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Directed by Peter Jackson, the Lord of the Rings trilogy is one of the most beloved movie series of all time. With a prequel trilogy (The Hobbit) and a prequel to the prequel series airing on Prime Video (The Rings of Power), Middle-earth has become one of the most expansive fantastical worlds on-screen. And one of the most beloved. In fact, fans have even learned the complete elvish language and are able to speak it fluently.
The books that inspired the Lord of the Rings franchise were written between the 1930s and the 1950s by J.R.R Tolkien, so unfortunately he was not around when they were being adapted into the film masterpieces we know today. Typically, when it comes to book to film adaptations, an author has some say in the creative process, like Leigh Bardugo with the Netflix hit Shadow and Bone, or Rick Riordan and his upcoming Percy Jackson Disney+ series. So, in the case of Lord of the Rings, there needed to be screenwriters that knew the books as if they had authored it themselves. One of the main writers and contributors for the screenplay on every Lord of the Rings movie is the prolific Phillipa Boyens. Here are the best movies the New Zealand screenwriter has ever written.
5/5 The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
The first in the prequel trilogy to Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is an excellent reopening of the world of hobbits, elves, dwarves, and so much more. It is incredibly tough taking a book series and melting it down to be on-screen. What often happens is important plot points or characters are cut out due to books being able to naturally hold more information than two-hour movies, but in this case, The Hobbit was a singular novel, around 300 pages, that was stretched to fill three feature-length films. Boyens and her writing team were able to carve out a trilogy, while still giving dimension to the book and not letting it feel as if there was not anything going on. Both her being on the writing team for all three Lord of the Rings movies and knowing how to re-enter that world, and the ability to fill in gaps when needed, made for one of the better installments in The Hobbit trilogy.
4/5 King Kong
Teaming up with her co-writers from her first days in Middle-earth, Boyens partnered with Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh for the 2005 King Kong epic. Following the giant ape and his quest to save the small woman he loves and cares for, this remake was very well received. With a star-studded cast including Naomi Watts, Adrien Brody, and Jack Black, the movie was the eighth installment in the franchise and pulled in fans, old and new, to the classic story.
3/5 The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
The first in the biggest trilogy of the modern age, The Fellowship of the Ring is so important because it has to set up an entire universe. Even then, by the time the movie ends there is an immense feeling it is still just beginning. Being able to draw fans in by in the first movie is something that many franchises have failed to achieve. Usually the first movie is incredible, and then it goes downhill from there. Or, the first one didn’t hit the mark, and any plans of a future continuation has to be scrapped. Boyens, Jackson, and Walsh were able to make an epic first movie that left audiences needing a second. The special thing about The Fellowship of the Ring is that it is a spectacular film, but the movies that come after get better and better because of the complete and fleshed-out story Boyens and her team set out to write.
2/5 The Lovely Bones
Not straying far from the book to movie adaptations, one of the prettiest crime horror movies was written by none other than the dream team of Boyens, Walsh, and Jackson: The Lovely Bones. Adapting from the novel of the same name written by Alice Sebold, the trio effectively writes a screenplay that accomplishes that bridge between book and film. The novel is able to give first person accounts from the main character of Susie Salmon (Saoirse Ronan) as she tries to get into heaven and avenge herself while helping her family find out how she died. The movie beautifully explains what needs to be understood from Susie, but also through other film techniques and dialogue.
1/5 The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
The last of Frodo’s journey with the Ring not only won 11 Academy Awards the year it was released, but also brought home the Oscar for the Boyens. The Return of the King won Best Adapted Screenplay for its beautiful, tear-jerking, awe-inspiring script that wrapped up the journey so well and so completely that it is impossible to not have this film as number one. Every loose end was tied, every speech was written to perfection, and it was the perfect end to the story that so many fans had become so invested in. Boyens with her team of Jackson and Walsh does a fantastic job once more.
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