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Master Rank balances Greatness, Engagement, and Ease. Sort by Greatness for the artistic-canon view.

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View Ben-Hur film page

Poster artwork for Ben-Hur — Original poster artwork · Great Cinema Master List

Spoiler-free premise

A Jewish prince in Roman-occupied Judea is betrayed by a childhood friend and forced into slavery.

Read expanded premiseLonger, still spoiler-free

Jewish prince Judah Ben-Hur reunites in Roman-occupied Jerusalem with childhood friend Messala, now a military tribune. Their political conflict leads to Judah's enslavement, separation from his mother and sister, and determination to return.

Why it belongs

Through widescreen composition, practical crowds, sea battle, and the chariot race's still-astonishing geography, Ben-Hur gives personal betrayal monumental scale.

Read expanded why it belongsThe fuller editorial case

70mm depth, Roman architecture, galley rhythms, massed extras, full-scale chariots, dust, and Miklós Rózsa's score let intimate grievance move through epic systems—Charlton Heston's physical certainty drives the spectacle.

Major award record

Metadata only · zero points in 40/40/20

Academy Awards11 wins1960 · official ceremony record ↗

Best Motion Picture1960 · Sam Zimbalist, Producerofficial ceremony record ↗Directing1960 · William Wylerofficial ceremony record ↗Actor1960 · Charlton Hestonofficial ceremony record ↗Actor in a Supporting Role1960 · Hugh Griffithofficial ceremony record ↗

Plus 7 additional wins

Golden Globes4 wins1960 · official film record ↗

Best Motion Picture - Drama1960 · Ben-Hurofficial film record ↗Best Director - Motion Picture1960 · William Wylerofficial film record ↗Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in any Motion Picture1960 · Stephen Boydofficial film record ↗

Plus 1 additional win

BAFTA1 win1960 · official BAFTA 1960 Film Awards results ↗

Best Film1960 · Ben-Hurofficial BAFTA 1960 Film Awards results ↗

Totals include every recorded competitive win. Only Picture or top-film honors, Direction, Screenplay, and lead or supporting performances are named.

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Descriptive guidance derived from rating, genre, runtime, mood, and GCML scores.

Institutional reference ranks

Sight & Sound—IMDb Top 250184AFI 100100

Reference metadata only · not part of the 40/40/20 score

Great Cinema Master List scores

Greatness8.3

Engagement8.6

Ease8.4

English · Not Rated
Narrative Feature
Mood: Absorbing & Reflective