Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King boasts some of the greatest accolades given to the franchise. It earned a whopping 11 Academy Awards at its respective ceremony, making it one of the most acclaimed films of all time. It even set a record for the largest sweep by a single film (a record that has yet to be bested).

Not only was it critically acclaimed, but fans adored it. Many regard it as the best in the trilogy, and for good reason. It’s packed to the brim with incredible scenes that have stuck in audiences’ minds for over 20 years, but some of those scenes still strike just as hard now as they did in 2003.

10Elrond Gives Anduril to Aragorn

Anduril is Aragorn’s sword reforged from the shards of Narsil, the sword that once cut the Ring from Sauron’s hand.
It represents his decision to move past his ancestors’ failures and take risks of his own volition.

It’s the final push for Aragorn to accept his true identity and catalyzes the rest of the film’s events.

Aragorn is the titular “king” of the third Lord of the Rings film, and because of that, many of the aspects of his character reach their highest point during the movie’s events. Throughout all three movies, he fought with whether to accept his status as the king of Gondor or to run back to his life as a ranger. Gondor needed him — he just wasn’t ready to take on the responsibility that had led to the downfall of so many of his ancestors. Everything that happens to him pushes him closer to the man he was always supposed to be, even though he isn’t necessarily prepared to come to terms with that yet.

When Elrond comes to visit him at Rohan’s camp, however, he has no choice but to decide which path he’s going to take. Elrond offers him Anduril, reforged from the shards of Isildur’s sword Narsil that shattered when he cut the One Ring from Sauron’s finger years ago. His reminder to “cast off the ranger. Become who you were born to be” is one of the most powerful quotes in the franchise, and sticks with audiences long after the film ends. It’s the final push for Aragorn to accept his true identity and catalyzes the rest of the film’s events.

9Pippin Saves Faramir From Death

Pippin and Faramir’s relationship plays a larger role in the novels.
Pippin eventually returns to Gondor once he gives up his position as the Thain of the Shire.

Though Denethor ultimately perished, Pippin and Gandalf managed to get Faramir out before the flames consumed him.

The relationship between Pippin and Faramir, though a bit strained at first, turns out to be one of the most valuable in either of their lives. Pippin even went so far as to name his son after his friend. They met each other when Gandalf arrived at Minas Tirith with the young Hobbit in tow and Pippin swore his fealty to Faramir’s father.

Perhaps the most beautiful moment in their relationship came after Faramir nearly lost his life trying to make his father proud. Denethor, overwhelmed by his grief over losing his second son in addition to his first, threatens to light himself on fire on his son’s funeral pyre, thus ending his line entirely. Pippin, right before Faramir would have succumbed to the flames, realized the young man still drew breath. There was hope for him yet. Though Denethor ultimately perished, Pippin and Gandalf managed to get Faramir out before the flames consumed him. It’s one of the most tension-filled scenes in the film and brings one of the series’ most underrated friendships to the spotlight.

8“I Can’t Carry It For You…But I Can Carry You”

Frodo and Sam carry not only the Ring but the emotional core of The Lord of the Rings.
Their relationship is one of the most beautiful friendships in Middle-earth and deserves to be treated as such.

Over the course of their trek to Mount Doom, Frodo and Sam’s friendship is put to the test time and time again. Gollum poses a major threat to their relationship as he insists on seeing the worst in Sam at all times, and since Frodo sees pieces of himself in the pitiful creature, he often takes his side. They’re often the only person the other has to keep them sane in the face of such terrible dangers, and they matter more to each other than anyone else does. Without each other’s company, the two of them surely would not have been as successful as they were.

Sam never lets this bother him, however. He understands that any of the tension between them stems from something out of both of their control. He responds to Frodo with patience and grace and does everything he can to help even when his efforts may not be appreciated as much as they would be under different circumstances. Perhaps the most important moment of their bond occurs late in the film when it looks like they’re on the verge of failure. Frodo finds himself unable to continue carrying the Ring — and, rather than take it from him (which would be nearly impossible), he carries Frodo the rest of the way up the mountain. Here, it becomes clear that the two of them desperately need each other, and that Sam is just as essential to the quest as Frodo.

7Frodo Destroys the Ring

After Frodo loses his finger, Peter Jackson made a distinct point not to show his hand in order to avoid continuity errors about the wound’s location.
The journey through Mordor to Mount Doom is only three chapters in the novel.

Hearts pounded as the Ring finally fell into the fires alongside the creature who could never part with it, making for one of the strongest scenes in cinematic history.

The Ring’s destruction is the culmination of everything The Lord of the Rings builds toward throughout the series. Numerous moving parts must align properly in order for it to take place. Sauron must not be looking at them. They must survive the treacherous walk to the fire in the first place. And, of course, Frodo must make the ultimate decision to destroy the Ring. There are any number of ways it could go wrong and plunge the realm back into darkness.

The scene crackles with just as much adrenaline as fans hoped it would. Frodo’s brief lapse of judgment and near-refusal to get rid of the thing that has plagued him so fiercely throughout the story terrifies audiences into thinking he might follow in the footsteps of those who walked before him. Gollum’s reappearance poses an unexpected obstacle, as his desperation to ensure the Ring survives matches that to make sure it goes back to the realm from whence it came. Hearts pounded as the Ring finally fell into the fires alongside the creature who could never part with it, making for one of the strongest scenes in cinematic history.

6The Lighting of the Beacons

In Sindarin, Gondor translates to “land of stone.”
Peter Jackson’s children cameo in Return of the King when the horsemen ride out of Minas Tirith.

Good can reign again in Middle-earth if only people are brave enough to fight for it.

During The Return of the King, Gondor experiences its darkest hour. Sauron stands on their doorstep just waiting for them to slip up so he can rush in. Denethor, in his despair, refuses to do anything to aid his people. This leaves Gandalf and Pippin to weasel past his guards and call the rest of Middle-earth for aid. Once the fire lights, the Rohirrim take notice of it and vow to send men to Gondor so that they will not fall to the forces of Mordor.

From a cinematic standpoint, this is one of the most beautiful sequences in the movie. Andrew Lesnie’s cinematography combines with Howard Shore’s score to create a shining representation of hope and union in the face of evil. Watching the beacons in different regions burst to life in support of a group that would likely not be able to hold its own without aid instills hope that perhaps, evil can be defeated. Good can reign again in Middle-earth if only people are brave enough to fight for it.

5Frodo Departs for the Undying Lands

Typically, only immortal beings were allowed to reside in the Undying Lands.
Sam, Gimli, and Legolas eventually joined Frodo and Bilbo there.

Since he left the Shire, he has known nothing but cruelty and aggression.

The bittersweet conclusion of The Lord of the Rings has brought audiences to tears for generations. Frodo’s departure from his friends would bring a tear to even the most hardened eye, as he’s leaving behind everyone he’s ever known and loved in favor of a faraway land where he might finally know peace. Sam, Merry, and Pippin’s reactions pour salt in the wound, as they make it abundantly clear how badly they’re going to miss their friend now that he’s going away.

Leaving for the Undying Lands brings Frodo’s story to an end in the most beautiful way possible. Since he left the Shire, he has known nothing but cruelty and aggression. Though the Shire may be one of the safest regions in Middle-earth, there is still a chance that evil could rise again. He likely would not be able to stomach it. Not only that but the wounds he sustained while on his quest could not be cured in Middle-earth. He would ache for the rest of his life. Therefore, this was the best way to allow him to heal both physically and psychologically.

4Eowyn Slays the Witch-king

Uma Thurman almost got the role of Eowyn, but turned it down.
Miranda Otto was the only woman in the massive assault the Rohirrim launched on Sauron’s forces.

Eowyn is one of the strongest female characters in Middle-earth. Despite often being belittled by those around her because she’s a woman and therefore deemed unfit to ride into battle, she refuses to let that stop her from getting the things she wants. She fights back against any injustice she may face at the hands of Grima Wormtongue, perhaps the person who believes the least in her ability to hold her own against the men of Rohan, and shepherds her people to safety when evil knocks on their door.

Her best chance to prove herself comes at the end of The Return of the King at the Battle of the Pelennor Fields. She ends up face to face with him when he confronts and mortally wounds her beloved uncle Theoden, and intends to exact her revenge on him for this crime. The Witch-king warns her that no mortal man would be capable of slaying him — to which Eowyn responds that, luckily, she’s not a man. She destroys him with a final mighty yell. It’s one of the most beautiful scenes in the franchise and has cemented Eowyn as one of the most iconic figures in Middle-earth.

3The Paths of the Dead

In the novels, the men refuse to obey their oath to Isildur because they worshiped Sauron during his rise to power.
In the movies, the Army of the Dead replaces the Grey Company from the novels.

They try their best to dissuade him, to frighten him into submission, but Aragorn cannot be cowed so easily.

Immediately after Aragorn claims his status as the king of Gondor, he embarks to settle one of the kingdom’s oldest grievances: that with a group of soldiers who neglected to show up in their direst hour of need. Isildur called upon them during the days of the Last Alliance, and rather than fulfill their oath, they fled, unwilling to risk their lives. They would only respond to the words of Isildur’s heir, and since that bloodline was believed to be broken, they lived in the White Mountains for generations. They passed into legend.

However, Aragorn, in order to aid Rohan during one of their most pressing times of need, ventured into the Dunharrow Pass intending to force the men to fulfill their oath. He reveals to them that he is in fact Isildur’s heir and demands that they finally make good on their promise by fighting alongside him. They try their best to dissuade him, to frighten him into submission, but Aragorn cannot be cowed so easily. Their confrontation crackles with tension and thrills audiences. Additionally, it features some of the film’s most iconic quotes, thus cementing it as one of the strongest scenes in the franchise.

2“My Friends…You Bow to No One”

Viggo Mortensen insisted on being on set for this scene even though he did not necessarily have to appear.
Mortensen also composed the song he sings during his coronation, much as Billy Boyd did with the song Pippin sings to Denethor earlier in the movie.

Aragorn’s love for his friends is perhaps one of his most admirable qualities. He remains loyal to them even when they’re in distant lands, and would do anything to ensure they’re safe. From the first moment, he is ready to go into battle for someone he trusts. His declaration of “For Frodo” before he charges at the Black Gate sends chills down audiences’ spines and reminds them that even though they may not have known each other for that long, they meant a lot to each other.

The most poignant moment in these relationships comes at the very end of The Return of the King. The quest is over. He’s the king of Gondor. By all rights, he doesn’t have to speak to Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippin ever again. However, he invites them to his coronation and gives up one of the most special moments of his life to uplift them. The moment his subjects first bow to him as king should be incredible. They’re recognizing him as worthy of ruling. Rather than take this glory for himself, he has the people of Gondor pay their respects to the four Hobbits instead, thus letting all of Middle-earth know that everything he achieved could not have been done without them.

1Aragorn’s Speech at the Black Gate

Members of the New Zealand Army were used as extras during the Battle at the Black Gate.
The set for this scene was a training field the Army had previously used, requiring the Army to sweep the region for mines and bombs that had not detonated and therefore could be a threat to the performers.

One of Aragorn’s greatest talents is his ability to choose the right words for a situation. He knows what to say to fuel his people on the battlefield or to assuage their fears about whatever situation they may have encountered. His final words to Boromir haunt viewers with how perfectly they summarized their relationship. His promise to fight alongside Frodo has gone down in history as one of the most iconic movie quotes of all time.

The greatest of these occurs right before the army charges the Black Gate. They’re hopeless and terrified. Nobody expects to walk out of this confrontation with Sauron alive. By all rights, everyone should be on the verge of giving up. Aragorn recognizes this. Instead of condemning his people for their fear, however, he acknowledges it. And he tells them that a fear of failing should not be the thing that stops them from fighting in the first place. Rather, they should let their potential sacrifices pave the way for a world where nobody will ever have to do the things they did again. It’s the pinnacle of his character arc and one of the most beautiful moments in the franchise as a whole.