Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings trilogy is returning to Prague cinemas as part of a global 25th anniversary celebration that has already demonstrated the franchise’s enduring theatrical appeal. Across one weekend at the end of January and beginning of February, audiences in Prague will have the opportunity to revisit the full trilogy on the big screen in its extended editions at Cinema City and CineStar locations in Prague.
The screenings arrive amid renewed international interest in the Middle-earth franchise, driven by a successful anniversary rerelease in North America and growing anticipation for future films set in J.R.R. Tolkien’s universe. While anniversary screenings are not uncommon, the Czech release stands out for several reasons, including its format, language presentation, and alignment with a broader global box office revival.
For local cinemas, the event underscores the continuing draw of repertory releases tied to major anniversaries, particularly for large-scale fantasy films originally designed for theatrical exhibition.
Extended editions return to Prague screens
Cinema City will screen the trilogy at five Prague locations: Cinema City Chodov, Flora, Letňany, Nový Smíchov, and Slovanský dům, while CineStar will play the movie at its Anděl location. Each film will screen on a single day, following the same staggered format used in the U.S. rerelease.
The schedule begins Friday, Jan. 30, with The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, followed by The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers on Saturday, Jan. 31, and concluding Sunday, Feb. 1, with The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.
All three films will be presented in their extended cuts, which add substantial running time and additional scenes not included in the original theatrical versions. Each screening runs close to four hours, turning the weekend into a marathon-style event rather than a standard repertory booking.
Unusually for Czech cinema releases, the films will be screened in English without Czech subtitles. Cinema City cited availability issues for subtitled versions of the extended editions for the local market, as well as the fact that dubbed extended versions do not exist.
Global anniversary success and renewed franchise momentum
The Prague screenings follow a strong box office showing for the 25th anniversary rerelease in the United States and select international markets earlier this month. According to Deadline, the trilogy grossed $10.5 million (CZK 218 million) worldwide over this past weekend, including $9 million in the States and an additional $1.5 million overseas. The trilogy will return to cinemas in the US and abroad over upcoming weekends as well.
Originally planned as a limited engagement, the rerelease was expanded due to demand, with additional locations and dates added by major U.S. theater chains.
The renewed theatrical interest reflects the long-term commercial strength of the franchise. The six live-action Middle-earth films, including The Hobbit trilogy, have generated more than $5.9 billion (CZK 122 billion) globally since 2001. Warner Bros. and New Line Cinema have also confirmed plans to continue expanding the franchise, with The Hunt for Gollum scheduled for release in December 2027.
The upcoming film, directed by Andy Serkis, will explore events set between The Hobbit and The Fellowship of the Ring, focusing on Aragorn’s pursuit of Gollum. Original trilogy creatives Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh, and Philippa Boyens are returning as producers, reinforcing continuity with the earlier films.
For worldwide exhibitors, the success of the anniversary screenings highlight how legacy franchises remain viable theatrical draws, particularly when paired with event-style programming. As audiences worldwide revisit Middle-earth on the big screen, the Prague screenings give locals one more chance to appreciate one of cinema’s most influential fantasy series on the big screen.
