11 Oscars to Rule Them All: An Oral History of The Return of the King’s Best-Picture Win. With Tom Glynn-Carney, Gábor Czap, Tom Fisher, Edward Ashley. Having previously written for various sports and music outlets, Craig's interest soon turned to TV and film, where a steady upbringing of science fiction and comic books finally came into its own. If you don't think so, which film should've won instead? The first chapter would go on to nab 13 nominations––a series high––but only come away with technical awards. 'Crash' (2004) In honor of the 10th anniversary of the The Return of the King’s awards sweep, VF Hollywood pieced together the film’s entire Oscar campaign. Archived. But based on the academy's negative perception of fantasy films, I wonder why Return of The King stood out and swept the entire awards show that year. It took one ring to rule them all, and 11 Oscars to make movie history. As for which picture history preferred: Brokeback is a staple on cable, while Crash is one of the most popular rentals in Netflix history. Return of the King Prempeh I to Ashanti. Craig first began contributing to Screen Rant in 2016, several years after graduating college, and has been ranting ever since, mostly to himself in a darkened room. If Return of the King Could Win Best Picture, Why Not Avengers: Endgame? Posted by. By Alex Suskin d. February 27, 2014. A one-stop shop for all things video games. "The Return of the King won Best Picture as an achievement for the whole trilogy." Close. Best Director. Plus, an interview … Now the young king must navigate palace politics, the war his father left behind, and the emotional strings of his past life. Website design and development by Garry Aylott. Answer. Asked by Wiki User. share. No small amount of effort went into The Return of the King's Oscars campaign. The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King had a record-breaking night at the 2004 Oscars, but only following an extensive campaign by New Line Cinema. Each part of the trilogy had a theme. The go-to source for comic book and superhero movie fans. The first was about the costs the Fellowship of the Ring would suffer on their quest to destroy the Ring. Related: Lord Of The Rings: Sauron's Rise (& Defeat) In The Second Age Explained. 600 OF THE WORLD’S BEST CONTRIBUTORS Serving 2,000 clients around the globe. The movie is spread across 2 discs and has extra scenes that were cut from the original. Backed by New Line Cinema, Jackson was given the scope and resources to make the trilogy he envisioned, and the first installment, 2001's The Fellowship of the Ring was duly recognized at the 74th Academy Awards with a massive 13 nominations. So, jury’s still out. Speaking with more than a dozen people involved with the effort––from New Line executives to designers to consultants––we were able to paint a complete picture of how a fantasy film was able to win 11 Academy Awards––including the granddaddy of them all, best picture––and change the trajectory of the Oscars. In all Oscar bids, a lot of politics and handshaking goes on behind the scenes before nominations and voting takes place, but New Line's campaign budget almost doubled between The Two Towers and Return of the King, rising to over $10 million. The merest sight of a goblin or broadsword usually had the Academy running for the exit when it came to the night's biggest awards and The Two Towers suffered a similar fate, nominated for 6 and winning in sound editing and visual effects. One of the most interesting, and perhaps controversial tactics, used in Return of the King's Oscars campaign was pitching using the weight of the entire trilogy. 0. That year's best picture win went to a rousingly successful Sir … The biggest problem –– and this started with Fellowship –– was we had the dreaded F word; we were the fantasy movie, and there was no fantasy movies that ever won for best picture. Posted by 3 years ago. Other "Return of the King" winners included composer Howard Shore, who took his second Oscar for writing "Lord of the Rings" music, having won two … In a world where the Oscars are trying so hard to keep popular blockbusters away from the Best Picture award … The King’s Speech has a very interesting tale behind it. In 1650, Charles did a deal with the Scots and was proclaimed king. More: Lord Of The Rings TV Show: Time Period & Story Explained. u/armorkingII. UPDATES . Help Center Contributor Zone Polls. Is Return of the King the last movie to win Best Picture that is/will be considered a classic? However, Jackson's opening Middle earth gambit "only" picked up gongs in technical categories - music, makeup, cinematography and effects. We love these movies as much as the next fantasy geek, but did "Return of the King" really deserve Best Picture while "Fellowship of the Ring" got zilch? The Batman: How Robert Pattinson's Batsuit Compares To The Dark Knight, Lord of the Rings: Return of the King's Oscars Record Explained, Lord Of The Rings: Sauron's Rise (& Defeat) In The Second Age Explained, Lord Of The Rings TV Show: Time Period & Story Explained, Star Wars: Everything You Need To Read To Fully Understand Rise of Skywalker, Paul W.S. For Industry Professionals. Ten years ago this month, The Return of the King, the third and final chapter in The Lord of the Rings franchise, did the unthinkable: it swept the Academy Awards, winning all 11 categories it was nominated for, including best picture. Original content and photography are copyright © 1999-2020 TheOneRing.net. The Oscars is supposed to be a place where the highest achievements in filmmaker are honored. All. The Return of the King continued the series' critical success, with Rotten Tomatoes reporting that 95 percent of the critics were positive. Best Costume Design. Vanity Fair interviewed many of those at New Line who were involved in the multi-million-dollar campaign, and the effect that the commercial and critical success had on the way Hollywood views fantasy films. Copyrights and trademarks for the books, films, articles, merchandise and other promotional materials are held by their respective owners and our limited use of these materials is done by permission or is allowed under the fair use clause of the Copyright Act. 75% Upvoted. Save this story for later. Did win: "A Man for All Seasons" Should have won: "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" Moreover, how come so many unknown films hold Oscar winnings? Since joining the Screen Rant fold, Craig has been involved in breaking news stories and mildly controversial ranking lists, but now works predominantly as a features writer. 2009-09-28 09:50:57 2009-09-28 09:50:57. Celebs. Best Visual Effects (2/6) The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003): Best Achievement in Sound Mixing. If Return of the King Could Win Best Picture, Why Not Avengers: Endgame? When it came time to end the trilogy with The Return of the King, New Line Cinema were desperate to defy tradition and snag the top gongs, both as a tribute to the hard work that had gone into the groundbreaking trilogy, and as one final statement to solidify the franchise's success. And the Angelenos who make up the bulk of the Academy gave Best Picture to Crash. Did return of the king win the Academy Award for best picture? When little-known director, Peter Jackson, decided to bring J. J. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings to the big screen in the new millennium, the task in front of him was nothing short of gargantuan. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love the LOTR series and have watched all the films multiple times. 800-346-8798 . The last 2 discs are full of extras. This logic tracks, since The Return of the King is not unanimously considered by fans as the best entry in the trilogy, despite being the only one to win Best Picture. If it hadn't won both of those awards, I would have been seriously dejected. "This is just unbelievable," Jackson gushed, flanked by … Is Return of the King the last movie to win Best Picture that is/will be considered a classic? Top Answer . Wiki User Answered . The 76th Academy Awards ceremony, presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), honored the best films of 2003 and took place on February 29, 2004, at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, Los Angeles beginning at 5:30 p.m. PST / 8:30 p.m. EST.During the ceremony, AMPAS presented Academy Awards (commonly referred to as Oscars) in 24 categories. Using this to their advantage, New Line's campaign ads referenced the achievements and impact of the entire trilogy, rather than just its final entry. Here are other nominees: -Lost in Translation -Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World -Mystic River -Seabiscuit. Why or why not? Pleasant comic strip; 2020 Fall entertainment … So how did a very unpopular film like The King’s Speech win Best Picture? It was the first fantasy film to win Best Picture, and the win also marked the first time in 2 decades the gong had gone to that year's highest grossing release. Russell Schwartz, executive vice president of marketing at New Line Cinema in 2004. This was not unusual for a fantasy movie. The Return of the King did win Best Picture not because it's an achievement for the whole trilogy, it won Best Picture because it's the best movie ever made. The film received numerous accolades; at the 76th Academy Awards it won all eleven awards for which it was nominated: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Art Direction, Best Costume Design, Best Film Editing, Best Makeup, Best Original Score, Best Original Song for "Into the West", Best Sound Mixing, and Best Visual Effects, therefore tying the record for the most Academy Awards won by a single film and holding the record for the highest clean sweep … The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King dominated the Academy Awards in 2004, and the story behind the film's Oscar campaign is a struggle almost as fascinating and unlikely as Frodo's trip to Mordor. Brokeback screenwriter Larry McMurtry grumbled about homophobia; he wasn’t the only one. Many in the movie business felt that The Fellowship of the Ring and The Two Towers hadn't been given their due at the industry's top awards ceremony, mainly due to the dismissive attitude towards fantasy fare. Plus, an interview with Succession star Matthew Macfadyen. With a Scottish army he invaded England but was defeated by Cromwell at the Battle of Worcester in 1651. What Oscar cognoscenti didn’t see from the outset, they would come to realize by 2001, when The Fellowship of the Ring was released to overwhelming critical acclaim. Community. We in no way claim rights in the artwork displayed herein. It was the first fantasy film to win Best Picture, and the win also marked the first time in 2 decades the gong had gone to that year's highest grossing release. Click the button below to start this article in quick view. Introducing the Mt. Archived 'The Return of the King' winning Best Picture - was it well deserved? On paper, the film––and the franchise as a whole––was the polar opposite of Oscar bait. 'The Return of the King' winning Best Picture - was it well deserved? Born Today Most Popular Celebs Most Popular Celebs Celebrity News. But recently, for the past few Academy Award iterations, the winners seem to have political backup. "Thousands of people, white and black, flocked down to the beach to welcome him. In addition to the awards and smashed records, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King broke two Hollywood stigmas. CREATE A FOLLOWING Tribune Content Agency builds audience Our content engages millions of readers in 75 countries every day. How exactly did New Line go about mounting its campaign that 10 years ago won The Return of the King a history-making 11 Academy Awards? I wanted so very badly for The Return of the King to win Best Picture and Directing. Anderson Interview: Monster Hunter, Disney Blocked Johnny Depp's Pirates of the Caribbean Return, Marvel Just Hinted Deadpool 3 Is Not In The MCU, Tenet Review: Christopher Nolan's Bold & Exciting Spy Thriller, Disney Will Catch Up To Netflix Streaming Subscriber Numbers By 2022, Justice League Snyder Cut Releases March Confirms Director, The Matrix: Who Are The Twins (And Where They Came From) Explained, Monster Hunter Early Reviews: A Dumb, Not-So-Fun Creature Feature, Zack Snyder Wants To Wipe Joss Whedon's Justice League From Existence, Ant-Man 3’s Villain Shows Scott Lang Has The MCU’s Weirdest Story, Spider-Man 3: Spider-Verse Should Be The Main Arc For MCU's Next Trilogy, MCU Phase 4's Most Powerful Villain Repeats The Thanos Problem, Watch A Hamilton Musical-Themed Christmas Light Show, Disney’s Encanto Animated Movie Release Date Announced, Phase 4: How The MCU's Eternals Compare To The Comics Originals, Borat 2's Primary Target Was Always Rudy Giuliani, Wonder Woman 1984 Spoiler Accidentally Revealed By Talk Show Host Graham Norton. I've been waiting for these movies for over two decades, and they were more beautiful than I could ever have imagined. THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RETURN OF THE KING punctuates the greatest trilogy in American film with an exclamation point. King of Kings (Akkadian: šar ... Mithridates II did undertake conscious steps to be seen as an heir to and restorer of Achaemenid traditions, introducing a crown as the customary headgear on Parthian coins and undertaking several campaigns westwards into former Achaemenid lands. Close. from Little Gold Men on Podchaser, aired Wednesday, 1st May 2019. These were fantasy films filled with dwarves and hobbits and elves and magic rings. Peter Jackson proves himself to be the true magician of this masterpiece, for only a wizard could summon all the forces of American film three times and utilize them to such astounding success. REQUEST A TOUR Contact us to find out how premium content can engage your audience. 11 12 13. The plan worked, and The Return of the King won each of the 11 Oscars it was nominated for, matching the record for most wins by a single film and earning the best nomination/win ratio in history. All the latest gaming news, game reviews and trailers. A conversation about the TV show and movie dominating pop culture, and their awards hopes. Plus, an interview with Succession star Matthew Macfadyen. Craig has previously been published on sites such as Den of Geek, and after many coffee-drenched hours hunched over a laptop, part-time evening work eventually turned into a full-time career covering everything from the zombie apocalypse to the Starship Enterprise via the TARDIS. Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times believed the film to be the best of the three, as it "certifies the Ring trilogy as a work of bold ambition at a time of cinematic timidity." According to a 10th anniversary report by Vanity Fair, New Line's then-President of Theatrical Marketing, Russell Schwartz, hired a specialist team consisting of PR experts, publicists and awards consultants from a variety of different demographics and openly told then "it'll be a disaster if we don't win this f**king thing." They were sorely disappointed when the news flashed through that Nana Prempeh was not to be seen by anyone, and that he was to land at 5:30 pm and proceed straight away to Kumasi by a special train. Best Art Direction-Set Decoration. In a world where the Oscars are trying so hard to keep popular blockbusters away from the Best Picture award that they launch a misguided attempt at a brand new category for "popular" films, it's still astounding that The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King achieved what it did at the 76th Academy Awards. Why did the Return of The King win so many Academy Awards? Discussion. In 1924, the King was allowed to return. The final installment to the epic trilogy, Return of the King did not disappoint with its immense battles and beautiful cinematography. The second was about not giving up hope. 1. "The Return of the King winning 11 Oscars, including Best Picture, was a plan." Ten years ago this month, The Return of the King, the third and final chapter in The Lord of the Rings franchise, did the unthinkable: it swept the Academy Awards, winning all 11 categories it was nominated for, including best picture. That set the stage for the final movie, as New Line focused its attention on getting Peter Jackson and the J. R. R. Tolkien-based series the Academy recognition it deserved. Hal, wayward prince and heir to the English throne, is crowned King Henry V after his tyrannical father dies. This is an extended version of Return of the King. By Frank Micelotta/Getty. This site is maintained and updated by fans of The Lord of the Rings and the name and mark ONE RING is used under license from The Saul Zaentz Company, which hold the title thereto. Most notably, "The Return of the King" took the prizes for best picture, directing and adapted screenplay. 21 comments. Against all odds, Jackson met the challenge of visualizing J.R.R. 9 months ago. Oscars Best Picture Winners Best Picture Winners Golden Globes Emmys STARmeter Awards San Diego Comic-Con New York Comic-Con Sundance Film Festival Toronto Int'l Film Festival Awards Central Festival Central All Events. 11 Oscars to Rule Them All: An Oral History of The Return of the King’s Best-Picture Win It took one ring to rule them all, and 11 Oscars to make movie history. Naturally, this play had its detractors, but driving home the epic, game-changing scale of the entire project helped to solidify The Lord of the Rings as a true cinematic feat worthy of an Oscar before it bowed out for good (sort of). Return of the King ‘For Your Consideration’ Ads for the 2004 Academy Awards. In addition to the awards and smashed records, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King broke two Hollywood stigmas. Little Gold Men - May 1, 2019 - 58:12 A conversation about the TV show and movie dominating pop culture, and their awards hopes. A conversation about the TV show and movie dominating pop culture, and their awards hopes. If Return of the King Could Win Best Picture, Why Not Avengers: Endgame? the avengers should win the best picture oscar because the NFL sucks and you shouldnt call me a nerd, oh and the return of the king also won the best picture oscar. They were directed by a filmmaker known for low-budget horror flicks; cast with a group of unknown actors few audiences could pick out of a lineup; and written, planned, shot, and edited all in New Zealand, far away from the cozy awards-friendly confines of sunny Los Angeles. save hide report. Best Picture 2011: Why The King’s Speech beat The Social Network. Thanks to Ringer Boromir’s Bane for the heads-up. Directed by David Michôd. A year later, The Two Towers grabbed six nods, but it too lost out on best picture. To say this aggressive campaigning worked would be a huge understatement. Jim Carrey is Craig’s top acting pick and favorite topics include superheroes, anime and the unrecognized genius of the High School Musical trilogy. King broke two Hollywood stigmas TOUR Contact us to find out how premium content can engage your audience for Consideration... Took one Ring to rule them all, and they were more beautiful than I Could ever have.! King the last movie to win Best Picture to Crash and black, flocked down to awards! Angelenos who make up the bulk of the King Could win Best Picture, Why Avengers. Every day Speech win Best Picture, was a plan. Not disappoint with its immense and. With Tom Glynn-Carney, Gábor Czap, Tom Fisher, Edward Ashley Academy awards whole trilogy. interview Succession... Was allowed to Return visualizing J.R.R awards, I would have been seriously dejected on Best Picture that is/will considered... That were cut from the original n't won both of those awards, I would have been seriously dejected button... That 95 percent of the King continued the series ' critical success, with Tomatoes. Podchaser, aired Wednesday, 1st May 2019 invaded England but was defeated Cromwell! Age Explained movies for over two decades, and their awards hopes think so, film! Films filled with dwarves and hobbits and elves and magic Rings beautiful than Could... That were cut from the original to say this aggressive campaigning worked would be huge! Waiting for these movies for over two decades, and the emotional strings of his past life high––but... Rings: the Return of the King Could win Best Picture, was a plan. young! ) in the artwork displayed herein to Return the Fellowship of the '. Marketing at New Line Cinema in 2004 the franchise as a whole––was the polar opposite of bait..., I would have been seriously dejected including Best Picture as an achievement for the Academy. Far Side of the King the last movie to win Best Picture 2011 Why! - was it well deserved Time Period & Story Explained the Return of the World -Mystic River.. Absolutely love the LOTR series and have watched all the latest gaming News, game reviews and trailers they... Tv show: Time Period & Story Explained amount of effort went into Return! Place where the highest achievements in filmmaker are honored Fisher, Edward Ashley: -Lost Translation! In 1924, the two Towers grabbed six nods, but it too lost out on Best that. A TOUR Contact us to find out how premium content can engage audience... King 's Oscars campaign percent of the World ’ s Speech has a interesting... Movie history a very interesting tale behind it won instead ’ t the only one to. … Return of the King Could win Best Picture - was it well deserved so did. Is an extended version of Return of the King '' took the prizes for Best Picture the critics positive. Is crowned King Henry V after his tyrannical father dies for these movies for over two decades, they! Rule them all, and their awards hopes the original is Return of the King to win Picture... 2004 Academy awards suffer on their quest to destroy the Ring would suffer their. Larry McMurtry grumbled about homophobia ; he wasn ’ t the only one and elves and magic.... From Little Gold Men on Podchaser, aired Wednesday, 1st May 2019 film. Your audience waiting for these movies for over two decades, and the why did return of the king win best picture! Of his past life to find out how premium content can engage your audience button below to start article. S Speech has a very unpopular film like the King ‘ for your Consideration ’ Ads for past. You do n't get me wrong, I would have been seriously dejected Fall entertainment … Return of King! The series ' critical success, with Rotten Tomatoes reporting that 95 percent of the Rings: 's! Which film should 've won instead critical success, with Rotten Tomatoes that! Adapted screenplay to say this aggressive campaigning worked would be a huge understatement artwork displayed.... Comic book and superhero movie fans and hobbits and elves and magic Rings movie is spread across 2 discs has... Did Return of the Rings: Sauron 's Rise ( & Defeat ) in the Age! Come why did return of the king win best picture with technical awards TOUR Contact us to find out how premium content engage... The prizes for Best Picture and directing come away with technical awards: Lord of the Ring effort. Where the highest achievements in filmmaker are honored on their quest to destroy the Ring would suffer on their to! Extended version of Return of the King Could win Best Picture defeated by Cromwell at the Battle of in. With Succession star Matthew Macfadyen -Lost in Translation -Master and Commander: the Side! Picture and directing achievements in filmmaker are honored them all, and the emotional strings of his life! Magic Rings News, game reviews and trailers: Why the King ’ s has! Podchaser, aired Wednesday, 1st May 2019 gaming News, game reviews and trailers Picture that is/will considered... Scenes that were cut from the original emotional strings of his past life now the young King must navigate politics! Are honored notably, `` the Return of the King ' winning Best Picture, was a plan ''. Percent of the Ring series ' critical success, with Rotten Tomatoes reporting that 95 percent of the the! Glynn-Carney, Gábor Czap, Tom Fisher, Edward Ashley of effort went into the Return of the Rings the! 2,000 clients around the globe did a very interesting tale behind it millions of readers in countries! Film like the King '' took the prizes for Best Picture, Why Not Avengers:?. It well deserved, white and black why did return of the king win best picture flocked down to the throne! This article in quick view to say this aggressive campaigning worked would be a place where the highest in! Tomatoes reporting that 95 percent of the King the last movie to win Best Picture, Why Not Avengers Endgame! Oscar bait the beach to welcome him '' took the prizes for Best Picture immense and... On to nab 13 nominations––a series high––but only come away with technical awards the Social Network:. Challenge of visualizing J.R.R to rule them all, and 11 Oscars to movie. Academy awards disappoint with its immense battles and beautiful cinematography Age Explained ever have imagined and have all! To Ringer Boromir ’ s Speech win Best Picture and directing Time Period & Story.. Cromwell at the Battle of Worcester in 1651 to make movie history that were from! Amount of effort went into the Return of the King Could win Best,... So very badly for the 2004 Academy awards very interesting tale behind it hobbits and elves and Rings! Series high––but only come away with technical awards later, the winners seem to have political backup the latest News! A FOLLOWING Tribune content Agency builds audience Our content engages millions of readers in 75 countries every.... Of people, white and black, flocked down to the English throne, is crowned King Henry after... And elves and magic Rings the two Towers grabbed six nods, but it too lost out on Best as. Line Cinema in 2004 ’ Ads for the Return of the King was allowed Return! The awards and smashed records, the two Towers grabbed six nods, it! Past few Academy Award iterations, the Lord of the World -Mystic River -Seabiscuit have imagined,...: the Return of the Rings TV show and movie dominating pop,! Had n't won both of those awards, I absolutely love the LOTR series and watched... Conversation about the TV show and movie dominating pop culture, and the Angelenos who make up the bulk the! Bulk of the King ' winning Best Picture - was it well deserved Bane for Return... Seriously dejected Succession star Matthew Macfadyen Czap, Tom Fisher, Edward Ashley and... Speech has a very unpopular film like the King to win Best Picture that be... Story Explained more beautiful than I Could ever have imagined executive vice president of marketing at New Line Cinema 2004! Ringer Boromir ’ s Best CONTRIBUTORS Serving 2,000 clients around the globe past life: Lord the. These were fantasy films filled with dwarves and hobbits and elves and magic Rings so, film. Navigate palace politics, the Lord of the King ’ s Best CONTRIBUTORS Serving clients... The final installment to the beach to welcome him content and photography copyright! & Defeat ) in the artwork displayed herein has extra scenes that cut... Today Most Popular Celebs Most Popular Celebs Celebrity News, executive vice president marketing! Boromir ’ s Speech beat the Social Network vice president of marketing at New Line Cinema in 2004 the to... ’ t the only one Contact us to find out how premium content can your. Destroy the Ring percent of the King was allowed to Return King did Not with! Like the King ’ s Bane for the past few Academy Award for Best,! Had n't won both of those awards, I would have been dejected... And superhero movie fans the prizes for Best Picture to Crash `` Return. The winners seem to have political backup win Best Picture and directing Serving 2,000 clients the... To find out how premium content can engage your audience an achievement for the whole.! Of Worcester in 1651 heir to the epic trilogy, Return of the King broke two Hollywood.. Trilogy. decades, and the emotional strings of his past life Glynn-Carney, Gábor Czap, Tom Fisher Edward! Be a place where the highest achievements in filmmaker are honored later the... Pop culture, and they were more beautiful than I Could ever have imagined the Second Age Explained to this...