← Back to films
Ben-Hur

Ben-Hur

7,9 /10 (3,197 Votes)
1959 EN 212 min

Overview

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.

Powered by JustWatch via TMDB

Release date

18/11/1959

Votes

3,197

Popularity

14.6

The entertainment experience of a lifetime!

Status

Released

Language

EN

Runtime

212 min

Budget

$15,000,000

Revenue

$164,000,000

Charlton Heston

Charlton Heston

Judah Ben-Hur

Stephen Boyd

Stephen Boyd

Messala

Hugh Griffith

Hugh Griffith

Scheich Ildirim

Jack Hawkins

Jack Hawkins

Quintus Arrius

Haya Harareet

Haya Harareet

Esther

Martha Scott

Martha Scott

Miriam

Cathy O'Donnell

Cathy O'Donnell

Tirzah

Sam Jaffe

Sam Jaffe

Simonides

Finlay Currie

Finlay Currie

Balthasar

Frank Thring

Frank Thring

Pontius Pilatus

George Relph

George Relph

Tiberius Caesar

André Morell

André Morell

Sextus

Terence Longdon

Terence Longdon

Drusus

Ady Berber

Ady Berber

Malluch

Lando Buzzanca

Lando Buzzanca

Jewish Slave in the Desert (uncredited)

Giuliano Gemma

Giuliano Gemma

Roman Officer with Messala (uncredited)

Marina Berti

Marina Berti

Flavia (uncredited)

Robert Brown

Robert Brown

Chief of Rowers (uncredited)

Liana Del Balzo

Liana Del Balzo

Guest at Banquet (uncredited)

Enzo Fiermonte

Enzo Fiermonte

Galley Officer (uncredited)

Richard Hale

Richard Hale

Gaspar (uncredited)

Duncan Lamont

Duncan Lamont

Marius (uncredited)

John Le Mesurier

John Le Mesurier

Doctor (uncredited)

Ferdy Mayne

Ferdy Mayne

Captain of Rescue Ship (uncredited)

May McAvoy

May McAvoy

Woman in crowd (uncredited)

Aldo Silvani

Aldo Silvani

Man in Nazareth (uncredited)

Ralph Truman

Ralph Truman

Aide to Tiberius (uncredited)

No photo

Claude Heater

Christ

No photo

Joe Canutt

Sportsman (uncredited)

Richard Coleman

Richard Coleman

Metellus (uncredited)

No photo

Antonio Corevi

Senator (uncredited)

David Davies

David Davies

Quaestor (uncredited)

Mino Doro

Mino Doro

Gratus (uncredited)

No photo

Michael Dugan

Seaman (uncredited)

Franco Fantasia

Franco Fantasia

Roman Soldier Who Brings Crown to Gratus (uncredited)

José Greci

José Greci

Mary (uncredited)

John Horsley

John Horsley

Spintho (uncredited)

No photo

Howard Lang

Hortator (uncredited)

No photo

Stevenson Lang

Blind Man (uncredited)

Tutte Lemkow

Tutte Lemkow

Leper (uncredited)

Cliff Lyons

Cliff Lyons

The Lubian (uncredited)

Tiberio Mitri

Tiberio Mitri

Roman at Bath (uncredited)

No photo

Remington Olmsted

Decurian (uncredited)

Laurence Payne

Laurence Payne

Joseph (uncredited)

Aldo Pini

Aldo Pini

Bad Thief on Cross (uncredited)

Diego Pozzetto

Diego Pozzetto

Villager (uncredited)

No photo

Stella Rho

Amrah (uncredited)

Edwin Richfield

Edwin Richfield

Supplier to Leper Colony (uncredited)

Hector Ross

Hector Ross

Officer (uncredited)

No photo

Maxwell Shaw

Rower No. 43 (uncredited)

Gianni Solaro

Gianni Solaro

Galley Officer (uncredited)

Pietro Tordi

Pietro Tordi

Pilate's Servant (uncredited)

Raimondo Van Riel

Raimondo Van Riel

Old Man (uncredited)

Dervis Ward

Dervis Ward

Jailer (uncredited)

Joe Yrigoyen

Joe Yrigoyen

The Egyptian - Chariot Racer (uncredited)

Nazzareno Zamperla

Nazzareno Zamperla

Roman Soldier with a Bow on Galley (uncredited)

No photo

Jerry Brown

The Corinthian (uncredited)

No photo

Eddie Jauregui

The Athenian (uncredited)

Gianni Di Segni

Gianni Di Segni

Galley Guard on Ship (uncredited)

Armando Fracassi

Armando Fracassi

Arab (uncredited)

Osiride Pevarello

Osiride Pevarello

(uncredited)

Renzo Pevarello

Renzo Pevarello

(uncredited)

Amerigo Santarelli

Amerigo Santarelli

Rower (uncredited)

Artemio Antonini

Artemio Antonini

Galley Guard on Ship (uncredited)

Aldo Cecconi

Aldo Cecconi

Galley Guard on Ship (uncredited)

Mario Meniconi

Mario Meniconi

Crucifixion March Guard (uncredited)

Terzo Monachesi

Terzo Monachesi

Nobleman at the Chariot Race (uncredited)

Giorgio Ubaldi

Giorgio Ubaldi

Rower (uncredited)

Umberto Alivernini

Umberto Alivernini

Officer at the Chariot Race (uncredited)

Original Soundtrack

Loading soundtrack videos…

John Chard

John Chard

2018-12-24

⭐ 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 over…

Read full review →
sykobanana

sykobanana

2021-04-24

⭐ 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 whic…

Read full review →
CinemaSerf

CinemaSerf

2024-06-01

⭐ 7

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…

Read full review →
JPV852

JPV852

2026-03-09

⭐ 9

This is one I had never seen before but finally say down for the 3.5 hour running time and found it thoroughly engaging, though after the chariot race scene, felt it slowed down quite a bit. Still, great performances all around and the scale, not just for its time but even today, was amazing. **4.5/5**

Read full review →