Ben-Hur

In Timur Bekmambetov’s 2016 epic historical drama Ben-Hur, based on Lew Wallace’s 1880 novel, Judah Ben-Hur (Jack Huston) is a wealthy Jewish prince living in Jerusalem alongside his adopted Roman brother, Messala Severus (Toby Kebbell). Seeking to make his own name, Messala leaves to join the Roman army, returning years later as an officer under Pontius Pilate (Pilou Asbæk). When a Zealot youth sheltered by Judah attempts to assassinate Pilate during a parade, Messala betrays his adopted family, falsely arresting Judah for treason, enslaving him aboard a Roman galley, and condemning his mother and sister to prison. After surviving five brutal years as a galley slave, Judah escapes during a catastrophic sea battle. Rescued by Sheik Ilderim (Morgan Freeman), a wealthy Nubian gambler, Judah is trained to become a chariot racer. Returning to Jerusalem, Judah decides to challenge Messala in the grand circus arena, seeking vengeance against his brother in a deadly chariot race while simultaneously crossing paths with Jesus of Nazareth (Rodrigo Santoro), whose message of forgiveness fundamentally challenges Judah’s desire for revenge.