Fifteen years after its last U.S. Blu-ray release, the animated The Lord of the Rings movie from 1978 is officially making a comeback. Warner Bros. is re-releasing the cult classic as a Remastered Deluxe Edition Blu-ray in 1080p HD, with a June 24 release date. The Blu-ray is now available for pre-order on Amazon for $22.49.
Directed by animation pioneer Ralph Bakshi and based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s legendary fantasy saga, the film adapted The Fellowship of the Ring and portions of The Two Towers, leaving out the events of The Return of the King. Despite its mixed critical reception, the film has garnered a loyal fan base over the years.
What’s Included in the Blu-ray Reprint?
This Remastered Deluxe Edition was first introduced in 2010 but has been out of print in the U.S. for several years. The new reprint maintains the original specs:
- 1080p HD resolution
- 16:9 aspect ratio (1.85:1)
- Dolby TrueHD 5.1 Surround Sound (English)
- Dolby Digital 5.1 (English), French 1.0, Spanish 2.0
- Subtitles: English, French, and Spanish
Additionally, the disc includes a special feature titled Forging Through the Darkness: The Ralph Bakshi Vision for The Lord of the Rings a new interview series in which Bakshi discusses the making of the film and its legacy.
While the 1978 film grossed over $32 million worldwide which was nearly eight times its budget. It also received mixed reviews. On Rotten Tomatoes, it holds a 49% critic score, with some praising its visual ambition and others criticizing its pacing and story focus.
Paul Grey (Time Magazine) called the film "a bewildering parade" that lacked a central focus on Frodo’s journey.
Bernard Drew countered with praise, noting Bakshi’s mastery of animation and bold adaptation choices.
One common criticism from fans is that the film only partially covers the original story, leading to an incomplete narrative. Still, it retains cult status thanks to its distinct style, memorable rotoscoping technique, and impact on fantasy cinema.
Voice Cast and Legacy
The animated movie boasts an impressive cast of voice talent, including:
- Christopher Guard as Frodo
- William Squire as Gandalf
- Michael Scholes as Samwise
- John Hurt as Aragorn
- Anthony Daniels (Star Wars) as Legolas
- Peter Woodthorpe as Gollum
The film is regarded by some as a precursor to Peter Jackson’s acclaimed live-action trilogy, with Jackson himself citing it as an early influence on his work.
Fans eager to own or revisit this unique take on Tolkien’s work can pre-order the Blu-ray now on Amazon, or pick up the remastered DVD edition for just $5. With a new wave of Tolkien interest on the horizon, The Lord of the Rings animated film is ready to re-enter the spotlight.
Controversial animator Ralph Bakshi's literal adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien's classic fantasy trilogy, "The Lord of the Rings", is brought to the screen. An evil sorcerer from a previous era created a magical ring which enables its users to call upon its tremendous powers to rule the world, but it inevitably warps them to evil. It was believed lost, but during a resurgence of magical evil in the world, Bilbo, a simple, plain-spoken hobbit, recovers it from its hiding place. The forces of good give his nephew Frodo the choice to bear the awful burden of the ring to a place where it may be destroyed.