Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ
“Amazing! Thrilling! Colossal! Mighty!”
Synopsis
Erstwhile childhood friends, Judah Ben-Hur and Messala meet again as adults, this time with Roman officer Messala as conqueror and Judah as a wealthy, though conquered, Israelite. A slip of a brick during a Roman parade causes Judah to be sent off as a galley slave, his property confiscated and his mother and sister imprisoned. Years later, as a result of his determination to stay alive and his willingness to aid his Roman master, Judah returns to his homeland an exalted and wealthy Roman athlete. Unable to find his mother and sister, and believing them dead, he can think of nothing else than revenge against Messala.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
Ben Hur (1926) - Trailer
Type: Trailer • Published 2011-10-04
Top Cast
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Ramon Novarro
Judah Ben-Hur
Francis X. Bushman
Messala
May McAvoy
Esther
Betty Bronson
Mary
Claire McDowell
Princess of Hur
Kathleen Key
Tirzah
Carmel Myers
Iras
Nigel De Brulier
Simonides
Mitchell Lewis
Sheik Ilderim
Leo White
Sanballat
Frank Currier
Quintus Arrius
Charles Belcher
Balthazar
Dale Fuller
Amrah
Winter Hall
Joseph
Reginald Barker
Chariot Race Spectator (uncredited)
John Barrymore
Chariot Race Spectator (uncredited)
Lionel Barrymore
Chariot Race Spectator (uncredited)
Clarence Brown
Chariot Race Spectator (uncredited)
Release History & Theatrical Window
June 1, 2015
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$3.9M
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$9M
Total global ticket sales
Box Office Return
2.31x
+$5.1M net gain
Theatrical Status
Profitable
Box office tier
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Fred Niblo
- Screenplay & Story
- Lew Wallace, June Mathis, Carey Wilson
- Original Score
- William Axt, David Mendoza
- Original Title
- Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- No Language
- Runtime
- 2h 23m
- Production Budget
- $3.9M
- Worldwide Gross
- $9M
- Production Studios
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Fred Niblo
Lew Wallace, June Mathis, Carey Wilson
William Axt, David Mendoza
Clyde De Vinna, René Guissart, Percy Hilburn, Karl Struss
Lloyd Nosler
J.J. Cohn, Samuel Goldwyn, Louis B. Mayer, Irving Thalberg
Department Leadership Roster
Fred Niblo
Director
J.J. Cohn
Producer
Samuel Goldwyn
Producer
Louis B. Mayer
Producer
Irving Thalberg
Producer
William Axt
Original Music Composer
David Mendoza
Original Music Composer
Clyde De Vinna
Director of Photography
René Guissart
Director of Photography
Percy Hilburn
Director of Photography
Karl Struss
Director of Photography
Lloyd Nosler
Editor
B. Reeves Eason
Stunt Coordinator
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
NR: Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
Parental Guidance — Unlikely to upset children 8 and older.
Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ.
Featured In Curated Collections
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National Film Registry
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Frequently Asked Questions About Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ about?
Erstwhile childhood friends, Judah Ben-Hur and Messala meet again as adults, this time with Roman officer Messala as conqueror and Judah as a wealthy, though conquered, Israelite. A slip of a brick during a Roman parade causes Judah to be sent off as a galley slave, his property confiscated and his mother and sister imprisoned. Years later, as a result of his determination to stay alive and his willingness to aid his Roman master, Judah returns to his homeland an exalted and wealthy Roman athlete. Unable to find his mother and sister, and believing them dead, he can think of nothing else than revenge against Messala.
Who directed Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ?
Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ was directed by Fred Niblo.
Who stars in Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ?
The principal cast of Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ includes Ramon Novarro, Francis X. Bushman, May McAvoy, Betty Bronson, Claire McDowell.
When was Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ released and how long is it?
Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ was released in 1925 with a total runtime of 2h 23m.
What was the box office and production budget of Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ?
Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ had a reported production budget of $3.9M and grossed $9M at the worldwide box office (2.31 return on budget, classified as a commercial hit).
Who composed the musical score for Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ was composed by William Axt, David Mendoza.
Is Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ based on a book or true story?
Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ is adapted from the following source material: Novel: "Lew Wallace".
What is the age rating and content advisory for Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ?
Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ holds official age classifications: GB: PG (Parental Guidance — Unlikely to upset children 8 and older.); US: NR (Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.).