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Ben-Hur

Play trailer Poster for Ben-Hur 1925 2h 23m History Drama Action Romance Adventure Play Trailer Watchlist
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96% Tomatometer 25 Reviews 85% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
An immediate box office smash, this silent masterpiece follows a Palestinian Jew who battles against the tyranny of the Roman Empire. With a cast of thousands, it remains one of the most expensive silents ever-produced. Features a hair-raising chariot race that holds its own against today's best action films. Selected by the prestigious American Film Institute as one of the 400 best American films of all time. Inducted in the Library of Congress National Film Registry.
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Ben-Hur

Critics Reviews

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Mordaunt Hall New York Times 08/31/2020
Ramon Novarro, who plays the part of Ben-Hur, is a sturdy, handsome young chap, with an excellent figure. His performance is all that one could wish, for he is fervent and earnest throughout. Go to Full Review
Fred Schader Variety 08/31/2020
Ben Hur is a picture for all times. No matter what happens to others, Ben Hur will remain, as the Bible remains. Go to Full Review
SMH Staff Sydney Morning Herald 08/31/2020
The part of Ben Hur Is magnificently played by Ramon Navarro. In his hands the character shows a gradual and logical development, beginning with Judah's boyish bearing in the streets of Jerusalem, adopting a harder tone [as the film progresses]. Go to Full Review
Yasser Medina Cinefilia Apr 7
7/10
It is, without a doubt, a very exciting biblical epic. [Full review in Spanish] Go to Full Review
Irish Times Staff Irish Times 12/14/2023
Without seeing for one’s self it is hard to picture the pulsating realism of the mad gallop round the arena of horses with their charioteers; the deadly rivalry of the drivers; and the wild scenes as chariots are overturned. Go to Full Review
Martin Dickstein Brooklyn Daily Eagle 08/31/2020
As a spectacle, a tremendous pictorial achievement, a truly Immense conception of the unlimltatlons of the motion picture camera, I can for comparison with the film... only hazy recollections of D. W. Griffith's Intolerance. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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David Manuel R Aug 18 This movie is impressive, especially for 1925 silent genre See more georgan g 04/10/2022 While this movie is impressive, especially for a 1925 silent genre, there was too much I could not tolerate. Humane filming is not totally done even today, but nearly 100 years ago it was grim & cruel. The horses killed during the chariot race was horrendous. See more 06/06/2021 I was lucky enough to see this film with a live orchestra with Stuart Copeland of the Police. He's worked with this film many times, and you should beg him to come to your theatre and perform it again because it is mesmerizing. I have never had an experience at the theatre like that in my whole life, and I saw Chaplin's "City Lights" with a live orchestra. This is what you pay money to see, musicians sweating out the old time capsule in its full regalia. I had to remind myself to breathe while in the theatre with this beast, as it was breathtaking. There was quite a bit of horse abuse in the making of this film, and as someone who's sensitive to that, I thought it might be too much to see. I had searched before the film "How many horses died?"...Up to 150 is that answer. Jesus Christ! is right. However, if the jackasses were gonna kill like that, at least they made a powerful film. It shakes the soul, and still is an effective and very emotional artifact. The urinals exploded in our theatre the night this was performed, as the tension of the piece was too much for even the plumbing to handle. See more Ethan S 03/02/2021 A visual treat with a compelling story and excellent action sequences. The physicality and expression of the acting helps to eliminate the need for a lot of intertitle exposition also, though probably my familiarity with the later Heston sound-version of the story might make me a little biased in that respect. See more s r @ScottR 04/07/2020 Epic to say the least. See more 02/11/2019 This movie stands the test of time. There are moments in the film where your heart is in your throat; when Jesus is born and everyone knows without being told who Mary is and who Jesus. When Jesus gives a drink to the near death Ben Hur Jesus is kept off screen and you only see his hand, I tell you folks it brings tears to your eyes. Niblo just carries on from there. This is the movie that made MGM. See more Read all reviews
Ben-Hur

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Movie Info

Synopsis An immediate box office smash, this silent masterpiece follows a Palestinian Jew who battles against the tyranny of the Roman Empire. With a cast of thousands, it remains one of the most expensive silents ever-produced. Features a hair-raising chariot race that holds its own against today's best action films. Selected by the prestigious American Film Institute as one of the 400 best American films of all time. Inducted in the Library of Congress National Film Registry.
Director
Fred Niblo
Producer
Kevin Brownlow, David Gill
Screenwriter
Carey Wilson
Distributor
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Production Co
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Genre
History, Drama, Action, Romance, Adventure
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Dec 30, 1925, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Mar 1, 2011
Runtime
2h 23m
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