Chariots of Fire (1981): cast, story & where to watch
1981 · Film · ★ 6.8
Released in 1981, Chariots of Fire is a drama and history film directed by Hugh Hudson, running about 124 minutes. “This is the story of two men who run, not to run, but to prove something to the world. They will sacrifice anything to achieve their goals... except their honor.” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. In the class-obsessed and religiously divided UK of the early 1920s, two determined young runners train for the 1924 Paris Olympics. Eric Liddell, 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 overcomes anti-Semitism and class bias, but neglects his beloved sweetheart in his single-minded quest.
Who’s in it. Chariots of Fire stars Ben Cross as Harold Abrahams, Ian Charleson as Eric Liddell, Cheryl Campbell as Jennie Liddell and Alice Krige as Sybil Gordon, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 6.8/10, Chariots of Fire has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response. It went on to earn $59M 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 Chariots of Fire page.
If you liked it. Fans of Chariots of Fire tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Chariots of Fire (1981)?
- In US, Chariots of Fire 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 Chariots of Fire worth watching?
- Chariots of Fire holds an audience score of 6.8 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama and history. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in Chariots of Fire?
- Chariots of Fire stars Ben Cross, Ian Charleson, Cheryl Campbell, Alice Krige and Nigel Havers.
- When was Chariots of Fire released?
- Chariots of Fire was released in 1981, with a runtime of about 124 minutes.