Movie by Movie
Yonder back, Peter Jackson set about as director of for an amazing project. This was, of course, to make some movies based on Lord of the Rings. The project would end up costing $300,000,000 but the results were well worth it.

The Fellowship of the Ring
Released 2001, lifetime gross $314,000,000
Frodo receives the ring but Sauron's black riders are coming for him and he flees under the advice of Gandalf to Eldron's house. There, there is a big discuss about what to do with the ring and it is decided they must go to Mount Doom in Mordor to destroy it.

Eventually after everyone argues, Frodo says he will take the ring to Mount Doom and they put together a fellowship of nine to make the journey. They set off abd get quite a way but get ambushed by orks who take Perry and Pippin hostage while Frodo and Sam leave the rest by rowing away in the boat. Boromir is killed.

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The Two Towers
Released 2002, lifetime gross $340,000,000
Sam and Frodo continue there journey to Mordor finding Gollum the lovable scamp who wants to kill them to get his ring back. Meanwhile Merry and Pippin convince the Ents (tree folk) to raise Isenguard to the ground after Sauruman send his army against Rohan.

Rohan had been warned of this by Gandalf, Gimli, Legolas and Aragorn and like the predictable fools they are had fleed to their fortress of Helms deep. Gandalf leaves but luckily elves turn up to help them man the defences.

A lot of the second half of the film is basically the battle for Helms Deep which the evil army of Sauruman are looking like winning until Gandalf returns with the missing Rohan riders and kicks their ass.

The Return of the King
Released 2003, lifetime gross $377,000,000
With rumblings continuing in Mordor, Gandalf and Pippin head to Minas Tirith and try to convince them to light the beacons to summon aid from Rohan. The steward of Gondor refuses by Gandalf gets Pippin to light the first beacon anyway and the plan works.

As Frodo, Sam and Gollum watch on their way into Mordor, Sauron's army march through Minas Morgul and quickly take the city of Gondor while Minas Tirith secure up their defences. Soon there is an almighty battle going on as well as the steward trying to burn him and his son alive - a lot for Gandalf to deal with.

Despite the Rohan riders arriving there is still a large part of Sauron's army left. Luckily, Gimli, Aragorn and Legolas arrive with a bunch of ghosts and slaughter them all. The remaining forces of good then head off to the Black Gate to draw out Sauron's army so Frodo can make it to Mount Doom and destroy the thing. Tih is followed by a needless amount of ending scenes before it is revealed that everyone lives happily ever after.