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Ben-Hur
CAST & DIRECTOR
Directed by William Wyler. With Charlton Heston, Stephen Boyd, Hugh Griffith.
7.9/10
MOVIHERO RATINGWHAT IT'S ABOUT
In ancient Judea, a Jewish aristocrat opposing Roman occupation of his homeland reunites with his childhood friend, now a Roman commander — setting in motion a saga of betrayal, adventure, tragedy, revenge, and faith.
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7.9/10
MOVIHERO RATINGYOUR WATCHLISTIn ancient Judea, a Jewish aristocrat opposing Roman occupation of his homeland reunites with his childhood friend, now a Roman commander — setting in motion a saga of…
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Does this belong in your night?
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RELEASE SNAPSHOT
Release snapshot for Ben-Hur.
MoviHero lists November 18, 1959 as the release date for Ben-Hur. William Wyler is the listed director. The listed cast includes Charlton Heston as Judah Ben-Hur, Stephen Boyd as Messala, Hugh Griffith as Scheich Ildirim, Jack Hawkins as Quintus Arrius. A trailer and 5 stills are available on this page.
Release dateNovember 18, 1959
GenresAdventure · Drama · History
Runtime3h 32m
DirectorWilliam Wyler
CastCharlton Heston as Judah Ben-Hur, Stephen Boyd as Messala, Hugh Griffith as Scheich Ildirim, Jack Hawkins as Quintus Arrius
TrailerAvailable on this page
Images5 stills
BEFORE YOU PRESS PLAY
Is Ben-Hur right for tonight?
Pacing, attention and emotional impact are estimates from the current MoviHero Watch Profile, not verified scene-by-scene reviews.
How much time should I set aside?
Ben-Hur runs 3h 32m. Allow extra time for breaks.
Is it slow or fast?
The current MoviHero pacing estimate is 5/10: a middle-ground pace.
Is it a good choice when I am tired?
The attention estimate is 9/10. Consider saving this for a night when you can concentrate.
How emotionally intense is it?
The emotional-impact estimate is 7/10, suggesting a moderate emotional load. This does not tell you whether the ending is happy or sad.
CHANGE ONE THING
Like this, but...
These share a listed genre with Ben-Hur. Profile differences are estimates, not a guarantee of the same story or mood.
But shorterFanny2026 · 30m
182 minutes shorter (30m). Shared genre: drama, history.
But less emotionally intenseSadhak Bamakhyapa2026 · Runtime unavailableEstimated emotional impact: 5/10 versus 7/10. Shared genre: drama, history.
But less demandingUnder the Peach Trees: The Story of the Hochstetler Family2026 · 49mEstimated attention required: 6/10 versus 9/10. Shared genre: drama, history.
MOVIE RATING
MoviHero Rating
MoviHero Rating: 7.9/10 from 3,334 votes. Updated Nov 10, 2026.
Rating data supplied by TMDB, shown on a 10-point scale. MoviHero audience ratings are calculated separately from scores submitted here.
MOVIHERO AUDIENCE RATING
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Your movie rating. Your audience score.
CHECK AVAILABILITY
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WHAT WATCHING IT FEELS LIKE
Watch Profile
Seven estimates of the viewing experience, based on the stored Watch Profile. These are separate from the movie rating and are not verified scene-by-scene assessments.
Pacing5/10
Emotional Impact7/10
Mind-Bending2/10
Scary1/10
Violence4/10
Rewatchability6/10
Attention Required9/10
VIEWER REVIEWS
What viewers say about Ben-Hur
Selected viewer reactions, in their own words. These excerpts reflect individual opinions, not an overall verdict.
Viewer reaction
“Majestic in scope and story telling. The truth is, is that Ben-Hur deserved every award that was showered upon it. It's a titanic film both…”
Viewer reaction
“It will probably be remembered for it's chariot race long after all of the rest of it has faded away, but this is more than…”
Viewer reaction
“What can be said about this film that hasnt already been said?”
More reactions (1)
Viewer reaction
“This is one I had never seen before but finally say down for the 3.5 hour running time and found it thoroughly engaging, though after…”
Selected review excerpts supplied by TMDB. Opinions belong to their original authors.
WORDS THAT STAY WITH YOU
Memorable lines
Reveal a line containing a spoiler
“You may conquer the land, you may slaughter the people. That is not the end. We will rise again.”
A CLOSER LOOK
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CAST & CREW
The people who make it land.
CHARACTERS IN THIS MOVIE
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Reviewed MoviHero character guides connected to this movie.
SIMILAR GENRES & STORY THEMES
Keep the night going.
7.4/10
MOVIHERO ESTIMATESadhak Bamakhyapa
2026·Drama · History
7.3/10
MOVIHERO ESTIMATEFanny
2026·Drama · Comedy · History
7.4/10
MOVIHERO ESTIMATEMurderers
2026·Drama · History · War