J.R.R. Tolkien’s world of Middle-earth continues to thrive well into the 2020s, more than two decades after The Lord of the Rings first hit theaters and stunned the entertainment landscape. 2026 marks the 25th anniversary of the release of the first movie, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, which launched a trilogy that grossed nearly $3 billion at the global box office at the time of its initial release and has added much more over the years. Following the release of The Hobbit trilogy from 2012 to 2014, the franchise later expanded to the small screen as well.
That expansion was shown through The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power on Prime Video, taking the story back thousands of years before Frodo Baggins came into possession of the One Ring. This story shows the rise of the dark lord Sauron and focuses on the creation of the Rings of Power, led by a new group of elves, dwarves, and Men. Along with the newcomers, a few iconic names from past Lord of the Rings story make their way into the story, including Galadriel, Gandalf, Elrond, and the powerful Balrog.
Reported by Collider, Prime Video and Allianc Home Entertainment will release the first two seasons of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power on physical media. This will include a 4-disc 4K Ultra HD release, Blu-ray release, and DVD sets, which will be available for purchase on Nov. 3, 2026. Additionally, a limited-edition 4K UHD steelbook will hit shelves about a month later, on Dec. 1, 2026. This comes more than four years after Season 1 debuted on Prime Video and over two years after Season 2 was released. Now, as the show’s third season gets set for its release,
Prime Video
This release comes after The Rings of Power received a mixed reception. While Season 1 had the biggest premiere in Prime Video history with over 100 million views and nearly 8 billion minutes watched in the US across the season, the show’s massive budget set expectations for it to be an even bigger hit. Prime Video has spent about $1 billion on this show, making it the most expensive TV show ever made, and many viewers did not finish all of either season after starting to watch the series.
Now, after this physical media release, the show will push forward into Season 3, the first trailer for which was released during San Diego Comic-Con 2026. With a war brewing against the dark lord Sauron and creatures like the Balrog set to play a bigger role in new episodes, the stage is set for what should be the biggest new chapter of this story yet.
The first two seasons of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power will be available on physical media starting on Nov. 3, 2026, and Season 3 debuts on Prime Video on Nov. 11, 2026.
Release Date
September 1, 2022
Network
Amazon Prime Video
Showrunner
John D. Payne, Patrick McKay, Louise Hooper, Charlotte Brändström, Wayne Yip
