Ben-Hur poster

Ben-Hur

1959212 minutesG
5.9
Arcplot Score
📝 Unconventional
Unverified
⭐ 8.1IMDb
🍅 87%Rotten Tomatoes
Ⓜ️ 90/100Metacritic
🎬 7.9TMDb
📊 9.3Popularity
🏆Won 11 Oscars. 29 wins & 13 nominations total
Genre: Adventure, Drama
Directed by: William Wyler
Judah Ben-Hur lives as a rich Jewish prince and merchant in Jerusalem at the beginning of the 1st century. Together with the new governor his old friend Messala arrives as commanding officer of the Roman legions. At first they are happy to meet after a long time but their different politic views separate them. During the welcome parade a roof tile falls down from Judah's house and injures the governor. Although Messala knows they are not guilty, he sends Judah to the galleys and throws his mother and sister into prison. But Judah swears to come back and take revenge.

Box Office

Budget:$15.0M
Revenue:$164.0M
Profit:$149.0M

Arcplot Score Breakdown

Beat Timing Precision5.8/10
Emotional Arc Impact10/10
Thematic Consistency2/10
Overall Score5.9/10

Beat Sheet

15 plot points

Ben-Hur Arcplot
1
Opening Image
1 min
2
Theme Stated
15 min
3
Set-Up
30 min
4
Catalyst
45 min
5
Debate
60 min
6
Break Into Two
75 min
7
B Story
100 min
8
Fun and Games
120 min
9
Midpoint
140 min
10
Bad Guys Close In
160 min
11
All Is Lost
180 min
12
Dark Night of the Soul
192 min
13
Break Into Three
200 min
14
Finale
208 min
15
Final Image
212 min

Emotional Arc

+100-10

Plot Points

#1

Opening Image

1 min

Judah Ben-Hur wealthy prince; Roman-occupied Jerusalem; family life and privilege.

#2

Theme Stated

15 min

Betrayal, revenge, and redemption; personal honor vs. fate and history.

#3

Set-Up

30 min

Friendship with Messala; political tensions; daily life and Roman presence.

#4

Catalyst

45 min

Betrayal by Messala; family arrested; Ben-Hur enslaved; stakes skyrocket.

#5

Debate

60 min

Ben-Hur struggles to survive and seek revenge; questions morality and justice.

#6

Break Into Two

75 min

Training as galley slave; planning escape; determination rises.

#7

B Story

100 min

Romantic subplot with Esther; loyalty and love motivations.

#8

Fun and Games

120 min

Escape from galley; reclaims identity; builds alliances; strategy and skill.

#9

Midpoint

140 min

Ben-Hur returns to Jerusalem; prepares for chariot race; tension peaks; revenge clear.

#10

Bad Guys Close In

160 min

Messala’s schemes continue; political danger and personal rivalry escalate.

#11

All Is Lost

180 min

Race begins; near defeat; life-threatening danger; emotional despair.

#12

Dark Night of the Soul

192 min

Reflects on family, revenge, and honor; internal struggle before final act.

#13

Break Into Three

200 min

Determined final push in chariot race; courage and skill synthesis.

#14

Finale

208 min

Wins race; confronts Messala; restores family honor; resolution achieved.

#15

Final Image

212 min

Judah reconciled with family; justice and redemption complete; mirror of opening with triumph.