The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)
The journey continues.
Frodo Baggins and the other members of the Fellowship continue on their sacred quest to destroy the One Ring--but on separate paths. Their destinies lie at two towers--Orthanc Tower in Isengard, where the corrupt wizard Saruman awaits, and Sauron's fortress at Barad-dur, deep within the dark lands of Mordor.
| Type | Movie |
|---|---|
| Released | 18 December 2002 |
| Genre | Adventure, Fantasy, Action |
| Director | Peter Jackson |
| Starring | Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen and Viggo Mortensen |
| Runtime | 179 min |
| Rated | PG-13 |
| Scores | Rotten Tomatoes (average) 8.7/10 · Rotten Tomatoes 95% · Metacritic 87/100 · IMDb 8.8/10 · TMDB users 8.4/10 |
| Budget | $94 million |
| Box office | $945 million worldwide |
Where to watch The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
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What kind of watch this is
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers is a 2002 fantasy adventure directed by Peter Jackson. It runs 179 minutes, a duration that makes the midpoint feel like a distinct, separate film. You get the war, the wizard, and the road. It is for anyone who has ever committed to a long walk because the alternative was worse.
What the critics said
Rotten Tomatoes sits at 95% as of April 2026, a number that makes the sequel look almost too perfect. Metacritic agrees, landing on 87 out of 100 in January 2026, which the site files under universal acclaim. Roger Ebert gave it three stars, calling it a visionary thriller even while noting it misplaced Tolkien’s whimsy. Nev Pierce went a step further, awarding four stars for the wit and action. The consensus is that the battle scenes and emotional storytelling balance out the spectacle. It is a film that knows exactly what it is doing, which is a rare and comfortable feeling for a two-hour runtime.
How it did with audiences
It cost $94 million and took in $945 million worldwide, with $350 million of that coming from the United States. On TMDB, users rate it 8.4 out of 10. IMDb viewers scored it 8.8/10 as of August 2026.
If you liked this
TMDB's recommendations for people who watched The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers.
Read more: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
Sources
- The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers on TMDB — synopsis, cast, ratings and recommendations
- Wikidata Q164963 — review scores, box office and awards (CC0)
- “The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers” on Wikipedia, by its contributors (history) — reception, audience figures and legacy, summarised and adapted here under CC BY-SA 4.0
- Where to watch and prices: Binge Boss, from TMDB watch-provider data (powered by JustWatch) and our own provider list
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