The Agony and the Ecstasy (1965): cast, story & where to watch
1965 · Film · ★ 7.1
Released in 1965, The Agony and the Ecstasy is a drama and history film directed by Carol Reed, running about 138 minutes. “From the age of magnificence comes a new magnificence in motion pictures.” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. During the Italian Renaissance, Pope Julius II contracts the influential artist Michelangelo to sculpt 40 statues for his tomb. When the pope changes his mind and asks the sculptor to paint a mural in the Sistine Chapel, Michelangelo doubts his painting skills and abandons the project. Divine inspiration returns Michelangelo to the mural, but his artistic vision clashes with the pope's demanding personality and threatens the success of the historic painting.
Who’s in it. The Agony and the Ecstasy stars Charlton Heston as Michelangelo, Rex Harrison as Papa Giulio II, Diane Cilento as Contessina de'Medici and Harry Andrews as Bramante, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 7.1/10, The Agony and the Ecstasy has been warmly received by audiences. It went on to earn $4M at the box office.
Where to watch. In US you can rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies and YouTube. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Agony and the Ecstasy page.
If you liked it. Fans of The Agony and the Ecstasy tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch The Agony and the Ecstasy (1965)?
- In US, The Agony and the Ecstasy is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Google Play Movies. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is The Agony and the Ecstasy worth watching?
- The Agony and the Ecstasy holds an audience score of 7.1 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama and history. Most viewers rate it highly.
- Who stars in The Agony and the Ecstasy?
- The Agony and the Ecstasy stars Charlton Heston, Rex Harrison, Diane Cilento, Harry Andrews and Alberto Lupo.
- When was The Agony and the Ecstasy released?
- The Agony and the Ecstasy was released in 1965, with a runtime of about 138 minutes.