We don’t suppose it’s too controversial (or too nerdy) to say that The Lord of the Rings film trilogy is crucial to any bodily media assortment. They’re universally beloved, they swept every kind of awards ceremonies once they had been launched, they usually have remained the gold normal for top fantasy on movie for greater than 20 years. But you’re right here studying this, so it’s protected to imagine that possibly you don’t have your personal copies but. Maybe you’re right here as a result of you’ve the (admittedly very pretty) DVDs and want to improve your assortment. Or possibly you requested your pals which variations to purchase they usually all gave you completely different solutions. Or possibly you simply wish to lastly fill that Lord of the Rings Blu-ray-shaped gap in your shelf. Here’s all the things you have to find out about how and the place to purchase the LOTR Blu-ray movie assortment of your goals.
Which Lord of the Rings Blu-ray Set Should You Buy?
The factor about getting your fingers by yourself copies of The Lord of the Rings trilogy is, relying on what you find yourself with, some variations can have issues that others don’t. The 4K releases have unbelievable image high quality, however they sadly don’t include all that juicy extra stuff that the DVDs and Blu-rays do.
The Blu-rays, in distinction, are loads of bang in your buck, however, considerably controversially, the Blu-ray model of The Fellowship of the Ring has a weird green tint. (Neither of the opposite two motion pictures have it, and the DVDs and 4Ks don’t both.) If you don’t thoughts a tint (it form of makes all that New Zealand greenery look even greener), and in the event you love further scenes and bonus materials, you’ll be able to’t go unsuitable with The Lord of the Rings Extended Edition boxed set, which comes with two discs per film, three discs every of Appendices, three booklets per film, and a map of Middle Earth on the within cowl. Yes! The prolonged editions! We’re completists!
Every LoTR Blu-ray You Can Buy
Because we love to offer our readers selection, right here’s a rundown of all the things Lord of the Rings that’s at the moment obtainable on Blu-ray: boxed units, prolonged editions, theatrical editions, and particular person discs in case you’re solely out there for one or two. Weirdly, the person Blu-rays of the theatrical cuts are typically onerous to seek out, however we’ve finished our greatest to find them:
LoTR Trilogy and The Hobbit Trilogy Blu-ray units
If you’re seeking to get all three motion pictures, you’d be greatest served by shopping for all of them in a set. As talked about, the boxed assortment of all three prolonged variations is one of the simplest ways to go, however there are different choices obtainable in the event you don’t suppose you’ll be able to sit that lengthy. If you wish to sit even longer, there are a pair units with The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit motion pictures, for many who need the whole Middle Earth expertise.
The Lord of the Rings: The Motion Picture Trilogy
Extended editions of The Lord of the Rings Trilogy that features two discs per film, three discs every of Appendices, three booklets per film, and a map of Middle Earth.
The Lord of the Rings Trilogy
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Three-disc set of theatrical releases of The Lord of the Rings Trilogy.
Middle-Earth: Six Film Collection
4
Extended editions of The Lord of the Rings Trilogy and The Hobbit Trilogy in a 30-disc set.
Middle Earth 6-Film Collection
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Includes theatrical releases of The Lord of the Rings Trilogy and The Hobbit Trilogy.
Individual LoTR film Blu-rays
Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring
3
Two-disc theatrical launch set.
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
3
Two-disc prolonged version set.
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers Steelbook
3
Steelbook of theatrical launch.
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers Steelbook
3
Five-disc prolonged version set.
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Steelbook
3
Two-disc theatrical launch set.
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
3
Five-disc prolonged version set.
How Different are the Extended Editions from the Originals?
The theatrical vs. prolonged debate has raged endlessly ever since The Lord of the Rings motion pictures have been obtainable on house video. Because New Line Cinema couldn’t anticipate your common viewers to sit down of their seats for greater than three hours three Decembers in row, the flicks had been trimmed a tad, and now exist because the official theatrical cuts. There’s nothing unsuitable with these variations of the flicks; they’re just a bit shorter (they’re all nonetheless nicely over two hours), and a few would argue that they’re tighter paced and extra action-driven than the meandering prolonged variations.
But the prolonged variations have way more stuff, including scenes right here and there, elongating a couple of different ones, and providing context you wouldn’t essentially get (or know you wanted) in the event you had been watching the shortened variations. The most important distinction is size: The Fellowship of the Ring prolonged runs about half-hour longer, The Two Towers about 45, and The Return of the King has practically an hour of additional footage you don’t see within the theatrical minimize. Sure, they’re loads longer, however in the event you get to spend much more time in Middle Earth, can you actually complain?
Upcoming Lord of the Rings 4K and Blu-rays
Middle-Earth 6-Film Collection (Extended & Theatrical) (4K Ultra HD + Digital)
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The listing of Lord of the Rings Blu-rays may be fairly lengthy, however that does not imply its conclusive. A full 4K UHD assortment that features each the theatrical and the prolonged cuts of all three Lord of the Rings motion pictures and all three Hobbit motion pictures is now up for preorder, out March 18.
Emma Stefansky is a contract tradition author protecting motion pictures, TV, and books throughout quite a lot of publications together with The Atlantic, Esquire, IGN, IndieWire, The Ringer, and Vanity Fair.
