2003 Hit Film Ranked the 'Greatest Blockbuster Movie' of the Last 50 Years

Since 1976, Hollywood has released some incredible blockbusters. The publication Collider recently took on the nearly impossible task to narrow down the "10 greatest blockbuster movies of the last 50 years." The ranking featured beloved films like The Matrix from 1999, 1991'sTerminator 2: Judgment Day, 2008's The Dark Knight, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrialfrom 1982, and Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back from 1980.

2003's The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, secured the ranking of the number one greatest blockbuster film released after 1976. The publication reported that the third film in Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings franchise took home the title because it's a genuinely good film and grossed a total of $1,118,887,224 worldwide, per Box Office Mojo.

'The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King' Took Home the Oscar for Best Picture in 2004

Not only did The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King sell out theaters, but it's also critically acclaimed. The film, which has a rating of 94 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, received the Academy Award for Best Picture at the 76th Oscars in 2004. The film beat out Lost and Translation, Seabiscuit, Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World, and Mystic River.

During his acceptance speech, Jackson, who also took home the Academy Award for Best Director for The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, noted that it was quite a feat for a fantasy film to take home the big award.

"This is just unbelievable. And I'm so honored and actually relieved that the Academy and the members of the Academy that supported us, that they've seen past the trolls and the wizards and the Hobbits and a recognizing fantasy this year. Fantasy is an f-word that hopefully the five-second delay won't do anything with," quipped the New Zealand director while on stage.

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This story was originally published April 17, 2026 at 5:31 PM.