Peter Jackson - All His Movies Ranked and Rated

Peter Jackson – All His Movies Ranked and Rated

Sir Peter Robert Jackson (born 31 October 1961) is a New Zealand film director, screenwriter and producer. He is best known as the director, writer and producer of the Lord of the Rings trilogy (2001–2003) and the Hobbit trilogy (2012–2014). Other notable films include the critically lauded drama Heavenly Creatures (1994), the horror comedy The Frighteners (1996), the epic monster remake film King Kong (2005), the World War I documentary film They Shall Not Grow Old (2018) and the documentary The Beatles: Get Back (2021). He is the third-highest-grossing film director of all-time, his films having made over $6.5 billion worldwide.

Career Average Rating: 7.54 / 10

Total Career Box Office: $ 6,616,366,735

Total Career Profit or [Loss]: $ 5,374,336,735

Average Career Return on Every $1 Spent: $ 4.76

Total Combined Production Budgets: $ 1,242,030,000

Average Profit or [Loss] per film : $ 413,410,518

13 – The Lovely Bones (2009)

The story of a life and everything that came after…

IMDb: 6.60 / 10

RT Users: 5.20 / 10

Letterboxd: 6.58 / 10

6.13 /10

Fantasy | Drama

Directed by: Peter Jackson

Top Billed Cast:

Rachel Weisz, Mark Wahlberg, Saoirse Ronan, Susan Sarandon, Stanley Tucci, Michael Imperioli, Rose McIver, Christian Ashdale, Reece Ritchie

SYNOPSIS:

After being brutally murdered, 14-year-old Susie Salmon (Saoirse Ronan) watches from heaven over her grief-stricken family (Mark Wahlberg, Rachel Weisz) — and her killer (Stanley Tucci). As she observes their daily lives, she must balance her thirst for revenge with her desire for her family to heal.

Worldwide Box Office Gross: $ 93,621,340.00

Production Budget: $ 65,000,000

Profit or (loss): $ 28,621,340

Return on Every $1 Spent: $ 1.44

12 – King Kong (2005)

The eighth wonder of the world.

IMDb: 7.20 / 10

RT Users: 5.00 / 10

Letterboxd: 6.64 / 10

6.28 /10

Adventure | Drama | Action

Directed by: Peter Jackson

Top Billed Cast:

Naomi Watts, Jack Black, Adrien Brody, Thomas Kretschmann, Colin Hanks, Andy Serkis, Evan Parke

SYNOPSIS:

Peter Jackson’s expansive remake of the 1933 classic follows director Carl Denham (Jack Black) and his crew on a journey from New York City to the ominous Skull Island to film a new movie. Accompanying him are playwright Jack Driscoll (Adrien Brody) and actress Ann Darrow (Naomi Watts), who is whisked away by the monstrous ape, Kong, after they reach the island. The crew encounters dinosaurs and other creatures as they race to rescue Ann, while the actress forms a bond with her simian captor.

Worldwide Box Office Gross: $ 556,906,378

Production Budget: $ 207,000,000

Profit or (loss): $ 349,906,378

Return on Every $1 Spent: $ 2.69

11 – Meet the Feebles (1989)

Hell hath no fury like a hippo with a machine gun.

IMDb: 6.60 / 10

RT Users: 7.30 / 10

Letterboxd: 6.46 / 10

6.79 /10

Comedy | Music

Directed by: Peter Jackson

Top Billed Cast:

Danny Mulheron, Donna Akersten, Stuart Devenie, Mark Hadlow, Ross Jolly, Brian Sergent

SYNOPSIS:

Heidi, the star of the “Meet The Feebles Variety Hour” discovers her lover Bletch, The Walrus, is cheating on her. And with all the world waiting for the show, the assorted co-stars must contend with drug addiction, extortion, robbery, disease, drug dealing, and murder. Meanwhile the love between two of the stars is threatened by Trevor the Rat, who wishes to exploit the young starlet for use in his porno movie.

Worldwide Box Office Gross: $ Unknown

Production Budget: $ Unknown

Profit or (loss): $ Unknown

Return on Every $1 Spent: $ Unknown

10 – Bad Taste (1987)

From The Mind of Peter Jackson

IMDb: 6.50 / 10

RT Users: 7.50 / 10

Letterboxd: 6.44 / 10

6.81 /10

Action | Comedy | Horror | Science Fiction

Directed by: Peter Jackson

Top Billed Cast:

Terry Potter, Pete O’Herne, Craig Smith, Mike Minett, Peter Jackson, Peter Vere-Jones

SYNOPSIS:

The population of a small town disappears and is replaced by aliens that chase human flesh for their intergalactic fast-food chain.

Worldwide Box Office Gross: $ 150,000

Production Budget: $ 30,000

Profit or (loss): $ 120,000

Return on Every $1 Spent: $ 5.00

9 – The Frighteners (1996)

No Rest for the Wicked.

IMDb: 7.10 / 10

RT Users: 7.10 / 10

Letterboxd: 6.80 / 10

7.00 /10

Horror | Comedy

Directed by: Peter Jackson

Top Billed Cast:

Michael J. Fox, Trini Alvarado, Peter Dobson, John Astin, Jeffrey Combs, Jake Busey

SYNOPSIS:

Once an architect, Frank Bannister (Michael J. Fox) now passes himself off as an exorcist of evil spirits. To bolster his facade, he claims his “special” gift is the result of a car accident that killed his wife. But what he does not count on is more people dying in the small town where he lives. As he tries to piece together the supernatural mystery of these killings, he falls in love with the wife (Trini Alvarado) of one of the victims and deals with a crazy FBI agent (Jeffrey Combs).

Worldwide Box Office Gross: $ 29,359,216

Production Budget: $ 26,000,000

Profit or (loss): $ 3,359,216

Return on Every $1 Spent: $ 1.13

8 – The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (2014)

Witness the defining chapter of the Middle-Earth saga

IMDb: 7.40 / 10

RT Users: 7.40 / 10

Letterboxd: 6.24 / 10

7.01 /10

Action | Adventure | Fantasy

Directed by: Peter Jackson

Top Billed Cast:

Ian McKellen, Martin Freeman, Richard Armitage, Cate Blanchett, Ken Stott, James Nesbitt

SYNOPSIS:

Having reclaimed Erebor and vast treasure from the dragon Smaug, Thorin Oakenshield (Richard Armitage) sacrifices friendship and honor in seeking the Arkenstone, despite Smaug’s fiery wrath and desperate attempts by the Hobbit Bilbo (Martin Freeman) to make him see reason. Meanwhile, Sauron sends legions of Orcs in a sneak attack upon the Lonely Mountain. As the fate of Middle Earth hangs in the balance, the races of Men, Elves and Dwarves must decide whether to unite and prevail — or all die.

Worldwide Box Office Gross: $ 962,201,338

Production Budget: $ 250,000,000

Profit or (loss): $ 712,201,338

Return on Every $1 Spent: $ 3.85

7 – The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013)

Beyond darkness… beyond desolation… lies the greatest danger of all.

IMDb: 7.80 / 10

RT Users: 8.50 / 10

Letterboxd: 6.68 / 10

7.66 /10

Action | Adventure | Fantasy

Directed by: Peter Jackson

Top Billed Cast:

Ian McKellen, Martin Freeman, Richard Armitage, Cate Blanchett, Ken Stott, James Nesbitt, Orlando Bloom, Evangeline Lilly, Lee Pace, Aidan Turner

SYNOPSIS:

Bilbo (Martin Freeman) and his companions continue their journey east and brave many dangers on their way to the Lonely Mountain, culminating in an encounter with the fearsome dragon Smaug.

Worldwide Box Office Gross: $ 959,027,992

Production Budget: $ 225,000,000

Profit or (loss): $ 734,027,992

Return on Every $1 Spent: $ 4.26

6 – Heavenly Creatures (1994)

Not all angels are innocent.

IMDb: 7.30 / 10

RT Users: 8.30 / 10

Letterboxd: 7.40 / 10

7.67 /10

Drama | Fantasy

Directed by: Peter Jackson

Top Billed Cast:

Melanie Lynskey, Kate Winslet, Sarah Peirse, Diana Kent, Clive Merrison, Simon O’Connor,

SYNOPSIS:

Wealthy and precocious teenager Juliet (Kate Winslet) transfers from England to Christchurch, New Zealand, with her family, and forms a bond with the quiet, brooding Pauline (Melanie Lynskey) through their shared love of handsome big screen tenor Mario Lanza and games of make believe. But when their parents begin to suspect that their increasingly intense friendship is becoming unhealthy, the girls decide to run away to America, hatching a dark plan for those who threaten to keep them apart.

Worldwide Box Office Gross: $ 5,400,000

Production Budget: $ 5,000,000

Profit or (loss): $ 400,000

Return on Every $1 Spent: $ 1.08

5 – The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)

From the smallest beginnings come the greatest legends.

IMDb: 7.80 / 10

RT Users: 8.30 / 10

Letterboxd: 7.50 / 10

7.87 /10

Adventure | Fantasy | Action

Directed by: Peter Jackson

Top Billed Cast:

Martin Freeman, Ian McKellen, Richard Armitage, Andy Serkis, Ken Stott, Graham McTavish

SYNOPSIS:

Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman) lives a simple life with his fellow hobbits in the shire, until the wizard Gandalf (Ian McKellen) arrives and convinces him to join a group of dwarves on a quest to reclaim the kingdom of Erebor. The journey takes Bilbo on a path through treacherous lands swarming with orcs, goblins and other dangers, not the least of which is an encounter with Gollum (Andy Serkis) and a simple gold ring that is tied to the fate of Middle Earth in ways Bilbo cannot even fathom.

Worldwide Box Office Gross: $ 1,017,030,651

Production Budget: $ 180,000,000

Profit or (loss): $ 837,030,651

Return on Every $1 Spent: $ 5.65

4 – Braindead (1992)

Some things won’t stay down… even after they die.

IMDb: 7.50 / 10

RT Users: 8.70 / 10

Letterboxd: 7.76 / 10

7.99 /10

Horror | Comedy

Directed by: Peter Jackson

Top Billed Cast:

Timothy Balme, Diana Peñalver, Elizabeth Moody, Ian Watkin, Stuart Devenie

SYNOPSIS:

Overprotective mother Vera Cosgrove (Elizabeth Moody), spying on her grown son, Lionel (Timothy Balme), as he visits the zoo with the lovely Paquita (Diana Peñalver), is accidentally bitten by the fearsome Sumatran rat-monkey. When the bite turns his beloved mother into a zombie, Lionel tries to keep her locked safely in the basement, but her repeated escapes turn most of the neighbors into the walking dead, who then crash a high-society party thrown by Lionel’s boorish Uncle Les (Ian Watkin).

Worldwide Box Office Gross: $ 242,623

Production Budget: $ 3,000,000

Profit or (loss): $ (2,757,377)

Return on Every $1 Spent: $ 0.08

3 – The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)

The eye of the enemy is moving.

IMDb: 9.00 / 10

RT Users: 8.60 / 10

Letterboxd: 8.82 / 10

8.81 /10

Adventure | Fantasy | Action

Directed by: Peter Jackson

Top Billed Cast:

Elijah Wood, Viggo Mortensen, Ian McKellen, Orlando Bloom, Sean Astin, Sean Bean, Cate Blanchett, Billy Boyd, Dominic Monaghan, Miranda Otto, John Rhys-Davies, Andy Serkis

SYNOPSIS:

The culmination of nearly 10 years’ work and conclusion to Peter Jackson’s epic trilogy based on the timeless J.R.R. Tolkien classic, “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King” presents the final confrontation between the forces of good and evil fighting for control of the future of Middle-earth. Hobbits Frodo and Sam reach Mordor in their quest to destroy the `one ring’, while Aragorn leads the forces of good against Sauron’s evil army at the stone city of Minas Tirith.

Worldwide Box Office Gross: $ 1,146,436,214

Production Budget: $ 94,000,000

Profit or (loss): $ 1,052,436,214

Return on Every $1 Spent: $ 12.20

2 – The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)

One ring to rule them all

IMDb: 8.80 / 10

RT Users: 9.50 / 10

Letterboxd: 8.64 / 10

8.98 /10

Adventure | Fantasy | Action

Directed by: Peter Jackson

Top Billed Cast:

Elijah Wood, Viggo Mortensen, Ian McKellen, Orlando Bloom, Sean Astin, Sean Bean, Cate Blanchett, Billy Boyd, Dominic Monaghan, Miranda Otto, John Rhys-Davies, Andy Serkis

SYNOPSIS:

The future of civilization rests in the fate of the One Ring, which has been lost for centuries. Powerful forces are unrelenting in their search for it. But fate has placed it in the hands of a young Hobbit named Frodo Baggins (Elijah Wood), who inherits the Ring and steps into legend. A daunting task lies ahead for Frodo when he becomes the Ringbearer – to destroy the One Ring in the fires of Mount Doom where it was forged.

Worldwide Box Office Gross: $ 898,094,742

Production Budget: $ 93,000,000

Profit or (loss): $ 805,094,742

Return on Every $1 Spent: $ 9.66

1 – The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)

A New Power Is Rising.

IMDb: 8.80 / 10

RT Users: 9.50 / 10

Letterboxd: 8.70 / 10

9.00 /10

Adventure | Fantasy | Action

Directed by: Peter Jackson

Top Billed Cast:

Elijah Wood, Viggo Mortensen, Ian McKellen, Orlando Bloom, Sean Astin, Sean Bean, Cate Blanchett, Billy Boyd, Dominic Monaghan, Miranda Otto, John Rhys-Davies, Andy Serkis

SYNOPSIS:

The sequel to the Golden Globe-nominated and AFI Award-winning “The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring,” “The Two Towers” follows the continuing quest of Frodo (Elijah Wood) and the Fellowship to destroy the One Ring. Frodo and Sam (Sean Astin) discover they are being followed by the mysterious Gollum. Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen), the Elf archer Legolas and Gimli the Dwarf encounter the besieged Rohan kingdom, whose once great King Theoden has fallen under Saruman’s deadly spell.

Worldwide Box Office Gross: $ 947,896,241

Production Budget: $ 94,000,000

Profit or (loss): $ 853,896,241

Return on Every $1 Spent: $ 10.08