Chariots of Fire

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Chariots of Fire

PG

Released Sep 26, 1981

2h 3m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

84%

Tomatometer

114 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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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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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

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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

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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

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Brian Viner

Daily Mail (UK)

Chariots Of Fire is one of the glories of British cinema...

Rated: 5/5

Aug 8, 2024

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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

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Edward Porter

Sunday Times (UK)

It is a film that understands the sweetness of victory...

Feb 27, 2023

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Brian H

This is such a beautiful and rich film with great actors and soundtrack, and looks amazing. The way they've recreated the 1920's is so impressive. Love this film.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/07/25

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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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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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