A Crushing Flop and a 6.3 Rating: Why This 'Lord of the Rings' Chapter Deserves More Credit

Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings trilogy is rightly hailed as the greatest fantasy adaptation ever made. Each instalment pulled in around a billion dollars at the box office and earned rave reviews from critics and audiences alike. Subsequent Tolkien adaptations have struggled to live up to this towering legacy.

While The Hobbit trilogy still managed to capture some attention, the animated project The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim, released a decade later, has been met mostly with criticism. Yet Tolkien fans might still find it worth their time — and here’s why.

The Criticism of The War of the Rohirrim

This animated film failed to match the success of Jackson’s trilogy, which it serves as a prequel to. It only recouped about two-thirds of its $30 million budget and sits on a modest 48% rating on Rotten Tomatoes — lower than any of Jackson’s films and even behind the Lord of the Rings: Rings of Power TV series. On IMDb, it holds a score of 6.3.

Critics were quick to point out flaws like poor animation quality, clichéd characters, and what felt like blatant nostalgia-baiting. The filmmakers also took liberties with the source material: while Helm’s story barely spans two and a half pages in the books, the film stretches it out over two hours.

Yet, despite its failings, The War of the Rohirrim broadens the world of Middle-earth and includes intriguing details drawn from Tolkien’s writings.

Why You Should Watch The War of the Rohirrim

Surprisingly, the film stays closer to the original material than many expected. Key events are preserved, such as Helm’s conflict with Freca, the siege of Helm’s Deep, the king’s final battle, and Saruman’s arrival. It even sheds light on smaller mysteries, like the origins of rumours that Helm was a cannibal.

A major new addition is the character Héra. In the book, Helm had a nameless daughter mentioned briefly in one scene. The film elevates her to a central role as a warrior heroine.

Some critics cried foul, claiming this "breaks canon," since Eowyn is traditionally known as the first female warrior of Rohan. But that’s not quite right: Tolkien’s History of Middle-earth mentions women fighting in battles during the time of Brego, son of Eorl.

So, while The War of the Rohirrim isn’t a masterpiece, it’s a worthy spin-off for fans. It fills out the story of Rohan, which Tolkien only sketched in broad strokes, stays true to the spirit of the books, and offers a fresh take on a familiar world — even if it lacks Jackson’s Oscar-winning grandeur.