viewing the film in your own backyard and not inviting the general public). If anyone has screened any of the Lord of the Rings films as an outdoor movie, please post your story in the comments section below! We’d love to hear what you have to say.