Ben-Hur | Rotten Tomatoes (2024)

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Where to Watch Ben-Hur What to Know Critics Reviews Audience Reviews My Rating Cast & Crew More Like This Related Movie News Photos Ben-Hur References

85%

Tomatometer

55 Reviews

89%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

Charlton Heston plays a Palestinian Jew who is battling the Roman empire at the time of Christ. His actions send him and his family into slavery, but an inspirational encounter with Jesus changes everything. Heston finally meets his rival in a justly famous chariot race and rescues his suffering family.

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Ben-Hur

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Uneven, but in terms of epic scope and grand spectacle, Ben-Hur still ranks among Hollywood's finest examples of pure entertainment.

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Critics Reviews

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Jack Harrison

Hollywood Reporter

William Wyler never lets spectacle and size interfere with the elemental passions and conflicts of his human story. The spectacular aspects emerge naturally from the story -- the time and place and the customs of the society in which the characters live.

Nov 19, 2018

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Martin Chilton

Daily Telegraph (UK)

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.

Rated: 5/5

Jan 1, 2015

Full Review

TIME Staff

TIME Magazine

The biggest and the best of Hollywood's super-spectacles.

Aug 22, 2008

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Josh Larsen

LarsenOnFilm

The Passion of the Heston.

Rated: 3/4

Apr 18, 2024

Full Review

Mark Johnson

Awards Daily

Ben-Hur remains one of the greatest stories ever told. The antagonizing journey of the main protagonist, incredible cast of thousands, elaborate set designs, and one of the greatest sequences in film history, Ben-Hur is one of the most influential films.

Jun 8, 2023

Full Review

Dilys Powell

Sunday Times (UK)

[The filmmakers] can't give it an imaginative size to match its physical size... Nevertheless if we must have films of this kind, this is the one to have.

Aug 10, 2022

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Audience Reviews

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Ben Him Music is grand! Sets were non-cgi. Story was great. Acting was superb. Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 04/08/21 Full Review Jack G Classic, must watch if you like classic films Rated 4.5/5 Stars • Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 07/08/24 Full Review Adam W A true masterpiece and cult classic Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/16/24 Full Review Wellington P Perfect in every way Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 04/19/24 Full Review AgustÃn R It's a magnifincent, incredible and is power Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/29/24 Full Review Jonathan I Amazing set design, costuming, cinematagrophy which makes every shot look like a painting. This is a grand and epic tale with valuable lessons and memorable Jesus cameos. Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/24/24 Full Review Read all reviews

Ben-Hur

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Cast & Crew

William Wyler Director Charlton Heston Judah Ben-Hur Jack Hawkins Quintus Arrius Stephen Boyd Messala Haya Harareet Esther Hugh Griffith Sheik Ilderim

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Related Movie News

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Photos

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Ben-Hur

Shown here is the chariot race in the film "Ben-Hur."

Hugh Griffith portrays Sheik Ilderim in the film "Ben-Hur."

Charlton Heston (left) Stephen Boyd (center), who played Messala, talk with director William Wyler (right) while taking a break from filming the chariot race.

Charlton Heston (left) pictured here on the film's set in Rome with Haya Harareet (right), who played Esther.

Charlton Heston (left) on the film's set in Rome with his three-year old son Fraser (center). Co-star Jack Hawkins (right) is shown chatting with Heston and his son during a break from filming.

Movie poster.

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Synopsis Charlton Heston plays a Palestinian Jew who is battling the Roman empire at the time of Christ. His actions send him and his family into slavery, but an inspirational encounter with Jesus changes everything. Heston finally meets his rival in a justly famous chariot race and rescues his suffering family.

Director: William Wyler
Producer: Sam Zimbalist
Screenwriter: Lew Wallace, Karl Tunberg
Distributor: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Production Co: Metro Goldwyn Mayer, Warner Bros.
Rating: G
Genre: History, Drama, Adventure
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 18, 1959, Wide
Rerelease Date (Theaters): Sep 1, 1969
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 30, 2013
Runtime: 3h 23m
Sound Mix: Stereo, Magnetic Stereo 6 Track
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

References

https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/benhur