Hollywood's longest films ever made

'Cleopatra' (1963)

'Cleopatra' (1963), 'The Irishman' (2019), 'Magnolia' (1999), 'War and Peace' (1956), 'Apocalypse Now' (1979), 'The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King' (2003), 'Spartacus' (1960), 'Schindler's List' (1993), 'The Wolf of Wall Street' (2013), 'Hamlet' (1996), 'JFK' (1991), 'Malcolm X' (1992), 'The Ten Commandments' (1956), 'The Right Stuff' (1983), 'Heaven's Gate' (1980)

At a whopping 248 minutes (4 hrs, 8 mins), the Elizabeth Taylor-starring film was a spectacle through and through, telling the story of the queen of Egypt, who seduces two Roman rulers: Emperor Julius Caesar (Rex Harrison) and his general Mark Antony (Richard Burton).

'The Irishman' (2019)

'Cleopatra' (1963), 'The Irishman' (2019), 'Magnolia' (1999), 'War and Peace' (1956), 'Apocalypse Now' (1979), 'The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King' (2003), 'Spartacus' (1960), 'Schindler's List' (1993), 'The Wolf of Wall Street' (2013), 'Hamlet' (1996), 'JFK' (1991), 'Malcolm X' (1992), 'The Ten Commandments' (1956), 'The Right Stuff' (1983), 'Heaven's Gate' (1980)

Martin Scorsese cashed in on his reputation when he put out this film that has a run time of 209 minutes (3 hrs, 29 mins), and trusted audiences to watch it. It’s based on the Charles Brandt novel ‘I Heard You Paint Houses,’ and follows the life and times of former hitman Frank Sheeran (Robert De Niro) in post-war America.

'Magnolia' (1999)

'Cleopatra' (1963), 'The Irishman' (2019), 'Magnolia' (1999), 'War and Peace' (1956), 'Apocalypse Now' (1979), 'The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King' (2003), 'Spartacus' (1960), 'Schindler's List' (1993), 'The Wolf of Wall Street' (2013), 'Hamlet' (1996), 'JFK' (1991), 'Malcolm X' (1992), 'The Ten Commandments' (1956), 'The Right Stuff' (1983), 'Heaven's Gate' (1980)

Paul Thomas Anderson's epic cinematic collage of characters intertwined in their searches for love, forgiveness, and meaning, whose paths cross by various means, clocks in at 188 minutes (3 hrs, 8 mins) and is a favorite of film buffs around the world.

'War and Peace' (1956)

'Cleopatra' (1963), 'The Irishman' (2019), 'Magnolia' (1999), 'War and Peace' (1956), 'Apocalypse Now' (1979), 'The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King' (2003), 'Spartacus' (1960), 'Schindler's List' (1993), 'The Wolf of Wall Street' (2013), 'Hamlet' (1996), 'JFK' (1991), 'Malcolm X' (1992), 'The Ten Commandments' (1956), 'The Right Stuff' (1983), 'Heaven's Gate' (1980)

The epic film is based on the epic Leo Tolstoy novel of the same name, which explains why it runs at 208 minutes (3 hrs, 28 min). Audrey Hepburn and Mel Ferrer star as Natasha and Andrei.

'Apocalypse Now' (1979)

'Cleopatra' (1963), 'The Irishman' (2019), 'Magnolia' (1999), 'War and Peace' (1956), 'Apocalypse Now' (1979), 'The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King' (2003), 'Spartacus' (1960), 'Schindler's List' (1993), 'The Wolf of Wall Street' (2013), 'Hamlet' (1996), 'JFK' (1991), 'Malcolm X' (1992), 'The Ten Commandments' (1956), 'The Right Stuff' (1983), 'Heaven's Gate' (1980)

Inspired by Joseph Conrad’s 1899 novel ‘Heart of Darkness,’ Francis Ford Coppola’s film ended up being 202 minutes (3 hrs, 22 mins), and tells the story of Captain Willard (Martin Sheen), a US Army officer serving in Vietnam and tasked with a mission to assassinate a renegade Special Forces Colonel (Marlon Brando).

'The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King' (2003)

'Cleopatra' (1963), 'The Irishman' (2019), 'Magnolia' (1999), 'War and Peace' (1956), 'Apocalypse Now' (1979), 'The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King' (2003), 'Spartacus' (1960), 'Schindler's List' (1993), 'The Wolf of Wall Street' (2013), 'Hamlet' (1996), 'JFK' (1991), 'Malcolm X' (1992), 'The Ten Commandments' (1956), 'The Right Stuff' (1983), 'Heaven's Gate' (1980)

Infamous for its length but beloved just the same, Peter Jackson’s final film of the trilogy clocked in at 201 minutes (3 hrs, 21 mins). It sees Gandalf and Aragorn struggle to save Gondor from Sauron's forces, while Frodo and Sam approach Mount Doom with the one ring.

'Spartacus' (1960)

'Cleopatra' (1963), 'The Irishman' (2019), 'Magnolia' (1999), 'War and Peace' (1956), 'Apocalypse Now' (1979), 'The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King' (2003), 'Spartacus' (1960), 'Schindler's List' (1993), 'The Wolf of Wall Street' (2013), 'Hamlet' (1996), 'JFK' (1991), 'Malcolm X' (1992), 'The Ten Commandments' (1956), 'The Right Stuff' (1983), 'Heaven's Gate' (1980)

Stanley Kubrick’s historical epic runs 197 minutes (3 hrs, 17 mins) and tells the story of Spartacus (Kirk Douglas), who leads a violent revolt with his fellow slaves against Rome.

'Schindler's List' (1993)

'Cleopatra' (1963), 'The Irishman' (2019), 'Magnolia' (1999), 'War and Peace' (1956), 'Apocalypse Now' (1979), 'The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King' (2003), 'Spartacus' (1960), 'Schindler's List' (1993), 'The Wolf of Wall Street' (2013), 'Hamlet' (1996), 'JFK' (1991), 'Malcolm X' (1992), 'The Ten Commandments' (1956), 'The Right Stuff' (1983), 'Heaven's Gate' (1980)

Steven Spielberg's famous Holocaust drama based on the German industrialist Oskar Schindler—credited with saving the lives of 1,200 Jews during the Holocaust—clocks in at 195 minutes (3 hrs, 15 mins), which feels appropriate for the subject and was indeed supremely impactful on its audiences.

'The Wolf of Wall Street' (2013)

'Cleopatra' (1963), 'The Irishman' (2019), 'Magnolia' (1999), 'War and Peace' (1956), 'Apocalypse Now' (1979), 'The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King' (2003), 'Spartacus' (1960), 'Schindler's List' (1993), 'The Wolf of Wall Street' (2013), 'Hamlet' (1996), 'JFK' (1991), 'Malcolm X' (1992), 'The Ten Commandments' (1956), 'The Right Stuff' (1983), 'Heaven's Gate' (1980)

Most people are glad that Martin Scorsese’s films run so long because they show spectacular tales from beginning to end, such as this one which clocks in at 180 minutes (3 hrs) and tells the story of real-life wealthy stockbroker Jordan Belfort and his fall from grace.

'Hamlet' (1996)

'Cleopatra' (1963), 'The Irishman' (2019), 'Magnolia' (1999), 'War and Peace' (1956), 'Apocalypse Now' (1979), 'The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King' (2003), 'Spartacus' (1960), 'Schindler's List' (1993), 'The Wolf of Wall Street' (2013), 'Hamlet' (1996), 'JFK' (1991), 'Malcolm X' (1992), 'The Ten Commandments' (1956), 'The Right Stuff' (1983), 'Heaven's Gate' (1980)

Kenneth Branagh stuns as both director and star of this 242-minute (4 hrs, 2 min) adaptation of a Shakespeare classic. Though it’s set in the 19th century, ‘Hamlet’ remains one of the most faithful Shakespeare adaptations in history.

'JFK' (1991)

'Cleopatra' (1963), 'The Irishman' (2019), 'Magnolia' (1999), 'War and Peace' (1956), 'Apocalypse Now' (1979), 'The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King' (2003), 'Spartacus' (1960), 'Schindler's List' (1993), 'The Wolf of Wall Street' (2013), 'Hamlet' (1996), 'JFK' (1991), 'Malcolm X' (1992), 'The Ten Commandments' (1956), 'The Right Stuff' (1983), 'Heaven's Gate' (1980)

Oliver Stone's blockbuster about President John F. Kennedy’s assassination and the attorney who leads the investigation clocks in at 189 minutes (3 hrs, 9 mins).

'Malcolm X' (1992)

'Cleopatra' (1963), 'The Irishman' (2019), 'Magnolia' (1999), 'War and Peace' (1956), 'Apocalypse Now' (1979), 'The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King' (2003), 'Spartacus' (1960), 'Schindler's List' (1993), 'The Wolf of Wall Street' (2013), 'Hamlet' (1996), 'JFK' (1991), 'Malcolm X' (1992), 'The Ten Commandments' (1956), 'The Right Stuff' (1983), 'Heaven's Gate' (1980)

Spike Lee’s 202-minute (3 hrs, 22 min) film based on the autobiography of the controversial historical figure and starring Denzel Washington was necessarily long to cover the evolution of Malcolm X from hustler and criminal, to Muslim minister, to Black separatist, to human rights activist. It was riveting from beginning to end.

'The Ten Commandments' (1956)

'Cleopatra' (1963), 'The Irishman' (2019), 'Magnolia' (1999), 'War and Peace' (1956), 'Apocalypse Now' (1979), 'The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King' (2003), 'Spartacus' (1960), 'Schindler's List' (1993), 'The Wolf of Wall Street' (2013), 'Hamlet' (1996), 'JFK' (1991), 'Malcolm X' (1992), 'The Ten Commandments' (1956), 'The Right Stuff' (1983), 'Heaven's Gate' (1980)

This epic biblical film attempts to cover the sprawling story of Moses (Charlton Heston), from the parting of the Red Sea to speaking to God on Mount Sinai, in just 220 minutes (3 hrs, 40 min).

'The Right Stuff' (1983)

'Cleopatra' (1963), 'The Irishman' (2019), 'Magnolia' (1999), 'War and Peace' (1956), 'Apocalypse Now' (1979), 'The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King' (2003), 'Spartacus' (1960), 'Schindler's List' (1993), 'The Wolf of Wall Street' (2013), 'Hamlet' (1996), 'JFK' (1991), 'Malcolm X' (1992), 'The Ten Commandments' (1956), 'The Right Stuff' (1983), 'Heaven's Gate' (1980)

Philip Kaufman's historical drama about the original Mercury 7, military pilots who were selected to be astronauts for Project Mercury, clocks in at 193 minutes (3 hrs, 13 mins).

'Heaven's Gate' (1980)

'Cleopatra' (1963), 'The Irishman' (2019), 'Magnolia' (1999), 'War and Peace' (1956), 'Apocalypse Now' (1979), 'The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King' (2003), 'Spartacus' (1960), 'Schindler's List' (1993), 'The Wolf of Wall Street' (2013), 'Hamlet' (1996), 'JFK' (1991), 'Malcolm X' (1992), 'The Ten Commandments' (1956), 'The Right Stuff' (1983), 'Heaven's Gate' (1980)

This Western film by Michael Cimino takes 219 minutes (3 hrs, 39 min) to tell a story inspired by the Johnson County War at the end of the 19th century. It is notably one of the biggest box-office failures in history, earning just US$3.5 million against a budget of $44 million.

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