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August 02, 2024
All The Differences Between The Lord of the Rings Books and Movies
Explore all the differences between the Lord of the Rings books and the films directed by Peter Jackson. Re-immerse yourself in the world of Middle-earth!
>Buy: The Lord of the Rings Merchandise & Gifts
Buy: The Lord of the Rings Merchandise & Gifts
As with every book to movie adaptation, there are plenty of details that don't make the final cut (unless we're talking about the Hobbit). The Lord of the Rings, written by J.R.R. Tolkien, is no different. In 2001, director Peter Jackson brought Middle-earth to the big screen, and those that read the books couldn't help but notice how much was missing. He went on to direct all three films, and while they stuck pretty faithfully to the story, there were some characters and chapters absent from the movie. In this article, we're covering all the biggest differences between the Lord of the Rings movies and books.
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring | Book & Movie Differences
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, is the start of the film trilogy and one of the best series of all time. From Frodo's departure from the Shire to the introduction of the Dark Lord Sauron, it makes for a fun movie full of adventure about the one ring that was thought to be lost. In the table below, we've got a side by side comparison listing the significant differences between the books and the movies.
|
Movie |
Book |
|
At the beginning of the movie, Isildur cuts off Sauron’s fingers with a broken sword, defeating him. |
In the book, Sauron is already defeated and Isildur only removes the finger with the ring on it. |
|
During Bilbo's 111th birthday party, Merry and Pippin steal Gandalf’s firework and set it off. It takes the form of a giant dragon, scaring the crowd. |
Merry and Pippin never steal the firework. Gandalf sets off the dragon firework to honor Bilbo, who had a hand in Smaug’s defeat. |
|
Gandalf leaves Bilbo’s ring with Frodo and returns about a few months to a year later. |
In the book, 17 years have passed before Gandalf returns to Frodo. |
|
While away, Gandalf goes to Minas Tirith to find the scroll of Isildur. |
In the book, Gandalf travels to multiple places and also enlists Aragorn to help him find Gollum. |
|
Gollum’s backstory is told at the beginning of the third movie. |
After Gollum is rescued and taken to the Woodland Realm, Gandalf and the audience learn Gollum’s backstory. |
|
These chapters are not included. |
There are multiple chapters with Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippin journeying through the woods. They have dinner with Farmer Maggot, Merry and Pippin are caught by Old Man Willow, and then they’re saved by Tom Bombadil. They stay with Tom and he later saves all four of them from Barrow-wights. |
|
Strider carries a normal sword that is unbroken. He does not acquire Narsil (which is sitting in Rivendell) until the third movie. |
Strider already has the shards of Narsil when the Hobbits meet him in Bree, which he carries around with him. |
|
Strider gives Frodo and the other Hobbits normal blades. When they’re attacked by Nazgûl, Strider scares them off with a torch and sword. |
Frodo got a sword from the Barrow-wight, which affects the Nazgul. When the Hobbits are attacked, the Nazgul are scared of the blade and retreat. |
|
When Frodo is stabbed by the Morgul-knife, he is immediately paralyzed with pain. He is on the verge of death and they quickly ride for Rivendell. |
In the book, after Frodo is stabbed, his decline is gradual. |
|
In the movie version, Arwen carries Frodo across the river and raises the water to wash away the Nazgul that were tailing her. No one else accompanies them. |
Glorfindel rescues Strider, Frodo, and the other Hobbits. Elrond raises the water and Gandalf turns the water into white horses. |
|
Bilbo is not a part of the meeting and these topics are never discussed. |
Bilbo is included on the council for the meeting to discuss the ring. They bring up Aragorn capturing Gollum, who ended up escaping. Gandalf also mentions Saruman’s betrayal. |
|
Saruman causes a blizzard and an avalanche on the Caradhras. |
The mountain itself is alive and it hates trespassers. It causes the blizzard/ |
|
When Frodo is attacked by the Watcher of the Water, outside the Mines of Moria, everyone rushes to his defense in one way or another. |
When Frodo is attacked by the Watcher of the Water, only Sam helps Frodo while the others are frozen in fear. |
|
Pippin accidentally knocks the skeleton of a Dwarf into the well. |
Pippin throws a rock into the well intentionally. |
|
The Balrog doesn’t fear Gandalf. |
When the Balrog realizes who Gandalf is, he covers before him. |
|
Gandalf shouts “You shall not pass!” |
Gandalf shouts “You cannot pass!” |
|
Gandalf breaks the bridge to stop the Balrog from advancing. |
Aragorn and Boromir rush to help Gandalf. This forces him to break the bridge in order to protect them. |
|
The Uruk-hai Lurtz is a smaller antagonist in the story. |
Uruk-hai Lurtz doesn’t exist in the book. |
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers | Book & Movie Differences
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers is the second installment in both the book and film series. Of the three movies, this one has one of the best battles in it. While it's a long movie, the build-up to the ending battle against the Orcs is worth it. Listed below are some of the biggest differences between the movies and the books.
|
Movie |
Book |
|
Frodo falls down the hill by the Black Gate and is nearly caught by two Esterlings. |
This doesn’t happen. |
|
Theoden, the King of Rohan, sends his people to a fortress called Helm’s Deep to take refuge. |
In the book, Theoden sends his people to Dunharrow. |
|
While on their way to Helm’s Deep, Theoden’s forces and refugees are attacked by Warg-riders. |
This did not happen in the book because his people were not sent to Helm’s Deep.
|
|
During the Warg-rider attack, Aragorn falls over the edge of a cliff and everyone thinks he’s dead. He later makes a triumphant return. |
This doesn’t happen in the book because the attack does not occur. |
|
Hama is killed by the Warg-riders during the attack. |
Hama is killed at the gate of Helm’s Deep. |
|
Faramir feels the temptation of the ring, just like his brother Boromir. He wants to take the ring and give it to his father, the Steward of Gondor, as a gift. He becomes angry when Frodo refuses him. |
Faramir is not tempted by the ring and vows to never try to take it from Frodo. |
|
Faramir and his men beat Gollum when they find him. |
Faramir and his men are kind to Gollum. |
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Faramir takes Frodo, Sam, and Gollum to Osgiliath. |
This doesn’t happen. |
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Pippin tricks the Ents into seeing their dead kin, convincing them to go to war after they had previously decided not to. |
The Ents decide to go to war on their own. |
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An Elven army arrives at Helm’s Deep to back up Theoden. Haldir is slain during the battle. |
The Elves do not go to Helm’s Deep, as they are fighting their own battle in Lothlorien. |
|
Grima banishes Eomer and his riders at the beginning of the movie. As a result, Gandalf arrives with them at the end to flank the enemy and drive them away from Helm’s Deep. |
Grima imprisons Eomer and he is freed after Grima is banished. During the battle, Gandalf arrives with Erkenbrand, a Rohirrim Commander, to flank the army. |
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King | Book & Movie Differences
The fate of the ring is determined in the final installment, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King. From the final battle to the destruction of the Eye of Sauron, this movie makes for an epic conclusion. Below are the biggest differences between Peter Jackson's movie version of the story and J. R. R. Tolkien's book version.
|
Movie |
Book |
|
Sam offers to carry the ring, but Frodo sends him away after Gollum sowed distrust between them. |
Frodo and Sam never separate. |
|
Grima defeats Saruman by stabbing him. He then falls from his tower and lands on a spiked wheel. Legolas shoots Grima with an arrow. |
Saruman and Grima don't die until the end of the book after the Hobbits return to the shire. Saruman took up residence in the Shire. Saruman insults Grima, who slits his throat. Grima is then killed by Hobbits. |
|
Arwen leaves Rivendell to go to the Undying Lands. |
Arwen never leaves Rivendell. |
|
This kingdom is not mentioned. |
The Kingdom of Dol Amroth is a part of the Battle of the Pelennor Fields. |
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Theoden and his men go straight to Minas Tirith. |
Theoden and his men are stopped by the leader of the Druedian, who tells them that the path is blocked by an army. They end up cutting through a hidden road in the forest. |
|
Before battle, Elrond gives Aragorn his ancestral sword and tells him about the Dead Men of Dunharrow. Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli travel the Paths of the Dead and convince the King of the Dead to join them. |
The sons of Elrond, Elladen and Elrohir, along with one of the Rangers of the North, Halbarad, give Aragorn the message about the Dead Men of Dunharrow. |
|
Aragorn leads the Army of the Dead and brings them to Minas Tirith, ending the battle. |
The Dead Army takes over the Corsair ships. Aragorn puts living allies on these ships and brings them to Minas Tirith. |
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Merry and the audience are aware that Eowyn secretly joined the soldiers and rode to Minas Tirith. |
Merry and the audience are not aware that Eowyn joined them until she faces the Witch-king. |
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Merry is a part of the battle at the Black Gate. |
Merry is injured and recovering at the House of Healing while the others ride for the Black Gate. |
|
This doesn’t happen in the movie. |
Pippin slays a troll at the Black Gate. |
|
Frodo and Gollum fight for the ring. Gollum takes the ring from Frodo and they both slip and fall. Frodo manages to grab the side of the cliff and Sam pulls him back up, but Gollum falls into the lava. |
Gollum loses his footing and falls into the lava with the ring. The lava destroys the ring and Gollum. |
|
Bilbo doesn’t seem to remember Frodo’s quest and even asks to see the ring again, but Frodo says he lost it. |
Bilbo is aware that the ring has been destroyed. |
Buy: The Lord of the Rings - Action Figures & Statues
Buy:The Lord of the Rings - Action Figures & Statues
Frequently Asked Questions
How closely do The Lord of the Rings movies follow the books?
+How old is Aragorn in The Lord of the Rings books?
+Who is Tom Bombadil in the LOTR books?
+How old is Galadriel?
+What famous chapter is missing from the LOTR books?
+How is the Battle of the Pelennor Fields different in the LOTR books?
+How is the Battle of Helm's Deep different in the LOTR books?
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