If you've been craving a sweeping biblical epic to tide you over until Mel Gibson's long-awaited The Passion of the Christ sequel arrives, Tubi has you covered. The 2016 remake of Ben-Hur—a 125-minute historical drama that cost over $100 million to produce—is now streaming for free on the ad-supported platform. While it didn't exactly set the world on fire upon release, it's a fascinating artifact of Hollywood's recent attempts to revive the religious epic genre.
Directed by Timur Bekmambetov (Wanted, Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter), this Ben-Hur stars Jack Huston as the titular Jewish prince who is betrayed by his Roman adoptive brother Messala (Toby Kebbell) and forced into slavery. The cast also includes Morgan Freeman as the wise charioteer Ilderim, Nazanin Boniadi as Esther, Ayelet Zurer as Naomi, and Rodrigo Santoro as Jesus. The film attempts to modernize the classic tale with faster pacing and CGI-heavy action, but critics were not kind—it holds a 24% score on Rotten Tomatoes, with the consensus calling it a remake with too few ideas of its own.
Released in 2016, Ben-Hur arrived at a tricky time for biblical movies. Just two years earlier, Ridley Scott's Exodus: Gods and Kings had bombed both critically and commercially despite its $200 million budget. Then came Mary Magdalene (2018), starring Rooney Mara, Joaquin Phoenix, and Chiwetel Ejiofor, which grossed a mere $12 million worldwide despite being shot by Oscar-winning cinematographer Greig Fraser and featuring a score by the late Jóhann Jóhannsson. The genre seemed dead in the water.
Fast forward to 2026, and the landscape has shifted dramatically. The success of films like The King of Kings and the streaming dominance of shows like House of David have reignited interest in faith-based storytelling. Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ sequel—now planned as a two-part epic—has been green-lit, with the second installment reportedly delayed by a year, signaling studio confidence. Terrence Malick's long-gestating The Way of the Wind is also on the horizon. For fans of these upcoming projects, the 2016 Ben-Hur offers a chance to revisit a recent, if flawed, attempt at the genre.
What makes this Ben-Hur worth watching? For one, it's a visually ambitious film that tries to balance spectacle with a more intimate story of forgiveness and redemption. The chariot race sequence, while heavily reliant on CGI, still delivers thrills. And Santoro's portrayal of Jesus—though brief—provides a quiet, reverent counterpoint to the chaos. It's not the classic 1959 Charlton Heston version, but it's an interesting companion piece for those who want to see how Hollywood has reimagined biblical epics for modern audiences.
If you're looking for other perfect binges, check out our list of HBO's Best Miniseries: 6 Episodes or Less That Are Absolutely Perfect or explore 10 Family Films That Came This Close to Perfection, Ranked. For those who prefer their epics with a darker twist, How The Outer Limits Became the Perfect Home for Stephen King and George R.R. Martin's Darkest Tales is a must-read.
So, if you're in the mood for a historical epic that's both a cautionary tale of Hollywood excess and a sincere attempt at faith-based filmmaking, fire up Tubi this June. The 2016 Ben-Hur may not be perfect, but it's a fascinating piece of the puzzle as the genre prepares for its next big chapter.
