Ben-Hur

Name: Ben-Hur
Genre: Adventure, Drama, History, War
Released: November 18, 1959
Duration: 212 min
Rating: 90
Cast: Charlton Heston, Jack Hawkins, Stephen Boyd

1959

METASCORE

Universal acclaim based on 9 Critic Reviews

See All

USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 135 Ratings

See All

8.4

VOTE NOW

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

8.4	Your Score
8.4	User Score Universal acclaim based on 135 Ratings

Would you like to write a review?

There is a 75 character minimum for reviews. If your review contains spoilers, please check the Spoiler box. Please do not use ALL CAPS. There is no linking or other HTML allowed. Your review may be edited for content. 0/5000

Check box if your review contains spoilers

Play Sound

Please enter your birth date to watch this video:

You are not allowed to view this material at this time.

Ben Hur

Now Playing: Ben Hur

Movie Details & Credits

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) | Release Date: November 18, 1959 | G

Starring: Charlton Heston, Jack Hawkins, Stephen Boyd

Summary: When a Jewish prince is betrayed and sent into slavery by a Roman friend, he regains his freedom and comes back for revenge.

Director: William Wyler

Genre(s): Adventure, Drama, History, War

Rating: G

Runtime: 212 min

See All Details and Credits

Watch Now

Buy on

Stream On

Expand

Metascore

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Critic Reviews

100

Ronald Holloway

Ben-Hur is a majestic achievement, representing a superb blending of the motion picture arts by master craftsmen. Read full review

100

The Telegraph Martin Chilton

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. Read full review

100

Jack Harrison

An extraordinary motion picture, greater in dimension and significance than any similar film of our time, Ben-Hur is more spectacular than any of the previous spectacles. More importantly, it is at the same time a highly rewarding dramatic experience, rich and complex in human values: a great adventure, full of excitement, visual beauty, thrills and unsurpassed cinema artistry. Read full review

TV Guide Magazine Staff (Not Credited)

Predictable but magnificent and satisfying. Read full review

Bosley Crowther

The artistic quality and taste of Mr. Wyler have prevailed to make this a rich and glowing drama that far transcends the bounds of spectacle. His big scenes are brilliant and dramatic—that is unquestionable. There has seldom been anything in movies to compare with this picture's chariot race. Read full review

Staff (Not Credited)

What matters most and comes off best in the picture is the great scenes of spectacle, particularly the chariot race, a superbly handled crescendo of violence that ranks as one of the finest action sequences ever shot. All by itself it would be worth the price of admission. Read full review

Peter Rainer

A movie like Ben-Hur, while almost never stirring or imaginative in the way that the true epics of Griffith or Gance or Kurosawa are, nevertheless has a basic appeal. Read full review

SEE ALL 9 REVIEWS

Write a Review

User Reviews

FilipeNeto

Jul 7, 2018

Some movies are so good that they just haven't age. They are timeless, like any work of art. This is one of those movies, perhaps one of the best movies ever and surely one of the biggest and most epic biblical movies ever made. The story is based on a novel by Lew Wallace (which I have readSome movies are so good that they just haven't age. They are timeless, like any work of art. This is one of those movies, perhaps one of the best movies ever and surely one of the biggest and most epic biblical movies ever made. The story is based on a novel by Lew Wallace (which I have read and I have at home) and is so famous that it doesn't allow spoils: the injustice committed against Judah Ben-Hur and his path of revenge, deeply linked to the life and death of Jesus, a latent and ever palpable subplot, even when it does not arise. Epic in every detail, the film features scenarios and costumes carefully crafted in the style of Imperial Rome. Some sequences are truly anthological, as is the case with the chariot race. The representation of the Roman legionaries influenced for decades the conception that we have, individually, on how they were and fought. The visual and special effects used in the film were the best there was at the time and even today, more than half a century later, they're able to surprise by the realism. The color is vivid and intense, cinematography is truly imposing and accentuates the epic ambiance. As for the cast's work, it's definitely the movie of Charlton Heston's life. He not only became famous with it but made here the most remarkable character of his career. Steven Boyd, Jack Hawkins, Haya Harareet, Martha Scott and Hugh Griffith also shone. It's a long movie, but the audience gets so caught up in it that they don't even feel the time go by. Wonderful!… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Augustus3

Aug 22, 2016

Do not let your beliefs (whether you're an atheist or not) keep you away from this marvellous human experience.
After 212 minutes, I felt a strange deep calm within my very core. This is that kind of film that will whether win your heart by knockout or by points.
For future filmDo not let your beliefs (whether you're an atheist or not) keep you away from this marvellous human experience.
After 212 minutes, I felt a strange deep calm within my very core. This is that kind of film that will whether win your heart by knockout or by points.
For future film connoisseurs, pay attention in how William Wyler directed it all: each set piece ends up working out perfectly.
I could type much more about such a film, but all you have to know is that this is the ultimate version of Ben-Hur (at least when compared to the 2016 version, which is a very feeble experiment).… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

Tyranian

Apr 7, 2019

Incredibly powerful film with tremendous moral weight, excellent acting, visuals and screenplay.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Unitedfam20

Nov 14, 2021

Having watched most of what good has been released by Hollywood post 60’s-era, I was keen to make a deepdive into the era before films were colorized. Most of what is being released today is blatant trash anyways, so what perfect time to explore hidden gems from an era very few have any ideaHaving watched most of what good has been released by Hollywood post 60’s-era, I was keen to make a deepdive into the era before films were colorized. Most of what is being released today is blatant trash anyways, so what perfect time to explore hidden gems from an era very few have any idea about. One night scrolling through the popular section on the newly HBO Max app, I came across Ben-hur, an allegedly legendary movie from 1959. I had heard of it before, but never had any intention of watching it, as I don’t really watch old movies. But on this particular night, I said oh what the heck, lets just give it a try, check out an old flick. And I am glad that I did. It is easily one of the best movies I have seen in recent years. It stood out in so many ways, especially the acting, the dialogue, the storytelling, I could sense from the get-go that this was another level of moviemaking. I was intrigued from the first scene. It was 3 and a half hours long and I finished it the same night I started it, and the funny thing, it didn’t even feel like 3,5 hours. This movie was just another confirmation of the notion I have had lately that almost everything was better back in the good old days.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

cinemabon

Apr 8, 2018

William Wyler's masterpiece is a tour de force of direction for an epic film. The score is probably the greatest ever written.

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

Spangle

Apr 25, 2017

The most expensive film ever made at the time of its release, Ben-Hur has found a lasting legacy as the definitive Biblical epic alongside Cecil B. DeMille's The Ten Commandments. Many Christian families gather around at least once a year to watch either one or possibly both. A film of epicThe most expensive film ever made at the time of its release, Ben-Hur has found a lasting legacy as the definitive Biblical epic alongside Cecil B. DeMille's The Ten Commandments. Many Christian families gather around at least once a year to watch either one or possibly both. A film of epic proportions, it is easy to see why this film resonates so deeply with both believers and non-believers alike. Telling the story of Jesus Christ's time on Earth before his crucifixion at the hands of the Romans, the film take a far more intimate approach compared similar Biblically-based films. As opposed to even DeMille's epic film or more modern takes on Christ in films such as The Last Temptation of Christ or Passion of the Christ, Ben-Hur tells the story of Jesus through the eyes of others. Aside from a few brief frames, his face is never shown. His sermon on the mount is briefly shown, but is limited to just depicting the crowds gathering around him. Jesus' words are never spoken from his own lips. Rather, it is by word-of-mouth that people hear his words as the gospel is spread throughout the land. This is not a typical Jesus film in that its focus is on a single man, Judah Ben-Hur (Charlton Heston), his family, and his life. The film's power is not derived from the portrayal of Christ, but the portrayal of how his life impacts everybody around him for the better, with the power to change somebody's entire mindset.

A wealthy man living in Judea, Judah's life is thrown into turmoil when his old friend Messala (Stephen Boyd) arrives from Rome. The new tribune in Judea, Messala is tasked with quelling the rising tide of religion that has taken a hold in the land with word of messiah having been born. Seeking help from Judah to stomp out those that wish to use violence to overthrow Roman power in the region, Messala is quickly rebuked by Judah who does not wish to inform on his own people. Now sworn rivals, Messala is able to get the assistance he demanded from Judah when Judah's sister accidentally knocks a shingle off of their home that nearly kills the governor. Making an example out of Judah and his family by imprisoning them and sending Judah off to be a slave, Messala sets off a chain of events that will change everybody's lives forever.

Relegated to servitude, Judah is left in the dark as to how his sister and mother are doing while imprisoned. He must slave as a rower, but not before encountering Jesus for the first time. With Jesus' role quite limited in the film in terms of appearances, the few times we do see some of him is immediately noteworthy. This encounter, in which Jesus offers Judah a drink of water, is immediately powerful. Watching the son of God stoop down and clean off a dirty man and give him water to drink is moving and shows the film's ability to create that sense of awe and presence that religious films must have when showing Jesus. As time progresses, Judah finds the favor of Quintus Arrius (Jack Hawkins) after saving his life in battle, earning his freedom and becoming Arrius' adoptive son. Afterwards, he sets out to find his family and, simultaneously, embarks on a mission of revenge to find Messala and make him pay for what he did to his family.

This hatred that consumes Judah is really what defines this film. It is something he must overcome, but it is a challenge. In the incredible chariot scene, he finally does get to square off with Messala. However, this is a film that pulls no punches. Judah and Messala do not receive a scene where they say sorry and get that cathartic release. Instead, in true Biblical fashion, Judah must forgive the unforgivable. Due to Messala's actions, Judah's mother Miriam (Martha Scott) and sister Tirzah (Cathy O'Donnell), contracted leprosy. How can he be expected to forgive Messala for such a cruel injustice when they did nothing to deserve that treatment? He showed Messala nothing but love, opened his home to him, and gave him a horse. Yet, he gets stabbed in the back. It is this hatred and resentment that spurs Judah to live and not just accept death as a slave. To be free to is to be able to exact his revenge on Messala, an opportunity he refuses to give up on. It is a hatred that invigorates his spirit and gives him the will to go on. However, no matter how passionate it is, this hatred is debilitating. It saps his ability to live and to live well. All-consuming, his hatred for Messala does not die with Messala. Instead, it is Messala's greatest final act of hatred: to make Judah so consumed with hate that he loses sight of God and continues to allow it to dwell in his soul long after Messala is gone. Through his encounters with Christ, however, Judah begins to see the light. Walking away from the sermon on the mount, but running to Christ's aid and giving him water as he carries his cross, Judah begins to feel the power of God. When he sees Jesus dying on the cross, asking for his killers to be forgiven, Judah learns just how misguided he had… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Onlyclassicvg1

Sep 21, 2022

olid Snake returns in Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance, the expanded edition of Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty with all-new game modes, hidden characters and storylines. Top-secret weapons technology is being mysteriously transported under cover of an oil tanker to an unknown destinatio

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

SEE ALL 16 REVIEWS