During the Second Age of Middle-earth, the dark lord Sauron forged the evil One Ring of Power in the land of Mordor. It gave him incredible powers, which allowed him to wreak havoc on all the land. An army of Men and Elves led by the King of Gondor and Lord Elrond of Rivendell waged a war on Sauron to try and free the people of Middle-earth from his grasp. A long, bloody battle took place during which the King of Gondor was slain. His son, Isilidur, took up his sword and managed to cut the One Ring from Sauron’s finger. Sauron was defeated, but Isilidur took the evil Ring for himself. Since Sauron’s evil essence remained, due to the Ring not being destroyed, the One Ring itself corrupted, then eventually betrayed Isilidur to his death. As it tried to find its way back to its creator, the Ring was ensnared by a wretched creature called Gollum, who eventually lost it to a Hobbit adventurer named Bilbo Baggins. Baggins returned with it to the small village of Hobbiton in the Shire.
Sixty years later the wizard Gandalf the Grey returns to the Shire for his old friend’s 111th birthday. The old friend is none other than Bilbo Baggins, whom he last saw when the two went on an adventure -- the same one that, in fact, saw Bilbo ensnare the Ring from Gollum. Deciding that he wants to leave the Shire to continue writing his book about his adventure in the company of the Elves, Bilbo makes quite the disappearance at his party. He entrusts the Ring to his nephew Frodo. Sensing that something isn’t quite right about this Ring when Bilbo has a hard time parting with it, Gandalf travels to Minas Tirith to do some research. Meanwhile, Frodo enjoys the simple life of the Shire -- often spending nights drinking at the Green Dragon Inn with his friend Samwise Gamgee. One fateful night, Frodo returns home to Bagend to find a panicked Gandalf panting about the Ring. The wizard has learned about its history, and that Sauron’s minions are searching for it. Nine riders, better known as the Nazgul, have learned of the Ring’s whereabouts from Gollum, whom they captured and tortured. It’s now only a matter of time before they arrive in the Shire. Gandalf decides to send Frodo on a journey to the Elven city of Rivendell, where he thinks the Ring will be safe. He sends Sam with him since he was snooping in on their conversation about the Ring. They are to meet up with Gandalf at the Inn of the Prancing Pony in the town of Bree. The wizard also tells Frodo to find a new last name since the name Baggins isn’t safe to use outside the Shire.
While en route to Bree, Frodo and Sam meet up with troublesome Hobbits Merry and Pippin. The two end up joining them on their quest to Bree when the Nazgul catch up with them, and Frodo and Sam need Merry and Pippin’s help to find their way through the Old Forest, leading to their destination. Meanwhile, Gandalf goes to Isengard to see the leader of the order of wizards, Saruman the White. Gandalf learns from his superior that Sauron’s essence has retained itself in a gigantic flaming eye that rests atop his fortress in the land of Mordor. Saruman stuns Gandalf when he reveals that he learned all this through seeing it in a Palantir -- a seeing stone that is a tool of Sauron himself. What stuns Gandalf even more is when he learns that his superior has joined the enemy. When Gandalf refuses to join up with Sauron, the two wizards engage in a battle, which ends with Saruman trapping Gandalf atop his tower, Orthanc.
The Hobbits arrive in Bree only to learn from the bartender Barliman that Gandalf hasn’t arrived at his establishment. Later, when a drunken Pippin reveals Frodo’s true last name to a room full of patrons, Frodo accidently puts on the Ring while trying to prevent Pippin from revealing anything else. With the Ring on his finger, the Nazgul are drawn to Bree. A stranger in a cloak takes the four Hobbits into a room for their own good. He reveals himself to be Aragorn, a Ranger from the north who is a friend of Gandalf. The Ranger protects the Hobbits so that the Nazgul won’t find them. The next morning, the five set out together for Rivendell. En route they camp at the mountain ruins known as Weathertop, where Aragorn presents the Hobbits with weapons to defend themselves. Unluckily, the Nazgul have followed them, leading to an attack. Putting on the Ring, Frodo manages to evade their leader, the Witch King of Angmar, until he takes the Ring off and is stabbed by the Nazgul’s Morgul blade. Aragorn uses a fiery torch to drive the Nazgul away. The fivesome escapes, however, Frodo is dying from the fatal blow. Luckily, the beautiful Elf Arwen finds them. A faster rider than Aragorn, she agrees to take Frodo to Rivendell to be tended to. The Nazgul persist after the two until Arwen summons the power of the sea to drown them when they reach a river. Although the Nazgul aren’t dead, they are distracted long enough to allow Arwen to get Frodo to her father, Lord Elrond. He is able to save Frodo from death, although the wound inflicted by the Witch King will never truly heal.
When Frodo awakes, he is happy to see Gandalf at his bedside. The grey wizard explains Saruman’s betrayal, as well as how he escaped from his tower of Orthanc with the help of Gwaihir the eagle -- an old friend from his adventure with Bilbo. Frodo is also excited to learn that his Uncle Bilbo is in Rivendell, along with Sam, Merry and Pippin. Due to the urgency of the threat of the Ring, Elrond has summoned the leaders of Men, Elves and Dwarves to meet in Rivendell to discuss the matter at hand. The next day they all meet at the Council of Elrond. It is revealed that the only way to truly destroy the Ring, thus destroying Sauron for good, is to drop it into the lavapit in the Crack of Doom at Mount Doom in the land of Mordor. After a huge argument ensues, with none of the races trusting the other to carry out this all-important task, Frodo comes forth and offers to take the Ring to Mordor. Impressed by the small one’s courage, several of the Council decide they will join him on his quest. Of course, Gandalf is the first to step forward. The second is Aragorn. Sam, Merry and Pippin wouldn’t be left behind. The next is the elf Legolas, followed by the dwarf Gimli. The other is Boromir of Gondor -- who believes the Ring would be best used against the enemy, despite the fact that it would corrupt its wearer in the process.
The morning before The Fellowship heads off on its long journey, Aragorn reflects on his life at his mother’s grave. In truth, Aragorn is no mere Ranger. He is actually descended from the royal line of Gondor. His mother brought him to Rivendell at a young age so he wouldn’t have to bear that burden. Although Aragorn has tried to erase his Gondorian heritage from his life, Elrond knows that it will be resurrected before the end of The Fellowship’s journey as the Elves are departing Middle-earth, and Men must re-establish the royal line. Later on, Aragorn bids farewell to Arwen, with whom he shares a passion. She gives him her pendant, known as Evenstar, as a parting gift of love. Frodo also receives parting gifts as his Uncle Bilbo gives him his legendary sword known as Sting -- which glows blue whenever Orcs are near -- and a mithril shirt that can protect him from certain death. Meanwhile, Saruman begins creating a new, deadlier species of Orc that he names the Uruk-hai in the bowels beneath Orthanc. Unlike normal Orcs these Uruk-hai can travel in sunlight.
The first leg of The Fellowship’s journey takes them through the Pass of Caradhras, a snow-covered mountain which will allow them to avoid traveling through the Mines of Moria. But when Saruman causes the mountain to collapse, The Fellowship is forced to backtrack and travel through the Mines anyway. After battling the giant squid Guardian of Moria, The Fellowship makes their way through the underground kingdom of the Dwarves. While The Fellowship rests at one point, Frodo and Gandalf notice that they aren’t the only ones visiting Moria, but that the creature Gollum is on their trail. Gandalf explains that at one time this creature was like a Hobbit, and his name was Smeagol. Now experiencing the burden of carrying the Ring, Frodo tells Gandalf that he wishes it had never come to him. Gandalf assures Frodo that, just as Bilbo was meant to find it once, he was meant to bear its burden to insure it be destroyed. As The Fellowship continues to make its way through Moria, Gimli discovers that his cousin Balin, and many of their kin, lay dead in front of him. Suddenly, a troll joins a huge horde of Goblins in attacking The Fellowship. Frodo is stabbed during the battle, but saved by the mithril shirt that Bilbo gave him. After defeating the troll and Goblins, The Fellowship has no time to rest as a larger horde of Goblins persist after them. As The Fellowship nears the Bridge of Kazad-dum, the Goblins stop in their tracks as an even deadlier evil makes its way towards them all. This beast is a huge fiery creature known as the Balrog. The Balrog attacks The Fellowship as they cross the Bridge. Gandalf wages an epic battle with it to allow his company to make their way safely across, but the Balrog sadly takes Gandalf’s life. The remaining eight members of The Fellowship escape Moria, but can’t rest to grieve outside as it is too dangerous to stay put.
Not long after, The Fellowship is captured by Haldir and Elves from Lothlorien -- the forested Elven city in which Lady Galadriel and Lord Celeborn live. With Legolas’ help The Fellowship is spared and allowed to speak to the Elven leaders. During the night, Frodo wanders off, winding up at Lady Galadriel’s mirror. The Elf Queen shows him images of the Shire being burned by the Orcs -- a future that will take place if he fails to destroy the Ring. Frodo wants Galadriel to take the burden from him, but she cannot. She warns him that to bear the Ring is to be alone, and that one of his companions has already started to fall to the Ring’s alluring power. Frodo now knows that he will have to complete this quest alone, because if the others continue with him, they will all fall to the Ring’s power and perish. In the morning, Galadriel presents The Fellowship with an array of gifts. They all receive Elven cloaks to protect them, and lembas bread to nourish them. Frodo is given the Star of Elendil, a phial which Galadriel says will light his way when it becomes dark. Legolas gets a new bow. Sam gets some magical Elven rope. Merry and Pippin are given Elven daggers. Having not liked Elves much, until being smitten by Galadirel, Gimli asks her for a lock of her hair. She gives him two. Galadriel does not give Aragorn a gift as she claims Arwen has already given him one in the Evenstar. Meanwhile, Saruman has dispatched the Uruk-hai leader Lurtz and a horde of Uruks to bring back Frodo and the Ring.
The Fellowship travel down the River Anduin in longboats given to them by the Elves. During the night, they come ashore and set up camp. Sam begins to worry because Frodo hasn’t eaten or slept much lately, but Frodo assures his friend he is fine. The next day the party comes ashore again when they reach the ruins of Amon Hen. While Frodo goes to fetch wood for a fire, Boromir gives into the temptation of the Ring by trying to ensnare it from the Hobbit. Frodo manages to escape him, but with the sad fate of reality coming to pass -- he knows he can’t wait a minute longer to leave the others. Knowing what has to be done, Aragorn holds off an Uruk-hai attack, allowing Frodo to escape and return to the River Anduin. Boromir realizes what he did was wrong and joins in. Soon the entire Fellowship battles the new breed of Orc throughout the ruins. Spotting his friend heading to the River, Sam leaves the others to find out why. Back at Amon Hen, Boromir is struck dead with numerous arrows by Lurtz as he valiantly tries to protect Merry and Pippin. Merry and Pippin, whom the Uruk-hai obviously mistake for Frodo and Sam, are captured. Aragorn manages to slay Lurtz in an epic battle. With Boromir’s final breath, he calls Aragorn his King, then asks him to return to Gondor.
Not wanting Frodo to go on alone Sam risks drowning to follow him. After Frodo saves his friend from certain death, he realizes Sam won’t take no for an answer. The friends share an embrace. Back on the shore, Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli pack their things and prepare to protect The Fellowship by pursuing the Uruk-hai in order to rescue Merry and Pippin. Unable to continue by boat, Frodo and Sam finally come ashore, still far, but obviously closer to Mordor than before. While unsure if they will ever see their friends again, they know they at least have one another’s company as they continue the grueling journey.
Starring: Elijah Wood (Frodo), Ian McKellen (Gandalf), Liv Tyler (Arwen), Viggo Mortensen (Aragorn), Sean Astin (Sam), Cate Blanchett (Galadriel), John Rhys-Davies (Gimli), Billy Boyd (Pippin), Dominic Monaghan (Merry), Orlando Bloom (Legolas), Christopher Lee (Saruman), Hugo Weaving (Elrond), Sean Bean (Boromir), Ian Holm (Bilbo), Andy Serkis (Gollum), Marton Csokas (Celeborn), Craig Parker (Haldir), Lawrence Makoare (Lurtz)
Co-Starring: Noel Appleby (Everard Proudfoot), Sala Baker (Sauron), Megan Edwards (Mrs. Proudfoot), Mark Ferguson (Gil-Galad), Brent McIntyre (Witch King), Peter McKenzie (Elendil), Brian Sergent (Ted Sandyman), Harry Sinclair (Isildur), David Weatherley (Barliman Butterbur), Peter Corrigan (Otho), Lori Dungey (Mrs. Bracegirdle), Michael Elsworth (Gondorian Archivist), Norman Forsey (Gaffer Gamgee), William Johnson (Old Noakes), Sarah McLeod (Rosie Cotton), Elizabeth Moody (Lobeilia), Ian Mune (Bounder), Cameron Rhodes (Farmer Maggot), Martyn Sanderson (Gate Keeper), Alan Howard (Voice of the Ring)
Directed by Peter Jackson
Screenplay by Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, Peter Jackson
Based on the Book by J.R.R. Tolkien
Producers: Barrie M. Osborne, Peter Jackson
Producers: Fran Walsh, Tim Sanders
Executive Producers: Mark Ordesky, Bob Weinstein, Harvey Weinstein
Executive Producers: Robert Shaye, Michael Lynne
Director of Photography: Andrew Lesnie, A.C.S.
Production Designer: Grant Major
Film Editor: John Gilbert
Co-Producer: Rick Porras, Jamie Selkirk
Costume Designers: Ngila Dickson, Richard Taylor
Music Composed, Orchestrated and Conducted by Howard Shore