Ben-Hur

In 26 AD, Judah Ben-Hur is a privileged Jewish noble in Jerusalem whose friendship with Messala, a childhood companion turned Roman officer, collapses when Messala returns as a strict commander. Accused of trying to assassinate the governor, Judah is stripped of his freedom, sold into slavery and torn away from his mother and sister. He survives brutal service as a galley rower, rises to prominence as a charioteer, and pursues a path that mixes personal vengeance with growing moral conflict. Along the way his life brushes against larger events unfolding in Roman-occupied Judea, and the film keeps later plot developments and resolutions under wraps.

Directed by William Wyler and adapted from Lew Wallace's 1880 novel, the movie was scripted by Karl Tunberg and released by MGM in 1959, starring Charlton Heston, Stephen Boyd and Haya Harareet, notable for its lavish staging and huge crowd scenes.

At the Academy Awards the film won 11 Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Director for Wyler, Best Actor for Charlton Heston and Best Supporting Actor for Hugh Griffith. Its haul set a then-unprecedented record for a single film, a tally that was later equaled by Titanic and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.

The chariot race sequence has become one of cinema's most famous action set pieces, often cited for its scale, practical stunts and cinematic momentum. Those scenes, plus the movie's massive sets and crowd choreography, shaped how Hollywood staged historical epics and are still referenced or parodied in popular culture today.

Critics praised the film for its enormous scale, Heston's commanding lead and its widescreen cinematography, while some modern viewers point to its long running time and melodramatic flourishes. The story centers on revenge, forgiveness and faith, and it reflects the human cost of imperial power as characters wrestle with honor, belief and the consequences of their choices.