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Chariots of Fire

Play trailer Poster for Chariots of Fire PG Released Sep 26, 1981 2h 3m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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84% Tomatometer 115 Reviews 80% Popcornmeter 25,000+ Ratings
In the class-obsessed and religiously divided United Kingdom of the early 1920s, two determined young runners train for the 1924 Paris Olympics. Eric Liddell (Ian Charleson), a devout Christian born to Scottish missionaries in China, sees running as part of his worship of God's glory and refuses to train or compete on the Sabbath. Harold Abrahams (Ben Cross) overcomes anti-Semitism and class bias, but neglects his beloved sweetheart Sybil (Alice Krige) in his single-minded quest.
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Chariots of Fire

Chariots of Fire

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Critics Consensus

Decidedly slower and less limber than the Olympic runners at the center of its story, Chariots of Fire nevertheless makes effectively stirring use of its spiritual and patriotic themes.

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Critics Reviews

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Ed Potton The Times (UK) Never, with the possible exception of Tom Cruise in Mission: Impossible, has running looked so cinematic. Rated: 4/5 Jul 26, 2024 Full Review Pauline Kael The New Yorker The picture is a piece of technological lyricism held together by the glue of simpleminded heroic sentiment; basically, its appeal is in watching a couple of guys win their races. Jul 18, 2022 Full Review David Denby New York Magazine/Vulture A handsome, well-acted, frequently charming film that would not be out of place on Masterpiece Theater. In other words, it is precisely what art-house audiences want at the moment -- a cautious, "distinguished," slightly boring good movie. Jul 18, 2022 Full Review Brian Viner Daily Mail (UK) Chariots Of Fire is one of the glories of British cinema... Rated: 5/5 Aug 8, 2024 Full Review Mark Johnson Awards Daily The opening scene, thanks in large part to Vangelis’ immortal score, is cinematic beauty in the highest form. Jun 27, 2023 Full Review Edward Porter Sunday Times (UK) It is a film that understands the sweetness of victory... Feb 27, 2023 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Stephen C 2 hours and 3 minutes based on a true story!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! In British English with American English subtitles!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/08/25 Full Review Robert H I watched this movie three times in the theaters and couldn't wait to see it again. Absolutely my favorite sports movie. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/22/25 Full Review Max W Aside from Vangelis’s iconic theme, there’s little here that leaves a lasting impression, the combination of classical British accents and a slow, subdued narrative is practically tailor-made for inducing sleep. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 05/25/25 Full Review thiago s Filme bacana, o roteiro é bacaninha, as cenas das corridas sao nuito boas, gostei muito do começo, com a cena clássica em que os corredores correm na praia perto do mar tocando a música chariots of fire do vangelis, alguns diálogos no filme são meio fracos, o elenco é mais ou menos e ajuda pouco no filme, as cenas das olimpiadas foram boas e mas as que nem tinham coisas sobre esportes foram fracas e isso deixou o filme um pouco fraco, mas com tudo isso, eu recomendo esse filme. Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 03/09/25 Full Review Bruno V I was astonished when I saw the movie as a 14 year old boy in 1981 and it is still my favourite movie in 2024. The spiritual power of the movie is timeless. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 12/30/24 Full Review Brady S Prepare to see how Eric Liddell can run so fast with such bad form and the answer is he swims on air and runs in the Scottish hills. Also see a love story between a Jewish guy and a Actress. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 11/13/24 Full Review Read all reviews
Chariots of Fire

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Movie Info

Synopsis In the class-obsessed and religiously divided United Kingdom of the early 1920s, two determined young runners train for the 1924 Paris Olympics. Eric Liddell (Ian Charleson), a devout Christian born to Scottish missionaries in China, sees running as part of his worship of God's glory and refuses to train or compete on the Sabbath. Harold Abrahams (Ben Cross) overcomes anti-Semitism and class bias, but neglects his beloved sweetheart Sybil (Alice Krige) in his single-minded quest.
Director
Hugh Hudson
Producer
David Puttnam
Screenwriter
Colin Welland
Distributor
20th Century Fox, Warner Home Vídeo
Production Co
Allied Stars, Warner Brothers
Rating
PG
Genre
Drama
Original Language
British English
Release Date (Theaters)
Sep 26, 1981, Original
Rerelease Date (Theaters)
Aug 1, 2016
Release Date (Streaming)
Mar 1, 2010
Runtime
2h 3m
Sound Mix
Surround
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