We recently asked members of our BuzzFeed Community, "What do you believe is the absolute best moment in the original Lord of the Rings film trilogy? Whether it's a favorite scene, single line, or even just a look between characters?" and you better believe LOTR super-fans came through with some perfect answers!
First, let's start with the Fellowship of the Ring picks:
1. "I fell in love with the trilogy based on the opening scene: the big battle, and the flashbacks spanning an Age to summarize the Ring's history, and all with an A+ voiceover from Galadriel."
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2. "When the Hobbits ask about breakfast, then, of course, second breakfast."
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3. "Arwen on horseback with Frodo, exclaiming, 'If you want him, come and claim him!' And then, she commands the river, and it drowns the Ringwraiths."
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4. "The Council of Elrond scene where all of the fellowship members step up to support Frodo. I've probably seen it 20+ times, but it brings tears to my eyes and gives me chills every time."
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5. "It’s when Bilbo’s face goes goblin for a second for me."
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6. "The exchange between Gandalf and Frodo where Frodo says, 'I wish the ring had never come to me. I wish none of this had happened.' And Gandalf responds, 'So do all who live to see such times, but that is not for them to decide. All you have to decide is what to do at the time it is given to you.'"
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7. "The scene that got me the first time I saw Fellowship — and every time since — is right after Gandalf goes after the Balrog and they escape the Mines of Moria. All of the company are reacting to what they believed was Gandalf’s death in their own way, but it’s Frodo’s reaction that gets me every time. You see him walking away, and Aragorn is calling after him. He turns, gives us a profile, and a single tear slides down his cheek while the soloist sings those high notes over the soundtrack."
—kkad
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8. "I know this is random and not a traditional badass moment, but when I watched Fellowship for the first time, it was Gimli being Gimli, saying, 'I have the eyes of a hawk and the ears of a fox!' And then, there's immediately just arrows aimed at everyone's faces, and the elves show up, and Haldir says, 'The dwarf breathes so loud we could have shot him in the dark.' BURN. EPIC. FIERCE. That scene alone sealed the series for me, and I knew I was going to love this film and its sequels."
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9. "Galadriel giving Gimli three of her hairs as a parting gift, at his request. It's in the extended edition, but it's such a touching and important moment, so steeped in historical significance. In the lore, Galadriel once refused to give a single hair to Feanor, greatest of the Elves, because she could see his heart and found him unworthy — but she gave three to a dwarf who asked so humbly because she could see how pure of heart he was. It's a beautiful moment."
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10. "'I would have gone with you to the end, into the very fires of Mordor.' [Aragorn turns, cloak swirling, sword raised ready to fight]. Fellowship has always been my favorite, despite the epic battles in the sequels, because of the smaller moments like these where we get to know the characters."
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11. "Boromir's final words: 'I would have followed you my brother, my captain, my king.'"
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12. "For me, it has to be when Sam says, 'Don't you lose him, Samwise Gamgee! And I don't mean to.' It's so heartwarming, and it shows how much he loves Frodo. Sam really is the heart of Lord of the Rings."
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Next up, let's look at the picks from The Two Towers:
13. "I get chills every time I hear Bernard Hill as King Theoden say, 'No parent should have to bury their child.' His delivery of that is just flawless."
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14. "One word: PO-TAY-TOES."
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15. "Everyone who doesn't say, 'When a filthy, hot Aragorn shoves open the giant doors in The Two Towers' is wrong."
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16. "The entire Battle of Helm's Deep, hands down. I remember seeing it in theaters for the first time as a kid and holding my breath as the Uruk-hai marched to the gates as the storm illuminates just how many of them there are. For our characters, the stakes are high, the banter is excellent, and you can’t tell me it’s not incredible!"
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17. "During the Battle of Helm's Deep in The Two Towers when Gimli can't see and Legolas asks, 'Shall I describe it to you? Or would you like me to find you a box?'"
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18. "When Gimli asks Aragorn to toss him with the caveat of 'Don’t tell the Elf.'"
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19. "The best moment was when the Ent that caught fire during the attack on Isengard runs into the floodwaters afterward and puts itself out."
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20. "When Gandalf and the Rohirrim arrive on the fifth day at dawn before storming down the hill to free Helm’s Deep, and Éomer says, 'He’s not alone.'"
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Last but certainly not least, let's look at the picks from The Return of the King:
21. "I love the lighting of the beacons scene. The idea of all those watchers sitting up at their mountain outposts every day for how many years? Decades?! Just waiting, and then being like, 'HOLY SHIT, IT'S GO TIME! BRUH GET THE TORCH!'"
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22. "Pippin singing to Denethor while Faramir and the rest of Gondor's soldiers all ride to their death. Absolutely haunting."
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23. "If I had to choose just one scene, it would be Theoden's speech before they ride into Minas Tirith."
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24. "When Aragorn jumps off the corsair ship with the army of the dead running behind him. It's the most iconic moment, and literally one of the best movie entrances ever. My man knows how to make a splash!"
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25. "When Legolas defeats the oliphaunt and Gimli shouts, 'That only counts as one!'"
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26. "It's easily Éowyn's 'I am no man' line. I couldn't even type it without getting severe chills!"
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27. "In the extended edition when Éomer finds Éowyn on the battlefield — not realizing she came with them — and his absolute grief at thinking she’s dead."
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28. "Samwise fighting Shelob while dual wielding Sting and Galadriel’s phial. It truly cemented that — although he wasn’t the biggest, the strongest, or the most seasoned warrior — Sam was truly the bravest and most loyal of them all, and that’s why he’s my very favorite character."
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29. "Aragorn's speech outside of the Black Gates."
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30. "Sam’s monologue about how he’s been with Frodo since the beginning, and if he can't carry the ring, he’ll carry Frodo, all while literally putting Frodo on his back. I don't care what anyone says; Samwise is THE hero of the story."
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31. "The extended cuts are the only ones to watch, so for me, it would have to be the Mouth of Sauron scene."
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32. "When Gimli says, 'Never thought I’d die fighting side-by-side with an elf.' And Legolas responds, 'What about side-by-side with a friend?' And Gimli answers, 'Aye, I could do that.' This scene gets me every time!"
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33. "The two words Aragorn utters before charging at a seemingly unbeatable foe: 'For Frodo.' Goosebumps, tears, cheering, the whole lot! It shows the respect, love, and hope that a ranger-turned-king has for a hobbit."
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34. "The moment when the rest of the fellowship is on the battlefield outside the gates of Mordor, and Frodo and Sam have just destroyed the Ring. When Sauron's Eye crumbles and the fellowship realizes that their mission has succeeded, and it shows their elation and pride, immediately followed by Mount Doom exploding and the fellowship's instant flip to agony, as they clearly believe Frodo and Sam have died destroying the Ring. The way that scene is put together is so exquisite. I have goosebumps just writing about it."
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And finally:
35. "When Aragorn says, 'My friends, you bow to no one.' And bows to them. I still tear up every time I watch that scene."
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Well, there ya have it! You've read their picks, but now it's YOUR turn! Which moments did they miss? What do you believe is the absolute best moment in the original Lord of the Rings film trilogy? Share your pick(s) in the comments below!
Some responses were edited for length and/or clarity.