The Lord of the Rings is one of the most beloved film franchises of all time and is known for bringing epic fantasy to life unlike anything fans had seen before. Frodo's quest to destroy the one ring has continued to inspire fan's imaginations even years after the end of the film series.
Because of the length of the films, fans got an unusual amount of screen time with their favorite characters. However, some characters spent more time on screen than others in the theatrical versions of the films.
King Théoden - 23 Minutes
Despite debuting in the second film The Two Towers, King Théoden gets a fair bit of screen time in the second half of the series. Théoden gets an interesting arc in Two Towers which sees him released from the evil grip of dark magic where he then re-takes his throne.
The king of Rohan is an important supporting character who commands forces on several occasions against the evil of Isengard. Though he gets a relatively short amount of screen time compared to other characters, he serves an important purpose in the story.
Legolas - 30 Minutes
The powerful Elf, Legolas is a constant figure in the entire series and proves to be a memorable character amongst the original fellowship. He is swift of foot and sure with his bow which makes him a valuable ally and useful in the many battles that he gets involved in.
Despite being one of the original fellowship members, Legolas spends a relatively short amount of time on screen compared to his compatriots. While teammates, such as Aragorn, have larger and more complex arcs, Legolas became a fan favorite with what little time he was given over the three films.
Gimli - 30 Minutes
Ironically, the Dwarf Gimli spends about as much time on screen as his friendly rival Legolas. Gimli is devoted to his cause and proud of his race of Dwarves. He is a valuable member of the original fellowship and often proves adept in the fierce battles against the Orcs.
Gimli is filled with personality and is known for his grumpy disposition and quickness to anger at the smallest slight. His over-the-top personality made him beloved with fans and though he isn't a main character, he is often cited as a fan favorite.
Gollum - 35 Minutes
Gollum appears in all three films, though he doesn't become a major character until The Two Towers. Once he does come on the scene though, Gollum becomes a major part of the story and gets a fair amount of screen time. The strange ex-Hobbit helps to lead Frodo and Sam to Isengard and yet he has his own motivations.
Gollum is far from an ally to Frodo and yet his strange mannerisms made him popular with fans of the franchise. Andy Serkis' amazing performance helped to elevate Gollum beyond a simple supporting character into one of the best of the entire series.
Merry - 40 Minutes
Merry is rarely very far from his best friend Pippin and together they make up some of the funnier moments of the series. Merry gets a lot more to do in the films and has a very interesting arc for a Hobbit. Though he starts off as a somewhat hapless character, he eventually finds his bravery and is an important part of the story.
Merry gets a significant chunk of screen time and once he is separated from the main group, he is able to pursue his own story. Though not as crucial as other characters, Merry's personality and friendliness eventually allows him to help out in the end.
Pippin - 48 Minutes
Pippin is the youngest of the Hobbits and one of the sillier characters from the films. He is devoted to the cause and though he makes many blunders, is pure of heart and wants only to help Frodo in his quest. Pippin, like his best friend Merry, get a chance to grow and mature over the course of the films and along the way he gets a fair amount of screen time.
Pippin is often injured, incapacitated, or captured during the course of the films and yet he always manages to come out on top. Because of his friendly disposition and likable personality, fans were drawn to the Hobbit and he is a beloved staple of the franchise.
Gandalf - 70 Minutes
The wizard Gandalf is one of the most constantly present characters in the entire J.R.R. Tolkien universe. The mysterious character is known to come and go as he pleases and rarely gives the Hobbits a straight answer. Though he starts off as a seemingly silly old man, Gandalf proves to be a powerful wizard by the end of the trilogy.
Gandalf is known for his clever phrases and his somewhat verbose attitude towards the Hobbits. Though he is in a lot of the films, he also splits from the group frequently which slightly reduces his screen time. Despite this, Gandalf has produced some of the most memorable moments in the entire franchise.
Aragorn - 73 Minutes
Aragorn is the most present human character in The Lord of the Rings films and has one of the most interesting character arcs. While surrounded by other races that are known for their longevity, Aragorn is haunted by his own mortality. He is a powerful ally to the Hobbits and an important addition to the fellowship.
Aragorn's plot takes up a significant chunk of screen time throughout the trilogy and, besides the main plot, his scenes are some of the strongest in the films. Aragorn is the perfect blend of a sympathetic character and a thrilling action hero and he is usually in the thick of things in the fiercest battles of the franchise.
Sam - 76 Minutes
Sam is Frodo's closest friend and often acts as his voice of reason when he is too wrapped up in his quest. Sam is often underestimated and that allows him to grow as the films progress into a fully realized character who is capable of saving the day.
Because he is so close to Frodo, he is also on screen for quite a bit of the runtime of the trilogy. The time that he is on screen is well used and Sam is a beloved character with many redeeming qualities that endear him to fans. Frodo's quest is inseparable from Sam and despite his attempts to go it alone, Sam is always by his side.
Frodo - 120 Minutes
Over the three films, Frodo is on screen for about the running time of an average movie. Frodo is undoubtably the most important character and it is his quest to destroy the ring is the focus of the trilogy. Because he is the main character, it is only natural that he dominates the screen time and is shown more than any other character by far.
Frodo is important, not just because he is destined to destroy the ring, but because he is a unique Hobbit from a strong family lineage. Like his predecessor, Bilbo, Frodo is unique from his fellow Hobbits and is somewhat more serious minded. He is a conflicted character and often struggles during his quest which helped to endear him to fans.