The Greatest Story Ever Told

"Only once in a lifetime... an entertainment so rich... an experience so rewarding..."

1965 3h 19m EN

😐

6.4

MID

🥫

42%

ROTTEN

⭐

6.5

IMDB

★6.4TMDB · 223🥫42%Rotten Tomatoes★6.5IMDB · 12,202

DramaHistory

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

From his birth in Bethlehem to his death and eventual resurrection, the life of Jesus Christ is given the all-star treatment in this epic retelling. Major aspects of Christ's life are touched upon, including the execution of all the newborn males in Egypt by King Herod; Christ's baptism by John the Baptist; and the betrayal by Judas after the Last Supper that eventually leads to Christ's crucifixion and miraculous return.

“Only once in a lifetime... an entertainment so rich... an experience so rewarding...”

WhatsApp X Facebook Telegram

Where to watch · US

Amazon Prime VideoSubscription

MGM PlusSubscription

Amazon VideoRent

Apple TV StoreRent

Google Play MoviesRent

Google Play MoviesBuy

YouTubeBuy

Fandango At HomeBuy

Cast

Max von Sydow
Jesus
Michael Anderson Jr.
James the Younger
Carroll Baker
Veronica
Ina Balin
Martha of Bethany
Victor Buono
Sorak
Richard Conte
Barabbas
Joanna Dunham
Mary Magdalene
José Ferrer
Herod Antipas

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: George Stevens
Writers: George Stevens, James Lee Barrett
Languages: English
Countries: United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

At 199 minutes, this is a three-hour-plus commitment — longer than 95% of films ever made.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

Earned back only 78% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

ERA

Did you know

61 years old — a genuine piece of film history.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by George Stevens, shot by Loyal Griggs. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Alfred Newman. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Editor Harold F. Kress shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Max von Sydow and Michael Anderson Jr. and Carroll Baker carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "Only once in a lifetime... an entertainment so rich... an experience so rewarding...".

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

George Stevens directs. Loyal Griggs behind the camera. Alfred Newman scores. Harold F. Kress cuts. A long sit — settle in. A commercial under-performer on release. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1At 199 minutes, this is a three-hour-plus commitment — longer than 95% of films ever made.
2Earned back only 78% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.
361 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
4Directed by George Stevens, shot by Loyal Griggs. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
5Original score by Alfred Newman. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
6Editor Harold F. Kress shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
7Max von Sydow and Michael Anderson Jr. and Carroll Baker carry the top of the cast.
8Marketing tagline: "Only once in a lifetime... an entertainment so rich... an experience so rewarding...".
9IMDB entry: tt0059245 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
10Classified under 11 themes, including "christianity", "religion and supernatural", "crucifixion", "bible".
11Released under 31 different titles around the world.

The technical file

Cinematography: Loyal Griggs
Original score: Alfred Newman
Editing: Harold F. Kress
Production design: William J. Creber
Costume design: Vittorio Nino Novarese
Stunt coordinator: Paul Baxley
Runtime: 199 min · 3h 19m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.37:1 (Academy)
Status: Released
Budget: $20,000,000
Box office: $15,500,000
Return: 78% of budget
Original language: EN
Certification (US): G
IMDB: The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965)
Rotten Tomatoes: 42% 🥫 Rotten
IMDB rating: 6.5/10 · 12,202 votes
MPAA: G

Awards

Nominated for 5 Oscars. 1 win & 6 nominations total

National Board of Review: Top Ten Films

Individual records documented via Wikidata; the summary above may count more.

Also by

George Stevens

Stills · wallpapers

Selected frames

Full-resolution frames — open one to save it as a wallpaper.

Wallpaper

Trailers & featurettes

Watch the pieces

Community reviews

What people are saying

John Chard2015-12-05
★ 7/10
Repent! Sue me, but I like it plenty, all 3 hours plus of ass numbing is not a problem to me. It has been called a cumbersome bore, amongst other things, but some of the technical craft is amazing. The story itself is enthralling, building to the shattering Crucifixion parts of the tale, while for every pointless star cameo shoehorned into the production, there's also a Savalas, a Baker and a Heston. Then of course there's Sydow, giving a beautifully intense turn as Jesus, a magnetic portrayal that holds the attention throughout. Ironically director George Stevens struggled with his own ills during production, a cross to bear as it were, but just as Jesus had Sidney Poitier to share the burden, so to did Stevens, who had David Lean to help carry the load. Now that's a deity if ever there was one. It's a gorgeous film, grand and epic, sensitive and astute. Flaws? Plenty for sure, yet it harks back to a time of blunderbuss epic film making, when story telling meant something, when a musical score rattled the ears and the heart, and when cinematography soothed the eyes as if cool lemon slices had been placed upon the optical nerves. Yeah, I'm a fan. If you are not then I forgive you, for you know not what you do. 7/10
CinemaSerf2024-09-05
★ 6/10
Max von Sydow is Jesus in George Steven's take on the "King of Kings" story and aside from a suitably effective contribution from José Ferrer as Herod Antipas, gives the only decent performance in this epically long, plodding, depiction of the life of Christ. Clearly money was spent - the photography is epic, as is Alfred Newman's score but a first-rate cast of Hollywood A-listers ought to have delivered better. Sadly, it is hampered by a static script - producing some seriously stultifying dialogue; authentic but murky lighting and a paucity of action that makes the film drag. Aside from a good, if brief, performance from Claude Rains as Herod the Great at the start, the acting is at best disjointed - too many people trying to impose themselves at the expense of any considered approach to the narrative. It may well be the greatest story ever written, but this is certainly not the best telling of it...