'Masterpiece' 1959 epic that won 11 Oscars branded 'best movie of 20th century'
The Oscars record stood alone for decades and has only been matched by Titanic and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.
There have been plenty of films over the years that viewers have described as masterpieces. But there is one epic that often tops the list. The film won a record-breaking 11 Academy Awards and remains one of the most successful movies ever made.
It still holds an impressive 88% critics score and 90% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. And, many viewers believe it is not only the most defining movie of the 20th century, but also one of the greatest films ever made.
The film in question is Ben-Hur, the 1959 historical epic starring Charlton Heston.
Directed by William Wyler, the movie was based on Lew Wallace's 1880 novel Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ and served as a remake of the 1925 silent film.
The film follows Judah Ben-Hur, a wealthy Jewish prince whose life is transformed by events during the Roman occupation of Judea.
Without giving away any major plot details, the film deals with personal drama, friendships, betrayal and redemption during one of history's most famous periods.
At the time of its release, Ben-Hur was one of the most expensive films ever made, with a budget of more than $15million.
The production was enormous in scale. More than 200 camels, 2,500 horses and around 10,000 extras were used during filming, while huge sets were constructed in Italy.
The movie’s famous chariot race is still widely regarded as one of the greatest action scenes ever filmed.
The film also became the highest-grossing film of 1959 and went on to win 11 Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Actor for Charlton Heston.
That record stood alone for decades and has only been matched by Titanic and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.
Those who have watched the film do not hold back in their praise.
One person said: "Simply marvellous story, screenplay, locations and all the people that appear in the movie. A colossal work, really deserved the Oscars it won!"
Another added: "Possibly the best movie of all time and definitely the best film of the 20th century. Incredible story, and considering when it was made, the effects are awesome."
A third wrote: "Ben-Hur is a masterpiece. Incredibly intimate human drama set against one of history's greatest moments. Astounding."
Someone else commented: "One of the greatest movies ever made! So many goosies and tears! The cinematography and lighting were just incredible! Charlton Heston at his most strikingly handsome and such a great actor."
Ben-Hur (1959) is available to rent or buy on Prime Video.
