The 1959 epic film set in ancient Rome that won a record 11 Oscars is Ben-Hur.
Directed by William Wyler, Ben-Hur stars Charlton Heston as Judah Ben-Hur, a Jewish prince whose life changes after he is betrayed by his childhood friend Messala. The story follows his enslavement, survival, return to Judea, and eventual spiritual transformation during the time of Jesus. Its famous chariot race became one of cinema’s most recognizable action sequences.
The production was extraordinarily large for its era, with a reported budget of about $15.2 million and a runtime of 212 minutes excluding the overture, intermission, and entr’acte. MGM released the film in November 1959, and it became a major commercial success.
Ben-Hur received 12 Oscar nominations at the 32nd Academy Awards and won 11, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, and Best Supporting Actor. Its record was later matched by Titanic and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, but those films did not surpass it.