| Director | William Wyler |
|---|---|
| Budget | $15 million |
| Box office | $146.9 million |
The Three Wise Men, including Balthasar, visit Bethlehem to worship the infant Jesus. Years later, in AD 26 Jerusalem, Judah Ben-Hur, a wealthy Jewish prince, lives with his mother Miriam and younger sister Tirzah. The family's steward, Simonides, has a daughter named Esther who was born a slave and whom Judah has not seen since they were children. As their master, Judah (who shows affection for Esther) allows her to marry a freeman and emancipates her as a wedding gift.
Judah's Roman childhood friend, Messala, returns to Jerusalem as tribune and second-in-command to the new Roman governor of Judea, Valerius Gratus. He fully embraces Rome's glory and imperial power while Judah remains devoted to his faith and to the Jewish people's freedom. Messala demands that Judah denounce potential Jewish rebels to him; Judah refuses, and they part as enemies. Later, Messala uses an innocuous incident (Gratus's horse being spooked by loose roof tiles tumbling off Judah's house) to condemn Judah to the galleys, imprison Miriam and Tirzah, and arrest Simonides. Judah, marched with other prisoners through Nazareth, has a brief chance encounter with Jesus Christ, who gives him water.
Imprisoned, Judah rows on Roman Consul Quintus Arrius's flagship. During a battle, Arrius's ship sinks, and Judah rescues Arrius. Despite the sinking, Arrius is victorious; in Rome, Emperor Tiberius gives Judah to Arrius as his slave. Judah becomes a champion charioteer and Arrius adopts him as his son.
Judah travels home. En route, he meets the chariot-loving Arab Sheik Ilderim. In Jerusalem, Judah finds Esther (who never married) living in Judah's abandoned house. Wielding his status as Arrius's adopted son, Judah confronts Messala and demands Miriam and Tirzah's freedom. They are located in a jail, alive but as lepers, and are thus swiftly expelled from the city. Before departing, Miriam and Tirzah seek out Esther and beg her to never tell Judah their true fate. Esther tells Judah they are dead, enraging Judah.
Judah partners with Sheik Ilderim in a chariot race, hoping to defeat Messala. Messala, in a long race setpiece, drives a "Greek" chariot that wrecks several rivals' chariots; when he attempts to wreck Judah's chariot, Messala falls from his chariot and is gruesomely trampled. Judah wins the race. Before dying, Messala spitefully tells Judah his mother and sister are alive and are in the Valley of the Lepers.
After refusing to accompany Esther to hear Jesus Christ speak on a hillside, Judah meets with the new governor, Pontius Pilate, who tells him he has been made a citizen of Rome. Judah rejects Roman citizenship and renounces the Arrius name. Pilate, fearing Judah's influence, pressures Judah to leave Judea.
Judah and Esther remove Miriam and a dying Tirzah from the Valley of the Lepers and seek out Jesus Christ just as the trial of Jesus has begun. While carrying his cross through the streets, Jesus collapses. Judah, realizing Jesus is the man who gave him water in Nazareth, tries to approach but is stopped by a Roman soldier.
Judah and Balthasar witness Jesus's crucifixion. Miriam and Tirzah hide in a cave with Esther as a violent storm descends; when it lifts, their leprosy vanishes. Realizing from Jesus's example that forgiveness is better than revenge, Judah returns to his house and finds them there. Embracing, the four rejoice at the miracle.