Judah Ben Hur and Octavius Messala are best friends, growing up together in the Hur household in Roman-occupied Jerusalem. Soon Messala is torn from the Hur family by his estranged father, a Roman senator, and called for military training in Rome. Years later, Messala returns to Jerusalem in charge of the Roman garrison. Hur, now a successful trader, is betrothed to Esther.
There is an uprising against Roman rule on the day that Pontius Pilate arrives in Jerusalem. Messala, in charge of protecting Pilate, unjustly accuses Hur’s family of causing the disturbance. Messala makes a public example of them by sending Hur to work to death as a slave in the galleys of the Roman warships, and also sends Hur’s sister and mother to prison.
Hur then spends three horrific years as a slave rower in a Roman galley ship. Believing that his mother and sister have been killed, his burning desire for revenge keeps him alive. One day, in a fiery and deadly battle with pirates, he saves the life of the Roman Admiral, Quintus Arrius. The Roman is grateful and takes Hur with him back to Rome. When Arrius dies, Judah inherits Arrius’s wealth and name, becoming the powerful Sextus Arrius. Determined to seek justice for the wrongs committed by Messala, Hur returns to Jerusalem, knowing that Messala will attend the celebrated games there.
Hur is reunited with Esther, but his obsessive need for revenge drives the couple apart. Then the perfect opportunity for Messala and Hur to battle to the death arises in the form of a chariot race. Esther is desperate for Hur not to take part, fearful that he might die before being reunited with his mother and sister. In a tense and exhilarating finale, Ben Hur and Messala take to the race track. Who will emerge victorious? And will Ben Hur find the peace he craves even if vengeance is served?
Comments (33)
This comment was removed by a moderator
5 months ago
Margaret henry
great so far why is there a season one I thought its just a story told in one. Well scripted well directed
5 months ago
Thick gravy
dingy dong
5 months ago
Trevor C
Epic to the end, Wow!!!!!!
5 months ago
Gizmo
I wonder if this will be available on Demand 5 or at least be repeated again soon. A transmitter fault in our area meant that Channel 5 (along with ITV and C4, among others) was off air for about the first hour of this epic and there was no point starting to watch in the middle. I was looking forward to this too.
5 months ago
Angela C
Really sorry not to have videoed this - yes mine still works - shame not on 5 OD, stating in advance that it won't be would have helped me on this occasion. Any dates for when will it be repeated please?
5 months ago
Les
Let's have it on Demand please!!!!!
5 months ago
Louise
It's repeated on the 31st at 12.55. Really enjoyed what I saw but missed the first hour so glad it's on again especially after it's noton 5 OD.
5 months ago
Linda
Was expecting it to be as good as the 1959/Charlton Heston version, but it was nowhere near. It didn't even bear any resemblance to the book, characters missing, characters not even mentioned. And I am sure Quintas Arrius didn't commit suicide. Was so disappointed with it!
This comment was removed by a moderator
5 months ago
T. brandon
Please re-broadcast - I missed the last hour!
This comment was removed by a moderator
This comment was removed by a moderator
5 months ago
rob
yes please re-broadcast or put it on OD plerase
This comment was removed by a moderator
5 months ago
rob
yes please re-broadcast or put it on OD
5 months ago
leon
please put this on demand it was on to late so missed the last hour,
5 months ago
David Cunningham
Tried to tape this last night, but my timer went wrong an hour before the end. Please put it on Demand 5 soon.
5 months ago
Gus Stewart
Why was the Weds showing 3 hours 30 mins yet the repeated version (?) which is to be on Saturday lunchtime only 1 hour 25 mins. Why is that?
5 months ago
alex
my little sister plays tirzah when shes younger :) sooo proud of her
5 months ago
Steve
Great piece of work - loved it. Missed a few minutes with the break for 5 News. Caught it on OD thanks.
5 months ago
Ken
Director totally lost the plot - more Bollywood than Ben Hur at the end.
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5 months ago
Pete
Rubbish.Read the book first
5 months ago
spikey
how come it doesn't allow you to watch it her?? i been looking forward to watch this film but hey your system doesn't allow it plz fix it thanks :D
5 months ago
Muddy Fox
Fantastic story - very well told. I loved it! I'm so glad I found it here on Demand 5 - I made a mistake recording it over the holiday and would have otherwise missed it. Thanks! :) (PS: I did have an issue with the video streaming via Firefox - had to use Opera in the end.)
5 months ago
jjfrayne
Great watch enjoyed it. Not sure how historically accurate it was but I enjoyed it anyway
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5 months ago
Cherryblck
Films like these always seem so unrealistic to me, why didn't they use real Italians to play the Romans, real Greeks,Jews and Middle Easterners to play the other characters. Northern Europeans should be playing the part of barbarians like Alaric the Visigoths etc. I have never seen a film where they have done that. Alexander the Great was a joke, with Colin Farrell speaking in Irish accent and Val Kilmer speaking and acting American had me in stitches, only Angelina Jolie made an attempt to sound Greek. Ah well I suppose I will just have to use my imagination.
4 months ago
jojo
Didnt get to see the whole thing but really enjoyed what i did see. Please put it on demand!
4 months ago
Sadness
Apple won't let me watch it!
4 months ago
Happy
Watch on apple download demand 5 app!
4 months ago
Happy
Watch on apple download demand 5 app!