Ben-Hur

"The entertainment experience of a lifetime!"

1959 3h 32m EN

🙌

7.9

BANGER

🍅

87%

FRESH

💯

METACRITIC

⭐

8.1

IMDB

★7.9TMDB · 3,294🍅87%Rotten Tomatoes●90Metacritic★8.1IMDB · 269,891

HistoryDramaAdventure

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

In ancient Judea, a Jewish aristocrat opposing Roman occupation of his homeland reunites with his childhood friend, now a Roman commander — setting in motion a saga of betrayal, adventure, tragedy, revenge, and faith.

“The entertainment experience of a lifetime!”

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Where to watch · US

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Cast

Charlton Heston
Judah Ben-Hur
Stephen Boyd
Messala
Hugh Griffith
Scheich Ildirim
Jack Hawkins
Quintus Arrius
Haya Harareet
Esther
Martha Scott
Miriam
Cathy O'Donnell
Tirzah
Sam Jaffe
Simonides

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: William Wyler
Writers: Karl Tunberg
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 212 minutes, this is a three-hour-plus commitment — longer than 95% of films ever made.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

Grossed $164M — a 10.9× return. The kind of profit studios chase for a decade.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

ERA

Did you know

67 years old — a genuine piece of film history.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by William Wyler, shot by Robert Surtees. 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 Miklós Rózsa. 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 Ralph E. Winters 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

Charlton Heston and Stephen Boyd and Hugh Griffith carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "The entertainment experience of a lifetime!".

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

William Wyler directs. Robert Surtees behind the camera. Miklós Rózsa scores. Ralph E. Winters cuts. A long sit — settle in. Made its budget back several times over at the box office. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1At 212 minutes, this is a three-hour-plus commitment — longer than 95% of films ever made.
2Grossed $164M — a 10.9× return. The kind of profit studios chase for a decade.
367 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
4Directed by William Wyler, shot by Robert Surtees. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
5Original score by Miklós Rózsa. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
6Editor Ralph E. Winters shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
7Charlton Heston and Stephen Boyd and Hugh Griffith carry the top of the cast.
8Marketing tagline: "The entertainment experience of a lifetime!".
9IMDB entry: tt0052618 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
10Classified under 43 themes, including "governor", "middle east", "based on novel or book", "roman empire".
11Released under 13 different titles around the world.

The technical file

Cinematography: Robert Surtees
Original score: Miklós Rózsa
Editing: Ralph E. Winters
Costume design: Elizabeth Haffenden
Makeup / hair: Charles E. Parker
Runtime: 212 min · 3h 32m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.37:1 (Academy)
Status: Released
Budget: $15,000,000
Box office: $164,000,000
Return: 1093% of budget
Original language: EN
Certification (US): G
IMDB: Ben-Hur (1959)
Rotten Tomatoes: 87% 🍅 Fresh
Metacritic: 90/100
IMDB rating: 8.1/10 · 269,891 votes
MPAA: G

Awards

Won 11 Oscars. 29 wins & 13 nominations total

Academy Award for Best Cinematography, Color
National Board of Review: Top Ten Films
Academy Award for Best Sound
Academy Award for Best Film Editing
Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor
Academy Award for Best Actor
Academy Award for Best Director
Academy Award for Best Picture
Academy Award for Best Special Effects
Academy Award for Best Original Dramatic or Comedy Score

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

Also by

William Wyler

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Trailers & featurettes

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Community reviews

What people are saying

John Chard2018-12-24
★ 10/10
Majestic in scope and story telling. The truth is, is that Ben-Hur deserved every award that was showered upon it. It's a titanic film both in structure and scope. It doesn't need me to go over old ground about how much the film cost to make, the number of extras, the number of sets and etc, it's now folklore that this film could have bankrupted MGM such was the investment, but they needn't have worried since the film went on to make 40 million and still counting. Every cent spent was worth it because it's a magnificent film, the kind that you can get swept away with, the minute the overture starts you feel little tingles as the hairs on your arms stand up on end, you are aware that for over three hours director William Wyler and lead actor Charlton Heston are going to own you. The story centres around Judah Ben-Hur (Heston) who through his staunch loyalty to the Jewish race falls out with his dear Roman friend Messala (Stephen Boyd). He is dispatched to be a slave in the galleys and swears revenge on Messala. After pirates attack the ship he is slaved on, he manages to escape and in the process he saves Roman Admiral Quintus Arrius (Jack Hawkins) and this sets Juda on his destiny to enact revenge on his old friend as Quintus makes him a citizen of Rome. It sounds so simple yet it's a story of the highest order because crucial to the film's core strength is Judah's encounters with Christ, and it's only during the harsh and upsetting final reel that we realise the whole point of the film. There's also strong themes involving family love and loyalty, friendships formed or broken under race and creed banners, and of course religious beliefs and all that comes with that kettle of fish... It's epic, it's simply beautiful, it's actually essential viewing for any serious cinema fan, the film's set pieces are still wondrous even today. You will marvel at the chariot race (a stunning 20 minutes long), you will hoist the flag during the pirate attack, and if you have the emotion in you? You will be hit with sombre silence as Christ is crucified. Come the closing music I personally feel like clapping such is the appreciation I have for this truly wonderful film, if you haven't seen it then make a point of doing so because everything that is great about cinema is right here. 10/10
sykobanana2021-04-24
★ 10/10
What can be said about this film that hasnt already been said? I could (justly) use every superlative known and it still does not cover just how amazing this film is. It is the essence of EPIC (and not just historical epic). It is easy to see why it was not matched in the number of Oscars given for 50 years (and those 'equals' did not include any acting oscars and had more categories to choose from). I first watched this as a kid and struggled to stay awake to see the end late at night. And despite it not having the spectacle of say the Ten Commandments, it became a favourite which I have watched over and over again. I adore everything in this film - from the gritty stoic-ness of Heston's acting and cockiness of Boyd's, the fleshed out minor characters, the jaw-dropping sets, stirring score from Rozsa, the stunning costumes and of course to the incredible set pieces. This is film perfection that does not feel like its (nearly) 4 hour run time.
CinemaSerf2024-06-01
★ 7/10
It will probably be remembered for it's chariot race long after all of the rest of it has faded away, but this is more than just that. It is a story about friendship, religion, power and opportunity - it is also about sheer bloody-mindedness and cruelty. It resonates all the more because these are all human traits that abound in all of us to some extent. The film looks truly amazing and Miklós Rósza is on top form with a score that encapsulates the Imperial grandeur of the Roman State in all of it's Tiberian pomp. The story, though, is a less impressive affair. Charlton Heston and Stephen Boyd demonstrate how love can turn to hate splendidly when on screen together, the rest of the time neither performance really delivers much beyond the script. Jack Hawkins tries hard, but again doesn't quite hit the mark as the Consul. Hugh Griffith is a star as the mischievous, avaricious Sheik Ilderim and Sam Jaffe is also a good addition to this cast. It is way too long; after the chariot race it turns a little too much into the "tale of the Christ" referred to by author General Lew Wallace at the very start and for me, somehow loses it's way. The battle scenes at sea are great and the sumptuous costumes, cinematography and sound all well deserving of their golden statuettes. A very good, but not quite great, cinema epic.