The beacons are lit! Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings trilogy is set to leave Prime Video on July 31, 2025. So, if you want to experience this epic tale of good vs. evil in a rich fantasy world, all from the comfort of your home, you need to start your movie marathon ASAP.
The films’ long-lasting popularity speaks to how well they hold up under modern scrutiny. When The Fellowship of the Ring first premiered in 2001, its innovative technology and captivating storytelling transported audiences to Middle-earth, and they never wanted to leave. The surprise hit far outearned its relatively small budget and created a phenomenon.
The critical response and accolades also speak for themselves. The main cast, including Elijah Wood, Viggo Mortensen, Sir Ian McKellen, Andy Serkis, and Sean Astin, all gave career-defining performances. What’s more, the trilogy earned a cumulative 30 Academy Award nominations and won 13 of them, including Best Picture for Return of the King in 2004. So, really, you should take the opportunity to check out these films while you still can, whether for the first or 100th time.
Fortunately, fans can still look forward to a third season of The Lord of the Rings: Rings of Power on Prime Video. While the movie trilogy may be disappearing, Amazon is keeping its original television series that serves as a prequel to the events of the films. The show chronicles the conflicts that sparked the turmoil depicted in The Lord of the Rings, including the forging of the Rings of Power and the deteriorating alliance between Elves and Men.
In addition, Andy Serkis, who portrayed Gollum in the original film trilogy, is set to direct The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum. The film will fill in the gaps in Gollum’s story and show his long journey to reclaim the One Ring. Serkis spoke with Collider in an exclusive interview about his vision for the film. He revealed the release date is December 17, 2027, and expressed his excitement to return to Middle-earth and the character of Gollum.
“I'm incredibly excited to go back and work with my friends and family in New Zealand and actually do something which is, I think, going to be surprising, and yet very much part of the lore and the feel of the trilogy. The sensibility of it will feel, I think, close to that, and yet we're investigating in greater depth the character formerly known as Smeagol, but mostly known as Gollum,” Serkis explained.
While the future is bright for The Lord of the Rings fans, there is also a stark reminder for those who rely on Prime for their trips to Middle-earth to look for the films elsewhere. HBO Max still streams the films, or there’s always a trusty extended edition DVD or Blu-ray to turn to.