LOTR extended edition returns to SM cinemas for 25th anniversary

MANILA — In celebration of the 25th anniversary of Peter Jackson’s landmark fantasy film, SM Cinema is bringing back the extended edition of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring for a limited three-day nationwide engagement beginning January 23.

Featuring approximately 30 extra minutes of previously unreleased footage, this version stretches the film’s runtime to 3 hours and 28 minutes (208 minutes), giving fans a deeper immersion into the opening chapter of J.R.R. Tolkien’s epic saga on the big screen.

The rare theatrical return spans 40 SM Cinema locations across the Philippines, from Metro Manila to Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, marking the first wide cinematic showing of this cut in years. Screenings are available in standard auditoriums and SM Directors Club venues.

Participating Metro Manila theatres include SM Aura, SM Megamall, SM Mall of Asia, SM North EDSA, and more.

Luzon branches from Bacoor to Baguio, Calamba, and Tarlac will also screen the film, alongside key Visayas venues in Bacolod, Cebu, and Iloilo.

In Mindanao, SM CDO Downtown and SM Lanang round out the list.

Cinema-goers are encouraged to purchase tickets early through the SM Cinema website, mobile app, or ticket booths, as limited seating and high demand are expected.

According to SM Cinema representatives, the screenings will deliver enhanced high-definition visuals and immersive sound, designed to evoke the grandeur of Middle-earth for both long-time fans and new viewers alike.

Beyond the film itself, select locations will offer curated moments before and after screenings to amplify the communal experience, transforming a standard movie event into what organizers describe as a “shared, unforgettable adventure.”

As the extended edition returns to the big screen one more time, aficionados of Tolkien’s universe and cinema-lovers alike are presented with a rare opportunity to revisit the journey that launched one of modern film’s most enduring sagas.