Jack Huston
Judah Ben-Hur
Ben-Hur
“Brother against brother. Slave against empire.”
2016
2h 5m
Director: Timur Bekmambetov
Overview
A falsely accused nobleman survives years of slavery to take vengeance on his best friend who betrayed him.
Cast
12 people
Reviews
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 they make bullets bend. Anyway, the Heston version is one of my favorite movies. I saw it when I was 8 and two times when I was about 20. I love it and quote it all the time. But this is not a review of that version because (surprise!) it is not that version. This is a review of the 2016 version and I don't feel it is fair to give this movie a bad rating simply because it was an unnecessary remake. In case you are wondering, this is the sixth version of Ben-Hur. The story follows Judah Ben-Hur, a Jewish prince in Jerusalem at the time of Christ, and his adopted Roman brother Massala. They love each other but they get in the middle of an attempted assassination on a Roman leader and wind up on opposing sides. They both feel they are in the right, get in a very sticky situation, and thus begins an 5 year journey of survival, revenge, forgiveness. I liked the movie. The chariot race was thrilling. I was worried about it because the trailer showed a scene which an obvious CGI horse running through the stands. To my delight that was the only part that really used a CGI horse (that I could tell, anyway). The rest of the race was intense even though I already knew how it was going to end. The movie focuses very heavily on the relationship between Massala and Judah as well as Massala and the rest of the Hur family. Massala's intentions and actions were understandable and he wasn't just some evil man who betrayed his family. The main actors and actresses do a good (not great) job. I felt Morgan Freeman may have phoned it in a little, but he delivered one of my favorite lines of the movie. My favorite actors were the slave drivers on the galley along with the drummer. They have small roles but I loved them. I didn't care for the Jesus scenes though. He is a hard character to portray, and I just didn't like it when he spoke. I'm probably picky, but I would have preferred to hear him speak in King James English or not at all (like in the Heston version). I just felt something was off with the scenes and they could have been more powerful. Overall, I felt it was a pretty good movie that succeeds in many aspects chiefly with the themes of revenge/forgiveness and delivers one exciting race. It's not perfect but a good movie overall.
Read full reviewReno
**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 features, but the real stars are missing. It was a let down without any notable performances. Besides, the idea of upgrading the story was good, though not everyone going to like that. Particularly the one who loved the old film or the versions. The length is justified. For the kind of story the film narrates, the pace was very good. So for me this is not a bad flick, but just some key features missing like I said the star value. For the first timers, like today's generation, this film might work, but for the others most probably not. And the end was disappointing, because it felt like watching a Disney film that made for children and families. I think the director of 'Wanted' did his job as it required. Definitely not an unnecessary remake, but should have been careful in the historic events. Overall, it fell short of depth. You won't feel emotions and/or the character's struggle. In the end it became just an entertainment product and if you expect beyond that, you are only responsible for that. So good luck with the watch if you are yet to give it a try. _5/10_
Read full review5rJoud
**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 have their biblical vendetta throughout this movie. Clearly the adopted one is supposed to be the bad guy, while the viewer is encouraged to root for the Jew. But questionable decision making of the 'hero' paired with the comical anti-Semitism which permeates America is going to bring the audience over to the side of the scarred underdog, whose name is not in the title. This movie would have been great, if it had ended with the arrest of the rich fool, who harbored a fanatic in his home and didn't even have the good sense to guard him, or the variety of weapons he kept in open display. Unfortunately it goes on and on, and no doubt "Ben-Hur" will learn a thing or two about life, love and combat during the 2 hours ordeal. But will that count as character development, and will it sway your favor back to him when he finally mounts his cart and races his brother for the final time? I don't know, you watch this drivel, and you decide. 26 November 2016 I am migrating my reviews from a different site which has become simply garbage. TMDB looks awesome and I look forward to be a part of it.
Read full reviewFilipe Manuel Neto
**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 of preservation and memory. When I finished watching it, I was seriously thinking that this could only be a joke or a parody. The 1959 film will remain the definitive version, and if anyone wants something more up-to-date, I can recommend the 2010 TV miniseries. The film, directed by Timur Bekmambetov, is a piece of garbage. I won't waste my time talking about the script because almost everyone knows the story. What I can, however, say is that this film failed to honor the original material, nor its very noble predecessors in cinema, just for the almost vile way in which it chewed up and hid the original story. If the idea was to give us a new, more action-focused version, it failed to the fullest extent. Gave us a handful of nothing. Despite the weakness of the material received, Jack Huston deserves a positive note for the way he committed himself and for the way he ensures the leading role. He's not a good actor, but he's the best this movie has to offer. Tobby Kebbell wasn't able to do the same because the actor couldn't stop his character from becoming a soap opera villain. There is more than one character who does not deserve relevance, starting with Ester, and her father Simonides, who is quickly removed from the plot. This couldn't be more incorrect. Morgan Freeman is the most prestigious actor in this project, but that didn't stop him from being absolutely unhappy and from being apathetic and uninterested. Rodrigo Santoro, who gave life to Jesus, is a ham. Technically, the film has some points in its favor, namely the good settings, which even try, in some moments and situations, to emulate the 1959 film: I felt this obviously when I saw the Hur house, or the circus where the race took place. The circus even has the same fish! All the difference is in realism: the older film spared no effort in creating large-scale sets, and hiring thousands of extras, to grandiose and monumental effect. This film tried to do the same, using only CGI and the infamous green screen. If that worked in some moments, in others it gave the film the appearance of a video game. Even the chariot race, the highlight of the film, is so busy that we can't appreciate everything properly. It sounds like an excerpt from “Fast and Furious”. The cinematography is not happy, either, due to the absence of light and the haphazard way in which it seems to have been directed. The montage and editing is irregular, amateurish. The costumes are ugly, and even out of keeping with the period, most notably Freeman's dreadlocks. The soundtrack is forgettable.
Read full reviewAudience Opinions
Audience 5.6/10
"A serviceable but forgettable sword‑and‑sandals remake whose solid action and forgiveness theme cannot compensate for flat characters and constant comparison to a far more iconic predecessor."
Action beats like the chariot race and naval battle are widely seen as the film’s strongest assets, offering tense, gritty spectacle and a couple of genuinely exciting set pieces. Outside those sequences, the story feels rushed and simplified, character arcs lack emotional weight, and a shaky, close-up shooting style undercuts any sense of epic scale, leaving the whole thing overshadowed by the 1959 version.
What viewers praise
- Exciting chariot race The climactic race is tense, kinetic, and generally regarded as the most gripping and memorable part of the film.
- Gritty naval battle The galley-slave sea battle delivers visceral impact and helps convey the brutality of Judah’s ordeal.
- Engaging forgiveness arc The emphasis on redemption and forgiving one’s enemies resonates for some, especially those drawn to the spiritual angle and expanded use of Jesus in the story.
- Committed lead performance Jack Huston’s Judah is seen by several viewers as emotionally convincing, with strong work in scenes of suffering, rage, and reconciliation.
- Accessible for newcomers First-time viewers unfamiliar with earlier versions often find the story entertaining enough as a straightforward historical drama with faith elements.
Common complaints
- Feels like an unnecessary remake The film is repeatedly judged as a weaker retelling that struggles to justify its existence beside the 1959 classic.
- Lack of epic scale Heavy reliance on handheld camerawork and tight framing flattens the visual scope, so the world never feels grand or immersive.
- Thin and simplified writing Dialogue comes off as clumsy, emotional beats are hurried, and the plot is seen as a shallow, softened version of the source material.
- Flat supporting cast Several characters, including Morgan Freeman’s mentor figure and Jesus, are criticized as underwritten, oddly styled, or lacking presence.
- Tone and ending issues The resolution leans into a neat, almost family-friendly reconciliation that some find preachy, sentimental, or at odds with the harsher earlier scenes.
Recommended for
Action epic completists Historical Bible-era drama fans Forgiveness-theme story seekers Jack Huston admirers Light faith-based movie night Casual viewers of remakes
Buzz & Rumors
Public reportsBen-Hur 2016: The Chariot Crash Heard ’Round Hollywood
The 2016 Ben-Hur didn’t just skid in the Colosseum—it wiped out at the box office, started an international Jesus-censorship scandal, and put its leading man in genuine fear for his life. Grab your helmet; the behind‑the‑scenes story is way messier than the movie.
Scandals & Controversies
The “Jesus-Free” Cut That Outraged Fans
In Malaysia, moviegoers discovered they were watching a version of Ben-Hur with every single scene featuring Jesus removed. The local distributor admitted the film was edited to comply with Islamic laws before it even hit the censors, chopping out Christ from a story marketed as a faith-forward epic 
. When the backlash hit, Malaysia’s Film Censorship Board hurried out a statement insisting they hadn’t ordered the cuts, saying the Jesus-free edit arrived that way from the studio . Nothing says “epic miscommunication” like a biblical blockbuster missing Jesus.
The Summer’s Biggest Box Office Disaster
Hollywood insiders quickly crowned Ben-Hur the flop of summer 2016, with trade reports pegging the loss at around $120 million for MGM and Paramount combined . Analyses in industry outlets laid it out bluntly: expensive production, weak marketing hook, lukewarm buzz, and a remake nobody really asked for . Reddit and box‑office forums gleefully shared headlines about the “epic $120M loss,” turning the film into a kind of cautionary meme for “don’t remake EVERYTHING.”
A ‘Christian’ Movie Embarrassing Christians?
In faith circles, the movie sparked its own mini‑drama. Christian commentators slammed the remake’s portrayal of Jesus and the story’s theology, calling it “a Christian movie that embarrasses Christianity” and arguing that its take on Christ was implausible even within its own narrative logic . For a film explicitly sold to church audiences, that’s… not ideal.
On-Set Danger & Near-Death Nerves
Jack Huston vs. the Chariots (and His Own Survival Instincts)
Jack Huston didn’t just cosplay Judah Ben-Hur—he basically auditioned for Final Destination: Cinecittà. He confessed that on his first real day of chariot training, he genuinely thought he might be “dead before lunch” .
- Huston dropped about 30 pounds to look like a half‑starved galley slave, then jumped into chariot racing at around 40 mph with physical stunts and minimal CGI [6].
- In interviews, he described the chariot work as an “insane rush” and admitted the danger felt very real, even with safety protocols .
Real Stunts, Real Spills
Coverage of the production noted that when accidents did happen—like a horse getting injured—they resorted to CGI only to cover those moments, underscoring how much of the racing was shot for real . One stuntman was reportedly thrown from a chariot and run over by a wheel, echoing the infamous myths surrounding earlier Ben-Hur productions—though this time, he survived with minor injuries . Fans on Reddit passed around behind‑the‑scenes clips of Huston being dragged behind a chariot, marveling that this wasn’t all green-screen magic 
.
Race, Casting & Image Rehab
Morgan Freeman vs. Old-School Blackface
Asked about casting and race in the new film, Morgan Freeman pointed out that the 2016 remake deliberately corrected one of the 1959 version’s ugliest details: Hugh Griffith playing Sheik Ilderim in full-on blackface. Freeman, who took over the role, told Australian media the new movie “can’t be accused of racist casting,” highlighting its more diverse ensemble . Commentators agreed that swapping blackface for Morgan Freeman was one of the few unambiguous improvements .
Religion, PR & Papal Blessings
Jesus Gets a Papal Co-Sign
Before cameras rolled, Rodrigo Santoro—yes, Xerxes from 300—took his Jesus sandals to the Vatican. The Brazilian star received an in‑person blessing from Pope Francis for the role, a move widely reported in the religious and entertainment press as part spiritual gesture, part heavenly PR campaign . If you’re playing the Messiah in a $100M epic, getting the Pope’s stamp of approval is about as A‑list as it gets.
The Faith Audience Didn’t Exactly Convert
Despite all that, several Christian reviewers complained that the film’s depiction of Christ felt oddly preachy and dramatically weak, with some saying the portrayal strained credibility even for believers [5]. For a project built as a “faith film” from producers Mark Burnett and Roma Downey, that mismatch between intention and reception became part of the post‑mortem gossip.
Fan Reactions, Snark & Wild Trivia
“Where’s the Subtext?”
Film nerds on Reddit and cinephile blogs lined up to compare 2016’s version with the 1959 classic. Many lamented the loss of the infamous homoerotic tension between Judah and Messala—an element linked to Gore Vidal’s work on the earlier script—complaining that the new take sanded everything down into safe, bro-ish drama .
Camel-Milk Jokes & “Who Asked for This?” Energy
In a widely shared column, one writer mocked the remake’s very existence, joking that the team behind it seemed more focused on logistics like sourcing camel milk than on giving Hollywood anything truly new . The piece captured a lot of the online attitude: nobody hated Ben-Hur 2016 passionately—it just became the poster child for a studio system that keeps rebooting dusty IP and then acts surprised when audiences shrug.
Entertainment rumors and trivia aggregated from public reporting. Treat speculation as unverified unless a cited source confirms it.
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