Ben-Hur(1959)
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) Nov 18, 1959 | Limited
A Jewish prince is betrayed and sent into slavery by a Roman friend in 1st-century Jerusalem, but it's not long before he regains his freedom and comes back for revenge.
Releases
Original Release | Nov 18, 1959
2019 Re-release (Fathom Entertainment) | Apr 14, 2019
2026 Re-release (Fathom Entertainment) | Mar 29, 2026
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Box Office Results
Updated as of Mar 10, 2026 11:28 AM ET
All Releases (3)
$74,432,704
$5,245
$74,444,716
$29
$29
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Director & Top Cast
Technical Specifications
Aspect Ratio: 2.75 : 1
Other Details
Country of Origin: United States
Language: English
Summaries
Plot Summary
- At the start of AD (in the year of the Lord), the Kingdom of Judeah is under Roman rule. Caesar has been Emperor for 7 years and orders every Judean to return to their place of birth, so they can be counted and taxed appropriately. Many Judeans return to Jerusalem, the troubled part of their land. The old city was dominated by the fortress of Antonia, the seat of Roman power. Despite Roman rule, the people of Judeah remembered the words of their Prophets that one day a redeemer would be born among them who would bring them salvation and perfect freedom.The Lord's birth is heralded by a bright star that shines upon a stable at night, where Mary gives birth to Jesus. The three wise men known as the Magi visit the baby in Bethlehem and their names are Melchior, Caspar, and Balthasar.In AD 26 Judah Ben-Hur (Charlton Heston) is a wealthy prince and merchant in Jerusalem. Jesus is a carpenter but spends more time in the hills connecting with nature.Judah's childhood friend, the Roman citizen Messala (Stephen Boyd), is now a tribune. After several years away from Jerusalem, Messala returns as the new commander of the Roman garrison at the Fortress Antonia. Judeah is resisting Roman rule, refusing to pay taxes and refusing to accept the Roman Gods in the hope that their own savior will free them one day. Messala learns of a carpenter's son spreading the message that God is in every living thing and performs magic tricks.Messala believes in the glory of Rome and its imperial power, while Ben-Hur is devoted to his faith and the freedom of the Hebrew people. Messala asks Ben-Hur for the names of Hebrews who criticize the Romans. Ben-Hur refuses.Ben-Hur lives with his mother, Miriam (Martha Scott), and sister, Tirzah (Cathy O'Donnell). Their loyal slave Simonides (Sam Jaffe) is preparing for an arranged marriage for his daughter, Esther (Haya Harareet). Ben-Hur gives Esther her freedom as a wedding present, and it is shown that Ben-Hur and Esther are in love even though her marriage to another man is imminent. Tirzah was in love with Messala since they were kids.During the parade for the new governor of Judea, Valerius Gratus (Mino Doro), a tile falls from the roof of Ben-Hur's house. Gratus is thrown from his horse and nearly killed. Although Messala knows this was an accident, he condemns Ben-Hur to the galleys and imprisons Miriam and Tirzah. By punishing a known friend and prominent citizen, he hopes to intimidate the Hebrew populace. Ben-Hur swears to take revenge. Dying of thirst when his slave gang arrives at Nazareth, Ben-Hur collapses. But a local carpenter (indicated to be Jesus) gives him water.After three years as a galley slave, Ben-Hur is assigned to the flagship of the Roman Consul Quintus Arrius (Jack Hawkins), who has been charged with destroying a fleet of Macedonian pirates. Arrius admires Ben-Hur's self-discipline and offers to train him as a gladiator or charioteer. Ben-Hur declines the offer, declaring that God will aid him in his quest for vengeance.The Roman fleet encounters the Macedonians. Arrius orders all the rowers except Ben-Hur to be chained to their benches. Arrius' galley is rammed and sunk, but Ben-Hur unchains the other rowers, and saves Arrius' life. Arrius believes the battle ended in defeat, but Ben-Hur prevents him from committing suicide. Ben-Hur and Arrius are rescued, and Arrius is credited with the Roman fleet's victory. The consul successfully petitions Emperor Tiberius (George Relph) to free Ben-Hur, and adopts him as his son. Several years pass. Now wealthy, Ben-Hur learns Roman ways and becomes a champion charioteer, but longs for his family and homeland.Ben-Hur returns to Judea. Along the way, he meets Balthasar (Finlay Currie) and an Arab sheikh, Ilderim (Hugh Griffith). The sheikh has heard of Ben-Hur's prowess as a charioteer, and asks him to drive his Quadriga in a race before the new Judean governor Pontius Pilate (Frank Thring). Ben-Hur at first declines, despite knowing that Messala is competing. Balthasar tells Judah about a prophet he seeks who preaches love and forgiveness and urges Judah to cast off his consuming hate and vengeance.Ben-Hur returns to his home in Jerusalm. He meets Esther, and learns her arranged marriage did not occur and that she is still in love with him. Esther lives with her debilitated father and also Malluch (Ady Berber), a mute former prisoner. Messala tortured Simonides, who has protected Judah's fortune nonetheless.He visits Messala, presenting himself as Quintus Arrius' son and demands his mother and sister's freedom. Messala orders their release from the dungeons. The Romans discover that Miriam and Tirzah contracted leprosy in prison, and expel them from the city. Before leaving the city, the women find and beg Esther to conceal their condition from Judah. Esther tells Judah they are dead to stop him searching.Seeking revenge, Judah agrees to drive Sheik Ilderim's four horses against Messala in the chariot race. The sheikh goads Messala into making an enormous wager on himself before revealing Judah is his driver. During the chariot race, Messala drives a chariot with blades on the hubs to tear apart competing vehicles. In the violent and grueling race, Messala attempts to destroy Ben-Hur's chariot but destroys his own instead. Dragged behind his horses, he is trampled by another chariot, while Judah wins the race. Before dying, Messala tells Ben-Hur that "the race is not over" and that he can find his family "in the Valley of the Lepers, if you can recognize them."At the leper colony, Judah encounters Esther and Malluch bringing supplies to Miriam and Tirzah. Esther persuades him to conceal himself as his family would wish. Judah and Esther then follow a crowd to hear what is possibly Jesus Christ's Sermon on the Mount.Judah meets with Pontius Pilate, who fears Judah's victory will stoke rebellion against Roman rule. Judah rejects his patrimony and Roman citizenship. Returning to the leper colony, he reveals himself to Miriam and finds that Tirzah is dying. Judah and Esther take them to see Jesus Christ, but the trial of Jesus has begun. While carrying his cross through the streets, Jesus collapses. Judah recognizes him as the man who gave him water earlier and tries to give him water but a Roman soldier intervenes.As Judah and Balthazar witnessed Jesus' crucifixion, Miriam and Tirzah are sheltered in a cave with Esther during a violent storm and are miraculously cured. Realizing that forgiveness is better than revenge, Judah returns to his house and finds them healed. Embracing, the four rejoice at the miracle.
Storyline
- Judah Ben-Hur lives as a rich Jewish prince and merchant in Jerusalem at the beginning of the 1st century. Together with the new governor his old friend Messala arrives as commanding officer of the Roman legions. At first they are happy to meet after a long time but their different politic views separate them. During the welcome parade a roof tile falls down from Judah's house and injures the governor. Although Messala knows they are not guilty, he sends Judah to the galleys and throws his mother and sister into prison. But Judah swears to come back and take revenge. — Matthias Scheler <tron@lyssa.owl.de> When Prince Judah Ben-Hur hears that his childhood friend Messala has been named to command the Roman garrison of Jerusalem, he is thrilled. He soon finds, however, that his friend has changed and has become an arrogant conqueror, full of the grandeur of Rome. After Judah refuses to divulge the names of Jews who oppose Roman rule, Messala decides to make an example of him and sends him off as a galley slave. Through fate and good fortune, Judah survives the galleys and manages to return to Jerusalem in the hopes of finding his mother and sister, who were also imprisoned, and to seek revenge against his one-time friend. — garykmcd Charlton Heston plays a Jew who is battling the Roman empire at the time of Christ. His actions send him and his family into slavery, but an inspirational encounter with Jesus changes everything. Heston finally meets his rival in a justly famous chariot race and rescues his suffering family. — Jwelch5742 In A.D. 26-Jerusalem, the wealthy merchant and son of a Jewish family, Judah Ben-Hur, enjoys a comfortable life. However, the unexpected reunion after many years with his childhood best friend and now a Roman tribune, Messala, will lead to an eventual separation, banishing Judah to a life of slavery and imprisonment at a galley ship. Only an unforeseen and gracious act of pardon will set free the once noble prince, who is now bent on revenge, as the incendiary teachings of the Nazarene Jesus rapidly gain ground. Will Judah finally find peace in this revolutionary and enlightened new doctrine of kindness? — Nick Riganas 1 more See all
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