I never rented Return of the King when it came out on DVD because I was waiting to watch the extended version from Netflix. I don't think they are going to rent that version... it's not there yet. In fact, I don't think any of the Lord of the Rings DVDs are extended at Netflix. How odd. Guess they thought it would be too confusing to the customer. Unless I'm the one confused by not seeing these versions.

I'd never looked for these because I owned them, but you're right. That seems beyond bizarre.

that is why i switched to blockbuster online. they have special editions of movies, and netflix only has the plain editions in most cases

I had e-mailed them once regarding this issue and they replied that they only carry the first release of any film. If there are subsequent special edition releases they will not carry them. It is an official Netflix policy.

Here is an excerpt from the e-mail I got from them in May 2004:

Although it was an "official policy" in the past, I think that's changed somewhat.

Here's just a few upgraded editions I've gotten from them in the last few months: Mary Poppins, Iron Giant, Mulan, Shawshank Redemption, and Clerks.

It is possible when their existing stock of a particular movie dwindles due to disc damage, lost discs etc., they may replenish their stock by purchasing more copies, at which point there might exist special editions that Netflix might end up purchasing. If the official policy really had changed they should be having ROTK:EE in stock by now.

This seems a likely theory, and one that still wouldn't apply to rotk because the theatrical will likely never go out of print (never mind arguments about whether the ee is the "same" film). Any way you stack it, it's weak not to carry the biggest release of the year.