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Ben-Hur

Play trailer Poster for Ben-Hur G Released Nov 18, 1959 3h 23m History Drama Adventure Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
87% Tomatometer 54 Reviews 89% Popcornmeter 100,000+ Ratings
An enslaved Judean prince (Charlton Heston) meets his Roman betrayer (Stephen Boyd), a former friend, in a chariot race.
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Ben-Hur

Ben-Hur

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Critics Consensus

Uneven, but in terms of epic scope and grand spectacle, Ben-Hur still ranks among Hollywood's finest examples of pure entertainment.

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Critics Reviews

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Jack Harrison The Hollywood Reporter William Wyler never lets spectacle and size interfere with the elemental passions and conflicts of his human story. The spectacular aspects emerge naturally from the story -- the time and place and the customs of the society in which the characters live. Nov 19, 2018 Full Review Martin Chilton Daily Telegraph (UK) Although it is a spectacle film, the story of how a man takes on the tyranny of the Romans, with all sorts of horrible consequences to himself and his family, is powerful and gripping. Rated: 5/5 Jan 1, 2015 Full Review TIME Staff TIME Magazine The biggest and the best of Hollywood's super-spectacles. Aug 22, 2008 Full Review Matt Brunson Film Frenzy One of the best of the 50s glut of Biblical epics. Rated: 3.5/4 Feb 18, 2025 Full Review Josh Larsen LarsenOnFilm The Passion of the Heston. Rated: 3/4 Apr 18, 2024 Full Review Mark Johnson Awards Daily Ben-Hur remains one of the greatest stories ever told. The antagonizing journey of the main protagonist, incredible cast of thousands, elaborate set designs, and one of the greatest sequences in film history, Ben-Hur is one of the most influential films. Jun 8, 2023 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Ben Him Music is grand! Sets were non-cgi. Story was great. Acting was superb. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 04/08/21 Full Review Yash B "Ben-Hur" is one of those films that is simply impressive when considering when it was made. This movie feels unbelievable even by today's standards and features sequences that are just pure spectacle. Sure, the movie is very long, and not every segment of it is consistently entertaining, but it goes by a lot faster than an over three-hour epic should. The movie is one of the most celebrated classic movies ever made by Hollywood, and I think there really is something for everyone. Overall, this is an old-school epic that shines even today and it still is dazzling and engaging to watch. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/09/25 Full Review Anjum K It's so tedious and stale that your nerves start twitching to put some action of their own in order to compensate. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 11/30/24 Full Review Audience Member Yeah, definitely one of the greatest films ever made. The fact I waited until now to see this film is genuinely upsetting. Everything about this masterful piece of art was ON POINT. All the performances felt real (- dude who played Jesus lol). The music was so breathtaking, and the sheer scale of the film is almost bigger than life. It creates an experience that keeps you glued to the screen, those 3 hours genuinely flew by. I checked how long I had been watching (cause it was late and had to sleep soon), just to realize an hour and fifty minutes had past by. This is one of the few films that I truly believe should will stand the test of time in 100 years, hell, I might be alive when this movie turns 100. This has blown me away, and you can bet I’ll be looking for more films like this. 5/5 stars, when I start making films, I hope they are even a fraction as great as this. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 11/29/24 Full Review David S Everyone involved gives it their all- especially Heston. Tremendous soundtrack and filmmaking. No comment on the Jesus character involved in the background... Rated 5 out of 5 stars 11/28/24 Full Review josh l Ben hur is one of the all time classic films! Charleston Heston is at his best. This is an epic made on a scope and scale of production that in many ways has never again been matched even today in it's production scale. A must see. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 11/01/24 Full Review Read all reviews
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Cast & Crew

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William Wyler

Director

Charlton Heston

Judah Ben-Hur

Jack Hawkins

Quintus Arrius

Stephen Boyd

Messala

Haya Harareet

Esther

Hugh Griffith

Sheik Ilderim

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Ben-Hur

Shown here is the chariot race in the film "Ben-Hur." Hugh Griffith portrays Sheik Ilderim in the film "Ben-Hur." Charlton Heston (left) Stephen Boyd (center), who played Messala, talk with director William Wyler (right) while taking a break from filming the chariot race. Charlton Heston (left) pictured here on the film's set in Rome with Haya Harareet (right), who played Esther. Charlton Heston (left) on the film's set in Rome with his three-year old son Fraser (center). Co-star Jack Hawkins (right) is shown chatting with Heston and his son during a break from filming. Movie poster. View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis An enslaved Judean prince (Charlton Heston) meets his Roman betrayer (Stephen Boyd), a former friend, in a chariot race.
Director
William Wyler
Producer
Sam Zimbalist
Screenwriter
Lew Wallace, Karl Tunberg
Distributor
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Production Co
Warner Bros., Metro Goldwyn Mayer
Rating
G
Genre
History, Drama, Adventure
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Nov 18, 1959, Wide
Rerelease Date (Theaters)
Sep 1, 1969
Release Date (Streaming)
Apr 30, 2013
Runtime
3h 23m
Sound Mix
Stereo, Magnetic Stereo 6 Track
Aspect Ratio
Scope (2.35:1)
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