Chariots of Fire

PG

Released Sep 26, 1981

2h 3m

Drama

List

83%

115 Reviews

Tomatometer

80%

25,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

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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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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Caroline C

My favorite of all time, this movie portrays the true stories of Abrahams and Liddle before they became, respectively, chairman of Britain's Amateur Athletic Association and missionary to China. Both lived heroically. While Vangelis's title theme has been parodied countless times, that stirring music fits perfectly and seriously the runners of Chariots of Fire.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/05/23

Full Review

Gareth v

A fantastic and inspiring sporting biopic that is brilliantly acted and has a score from Vangelis that remains one of the finest in cinematic history. One of the best sports movies made.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

06/20/23

Full Review

Connor S

The most perfectly crafted simple movie of all time.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

04/29/23

Full Review

John A

A bit too slow-moving for it's own good but this early 80's British film still gracefully strolls through the finish line.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

04/20/23

Full Review

David F

While it's a somewhat meandering movie that foregrounds character over and above plot and also delivers an excellent period atmosphere of 1920s England and Scotland with Cambridge and Gilbert and Sullivan featured heavily, this film is a wonderful evocation of runners who trained and competed in the Olympics in France and their interesting paths to athletic success.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

03/03/23

Full Review

rex w

One of my favorites. I loved it 40 years ago, I still love it. A superbly directed movie. Not a spot out of place.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/27/23

Full Review

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Hugh Hudson

Director

Ben Cross

Harold M. Abrahams

Ian Charleson

Eric Liddell

John Gielgud

Master of Trinity (as Sir John Gielgud)

Nigel Havers

Lord Andrew Lindsay

Nicholas Farrell

Aubrey Montague

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Pauline Kael

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

Jack Kroll

Newsweek

Directing his first feature, Hugh Hudson has come up with a rare film that will surprise you with its beauty and magnificence of spirit.

Jul 18, 2022

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

Roger Moore

Movie Nation

Seen today, with all its striking, dated synthesizer music and stuffily-tolerated British classism, it’s still glorious, the sort of dreamy memory that provokes Pavlovian tears in a film fan

Rated: 3.5/4

Jan 9, 2023

Full Review

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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: Dodi Fayed, Jake Eberts
Screenwriter: Colin Welland
Distributor: Warner Home Vídeo, 20th Century Fox
Production Co: Warner Brothers, Allied Stars
Rating: PG
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English (United Kingdom)
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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