When Elijah Wood Will Let His Son Watch the Lord of the Rings Movies

The Lord of the Rings star Elijah Wood has gone on record to detail when he will let his son watch the movies. This year marks the 20^th anniversary of TheFellowship of the Ring first gracing the big screen. Peter Jackson directed the movie and would go on to bring J.R.R. Tolkien’s entire trilogy to life, following the first installment with The Two Towers in 2002 and Return of the King in 2003.

Wood played Frodo Baggins, a leading role in Jackson’s original Lord of the Rings films, and was accompanied by a star-studded supporting cast. Orlando Bloom, Ian McKellen, Sean Astin, Cate Blanchett, and Viggo Mortensen made up just a few of the major stars that shared the screen over the iconic film triology. Wood also made a short cameo in The Hobbit, a prequel to the Lord of the Rings trilogy that was also written by Tolkien. His memorable performances in the films resulted in numerous award nominations and multiple wins.

However, in an interview with USA Today, Wood reflected on his time as Frodo and on the Lord of the Rings films, saying he won’t be letting his son watch them for many years. Wood became a father for the first time in 2020. He was asked during the interview when he would consider showing his now infant son the trilogy that made his father a household name, but it seems that the actor is keen to ensure that happens at an age-appropriate time. Read Wood’s full comments below.

“Maybe like 8 seems appropriate? I started watching horror movies when I was 5, so I’m not perhaps the best judge. (Laughs.) I would probably be open to showing him a little earlier, but I’ll take his lead in terms of how ready he is to take that thing on. But 7, 8 feels about right.”

All three Lord of the Rings films are rated PG-13, and there are some moments in the films that may be confronting for younger viewers. While Tolkien’s novels were groundbreaking, they sometimes lacked action, and Jackson filled this void by including lengthy scenes depicting the story’s often gory battles. While the trilogy’s fight scenes are extremely entertaining, they also consist of heavy violence and grotesque characters. Orcs, Nazgûl (also known as Ringwraiths) and Uruk-hai are among many features of The Lord of the Rings that may be unsettling to children.

The star does admit, however, that he may not be the best judge to determine the appropriate age for watching the films. Not only Wood was watching horror movies at just five years old, he also entered the entertainment industry at a young age. Thankfully, with such a young child, Wood has a while before he has to make this decision. But other loyal Lord of the Rings fans won’t have to wait nearly as long, as Amazon’s new Lord of the Rings series is set to air in 2022.

Source: USA Today

About The Author

JD Smithey
(64 Articles Published)

JD Smithey is a writer for Screen Rant with a focus in movie and television news. He is a graduate of Louisiana College and has had his work published in newspapers, blogs, and multiple award-winning websites. JD currently works full-time as an educator at a secondary school in Texas. He is also the Theatrical and Convention Editor for iliveindallas.com, a website focused on local events in the DFW metroplex. JD’s work has enabled him to conduct a plethora of celebrity interviews and gain a rare insight into some of Hollywood’s largest films.

More From JD Smithey