The longest movies of all time are a great way to enjoy a movie with your friends and family or just for yourself. Furthermore, the longest movies in history can be found on the internet, but they’re not always easy to find.
Additionally, the audience’s response to the long-running time ranged from ecstatic to pleading for an intermission. However, this is not a novel strategy.
Several films, including Martin Scorsese’s most recent epic “The Irishman,” have run three hours or longer throughout cinematic history.
Here are the 25 longest movies of all time that will help you occupy your day;
1. 1900 (1976)
- Running Time: 317 min (5hr 17min)
- IMDb: 7.7
- Director: Akira Kurosawa
A samurai in feudal Japan whose lord has banished him must seek revenge against those responsible for his dishonor.
The Italian-set movie centers on the lives and interactions of two boys/men: Alfredo, the landowner’s son, and Olmo, a bastard of peasant origin.
Additionally, the drama takes place between 1900 and 1945. Furthermore, it is primarily concerned with the advent of fascism and the peasants’ eventual reaction by embracing communism.
And how these developments affect the two main characters’ futures.
Cast: Toshirō Mifune, Yoko Tsukasa, Takashi Shimura, Tatsuya Nakadai, Shima Iwashita, Ryo Ishibashi, Masayuki Mori
2. Hamlet (1996)
- Running Time: 242 min ( 4 hr, 2 min)
- IMDb: 7.8
- Director: Michael Haneke
The Helmet is one of the longest movies of all time. An older man named Helmet receives a visit from his daughter, who wants him to come live with her.
However, he refuses because she is married and has children. She then asks him to move into their home so that she can take care of him.
Furthermore, he agrees, but when he arrives at the house, he finds out that she has committed suicide. The top cast includes, among others, Daniel Day-Lewis, Isabelle Adjani, and John Malkovich.
3. Gone With The Wind (1939)
- Running Time: 274 min ( 3 hr, 58 min)
- IMDb: 8.2
- Director: Victor Fleming
Gone with the wind is based on Margaret Mitchell’s 1936 novel. The film tells the story of Scarlett O’Hara.
Hara is a Southern belle whose life changes after meeting Rhett Butler, a dashing young Confederate officer. It also focuses on the Civil War period in America. Additionally, it is also one of the longest movies ever made.
It also features famous actors such as Clark Gable, Vivien Leigh, Leslie Howard, Olivia de Havilland, Hattie McDaniel, and many more.
4. Once Upon A Time In America (1984)
- Running Time: 244 min ( 3hr, 49min)
- IMDb 6.9
- Director: Sergio Leone
Once upon a time in America is also one of the longest movies made. David “Noodles” Aaronson, a defeated, destitute, and guilty-ridden former gangster, returns to Manhattan.
He returned with a vivid memory of his long-gone childhood friends Max, Patsy, and Cockeye, his fiercely loyal partners-in-crime during their rise to prominence in New York’s Lower East Side during Prohibition.
However, after 35 haunting years of self-exile, weathered Noodles reunites with his sole living friend Fat Moe. He did not know what to anticipate on his mission to reveal his obscure past.
Additionally, the movie was nominated for five Academy Awards, winning one for Best Supporting Actor. This gangster movie stars Robert De Niro, James Woods, Joe Pesci, Harvey Keitel, Diane Ladd, and Burt Young.
5. Lawrence Of Arabia (1962)
- Running Time: 216 min ( 3 hr, 36 min)
- IMDb 6
- Director: David Lean
Lawrence of Arabia is also one of the longest movies of all time. It is an epic war adventure set during World War I.
Furthermore, it follows the exploits of British Army Captain Lawrence of Arabia, played by Peter O’Toole. It depicts the Arab Revolt led by Sharif Hussein ibn Ali, which began in 1916 and ended in 1917.
Additionally, the film won eight Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Director, Screenplay, Cinematography, Art Direction/Set Decoration, Sound Recording, Editing, and Score.
6. Ben-Hur (1959)
- Running Time: 212 min ( 3 hr, 32 min)
- IMDb 7.7
- Director: William Wyler
Ben-Hur is another long movie. Judah Ben-Hur is a prosperous Jewish prince and trader who resides in Jerusalem at the start of the first century.
His old acquaintance Messala enters as the Roman legions’ commanding officer and the new governor. Their disparate political ideologies eventually drive them apart, despite their initial joy at finally meeting again.
Additionally, the governor is hurt when a roof tile from Judah’s house falls during the welcome parade. Messala sends Judah to the galleys and imprisons his mother and sister.
Although he knows they are innocent. Furthermore, Judah, though, promises to return and exact retribution. Additionally, this epic film stars Charlton Heston, Stephen Boyd, Paul Newman, and Eli Wallach.
7. Seven Samurai (1954)
- Running Time: 207 min ( 3 hr, 27 min)
- IMDb 8.3
- Director: Akira Kurosawa
Seven Samurai is a 1954 Japanese samurai drama film directed by Akira Kurosawa. The screenplay was written by Kurosawa, based on the novel of the same name by Miyamoto Musashi.
Additionally, the story revolves around seven ronin (masterless Samurai), who take up arms against a group of bandits attacking a village.
The film is considered a landmark of world cinema and has been cited as an influence on many later films.
Additionally, it was nominated for ten Academy Awards, including Best Foreign Language Film. Seven Samurai is also one of the longest movies in history. It is also one of the movies ever made.
8. The Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The King (2003)
- Running Time: 201 min ( 3 hr, 21 min)
- IMDb 9.2
- Director: Peter Jackson
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King is also one of the longest movies of all time. It is a 2003 epic fantasy adventure film directed by Peter Jackson.
Additionally, it is the third part of the trilogy created by J. R. R. Tolkien, following The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) and The Two Towers (2002).
The film tells the story of Frodo Baggins, Samwise Gamgee (Ian McKellen), Merry Brandybuck, Pippin Took, and Aragorn.
In addition, they must save the Shire from Sauron and destroy the One Ring before it can be destroyed by Smaug, the dragon guarding the Lonely Mountain.
The top cast includes Ian McKellen, Elijah Wood, Viggo Mortensen, Sean Astin, Billy Boyd, Cate Blanchett, and Miranda Otto.
9. The Godfather: Part II (1974)
- Running Time: 200 min ( 3 hr, 20 min)
- IMDb 10.0
- Director: Francis Ford Coppola
The Godfather is a 1972 American crime drama film produced and co-written by Mario Puzo and Francis Ford Coppola and directed by Francis Ford Coppola.
Furthermore, it is the second installment of the Godfather series and follows the life of Corleone family patriarch Michael Corleone after his son becomes involved in organized crime.
Furthermore, it depicts the story of a young Vito Corleone growing up in Sicily and 1910s New York. The film stars Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Diane Keaton, Talia Shire, John Marley, James Caan, Christopher Walken, and George Harrison.
10. Spartacus: Blood and Sand (1960)
- Running Time: 197 min (3 hr, 17 min)
- IMDb 7.5
- Director: Stanley Kubrick
Spartacus: Blood and Sand is a 1960 historical war film directed by Stanley Kubrick. The film is set in 74 BC, during the Roman Republic. Additionally, it focuses on the slave rebellion led by Spartacus.
Additionally, the movie was released to critical acclaim and won several awards. Starring Kirk Douglas, Laurence Olivier, Jean Simmons, and Tony Curtis.
11. Schindler’s List (1993)
- Running Time: 195 min ( 3 hr, 15 min)
- IMDb 8.6
- Director: Steven Spielberg
Next on our list of longest movies of all time is Schindler’s List. Schindler’s list is a 1993 epic Holocaust drama film directed by Steven Spielberg. Based on Thomas Keneally’s book Schindler’s Ark, the film tells the true story of Oskar Schindler.
Additionally, he is a German industrialist who saved over 1,200 Jews from death at the hands of the Nazis during World War II.
Meanwhile, Oskar Schindler decides to convert his factory into a haven for Jews during the brutal German Nazi regime.
He transforms from an arrogant and greedy business person into an unlikely humanitarian. Additionally, it is a testament to the good in all of us.
It is based on the true story of Oskar Schindler, who prevented roughly 1100 Jews from being gassed at the Auschwitz concentration camp.
The top cast includes Liam Neeson, Ben Kingsley, Ralph Fiennes, Kate Winslet, Juergen Prochnow, Geraldine Chaplin, Harvey Keitel, and Daniel Day-Lewis.
12. Titanic (1997)
- Running Time: 194 min ( 3 hr, 14 min)
- IMDb 7.9
- Director: James Cameron
Titanic is a 1997 epic romance-disaster film directed by James Cameron. Additionally, the film is about the sinking of the luxury ocean liner RMS Titanic in 1912.
Rose DeWitt Bukater, now 100 years old, tells her granddaughter Lizzy Calvert, Brock Lovett, Lewis Bodine, Bobby Buell, and Anatoly Mikailavich her life story.
On April 10, 1912, aboard the Titanic, the upper-class passengers, her mother Ruth DeWitt Bukater, and her fiancé Caledon Hockley.
In the meantime, third-class tickets on the ship are won in a game by a vagrant and artist named Jack Dawson and his best buddy Fabrizio De Rossi.
And she recounts the entire incident, from the Titanic’s departure to its demise on its first and final journey on April 15, 1912, at 2:20 in the morning. The film stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet, Billy Zane, and Kathy Bates.
13. The Right Stuff (1983)
- Running Time: 193 min ( 3 hr, 13 min)
- IMDb 7.8
- Director: Philip Kaufman
The Right Stuff is a 1983 American biographical drama film written and directed by Philip Kaufman. It is based on Tom Wolfe’s 1979 nonfiction book of the same name.
Additionally, it follows the lives of seven astronauts selected for NASA’s Project Mercury program between 1959 and 1963. Furthermore, the film stars Ed Harris, Scott Glenn, Sam Shepard, Dennis Quaid, Michael Jeter, and Jeff Goldblum.
14. Gandhi (1982)
- Running Time: 191 min ( 3 hr, 11 min)
- IMDb 6.7
- Director: Richard Attenborough
Gandhi is also one of the longest movies of all time. Additionally, Gandhi is a 1982 British historical drama film directed by Richard Attenborough.
Furthermore, it depicts the life of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, the Indian leader who played a significant role in India’s struggle against colonialism.
Mohandas K. Gandhi was expelled from a South African train in 1893 because he was an Indian and was taking the first-class seat.
Additionally, Gandhi launched a nonviolent protest campaign for the rights of all Indians in South Africa after realizing that the laws were skewed against them.
However, after several arrests and unwanted attention from the public, the government finally caved and recognized the rights of Indians.
But not for South Africa’s indigenous black population. Furthermore, Gandhi is invited to return to India following this victory, where he is now regarded as somewhat of a national hero.
The top cast is Dev Anand, Amrish Puri, Shashi Kapoor, Om Puri, Madhuri Dixit, Jaya Bhaduri, Sanjeev Kumar, Neena Gupta, and Ashok Kumar.
15. The Green Mile (1999)
- Running Time: 189 min (3 hr, 09 min)
- IMDb 8.6
- Director: Frank Darabont
Rounding off our list of longest movies in history is the Green mile. The Green Mile is a 1999 American fantasy horror film directed by Frank Darabont.
Additionally, set during the Great Depression, it tells the story of John Coffey, a convicted murderer sentenced to death by hanging.
During the execution, however, Coffey starts experiencing flashbacks of his past life, which leads him to believe that he is innocent.
Additionally, he escapes from prison and searches for someone called “the green mile.” The film stars Tim Robbins, Gary Sinise, Willem Dafoe, Paul Rudd, Jackie Earle Haley, Stephen Lang, Jennifer Connelly, and Tom Waits.
16. JFK (1991)
- Running Time: 189 min (3 hr, 09 min)
- IMDb: 8
- Director: Oliver Stone
JFK is a 1991 American epic political thriller film about President Kennedy’s assassination. Additionally, it was released on November 22, 1991, in the United States by Warner Bros. Pictures.
Furthermore, Eric Roth adapted the screenplay from the book Executive Action by Gerald O’Brien. The movie follows the story of Lee Harvey Oswald, Jack Ruby, and various other characters involved with the events leading up to the assassination of John F. Kennedy.
The film stars Kevin Costner, Diane Keaton, Donald Sutherland, James Woods, Tommy Lee Jones, and Alec Baldwin.
17. Magnolia (1999)
- Running time: 188 min (3 hr, 08 min)
- IMDb: 8
- Director: Paul Thomas Anderson
Magnolia is also one of the longest movies of all time. Magnolia is a 1999 American psychological crime thriller written and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson.
In Los Angeles, Magnolia centers around Holly Hunter’s character, whose husband is having an affair with her best friend.
In addition, Holly discovers that her husband has killed their son, and she seeks revenge. She then goes on a rampage through Hollywood, killing people.
Additionally, the film stars Julianne Moore, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Joaquin Phoenix, William H. Macy, Jason Robards, Amy Ryan, and Balthazar Getty.
18. Fanny And Alexander (1982)
- Running Time: 187 min (3 hr, 07 min)
- IMDb 7.2
- Director: Ingmar Bergman
Fanny and Alexander is a 1982 Swedish drama film directed by Ingmar Bergman. Based on the novel of the same name by Astrid Lindgren.
The film depicts the relationship between two children, Fanny and Alexander, and their mother. Additionally, Fanny and Alexander is also one of the longest movies in history,
The film also features Lena Nyman, Max von Sydow, Erland Josephson, Ingrid Thulin, and Gunnar Björnstrand.
19. King Kong (2005)
- Running Time: 187
- IMDb: 7.2
Following on our list of longest movies of all time is King Kong. King Kong is a 2005 American computer-animated adventure comedy film produced by DreamWorks Animation and distributed by Paramount Pictures.
Directed by Peter Jackson, the film is based on the 1933 classic film of the same title and stars Jack Black as Carl Denham, the protagonist of both films.
20. Pearl Harbour (2001)
- Running Time: 183 min (3 hr, 03 min)
- IMDb 6.2
- Director: Michael Bay
Pearl Harbor is a 2001 war film directed by Michael Bay. The film is based on the true story of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on December 7, 1941.
Furthermore, this classic love story of Pearl Harbor occurs amid a war that makes everything more complicated.
Rafe and Danny, boyhood pals who later became Army Air Corps pilots and met Evelyn, a Navy nurse, are the catalysts for everything. Rafe hooks up with Evelyn after falling head over heels for her.
However, after that, Rafe agrees to fight in Britain, and Evelyn and Danny are sent to Pearl Harbor. Additionally, Rafe is away fighting when an air raid known as “Pearl Harbor” strikes unexpectedly one morning. The film stars Ben Affleck, Josh Hartnett, Kate Beckinsale,
21. The Deer Hunter (1978)
- Running Time: 182 min (3 hr, 02 min)
- IMDb 5.9
- Director: Michael Cimino
The Deer Hunter is a 1978 epic war drama directed by Michael Cimino. It was adapted from the 1974 novel of the same name, which tells the story of three steelworkers in Pennsylvania during the Vietnam War.
Best buddies Michael, Steven, and Nicky frequently enjoy going deer hunting. These men join in serving their country in Vietnam, where they are welcomed home with a party. Steven also marries “Angela,” a pregnant woman.
It is also one of the longest movies in history. Additionally, the film stars Robert De Niro, Meryl Streep, John Savage, Christopher Walken, John Cazale, John Cazale, and John Cazale.
22. Dances With Wolves (1990)
- Running Time: 181 min (3 hr, 01 min)
- IMDb: 8.0
- Director: Kevin Costner
Next on our list of longest movies of all time is Dances With Wolves. Dances With Wolves is a 1990 American western film written and directed by Kevin Costner.
It is loosely based on the life of legendary frontiersman Hugh Glass, who was attacked by Native Americans while hunting alone in 1823.
Additionally, he survived but lost his leg. He then had to walk back to civilization. However, after accidentally leading Union troops to a victory during the Civil War, Lt. John Dunbar earns the title of hero.
Furthermore, he asks for a job on the western border but discovers it is empty. He quickly discovers that he is not alone and meets an intriguing Indian tribe and a wolf he names “Two-socks.”
Dunbar makes quick friends with the tribe and learns that an American Indian raised a white woman. Furthermore, he gradually gains the respect of these natives and abandons his habits toward the white man.
The film stars Kevin Costner, William Petersen, Gary Sinise, James Gammon, Richard Farnsworth, and Willem Dafoe.
23. The Wolf Of Wall Street (2013)
- Running Time: 180 min (3 hr, 00 min)
- IMDb 7.4
- Director: Martin Scorsese
The Wolf of Wall Street is a 2013 black comedy crime film directed by Martin Scorsese. Based on Jordan Belfort’s memoir of the same name, the film follows Belfort as he rises through the stock market ranks.
Belfort is introduced to the world of high finance at age 22 when he becomes involved with penny stocks. He eventually starts his brokerage firm, Stratton Oakmont, and uses illegal tactics to make money.
Leonardo DiCaprio portrays Belfort. Additionally, Jonah Hill plays his friend Donnie Azoff, Margot Robbie portrays his girlfriend Naomi Lapaglia, and Kyle Chandler plays his mentor Marty Siegel.
24. Zack Snyder’s Justice League (2021)
- Running Time: 179 min (3 hr, 59 min)
- IMDb 6.8
- Director: Zack Snyder
Justice League is a 2017 superhero film featuring the DC Comics characters Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Cyborg, Flash, Green Lantern, Martian Manhunter, Shazam, and Steppenwolf.
Furthermore, it is the sequel to 2016’s Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and the fifth installment in the DC Extended Universe.
The film follows the story of Bruce Wayne/Batman, Diana Prince/Wonder Woman, Steve Trevor/Flash, Arthur Curry/Aquaman, Victor Stone/Cyborg, Hal Jordan/Green Lantern, Barry Allen/Speedy, Ray Palmer/Martian Manhunter, Zatanna/Zamora, and Etrigan the Demon/Steppenwolf.
Ben Affleck returns as Batman, Henry Cavill reprises his role as Superman, Gal Gadot returns as Wonder Woman, and Jason Momoa returns as Aquaman.
While Ezra Miller returns as Flash, Ray Fisher returns as Cyborg, Amber Heard returns as Mera, Jeremy Irons returns as Alfred Pennyworth, and J. K.
Simmons returns as Commissioner Gordon, Connie Nielsen returns as Queen Hippolyta, Diane Lane returns as Martha Kent, Jesse Eisenberg
The top cast includes Amy Adams as Lois Lane, Laurence Fishburne as Perry White, Ciarán Hinds as General Swanwick, Holly Hunter as Ma Kent,
25. Avengers Endgame (2019)
Running Time: 181 min (3 hr, 1 min)
IMDb: 8.4
Director: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo
Rounding off our list of longest movies of all time is Avengers Endgame. It’s the culmination of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and will be released on April 26, 2019.
This epic adventure sees Earth’s Mightiest Heroes assemble once more to save their home from Thanos. However, after the events of Infinity War, Tony Stark has been missing for some time.
However, his whereabouts are unknown until he shows up at the funeral of Peggy Carter. He also goes on to help Captain America and Black Widow fight against Thanos and his army.
The rest of the team also returns, including Thor, Hulk, Rocket Raccoon, Groot, Drax, Ironman, Spider-Man, Doctor Strange, Falcon, Winter Soldier, Wasp, Ant-Man, Vision, Scarlet Witch, Hawkeye, Black Panther, Okoye, Mantis.
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