The Lord of the Rings Trilogy

Inarguably one of the greatest achievements in cinema history, Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings trilogy is fantasy storytelling on the grandest of scales. Informed by the director's dark horror roots, these three epic movies are frightening when they need to be frightening, yet they are also dramatic, exciting, and even funny, revealing a complex balance of tones and emotions that few filmmakers are capable of striking. Primarily filmed during an extended 16-month shoot in Jackson's native New Zealand, The Lord of the Rings seamlessly merges the country's stunning natural beauty with Weta Workshop's groundbreaking special effects to create a fully realized Middle-earth that stays true to author J.R.R. Tolkien's literary vision without being restrained by it. (Anyone still fuming about the relatively minor liberties that Jackson took with certain plot elements needs to relax with a pint of ale at the Prancing Pony.)

With The Fellowship of the Ring, Jackson proved that he was the ideal person to bring Lord of the Rings to the silver screen by taking Tolkien's slow-to-start narrative at a quicker clip, effectively ratcheting up the tension that builds when young Frodo (Elijah Wood, leading a flawlessly selected cast) and his three hapless hobbit companions, leave their bucolic homeland, relentlessly pursued by shrieking, black-clad Ringwraiths. Masterfully handling the story's branching plotlines, Jackson introduced new characters and bigger battles in The Two Towers, consistently raising the stakes while keeping the heart and soul of the series intact. And, finally, of course, Jackson stuck the landing with remarkable skill in The Return of the King, the awards-conquering conclusion that brought the Rings trilogy full circle. Other cinematic endeavors may vie for the crown of The Greatest Fantasy Saga Ever Filmed, but The Lord of the Rings isn't likely to be dethroned.