Best of 2022Top 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsMost Popular Video GamesMost Popular Music VideosMost Popular Podcasts
    Release CalendarBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV NewsIndia TV Spotlight
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsBest Picture WinnersBest Picture WinnersEmmysSTARmeter AwardsSan Diego Comic-ConNew York Comic-ConSundance Film FestivalToronto Int'l Film FestivalAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • All
  • Titles
  • TV Episodes
  • Celebs
  • Companies
  • Keywords
  • Advanced Search
Watchlist
Sign In
Sign In
New Customer? Create account
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
IMDbPro

Ben Hur

Original title: Ben-Hur
  • 19591959
  • 1414
  • 3h 32m
IMDb RATING
8.1/10
240K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,218
458
Ben Hur (1959)
Official Trailer
Play trailer3:00
5 Videos
99+ Photos
AdventureDrama

After a Jewish prince is betrayed and sent into slavery by a Roman friend in 1st-century Jerusalem, he regains his freedom and comes back for revenge.After a Jewish prince is betrayed and sent into slavery by a Roman friend in 1st-century Jerusalem, he regains his freedom and comes back for revenge.After a Jewish prince is betrayed and sent into slavery by a Roman friend in 1st-century Jerusalem, he regains his freedom and comes back for revenge.

IMDb RATING
8.1/10
240K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,218
458
    • William Wyler
  • Writers
    • Lew Wallace(A Tale of Christ)
    • Karl Tunberg(screen play by)
    • Gore Vidal(contributing writer)
  • Stars
    • Charlton Heston
    • Jack Hawkins
    • Stephen Boyd
    • William Wyler
  • Writers
    • Lew Wallace(A Tale of Christ)
    • Karl Tunberg(screen play by)
    • Gore Vidal(contributing writer)
  • Stars
    • Charlton Heston
    • Jack Hawkins
    • Stephen Boyd
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 497User reviews
    • 134Critic reviews
    • 90Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Top rated movie #182
    • Won 11 Oscars

    Videos5

    Ben-Hur: 50th Anniversary Ultimate Collectors Edition [Blu-Ray]
    Trailer 3:00
    Watch Ben-Hur: 50th Anniversary Ultimate Collectors Edition [Blu-Ray]
    Ben-Hur: 50th Anniversary Ultimate Collector's Edition [Blu-Ray]
    Trailer 1:53
    Watch Ben-Hur: 50th Anniversary Ultimate Collector's Edition [Blu-Ray]
    Ben-Hur
    Trailer 4:03
    Watch Ben-Hur
    Streaming Passport: The Roman Empire
    Clip 4:38
    Watch Streaming Passport: The Roman Empire
    Ben-Hur | Anniversary Mashup
    Clip 1:19
    Watch Ben-Hur | Anniversary Mashup

    Photos316

    Charlton Heston in De Tien Geboden (1956)
    Charlton Heston and William Wyler in Ben Hur (1959)
    Joe Canutt in Ben Hur (1959)
    Stephen Boyd, Haya Harareet, and Sam Jaffe in Ben Hur (1959)
    Charlton Heston, Jack Hawkins, and Ferdy Mayne in Ben Hur (1959)
    Charlton Heston, Haya Harareet, Sam Jaffe, Cathy O'Donnell, and Martha Scott in Ben Hur (1959)
    Charlton Heston and Haya Harareet in Ben Hur (1959)
    Charlton Heston and John Glenn in Ben Hur (1959)
    Charlton Heston in Ben Hur (1959)
    Charlton Heston and Stephen Boyd in Ben Hur (1959)
    Charlton Heston and Stephen Boyd in Ben Hur (1959)
    Charlton Heston in Ben Hur (1959)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Charlton Heston
    Charlton Heston
    • Judah Ben-Hur
    Jack Hawkins
    Jack Hawkins
    • Quintus Arrius
    Stephen Boyd
    Stephen Boyd
    • Messala
    Haya Harareet
    Haya Harareet
    • Esther
    Hugh Griffith
    Hugh Griffith
    • Sheik Ilderim
    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 Pilate
    Terence Longdon
    Terence Longdon
    • Drusus
    George Relph
    • Tiberius Caesar
    André Morell
    André Morell
    • Sextus
    Nello Appodia
    • Oarsman
    • (uncredited)
    Fortunato Arena
    • Soldier
    • (uncredited)
    Bruno Ariè
    • Roman Officer
    • (uncredited)
    Les Ballets Africains
    • Dancers at Roman Banquet
    • (uncredited)
    Emma Baron
    Emma Baron
    • Jewish Woman
    • (uncredited)
      • William Wyler
    • Writers
      • Lew Wallace(A Tale of Christ)
      • Karl Tunberg(screen play by)
      • Gore Vidal(contributing writer) (uncredited)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    More like this

    The Bridge on the River Kwai
    8.2
    The Bridge on the River Kwai
    Gejaagd door de wind
    8.2
    Gejaagd door de wind
    Lawrence of Arabia
    8.3
    Lawrence of Arabia
    The Great Escape
    8.2
    The Great Escape
    Ben-Hur
    5.7
    Ben-Hur
    Gandhi
    8.1
    Gandhi
    Spartacus
    7.9
    Spartacus
    Cool Hand Luke
    8.1
    Cool Hand Luke
    Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
    8.1
    Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
    On the Waterfront
    8.1
    On the Waterfront
    Platoon
    8.1
    Platoon
    To Kill a Mockingbird
    8.3
    To Kill a Mockingbird

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The chariot race required 15,000 extras on a set constructed on 18 acres of backlot at Cinecitta Studios outside Rome. Tour buses visited the set every hour. Eighteen chariots were built, with half being used for practice. The race took five weeks to film.
    • Goofs
      During the chariot race just before Ben-Hur's chariot jumps the wrecked chariot, stunt driver Joe Canutt can be seen dropping the reins and grabbing hold of the side of the his chariot (his father, stunt coordinator-2nd unit director Yakima Canutt, had instructed him to grip the underside of the chariot's railing. Joe ignored him, or forgot, and grasped the railing from the top, and was vaulted over the top of the chariot, which could have been fatal had his quick reflexes and strength not allowed him to haul himself back over the vehicle's yoke before he fell between the horses and chariot).
    • Quotes

      Quintus Arrius: Your eyes are full of hate, forty-one. That's good. Hate keeps a man alive. It gives him strength.

    • Crazy credits
      The Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer lion is shown in a still-frame to appear looking peaceful at the beginning rather than roaring.
    • Alternate versions
      The first DVD release had an "Intermission" title card printed in a different font from the one used in the theatrical film and on the second, 4-disc DVD release.
    • Connections
      Edited into Spisok korabley (2008)
    • Soundtracks
      Overture
      Composed and Conducted by Miklós Rózsa

    User reviews497

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    Breath-taking; possible THE perfect movie.
    I think I can safely say that in my opinion, this is the best movie ever made. Its dramatic value is fantastic, and I've never seen a better storyline. The costumes were also incredible. The actors portrayed the best purest form of both ancient Roman and old Judean culture. This film also had quite an emotional effect. The way that Christ's face is never visible nor his voice audible to the audience creates a feeling of reverence to the actual person of Jesus. Lew Wallace also did an amazing job portraying the innocence, kindness, and mercy of Jesus, and his effect on the main character, Judah Ben Hur. Hur's ending quote, "I felt him take the sword out of my hand" was a wonderful picture of his changing. I admit, I am a Christian, but even for those who are not this is still a great film. The message boards confirm that. I recognize that there are some people that require constant action to keep their attention. If this is your case, than this movie is not for you, as it has a lot of dialogue. But I recommend this movie 100%.
    helpful•88
    69
    • agent_js03
    • Sep 5, 2004

    IMDb Best of 2022

    IMDb Best of 2022

    Discover the stars who skyrocketed on IMDb’s STARmeter chart this year, and explore more of the Best of 2022; including top trailers, posters, and photos.
    See more
    Image caption not available

    FAQ2

    • What are some differences between the different versions of the story?
    • Why does Sheik Ilderim believe Judah does not like the meal he was served? Why does Balthasar seem to want him to burp?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 6, 1960 (Netherlands)
      • United States
      • Official Facebook
      • Warner Bros. (United States)
      • English
    • Also known as
    • Filming locations
      • Corner of Via di Salone and Via delle Case Rosse, Salone Caves, Rome, Lazio, Italy
    • Production company
      • Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • 3 hours 32 minutes
      • Color

    Related news

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    Ben Hur (1959)
    Top Gap
    What is the streaming release date of Ben Hur (1959) in Spain?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    • Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • IMDb Developer
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Interest-Based Ads
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2022 by IMDb.com, Inc.