Ben-Hur
Ben-Hur

Movie spotlight

Ben-Hur

2016
Movie
125 min
English

A falsely accused nobleman survives years of slavery to take vengeance on his best friend who betrayed him.

Insights

IMDb5.7/10
Rotten Tomatoes26%
Metacritic37/100
Google Users50%
Director: Timur BekmambetovGenres: Drama, Action, Adventure, History

Plot Summary

In 25 AD, Judah Ben-Hur, a Jewish prince, is betrayed by his childhood friend Messala, who has joined the Roman army. False accused of treason, Ben-Hur is sentenced to death but survives slavery and becomes a champion charioteer. He seeks revenge against Messala and finds redemption through faith.

Critical Reception

The 2016 remake of Ben-Hur was met with largely negative reviews from critics and was a significant box office disappointment. Reviewers often cited its failure to capture the epic scope and emotional depth of the original 1959 film, and found the action sequences to be uninspired and the biblical elements underdeveloped.

What Reviewers Say

  • A disappointing remake that pales in comparison to its iconic predecessor.

  • Lacks the grandeur, emotional resonance, and compelling performances of the original.

  • Struggles to find its own identity, feeling like a pale imitation with uninspired action.

Google audience: Audience reviews for Ben-Hur (2016) indicate a mixed reception, with many finding the film to be a lackluster adaptation that doesn't live up to the legacy of the original. While some appreciated the action and visual effects, a significant portion felt the story was rushed and lacked emotional impact, with many preferring the 1959 version.

Fun Fact

Director Timur Bekmambetov stated that he aimed to make the film's Jesus story more prominent and central than in the 1959 version, focusing on Jesus's teachings and actions as an inspiration for Ben-Hur's journey.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

4 reviews
Filipe Manuel Neto

Filipe Manuel Ne...

**What is this crap??** I was quite curious to see this film given that the 1959 version is one of my favorite films, and a film that, much more than a piece of entertainment, is a historical document, a culturally relevant piece, worthy...

5rJoud

5rJoud

**Booooooring** As with most major productions, "Ben-Hur (2016)" gets an extra star for production value. Bad camera, unlikable characters, ugly costumes, this film has it all. Early on the two brothers are introduced, who will hav...

Reno

Reno

**They've grown up together and later turned up to each other.** I had seen the old film and I liked that. So remake means we expect nothing less than a visual spectacular and this film had them at its best, including many more great fea...

TopKek

TopKek

Last time I watched the Ben-Hur with Charlton Heston the thought did not cross my mind that perhaps the world needed another version of the story directed by the guy who brought us Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter and that weird movie where ...