However, the film failed to generate the same kind of excitement as the Heston epic. The filmmakers had some success attracting faith-based consumers, but couldn't grow the audience beyond the devout. Kids stayed away, critics lobbed bombs, and secular consumers took a hard pass.

Was Ben-Hur a flop?

Well, Ben-Hur is a flop (at least domestically for now) because audiences didn't want to see it. It's that simple. When a big film flops, we tend to scrutinize the reasons for its failure and to see what lessons can or cannot be taken from the individual failure of an individual film.

Why is Ben-Hur banned?

Ben-Hur (1959)

Nevertheless, given the focus on the themes of religion (Christianity, to be specific), it was banned in many Middle-eastern and North African Nations. Similarly, Mao Zedong blacklisted Ben-Hur in China due to its "superstitious" propaganda.

Was Ben-Hur a successful movie?

Ben-Hur, American dramatic film, released in 1959, that was arguably the best of Hollywood's biblical epics. In addition to being a huge commercial success, it set a record for most Academy Award wins (11).

Is Ben-Hur problematic?

The bigger problem is that it's another movie made by Christians that fails to do justice to their faith. The original novel, Ben-Hur was published in 1880. It tells the story of a Judean prince, betrayed and condemned to slavery by his Roman friend, Messala, who then returns to seek revenge.

Ben-Hur: How Much Paramount Could Lose on the Flop - IGN News

Is Ben-Hur a true biblical story?

Ben-Hur is a story of a fictional hero named Judah Ben-Hur, a Jewish nobleman who was falsely accused and convicted of an attempted assassination of the Roman governor of Judaea and consequently enslaved by the Romans. He becomes a successful charioteer.

Should Christians watch Ben-Hur?

Ultimately, caution is advised, mostly for some of BEN-HUR's intense violence. The good news is that the movie's ending sets viewers up for a possible sequel, where Judah and his family and friends go to Rome and meet with Christ's disciples, as they do in the original novel.

Who turned down the role of Ben-Hur?

Several actors were offered the role of Judah Ben-Hur before it was accepted by Charlton Heston. Burt Lancaster stated he turned down the role because he found the script boring and belittling to Christianity. Paul Newman turned it down because he said he didn't have the legs to wear a tunic.

What is the longest movie ever?

The longest film ever made, according to Guinness World Records, is "The Cure for Insomnia" (1987), directed by John Henry Timmis IV. It lasts 85 hours and is considered an extraordinary achievement in the film industry.

What made Ben-Hur so good?

With its touching story and fantastic action sequences - which I think hold up amazingly well - Ben Hur is among the milestones of its era and part of film history. Pure cinema and a must see. 10 stars out of 10.

What is the most banned film ever?

This is open to dispute, but one contender is Umberto Lenzi's Make Them Die Slowly - also known as Canibal Ferox (US 1980), billed as The Most Violent Ever. Publicity for the picture proudly proclaimed that it had been banned in 31 countries.

Did Jesus meet Ben-Hur?

Ben-Hur followed the procession to Calvary and was one of the many people to witness the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ. In the moments before Jesus died he shared a vision with Ben-Hur to convince the young man that it was his will that this all happen and that Ben-Hur allow the crucifixion to proceed.

Were horses hurt filming Ben-Hur?

"Ben-Hur" (1959)

Upon its release, "Ben-Hur" was a massive blockbuster that won 11 Oscars, which still stands as the highest tally in history. But according to film historians, as many as 100 horses were killed during the production of the iconic film.

How many horses were hurt filming Ben-Hur?

With this disturbing knowledge, it makes rewatching the movie pretty much impossible. According to reports, over 100 horses were killed making gladiator epic Ben Hur, with the second-unit director reportedly ordered horses be shot and killed “if they limped,” without seeking veterinary care.

Was Ben-Hur the most expensive movie ever made?

The most expensive silent film is MGM's Ben Hur (US 1925), which eventually cost $3.9million (then £;852,645) to be made after filming began on location in Italy in 1923. This figure is equivalent to $33,109,910 (£;20,693,694) today.

Was Ben-Hur filmed in Israel?

Biggest, most-expensive... this remake of the 1925 epic, filmed at Rome's vast Cinecittà Studios, earns the full list of superlatives.

What is the longest movie in US history?

What is the 2 longest movie ever made?

What is the longest Hollywood movie ever made? Cleopatra remains the longest Hollywood movie ever made, with a runtime of four hours and eight minutes (248 minutes). This is closely followed by Gone with the Wind, which comes in just 10 minutes behind.

Did Charlton Heston actually drive the horses in Ben-Hur?

Yes, in close-up shots, that's really Charlton Heston (as Judah Ben-Hur) and Stephen Boyd (as his rival Messala) driving the chariots. They trained for months to learn how to drive the four-horse teams. In long shots, however, the chariots are driven by stuntmen.

Are any of the cast of Ben-Hur still alive?

On 3 February 2021, Harareet died at her home in Marlow, Buckinghamshire, England, at age 89 from natural causes. At the time of her death, she was the last surviving credited cast member of Ben Hur.

How many Oscars did Ben-Hur win?

Ben-Hur set a new Oscar record by winning 11 Academy Awards. Bob Hope was the master of ceremonies. On January 3, 1959, Alaska was admitted as the 49th U.S. state. On January 8, 1959, Charles de Gaulle was inaugurated as the first president of the new Fifth Republic in France.

Is Ben-Hur a story about Jesus?

The novel intertwines the life of Jesus with that of a fictional protagonist, the young Jewish prince named Judah Ben-Hur, who suffers betrayal, injustice, and brutality, and longs for a Jewish king to vanquish Rome.

What is the message of Ben-Hur?

Ben-Hur is able to come to a final realization only through a direct witness of the power of Jesus Christ. Christians for over a century have found encouragement in this sweeping story, and its theological message of the spiritual authority of God's power is as relevant today as it was when first written.

How realistic is Ben-Hur?

In writing the book, Wallace heavily researched the Bible and other books that described the world of Judea in the first century and took great pains in making everything in Ben-Hur as accurate as possible, right down to the differences in design between Persian, Greek, and Roman chariots.