New 'Lord of the Rings' Anime Struggles at Box Office but Secures Franchise Rights

The animated prequel, focused on Rohan's history, has the lowest opening weekend in the franchise's history but serves a strategic purpose for Warner Bros.

'The War of the Rohirrim,' an animated prequel set 183 years before the main trilogy, earned only $4.6 million domestically in its opening weekend, the lowest for any 'Lord of the Rings' film.
Critics gave the film a 51% score on Rotten Tomatoes, marking it as the lowest-rated entry in the franchise, though audience scores were more favorable at 83%.
The movie was fast-tracked by Warner Bros. to retain the rights to produce future 'Lord of the Rings' films, with live-action projects already in development for 2026 and beyond.
Despite the weak box office performance, the film's modest $30 million budget could allow it to recoup costs through streaming, home video, and international markets.
The movie features notable cameos, including the voice of the late Christopher Lee as Saruman, repurposed from unused recordings, and Miranda Otto reprising her role as Éowyn as the narrator.