# Lord of the Rings marathon coming to a theater near you! (or, maybe not) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 22, 2003, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lord-of-the-rings-marathon-coming-to-a-theater-near-you-or-maybe-not/196904 "2003-08-22T12:39:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2003, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lord-of-the-rings-marathon-coming-to-a-theater-near-you-or-maybe-not/196904/1 "2003-08-22T12:39:19Z")
(If you have a cinema nearby participating, anyway) From Variety: > [@](#): > > \*\* > New Line Cinema will re-release The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring and The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, with additional scenes and footage added, just two weeks before the worldwide December 17 release of The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King. > The plan calls for putting the films on 100-150 screens in the top 10 U.S. markets. Many other U.S. cities will have one cinema participating in the special extended edition screenings. Running times for the extended editions are 208 minutes for “Fellowship of the Ring” and 214 minutes for “The Two Towers.” > Advanced ticket sales are scheduled to begin in late September or early October on exhibitor Web sites and movie ticketing sites like Fandango, MovieFone and [Movietickets.com](http://Movietickets.com). > Starting the week of Dec. 5, the extended DVD cut of “Fellowship of the Ring” will be released in some 100 or so theaters in the U.S. and in 20 theaters in Canada. > Then, the week of Dec. 12, “The Two Towers” will be released, leading up to a worldwide Dec. 16 daylong marathon, during which all three films will be shown back-to-back. The screenings that day will include a 3 p.m. showing of “Fellowship” followed by a 7 p.m. screening of “Two Towers” and then an 11 p.m. screening of “Return of the King,” which will carry over into Dec. 17 – the day of its global release.\*\* Good for them! I’ll definitely be there for the marathon. My butt can handle it! ---
**Author:** ![Jane\_D\_oh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/839c29/32.png) [@Jane\_D\_oh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jane_D_oh)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2003, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lord-of-the-rings-marathon-coming-to-a-theater-near-you-or-maybe-not/196904/2 "2003-08-22T12:59:51Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Equipoise \* > \*\*Good for them! I’ll definitely be there for the marathon. My butt can handle it! \*\* I’m sure as the dates draw near, this will be all over the news, but if not, at least repost to let me know where in Chicago it’ll be. I’ll be there for sure!! ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2003, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lord-of-the-rings-marathon-coming-to-a-theater-near-you-or-maybe-not/196904/3 "2003-08-22T13:35:51Z")
We did the “home version” of this when TT was released last year. Had people over at 9:00am. Put the extended addition on the big screen TV. Watched it. Had pizza delivered just about the time the Balrog showed up. Drove to the theatre. Watched TT. Planning on doing it again for the RotK release. Don’t know that I’d bother with the theatre experience though. My butt can handle it, my bladder can’t. ---
**Author:** ![NoCoolUserName](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5fc32e/32.png) [@NoCoolUserName](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NoCoolUserName)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2003, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lord-of-the-rings-marathon-coming-to-a-theater-near-you-or-maybe-not/196904/4 "2003-08-22T14:42:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Dangerosa \* > \*\*Don’t know that I’d bother with the theatre experience though. My butt can handle it, my bladder can’t. \*\* I’m with ya there, spiritually speaking. Being able to pause the movie when you want is a big plus for me. Since I’m figuring to have EE of both FotR and TTT by then, we’ll do the home version as well. Besides, some of those folks (the ones willing to spend 11 straight hours in a movie theater) are wacko. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2003, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lord-of-the-rings-marathon-coming-to-a-theater-near-you-or-maybe-not/196904/5 "2003-08-22T14:52:55Z")
There’d have to be a potty & snack break between each film, but I’d go- heck, this is the cinematic equivalent of the Bayreuth Nibelungfest! ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2003, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lord-of-the-rings-marathon-coming-to-a-theater-near-you-or-maybe-not/196904/6 "2003-08-22T15:08:40Z")
I’m impressed that they’re going to the expense of striking brand new prints just for this enterprise. It’s not a cheap thing to do (especially for a limited release), but I’m sure they’ll make their money back. They had TTT playing here theatrically as recently as two weeks ago; I wanted to catch it again (only saw the film once), but couldn’t make it. I’d like to do this marathon but will have to see, since I’ll be out of the country for a good part of that time. ---
**Author:** ![lilbtagna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4491bb/32.png) [@lilbtagna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lilbtagna)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2003, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lord-of-the-rings-marathon-coming-to-a-theater-near-you-or-maybe-not/196904/7 "2003-08-22T15:11:25Z")
I just read about this on [theonering.net](http://theonering.net) and knew there’d be a thread about it already! I want to be able to do this so much, but I have a stupid semester final on the morning of December 17th :mad: Maybe if I study long and hard before that week comes up, I can get away with seeing the marathon 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Plastic\_Ninja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f07891/32.png) [@Little\_Plastic\_Ninja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Plastic_Ninja)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2003, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lord-of-the-rings-marathon-coming-to-a-theater-near-you-or-maybe-not/196904/8 "2003-08-22T15:24:41Z")
I am SO there. I’m willing to bet that the Drafthouse is planning on doing this; if not, another arthouse/geek theater in town should be making it happen. I’m really hoping that they do, too. If they do the three-movies-back-to-back, I’ll take off work to watch it if I have to. The show won’t start before then, but the line to get in…yeah, this is more or less the only thing I think I might start sitting in line at noon for. And knowing my local theater, they’ll make a whole huge production out of it… ---
**Author:** ![whiterabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/cab0a1/32.png) [@whiterabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whiterabbit)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2003, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lord-of-the-rings-marathon-coming-to-a-theater-near-you-or-maybe-not/196904/9 "2003-08-22T15:37:48Z")
My back would kill me, but I’d do it. Some things are worth the pain. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2003, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lord-of-the-rings-marathon-coming-to-a-theater-near-you-or-maybe-not/196904/10 "2003-08-22T17:07:25Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ArchiveGuy \* > \*\*I’m impressed that they’re going to the expense of striking brand new prints just for this enterprise. It’s not a cheap thing to do (especially for a limited release), but I’m sure they’ll make their money back. > > . \*\* Actually, they’re writing this off ($10 - $15 mill) as marketing & promotion. They’re not planning on making money. (Of course, with a billion in profits SO FAR, they can afford it.) ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2003, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lord-of-the-rings-marathon-coming-to-a-theater-near-you-or-maybe-not/196904/11 "2003-08-22T17:46:42Z")
I would bet a small theater in a big city could run the three films together and make money for the next 10 years. I mean, if Rocky Horror can still drag 'em in for midnight shows, what makes you think people won’t want a yearly LOTR fix. However, I agree that with my 15 pound tub of popcorn and 680 ounce Diet Coke for this marathon, I damn well better get a seat nearest the restroom! ---
**Author:** ![Delly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/85f322/32.png) [@Delly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Delly)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2003, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lord-of-the-rings-marathon-coming-to-a-theater-near-you-or-maybe-not/196904/12 "2003-08-22T18:49:18Z")
I watched about 5 hours of Two Towers today, I’d definatly be up for these marathon’s. Pity I’m a bit to far away! ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2003, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lord-of-the-rings-marathon-coming-to-a-theater-near-you-or-maybe-not/196904/13 "2003-08-22T23:37:51Z")
this may call for a dopefest moviefest. ---
**Author:** ![Fern\_Forest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/71c47a/32.png) [@Fern\_Forest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fern_Forest)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2003, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lord-of-the-rings-marathon-coming-to-a-theater-near-you-or-maybe-not/196904/14 "2003-08-23T00:03:38Z")
We tend to get forgotten out here in the Pacific so they better do it here. I need a stern matron smilie here. Even if it does come it’s to bad all my favorite theaters have been torn up or turned into an automotive parts store. As a number watching weirdo I’m excited. I wonder if FOTR will pass Potter. I think that might make my prediction from the numbers thread we had several years back true. Although $4.2 million is a lot to make in a short time in a limited release with limited play times though. You know, looking at those three movies now I notice they’re all bunched together at 11, 12 and 13 on the all time domestic chart. Virtually a three way tie. ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2003, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lord-of-the-rings-marathon-coming-to-a-theater-near-you-or-maybe-not/196904/15 "2003-08-23T00:35:58Z")
I would so be there. It doesn’t sound like the EE versions, which are longer than that, but I’d love to see them. I watched FotR and TTT this weekend. StG ---
**Author:** ![Bambi\_Hassenpfeffer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Bambi\_Hassenpfeffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bambi_Hassenpfeffer)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2003, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lord-of-the-rings-marathon-coming-to-a-theater-near-you-or-maybe-not/196904/16 "2003-08-23T05:25:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by StGermain \* > \*\*I would so be there. It doesn’t sound like the EE versions, which are longer than that, but I’d love to see them. I watched FotR and TTT this weekend. > > StG \*\* FOTR, EE: 208 mins = 3 hrs, 28 mins. TTT, EE: 214 mins = 3 hrs, 34 mins. It seems to me that these are the extended editions, which as someone else noted would be extremely cool to see on the big screen. Of course, I’d really like the expanded extended editions, but they don’t exist. I may have to look into going. ---
**Author:** ![Master\_Wang-Ka](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/master_wang-ka/32/3325_2.png) [@Master\_Wang-Ka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Master_Wang-Ka)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2003, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lord-of-the-rings-marathon-coming-to-a-theater-near-you-or-maybe-not/196904/17 "2003-08-23T14:34:21Z")
Hmmph. You KNOW the Alamo Drafthouse will SO be there with this… ---
**Author:** ![Lissla\_Lissar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@Lissla\_Lissar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissla_Lissar)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2003, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lord-of-the-rings-marathon-coming-to-a-theater-near-you-or-maybe-not/196904/18 "2003-08-23T14:57:52Z")
Maybe they’ll do it in Toronto, too. Please? They have the costume and set displays here and everything. Lots of frantic LOTR fans around.