Ben-Hur (1959): cast, story & where to watch

Released in 1959, Ben-Hur is an action, drama, adventure and history film directed by William Wyler, running about 222 minutes. “The entertainment experience of a lifetime!” — that tagline sets the tone.

What it’s about. In 25 AD, Judah Ben-Hur, a Jew in ancient Judea, opposes the occupying Roman empire. Falsely accused by a Roman childhood friend-turned-overlord of trying to kill the Roman governor, he is put into slavery and his mother and sister are taken away as prisoners. Three years later and freed by a grateful Roman galley commander whom he has rescued from drowning, he becomes an expert charioteer for Rome, all the while plotting to return to Judea, find and rescue his family, and avenge himself on his former friend. All the while, the form and work of Jesus move in the background of his life...

Who’s in it. Ben-Hur stars Charlton Heston as Judah Ben-Hur, Jack Hawkins as Quintus Arrius, Haya Harareet as Esther and Stephen Boyd as Messala, among others.

How it landed. With an audience score of 7.9/10, Ben-Hur has been warmly received by audiences. It went on to earn $164M 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 Ben-Hur page.

If you liked it. Fans of Ben-Hur tend to enjoy The Dark Knight, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, Inception and The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.