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Movie · Fantasy, Action · 2001 · PG-13

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring: parents' guide

11+our pick

Best for ages 11 and up. Rated PG-13 for epic battle sequences and some scary images.

A sweeping fantasy quest that suits families ready for three long, sometimes scary hours. Frodo sets out to destroy a dangerous ring, hunted by shrieking hooded riders. Battles with orcs include beheadings and stabbings with little blood, a beloved character plunges into an abyss, and another dies after being shot with several arrows. There is no swearing, romance is a single kiss, and the hobbits smoke pipes and drink ale. Sensitive kids may be rattled by the Black Riders, a monstrous jump scare from a kindly character, and the fiery demon in the mines. We suggest 11 and up.

What's in it

Violence

Moderate

Sword and arrow battles in which orcs are beheaded, stabbed and dismembered with little blood. Frodo is stabbed twice, a hero dies after taking several arrows, and two wizards fling each other around in a brutal duel.

Language

None

None: no profanity, crude words or name-taking in vain are reported, which makes this one of the cleanest PG-13 films for language.

Sex and nudity

Mild

Aragorn and Arwen share tender moments and a brief kiss. A bare-breasted statue is briefly visible in the background of one setting.

Drinking, drugs and smoking

Moderate

Hobbits and wizards smoke pipeweed often, blowing playful smoke rings, and drink ale at a party and a rowdy inn, where two hobbits get merry. One wizard mocks another for letting the leaf dull his mind.

Scary or intense scenes

Moderate

The Black Riders screech and stalk the hobbits, a tentacled lake creature grabs Frodo, a cave troll and a towering fire demon attack in a dark mine full of skeletons, and Bilbo's face turns briefly monstrous in a jump scare.

Worth talking about

Frodo is the smallest member of the group but carries the heaviest burden. What makes ordinary people's choices matter when the problems around them feel huge?

Where to stream →

On our lists

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Checked October 13th, 2026 against Common Sense Media, Plugged In, bbfc.co.uk, the-numbers.com, movieguide.org. The age is our judgment, not an official rating, and every family draws its lines differently: read the notes, not just the number. Spotted something we missed? Tell us. How we rate.