The film won a record-breaking 11 Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actor for Charlton Heston.

The film's iconic chariot race was filmed on a massive soundstage in Rome, and involved over 200 extras and a large team of stuntmen. The famous sea battle was filmed in the Mediterranean Sea.

The film tells the story of Judah Ben-Hur (Charlton Heston), a Jewish nobleman who is betrayed by his childhood friend, Messala (Stephen Boyd), a Roman tribune. Messala, who has become a ruthless and cunning military leader, accuses Ben-Hur of treason and has him sentenced to a life of slavery. Ben-Hur's family, including his mother, sister, and girlfriend, are imprisoned and eventually die.