The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim has faced challenges following its initial release. Once a highly anticipated anime film inspired by Warner Bros.
Discovery’s live-action adaptations of the Lord of the Rings saga, it will soon be available on various digital platforms due to its lackluster performance at the box office.
Deadline reports that The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim is set to be released digitally across major platforms, including Amazon Prime Video, AppleTV, and Fandango at Home.
From cinemas to streaming, The War of the Rohirrim keeps the spirit of Middle-earth alive for audiences (Photo: Scene from War of the Rohirrim/New Line Cinema, Warner Bros)This release is scheduled just 14 days after its theatrical debut on December 13, 2024. Marking the first new entry in the Lord of the Rings franchise in a decade, The War of the Rohirrim opened to mainly negative reviews and a disappointing box office result.
Despite a reported budget of only $30 million, excluding marketing costs, The War of the Rohirrim struggled to attract audiences in North America. During its opening weekend, the film secured the #5 spot, garnering a mere $4.6 million from 2,602 theaters.
Even with the strong brand recognition associated with the Lord of the Rings, The War of the Rohirrim failed to surpass Kraven the Hunter for the top position at the box office, despite that film’s poor reviews and minimal marketing efforts, which contribute to its reputation as the final live-action Spider-Man spinoff from Sony.
While Kraven the Hunter holds a rotten score of 16%, The War of the Rohirrim received slightly better ratings from critics, though not by much. Directed by Kenji Kamiyama (known for Blood: The Last Vampire and Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045 Sustainable War), the anime film received a 47% rotten score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Some of the more critical reviews labeled it as “a rushed money grab” and “a corporate wolf in sheep’s clothing.” Conversely, CBR offered a more positive take, commending the animation and the portrayal of its female lead, while also acknowledging concerns regarding its lengthy runtime.
However, the film’s rapid production process—reportedly expedited by WBD to maintain their rights to the Lord of the Rings franchise—has fueled accusations of it being a cash grab.
Drawing from an underdeveloped idea in J.R.R. Tolkien’s works allows The War of the Rohirrim some creative freedom, yet it also offers WBD the flexibility to shelve the project while they contemplate future directions for their live-action adaptations, including The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum, set to release in 2026. The anime film does not alter any existing lore established by Peter Jackson’s