The Greatest Story Ever Told

Only once in a lifetime... an entertainment so rich... an experience so rewarding...

1965 • 199 min • Drama · History

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Synopsis

From his birth in Bethlehem to his death and eventual resurrection, the life of Jesus Christ is given the all-star treatment in this epic retelling. Major aspects of Christ's life are touched upon, including the execution of all the newborn males in Egypt by King Herod; Christ's baptism by John the Baptist; and the betrayal by Judas after the Last Supper that eventually leads to Christ's crucifixion and miraculous return.

Our family guide

Best from age 8

Movie Knight Score

218 reviews

100 Reviewers · 2 · 51%
64 Audience · 216 · 49%

The epic life of Jesus Christ is portrayed from his humble birth in Bethlehem, through his miracles and teachings, to his crucifixion and resurrection. This sweeping drama covers key biblical events with an all-star cast, including his baptism, the Last Supper, and betrayal.

Violence & peril: 5/10
Language: 1/10
Drinking, drugs & smoking: 1/10
Romance & sensuality: 0/10
Scary moments: 4/10

Heads up

Depiction of crucifixion and suffering
Some intense thematic elements
Long runtime may challenge younger viewers

What it models well

Faith and devotion
Forgiveness and compassion
Sacrifice for others
Hope and redemption

Talk about it after

The meaning of faith and belief
The importance of forgiveness
Courage in the face of adversity
Different perspectives on historical events

Written by the Movie Knight editorial team for The Greatest Story Ever Told. Our own words, our own scoring — always double-check against your family's standards.

Where to watch

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Top billed cast

Director: George Stevens • Crew: George Stevens, James Lee Barrett

Trailers & clips

Trailer

The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965) Original Trailer [HD]

Reviewer notes

Recommended
Max von Sydow is Jesus in George Steven's take on the "King of Kings" story and aside from a suitably effective contribution from José Ferrer as Herod Antipas, gives the only decent performance in this epically long, plodding, depiction of the life of Christ. Clearly money was spent - the photography is epic, as is Alfred Newman's score but a first-rate cast of Hollywood A-listers ought to have delivered better. S...
Geronimo1967, TMDB Community

Recommended
*Repent!* Sue me, but I like it plenty, all 3 hours plus of ass numbing is not a problem to me. It has been called a cumbersome bore, amongst other things, but some of the technical craft is amazing. The story itself is enthralling, building to the shattering Crucifixion parts of the tale, while for every pointless star cameo shoehorned into the production, there's also a Savalas, a Baker and a Heston. Then of ...
John Chard, TMDB Community