| Director | Timur Bekmambetov |
|---|---|
| Genre | action film, adventure film, drama film, epic film, film based on a novel, sword-and-sandal film |
| Runtime | 125 min |
| Country | United States |
| Budget | $100 million |
| Box office | $94.1 million |
Jewish prince Judah Ben-Hur and his adopted Roman brother Messala are best friends despite their different origins. After Messala's interest in Judah's sister Tirzah is rebuffed by her mother, he enlists in the Roman army. Ben-Hur marries his slave Esther after Messala leaves.
Three years later, Messala returns as a decorated Roman officer. His return coincides with a rising insurrection by the Zealots, Jews opposed to Roman rule. Ben-Hur begrudgingly treats and shelters a young Zealot named Dismas and attempts to dissuade him from the cause. Messala reunites with Ben-Hur and attempts to convince him to serve as an informant - the new governor Pontius Pilate is coming to Jerusalem and Messala does not want any revolt. Judah claims he will talk to the locals.
During Pilate's march, Dismas attempts to assassinate Pilate from Ben-Hur's balcony. The Romans storm Ben-Hur's household and arrest him and his family. Rather than betray Dismas, Ben-Hur takes responsibility for the assassination attempt and his mother and sister are sentenced to crucifixion. While being led to the prison galley, Ben-Hur encounters Jesus, who gives him water. Ben-Hur then endures five years of slavery as a rower aboard a Roman prison galley.
During a battle against Greek rebels in the Ionian Sea, Ben-Hur's galley is destroyed. Ben-Hur frees himself and is washed ashore on a ship mast. He is found by Sheik Ilderim, who recognizes him as an escaped slave. Ben-Hur convinces Ilderim not to hand him over to the Romans by treating one of Ilderim's racing horses. After Ben-Hur develops a bond with the four racing horses, an appreciative Ilderim then trains Ben-Hur to be a chariot racer.
Ben-Hur and Ilderim travel to Jerusalem to take part in a chariot race. Jesus' preaching ministry draws the attention of governor Pilate and Messala, who is now the commander of the Roman garrison and a champion chariot racer. In Jerusalem, Ben-Hur encounters Esther, who is now a follower of Jesus and involved in charity work. Despite their reunion, the two are kept emotionally apart due to her new cause, which contradicts his intention of seeking revenge against Messala.
Ben-Hur confronts Messala alone in their former home but is forced to flee when Roman soldiers turn up. After the Romans execute twenty Jews in reprisal, Esther completely falls out with Ben-Hur. Just before the race, Ben-Hur encounters a former Roman soldier named Druses, who informs him that his mother Naomi and sister Tirzah are still alive. However, their reunion is soured when Ben-Hur discovers his mother and sister have leprosy, and Ben-Hur is enraged at their condition.
Ilderim convinces Pilate to allow Ben-Hur to compete by proposing a high wager against Messala. Esther tries to convince Messala not to race Ben-Hur, but he is confident in his victory. On the day of the race, Ben-Hur follows Ilderim's instructions to hold back until the final laps. Using underhanded tactics, Messala knocks out other charioteers. After Messala attempts to destroy Ben-Hur's chariot, their chariots become tangled together. When Messala tries to kick Ben-Hur from his chariot, his chariot breaks loose and he is trampled. Ben-Hur wins, the Jewish spectators begin attacking the Romans and Ben-Hur is carried away.
Despite his victory, Ben-Hur is despondent about his family and Messala's fate. Esther is with Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane; later she and Ben-Hur witness Jesus bearing the cross. Mirroring a previous encounter with Jesus, Ben-Hur tries to offer Jesus water but is beaten by a Roman soldier. Esther and Judah witness Jesus' death on the cross, Naomi and Tirzah are miraculously healed and Ilderim pays a ransom to set them free. Ben-Hur seeks out an injured Messala who initially swears to continue hunting Ben-Hur. After experiencing Ben-Hur's kindness and forgiveness, Messala relents and they reconcile. Ben-Hur and Messala return to his family who all leave Jerusalem with Ilderim.