The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

The fellowship has splintered and each member sets off on a different path as the struggle over the One Ring grows darker. Frodo and Sam press on toward Mordor, guided by the conflicted Gollum whose loyalties shift as they move closer to danger. Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli pursue the orcs who have taken Merry and Pippin, while other forces gather against the rising power of Saruman at Isengard. Threats multiply across Middle-earth, from political scheming to open warfare, and every choice carries greater weight as the hobbits inch toward the ring's fate. The film keeps the focus on tension and survival rather than revealing later surprises or resolutions.

Released in 2002, The Two Towers was directed by Peter Jackson, with screenplay credits to Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens and Peter Jackson, adapted from J.R.R. Tolkien's novel, continuing the cinematic adaptation of the classic fantasy trilogy.

The film was a major commercial success, sustaining the momentum built by its predecessor and drawing large international audiences. Its wide release and strong word of mouth helped secure the trilogy's status as a dominant box office force in the early 2000s, reinforcing studio confidence in big-budget fantasy epics.

Andy Serkis' motion-capture work as Gollum brought widespread attention to performance-driven CGI, and sequences like the Battle of Helm's Deep became reference points for large-scale practical and digital effects blended together. The movie helped set expectations for blockbuster world-building and inspired countless references across gaming, television and fan communities.

Critics and audiences responded positively, reflected in its high user rating of 8.411/10 (23260 votes). Reviewers praised the film's expanded scope, darker tone, visual effects and the development of key characters. Major themes include loyalty, the strain of power, moral choices under pressure, and how small acts of courage can matter in vast conflicts.