Its always great when I get to add a new film to my Favourite 250 films of all time collection and its always great when I can upgrade an older version of a film I already have, with an even better version of that film My latest upgrade is the legendary 1959 epic Ben-Hur, which I’ve recently upgraded to the brand-new 4K bluray release which has just been released today (March 23rd 2026)

I originally revisited Ben-Hur on DVD as part of a video project for my YouTube channel, but quickly noticed my long-serving copy had started to skip. After 25 years of loyal service, it was clearly time for an upgrade to the DVD which I first purchased in 2001. Thankfully, the newly released 4K edition offered the perfect opportunity.

Ben-Hur remains one of the most epic films ever made. It sits comfortably alongside classics like the grand cinematic spectacles of Hollywood’s golden age Spartacus, Gone With The Wind, Cleopatra to name a few, the kind of sweeping, large scale productions that scream CINEMATIC If you enjoy lengthy, epic, immersive films, this is absolutely essential viewing. At over three hours long, it’s a true event movie.

The biggest takeaway from my upgrade to 4k from the DVD is just how stunning Ben Hur now looks and sounds. The 4K transfer is gorgeous, and the DTS audio option delivers a sound quality that you hope for and expect from DTS going through decent speakers.. This is exactly the type of film that benefits from a high quality home cinema setup. If you own a 4K TV and player, this release is highly recommended. I watched this on my 55 inch Samsung U8000F TV through a Sony sound system and the results were top notch!

Whilst there is a limited edition set that’s also been released. I opted for the more straightforward release, just the 4K UHD bluray set with the slipcover, 2 UHD discs and nothing much else included. The reason for the two 4K UHD discs is due to the running time of the film, Disc 1 gives you 2hrs and 21 minutes worth of film (ending at the natural Intermission that was build into the film when it was released) and Disc 2 gives you the remaining 1hr 20 plus of the movie. The movie itself also has the Overture music that was a popular thing for this type of epic cinema, giving audiences time to get to their seats and get comfortable for this cinematic ride.

Ben Hur Collectors Edition

If there is a downside, then it perhaps just is a downside for me and isnt something that would bother too many other people. Its that the extras are fairly limited on this set which isn’t unusual for long films on 4K, as most disc space is dedicated to picture quality. It would have been good to have included an extra disc and fill that with documentaries about the making of Ben Hur, or perhaps even include the 1925 version of the film. However perhaps thats just the greedy film fan side of me rising to the top. The 4K Ben Hur release is all about the 4K release of this landmark film and that should indeed be the focus. There are some extras on the discs though so its not all sadness.

There is a full-length commentary track in this edition and it takes the 2001 commentary track originally recorded for the DVD set and edits it alongside an audio track with film historian T. Gene Hatcher, this newly edited track means that there arent the large gaps of silence that were on the original Charlton Heston track that I had on my 2001 DVD. Which is great news for commentary fans. For music and soundtrack fans out there this 4K bluray release also features the music-only audio track that was also present on the 2001 DVD release.

If you’ve never seen Ben Hur, this is the perfect way to experience it. If you already own it, the visual and audio improvements alone justify the jump to 4K Of course do remember that you do need a 4K TV and a 4K player (as well as a 4K HDMI cable) to watch the movie in its best form.

This 4K edition is a fantastic addition to my Top 250 film collection and a worthy upgrade from my aging DVD. After a couple of decades of enjoyment, it’s nice to give this cinematic masterpiece the presentation it deserves. Will I be upgrading again in another 25 years to some holographic edition? Who knows. Check back then and we’ll find out.