<P> The Fellowship of the Ring was released 19 December 2001 . It grossed $47 million in its U.S. opening weekend and made around $871 million worldwide . A preview of The Two Towers was inserted just before the end credits near the end of the film 's theatrical run . A promotional trailer was later released , containing music re-scored from the film Requiem for a Dream . The Two Towers was released 18 December 2002 . It grossed $62 million in its first U.S. weekend and out - grossed its predecessor with $926 million worldwide . The promotional trailer for The Return of the King was debuted exclusively before the New Line Cinema film Secondhand Lions on 23 September 2003 . Released 17 December 2003 , its first U.S. weekend gross was $72 million , and became the second film ( after Titanic ) to gross over $1 billion worldwide . </P>
<P> The Fellowship of the Ring was released 19 December 2001 . It grossed $47 million in its U.S. opening weekend and made around $871 million worldwide . A preview of The Two Towers was inserted just before the end credits near the end of the film 's theatrical run . A promotional trailer was later released , containing music re-scored from the film Requiem for a Dream . The Two Towers was released 18 December 2002 . It grossed $62 million in its first U.S. weekend and out - grossed its predecessor with $926 million worldwide . The promotional trailer for The Return of the King was debuted exclusively before the New Line Cinema film Secondhand Lions on 23 September 2003 . Released 17 December 2003 , its first U.S. weekend gross was $72 million , and became the second film ( after Titanic ) to gross over $1 billion worldwide . </P>
what year did the first lord of the rings come out
what year did the first lord of the rings come out
19 December 2001
19 December 2001