Ben-Hur
“The entertainment experience of a lifetime!”
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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Cast
69 people
Charlton Heston
Judah Ben-Hur
Known for
Planet of the Apes
The Ten Commandments
Stephen Boyd
Messala
Known for
Fantastic Voyage
The Fall of the Roman Empire
Hugh Griffith
Scheich Ildirim
Known for
The Canterbury Tales
How to Steal a Million
Jack Hawkins
Quintus Arrius
Known for
Lawrence of Arabia
The Bridge on the River Kwai
Haya Harareet
Esther
Also in
The Secret Partner
Hill 24 Doesn't Answer
Martha Scott
Miriam
Known for
The Ten Commandments
Charlotte's Web
Cathy O'Donnell
Tirzah
Known for
They Live by Night
The Best Years of Our Lives
Sam Jaffe
Simonides
Known for
The Day the Earth Stood Still
Bedknobs and Broomsticks
Finlay Currie
Balthasar
Known for
Around the World in 80 Days
Quo Vadis
Frank Thring
Pontius Pilatus
Known for
Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome
The Vikings
George Relph
Tiberius Caesar
Known for
The Titfield Thunderbolt
André Morell
Sextus
Known for
The Bridge on the River Kwai
The Hound of the Baskervilles
William Wyler Director · Karl Tunberg Screenplay Lew Wallace Author
Worldwide gross $164M · Budget $15M · United States release November 24, 1959
Box office
Budget
$15,000,000
Worldwide gross
$164,000,000
Gross vs. budget
10.9×
Production
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Production · Studio
United States · Italy · Lebanon · Mexico
Produced in
Languages
Original language
English
Spoken on screen
English
Release dates
Canada · November 18, 1959
Theatrical
United States · November 24, 1959
Theatrical
United States
November 18, 1959 · Premiere · New York City, New York
March 26, 1969 · Theatrical · Re-release
February 14, 1971 · TV · CBS
Argentina
April 28, 1960 · Theatrical
April 11, 1969 · TV
Australia
May 5, 1960 · Premiere · Sydney
May 12, 1960 · Theatrical
December 13, 1968 · Theatrical · 70mm re-release
March 26, 1998 · Theatrical · Re-release
Austria
September 14, 1961 · Theatrical
Belgium
October 7, 1960 · Theatrical
Brazil
January 29, 1960 · Theatrical
October 3, 2005 · Physical · DVD/VHS Warner
April 2, 2026 · Theatrical · Relançamento
Chile
June 5, 1988 · TV
China
June 19, 2017 · Premiere · Shanghai International Film Festival
Czechia
August 1, 1995 · Physical
Denmark
February 19, 1962 · Theatrical
August 7, 1964 · Theatrical · Re-release
Finland
March 3, 1961 · Theatrical
January 7, 1977 · Theatrical · Re-release
France
May 1, 1960 · Premiere · Cannes Film Festival
October 1, 1960 · Theatrical
June 6, 1965 · Theatrical · Re-release
Germany
October 14, 1960 · Theatrical · West Germany
October 25, 2001 · Physical · DVD
Greece
February 18, 1962 · Theatrical
Hong Kong SAR China
November 16, 1961 · Theatrical
Hungary
August 26, 1982 · Theatrical
December 11, 2001 · Physical · DVD
Ireland
September 9, 1960 · Theatrical
Italy
October 20, 1960 · Theatrical
Japan
April 1, 1960 · Theatrical
April 21, 1973 · Theatrical · Re-release
Mexico
November 16, 1961 · Theatrical
Netherlands
October 6, 1960 · Theatrical
October 14, 1971 · Theatrical · Re-release
July 9, 2003 · TV · V8
November 16, 2005 · Physical · DVD
Norway
February 9, 1962 · Theatrical
Peru
May 7, 1960 · Theatrical
April 1, 1994 · TV
Philippines
June 8, 1960 · Theatrical
June 12, 1962 · Theatrical · Re-release
April 16, 2022 · TV · GMA Network (Filipino dub)
Portugal
October 25, 1960 · Theatrical
Puerto Rico
March 21, 1973 · TV
Russia
March 19, 2002 · Physical · DVD «DVD Магия»
Singapore
February 7, 2012 · Physical · DVD
South Africa
July 4, 1960 · Theatrical
South Korea
February 1, 1962 · Theatrical
September 7, 1972 · Theatrical
April 1, 2008 · Theatrical
Spain
December 19, 1960 · Theatrical
April 10, 2014 · Theatrical · Re-release
Sweden
February 20, 1962 · Theatrical
November 14, 2001 · Physical · DVD release
October 19, 2011 · Physical · Blu-ray release
Taiwan
December 14, 1961 · Theatrical
Türkiye
December 1, 1960 · Theatrical
United Kingdom
December 16, 1959 · Premiere · London
December 26, 1959 · Theatrical
December 26, 1969 · Theatrical · 70mm re-release
Uruguay
August 18, 1960 · Theatrical
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