Common Sense Media Review
By Renee Schonfeld
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
1959 epic has fierce blood-spilling, but positive messages.
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Ben-Hur
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 4 parent reviews
Based on 12 kid reviews
Kids say this adaptation of a classic story features intense themes of betrayal, revenge, and ultimately forgiveness, though its graphic violence may be frightening for younger audiences. Despite its lengthy runtime and slow moments, the film is praised for its epic storytelling, strong performances, and powerful messages about family and friendship.
- violent themes
- intense storytelling
- graphic content
- emotional messages
- lengthy runtime
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
BEN-HUR takes place primarily in Jerusalem, just as a young carpenter from Nazareth, Jesus, is preaching a gospel of peace and mercy. Ben-Hur (Charlton Heston), a rich and respected Jewish prince, is aware of the dangers of the Roman Empire on the Holy Land as he visits his childhood friend, Messala (Stephen Boyd), who's now a Roman tribune. But when Messala fails to convince Ben-Hur to turn against his own people and help him conquer the city, Messala enslaves Ben-Hur and imprisons Ben-Hur's mother and sister. Banished to a galley ship, Ben-Hur spends years rowing under the merciless cruelty of Roman taskmaster Quintus Arrius (Jack Hawkins). But through the support of an Arab sheik (Hugh Griffith) and his longtime Jewish allies, Ben-Hur searches for his family and seeks vengeance on his old Roman "friend."
Is It Any Good?
For families with teens who can appreciate classic filmmaking and who aren't upset by blood-soaked action sequences and tension, this stunning film is highly recommended. Winning 11 Academy Awards (including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, and Best Supporting Actor), Ben-Hur was as much a phenomenon as it was a movie. The extraordinary achievement of its action sequences (made without the high-tech special effects that have become customary) was thought to be matched by the film's human drama, its emotional impact, and the luminous performances of the actors, directors, writers, and crew. Does it hold up? At three-and-a-half hours long, it's slow at times; some of the acting feels mannered and stiff; and, with few exceptions, the characters are either very good or very bad—no nuance here. Still, it packs a punch.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how action movie-making has changed since Ben-Hur was released in 1959. How are the action scenes in this movie different from or similar to those in more recent films? Does it affect the scenes' impact? Those interested might want to look into how filmmakers filmed the chariot race and why it was considered such a major achievement. How might they do it today?
From 1927 to 1961, mainstream movies didn't show Jesus' face. What are the possible reasons for this? How effective was the portrayal of Jesus in this movie, even without viewers seeing his face or hearing his voice? How did the scene in which Jesus gives water to Ben-Hur impact the story?
When this movie was released, it was admired for being a "human" story as well as a spectacular action piece. What did you think of the characters in the film? Are there any emotional scenes that stand out? Why?
How do the characters in Ben-Hur demonstrate compassion, perseverance, and integrity? Why are these important character strengths?
Movie Details
- In theaters : November 18, 1959
- On DVD or streaming : September 13, 2005
- Cast : Charlton Heston , Stephen Boyd , Haya Hayareet
- Director : William Wyler
- Studio : MGM/UA
- Genre : Classic
- Topics : Book Characters , Faith ( Judaism ) , Family Stories ( Siblings ) , History
- Character Strengths : Compassion , Integrity , Perseverance
- Run time : 222 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : violent sequences and moments of menace
- Awards : Academy Award - Best Picture Winner , Academy Award - Best Picture Nominee , Academy Award - Other Category Winner , Academy Award - Other Category Nominee , BAFTA - BAFTA Winner , BAFTA - BAFTA Nominee , Golden Globe - Golden Globe Award Winner , Golden Globe - Golden Globe Award Nominee
- Last updated : April 8, 2026
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