Alternate versions

In the US theatrical and DVD releases (both versions), the New Line Cinema logo at the beginning says "An AOL Time Warner Company" underneath it. For the US Blu Ray release (both versions), the logo has been changed to simply say "A TimeWarner Company" underneath it.

There are four versions available. Runtimes are: 1) "2h 59m (179 min)"--the original theatrical release; 2) "3h 55m (235 min) (Blu Ray Extended Edition)"; 3) 3h 43m (223 min) (Special DVD Extended Edition)"; 4) "2h 52m (172 min) (DVD Widescreen Edition)".

In November 2003, an extended edition was released on DVD with over 40 minutes of new footage. The EE is a complete re-cut of the movie and almost every scene includes small changes in framing, pacing, dialogue or camera angle. Major changes are listed (spoiler warning):

• After Frodo wakes up, there is a scene of Frodo and Sam descending a cliff with the help of the elvish rope. The title now appears over a panoramic shot of the hills.
• There is a brief shot of Frodo and Sam huddled under their cloaks during a rain storm, with Gollum following.
• After his taming, Gollum debates whether to take the hobbits to Mordor or not
• The first scene with Merry and Pippin is expanded. It is made clear that there are two groups of orcs, one from Mordor and one from Isengard. They also force Merry to drink a vile orc draught.
• In Saruman's first scene, he orders his orcs to cut down Fangorn forest to feed the fires of Isengard and the wildmen swear allegiance to him.
• An extended sequence in which Eomer finds Theodred at the Fords of Isen and brings him back to Edoras.
• When Eomer is banished, he is presented with a banishment order signed by King Theoden.
• In the camp outside of Fangorn, extra dialogue makes it clear that the orcs think Merry or Pippin has the Ring. An orc sneaks up behind the hobbits and is about to attack them when he is beheaded (correcting a goof in the theatrical version). There is also a little more action when the Rohirrim massacre the orcs.
• During the passage of the marshes, Gollum refuses to eat the elvish bread. There is additional dialogue between Frodo, Sam and Gollum.
• Lots of extra dialogue in the scene where Gandalf reappears, including Legolas noting the the elves taught the trees to talk and Gandalf predicting that Merry and Pippin will rouse the Ents.
• While taking the Hobbits to his home, Treebeard recites poetry that puts the hobbits to sleep. He then leaves them there, going off to summon the Ents.
• During the ride to Edoras, Gandalf and the others camp for the night. Gandalf and Aragorn discuss the coming war and Frodo's quest.
• After the Black Gate sequence is a new scene. Merry and Pippin drink from a stream near Treebeard's home and grow taller. They are then attacked by a tree before being rescued by Treebeard. Treebeard then tells them about the Entwives.
• After Aragorn stops Theoden from killing Wormtongue, he extends his hand to Grima. Grima spits on it and then runs off.
• A brief funeral scene for Theodred which includes Eowyn singing.
• A new scene in which Aragorn calms Theodred's horse Brego and sets him loose. (This is the horse that later picks up Aragorn beside the stream).
• A new scene in which Grima describes Aragorn to Saruman, who scoffs at the "Heir of Isildur".
• Before leaving Edoras, Theoden assures his squire that they will return.
• Extra dialogue when Sam and Frodo are captured by Faramir, emphasizing Faramir's dislike of war.
• During the march to Helm's deep, Theoden tells Aragorn about Eowyn. Eowyn serves Aragorn a vile-looking stew during the trip and he tells her his remarkable age after she realizes he is one of the Dunedin.
• Additional dialogue in Arwen and Aragorn's parting.
• When Frodo and Sam are brought to the cave, they are told that Boromir's cloven horn was found. Faramir then remembers a dream of Boromir's funeral boat passing him on the river. This leads to an extended flashback of Boromir and Farmair reclaiming Osgiliath from Mordor. Denethor (their father) expresses his disappointment with Faramir and then sends Boromir to Rivendell to claim the Ring.
• Faramir's men beat Gollum after catching him.
• Right before the women and children are sent into the caves, Eowyn asks Aragorn to let her fight beside him.
• During the preparation at Helm's Deep, there is a cut to the Entmoot. Treebeard tells the Hobbits the Ents have just finished saying "Good morning".
• A little more fighting during the battle at Helm's Deep.
• After Treebeard discovers the destroyed part of the forest and sounds the alarm, thousands of trees, the Huorns, depart to join the battle at Helm's Deep.
• When the orcs retreat from Helm's Deep, they find a forest, made up of the Huorns, waiting to destroy them.
• We find out who won the orc-killing contest between Gimli and Legolas.
• After the destruction of Isengard, Merry and Pippen discover a rich larder of food, including a supply of pipe-weed from the Shire.
• Faramir shows Frodo and Sam a way out of the city. He realized that Gollum's secret route is Cirith Ungol and advises Frodo not to take it, then threatens Gollum.

When Frodo, Sam, Gollum and Faramir arrive at Osgiliath in the Extended Edition, Minas Tirith can be seen in the background. It was removed from the theatrical version to avoid confusion with Helm's Deep.

In the extended edition, the scene where Frodo and Sam are first captured by Faramir uses a different take. In the theatrical version, after giving the order to bind their hands, Faramir turns and walks away from camera. In the extended edition, after his extended dialogue and order to bind the hobbits, he walks towards camera.

The scene where Faramir interrogates Gollum is slightly different between the two versions. In the theatrical version, he enters the room only after his men have beaten Gollum. In the extended edition, he is in the room during the abuse, but stands apart, not actually taking part in it himself, before telling them to stop.