The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King is a monster of a movie, with a runtime coming in at nearly three and a half hours. The epic conclusion to its revolutionary trilogy, the film features the return of several characters previously elaborated upon across its previous installments.
Thankfully, they all have their own moments (so no one seems left out), and -- at least for the good guys -- their individual story arcs are wrapped up clearly and in a satisfactory manner. Still, some are clear favorites in terms of how much time they get in the spotlight, while others? Not so much.
NOTE: The screentime data used in this article is based on the theatrical editions of the films only. It was compiled by Matthew A. Stewart of Screen Time Central.
Least: Bilbo (1:25)
Despite his major role in setting up the events of the saga, Bilbo (played by the late Sir Ian Holm) isn't a prominent character in the final chapter of The Lord of the Rings. However, the film does at least think to give his character a well-deserved and even tearjerking departure.
The aged hobbit departs on an elven ship, concluding his entry in the annals of Middle-Earth with the line "I think I'm quite ready for another adventure."
Most: Pippin (19:15)
While Pippin was treated as more of a comedic side-character in the previous two Lord of the Rings films, The Return of the King actually gives him a chance to shine.
He experiences a great deal of character development during his nineteen minutes of screentime -- forced to face the realities of war while being guided by the grim Denethor, fathoming his own mortality in a touching exchange with Gandalf -- and he's truly a changed hobbit upon his return to the Shire.
Least: Galadriel (1:23)
Like Bilbo, Galadriel's main appearance in The Return of the King is at the end of the film, departing for the Grey Havens -- her work in Middle-Earth having come to an end.
However, she also appears in an earlier scene as part of a fatigue-induced vision Frodo has of Lothlorien while on the steps of Cirith Ungol.
Most: Aragorn (25:20)
Aragorn's screentime in The Return of the King is actually somewhat less than what he received in the previous two films, in part because he's not as heavily involved in the action scenes as before.
Still, his twenty-five minutes give way to a couple of good scenes, including a particularly memorable moment in which he tells the hobbits gathered at his coronation that they "bow to no one."
Least: Celeborn (:38)
Lord Celeborn isn't even given a speaking role in The Return of the King, but his presence is nonetheless felt in the climactic scene despite his wife (Galadriel) doing all the talking.
He, like those sailing away with him, has sensed that his purpose is fulfilled with the demise of Sauron and the end of the Third Age.
Most: Gandalf (28:58)
Gandalf manages to pull in a decent amount of screentime in The Return of the King, primarily because of his role as one of its key players, from beginning to end.
Sir Ian McKellen, for his part, continued to command the character with the Tolkienesque wit and charm that made him such a hit in the previous two installments -- likely the reason why he was given such a major role in the trilogy capper.
Least: Gothmog (:37)
Not to be confused with a notable Balrog who shares his name, Gothmog earned his place in the Tolkien legendarium as the Lieutenant of Morgul, serving under the Lord of the Nazgul (aka the Witch-king of Angmar).
This illustrious title resulted in him being given a full three and a half minutes of screentime across the Lord of the Rings franchise (and compared to the other Orcs we see, that's actually surprisingly a lot).
Most: Samwise (34:23)
As the bulk of The Return of the King focuses on Sam and Frodo's journey into Mordor, it's hardly a shock that the once-gardener has such a significant presence in the film. And his determination is hardly for naught -- since the film came out, viewers have pointed to Sam as the unsung hero of the entire saga.
He even gets to give the film's closing line; reunited with his family in the Shire, he muses "well, I'm back."
Least: Boromir (:08)
Boromir's appearance in The Return of the King is only as part of a flashback that plays when Pippin brings news of his death to Denethor. It lasts just eight seconds and consists solely of reused footage from The Fellowship of the Ring.
Boromir actually has a slightly more noticeable "appearance" in the film's extended edition, but it's still very short and hardly adds to his overall screentime.
Most: Frodo (47:12)
As the last Ring-bearer and ultimately, the person in which the interests of all of Middle-Earth have been vested, Elijah Wood's Frodo is no doubt the central figure in The Return of the King, with his screentime nearly doubling that of even Aragorn.
After writing the complete history of his travels (The Lord of the Rings) as an accompanying work to Bilbo's There and Back Again, he, too, leaves for the Undying Lands, with the scars from his journey never having fully healed.