The Greatest Story Ever Told
“Only once in a lifetime... an entertainment so rich... an experience so rewarding...”
Synopsis
From his birth in Bethlehem to his death and eventual resurrection, the life of Jesus Christ is given the all-star treatment in this epic retelling. Major aspects of Christ's life are touched upon, including the execution of all the newborn males in Egypt by King Herod; Christ's baptism by John the Baptist; and the betrayal by Judas after the Last Supper that eventually leads to Christ's crucifixion and miraculous return.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
TrailerOfficial
Type: Teaser • Published 2024-03-28
Top Cast
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Max von Sydow
Jesus
Michael Anderson Jr.
James the Younger
Carroll Baker
Veronica
Ina Balin
Martha of Bethany
Victor Buono
Sorak
Richard Conte
Barabbas
Joanna Dunham
Mary Magdalene
José Ferrer
Herod Antipas
Van Heflin
Bar Amand
Charlton Heston
John the Baptist
Martin Landau
Caiaphas
Angela Lansbury
Claudia
Pat Boone
Angel at the Tomb
Janet Margolin
Mary of Bethany
David McCallum
Judas Iskarioth
Roddy McDowall
Matthew
Dorothy McGuire
The Virgin Mary
Sal Mineo
Uriah
Release History & Theatrical Window
Sydney
Festival / Special Debut
March 6, 2001
Physical Home Media
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$20M
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$15.5M
Total global ticket sales
Box Office Return
0.78x
-$4.5M deficit
Theatrical Status
Budget Return
Box office tier
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- George Stevens
- Screenplay & Story
- George Stevens, James Lee Barrett
- Original Score
- Alfred Newman
- Original Title
- The Greatest Story Ever Told
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 3h 19m
- Production Budget
- $20M
- Worldwide Gross
- $15.5M
- Production Studios
- George Stevens Jr. Productions
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
George Stevens
George Stevens, James Lee Barrett, Fulton Oursler
Alfred Newman
William C. Mellor, Loyal Griggs
Harold F. Kress, J. Frank O'Neill, Argyle Nelson Jr.
George Stevens, George Stevens Jr.
Department Leadership Roster
George Stevens
Screenplay
George Stevens
Director
William C. Mellor
Director of Photography
George Stevens
Producer
George Stevens Jr.
Producer
William J. Creber
Production Design
Loyal Griggs
Director of Photography
Vittorio Nino Novarese
Costume Design
Alfred Newman
Original Music Composer
Harold F. Kress
Editor
J. Frank O'Neill
Editor
James Lee Barrett
Screenplay
Argyle Nelson Jr.
Editor
Henry Wills
Stunt Coordinator
Paul Baxley
Stunt Coordinator
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
G: General Audiences — All ages admitted. Nothing offensive for children.
International Certification Matrix
General — Suitable for all audiences.
FSK 6 — Restricted to viewers aged 6 and older.
Universal — Suitable for all audiences.
General Audiences — All ages admitted. Nothing offensive for children.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Greatest Story Ever Told.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring The Greatest Story Ever Told.
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Greatest Story Ever Told
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The Greatest Story Ever Told about?
From his birth in Bethlehem to his death and eventual resurrection, the life of Jesus Christ is given the all-star treatment in this epic retelling. Major aspects of Christ's life are touched upon, including the execution of all the newborn males in Egypt by King Herod; Christ's baptism by John the Baptist; and the betrayal by Judas after the Last Supper that eventually leads to Christ's crucifixion and miraculous return.
Who directed The Greatest Story Ever Told?
The Greatest Story Ever Told was directed by George Stevens.
Who stars in The Greatest Story Ever Told?
The principal cast of The Greatest Story Ever Told includes Max von Sydow, Michael Anderson Jr., Carroll Baker, Ina Balin, Victor Buono.
When was The Greatest Story Ever Told released and how long is it?
The Greatest Story Ever Told was released in 1965 with a total runtime of 3h 19m.
What was the box office and production budget of The Greatest Story Ever Told?
The Greatest Story Ever Told had a reported production budget of $20M and grossed $15.5M at the worldwide box office (0.78 return on budget, classified as a underperformed).
Who composed the musical score for The Greatest Story Ever Told?
The original motion picture soundtrack for The Greatest Story Ever Told was composed by Alfred Newman.
Is The Greatest Story Ever Told based on a book or true story?
The Greatest Story Ever Told is adapted from the following source material: Novel: "Fulton Oursler".
What is the age rating and content advisory for The Greatest Story Ever Told?
The Greatest Story Ever Told holds official age classifications: AU: G (General — Suitable for all audiences.); CA: 14A; DE: 6 (FSK 6 — Restricted to viewers aged 6 and older.); FR: TP; GB: U (Universal — Suitable for all audiences.); US: G (General Audiences — All ages admitted. Nothing offensive for children.).