The Message

"For the first time... the vast, spectacular drama that changed the world!"

1976 2h 58m EN

👍

7.1

SOLID

⭐

8.1

IMDB

★7.1TMDB · 423★8.1IMDB · 52,706

AdventureDramaActionHistory

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

In sixth-century Mecca, Prophet Muhammad receives his first revelation from God as a messenger. Three years later, he's not alone in his quest and publicly declares his prophecy. Muhammad is fought by Abu Sufian and his wife Hind, rulers of Mecca. Muhammad's followers are hunted and tortured but he continues his calling.

“For the first time... the vast, spectacular drama that changed the world!”

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Cast

Anthony Quinn
Hamza
Irene Papas
Hind
Michael Ansara
Abu Sufyan
Johnny Sekka
Bilal
Michael Forest
Khalid
Garrick Hagon
Ammar
Nicholas Amer
Suheil
Damien Thomas
Zaid

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Moustapha Akkad
Writers: Tawfiq Al-Hakim, Mohammad Ali Maher, A.B. Jawdat El-Sahhar
Languages: English
Countries: Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, United Kingdom, Lebanon, Kuwait, Morocco

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

Clocks in at 178 minutes — on the longer side of feature-length cinema.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

50 years old — a genuine piece of film history.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 5 countries: Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, United Kingdom, Lebanon, Kuwait, Morocco.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Moustapha Akkad, shot by Jack Hildyard. 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 Maurice Jarre. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor John Bloom 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

Anthony Quinn and Irene Papas and Michael Ansara carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "For the first time... the vast, spectacular drama that changed the world!".

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Moustapha Akkad directs. Jack Hildyard behind the camera. Maurice Jarre scores. John Bloom cuts. A long sit — settle in. Profitable at the box office. Produced in Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, United Kingdom, Lebanon, Kuwait, Morocco. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Clocks in at 178 minutes — on the longer side of feature-length cinema.
250 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
3International production across 5 countries: Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, United Kingdom, Lebanon, Kuwait, Morocco.
4Directed by Moustapha Akkad, shot by Jack Hildyard. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
5Original score by Maurice Jarre. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
6Editor John Bloom shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
7Anthony Quinn and Irene Papas and Michael Ansara carry the top of the cast.
8Marketing tagline: "For the first time... the vast, spectacular drama that changed the world!".
9IMDB entry: tt0074896 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
10Classified under 8 themes, including "middle east", "muslim", "islam", "religion".
11Released under 13 different titles around the world.

The technical file

Cinematography: Jack Hildyard
Original score: Maurice Jarre
Editing: John Bloom
Production design: Tambi Larsen
Costume design: Phyllis Dalton
Runtime: 178 min · 2h 58m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.37:1 (Academy)
Status: Released
Budget: $10,000,000
Box office: $15,000,000
Return: 150% of budget
Original language: EN
Certification (US): PG
IMDB: The Message (1976)
IMDB rating: 8.1/10 · 52,706 votes
MPAA: PG

Awards

Nominated for 1 Oscar. 1 nomination total

Also by

Moustapha Akkad

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Community reviews

What people are saying

WilhelmVO2026-08-22
★ 2/10
If you asked me to build a brick wall but my main hand has to be cuffed to a post and I'd have to stretch my other hand to barely reach the wall... I would tell you you're crazy and not build anything. And yet that's what The Message is. I have absolutely no doubt in my mind but this movie is made with the utmost respect for the source material and the religion as a whole. I have no doubt that it is as accurate as it could possible be. But when you show me a three hour movie that's all about hearsay about what Mohammed just said and did and expect me to like it... I'm sorry but this just doesn't work for me (brother). Maybe the story can work in a different format but it doesn't work like this.

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