90
Metascore
9 reviews · Provided by Metacritic.com
- Although it is a spectacle film, the story of how a man takes on the tyranny of the Romans, with all sorts of horrible consequences to himself and his family, is powerful and gripping.
- 100EmpireWilliam ThomasEmpireWilliam ThomasLittle can come close to captivating the grandeur and epic quality of William Wyler's magnificent bum numb-er.
- An extraordinary motion picture, greater in dimension and significance than any similar film of our time, Ben-Hur is more spectacular than any of the previous spectacles. More importantly, it is at the same time a highly rewarding dramatic experience, rich and complex in human values: a great adventure, full of excitement, visual beauty, thrills and unsurpassed cinema artistry.
- 90The New York TimesBosley CrowtherThe New York TimesBosley CrowtherThe artistic quality and taste of Mr. Wyler have prevailed to make this a rich and glowing drama that far transcends the bounds of spectacle. His big scenes are brilliant and dramatic—that is unquestionable. There has seldom been anything in movies to compare with this picture's chariot race.
- 90TV Guide MagazineTV Guide MagazinePredictable but magnificent and satisfying.
- 80New York Daily NewsNew York Daily NewsThe race alone is well worth the price of admission.
- 70Los Angeles TimesPeter RainerLos Angeles TimesPeter RainerA movie like Ben-Hur, while almost never stirring or imaginative in the way that the true epics of Griffith or Gance or Kurosawa are, nevertheless has a basic appeal.