Chariots of Fire (1981) movie poster

Chariots of Fire (1981)

"This is the story of two men who run, not to run, but to prove something to the world. They will sacrifice anything to achieve their goals... except their honor."
ThumbScore
๐Ÿ‘ 76%Google users liked it archived
Critics Score
๐ŸŽฌ 81% (RT: 84%, MC: 78) โ„น๏ธRT = Rotten Tomatoes (critic reviews). MC = Metacritic (weighted critic average). Critics Score is the average of both.
DramaHistory

Where to Watch

Streaming
YouTube TV
Rent / Buy
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Director
Hugh Hudson
Runtime
2h 3m
Country
United Kingdom, United States of America
Language
English
TMDB Rating
6.8/10 (1,016 votes)
Rotten Tomatoes
84%
Metacritic
78
Cast
Ben Cross as Harold Abrahams
Ian Charleson as Eric Liddell
Cheryl Campbell as Jennie Liddell
Alice Krige as Sybil Gordon
Nigel Havers as Lord Andrew Lindsay
Ian Holm as Sam Mussabini
Nicholas Farrell as Aubrey Montague
Daniel Gerroll as Henry Stallard
Most people think so. 76% of audiences gave it a thumbs up based on 1,016 votes. Critics agree, scoring it 81%.
Overview
In the class-obsessed and religiously divided UK of the early 1920s, two determined young runners train for the 1924 Paris Olympics. Eric Liddell, a devout Christian born to Scottish missionaries in China, sees running as part of his worship of God's glory and refuses to train or compete on the Sabbath. Harold Abrahams overcomes anti-Semitism and class bias, but neglects his beloved sweetheart in his single-minded quest. Wikipedia โ†—
Fun Facts
  • Ben Cross spent months preparing for the role, heavily researching the subject matter.
  • The initial cut of Chariots of Fire was reportedly much longer, with several subplots removed to improve the pacing.
Audience Consensus

Chariots of Fire is a 1981 drama, history film directed by Hugh Hudson. In the class-obsessed and religiously divided UK of the early 1920s, two determined young runners train for the 1924 Paris Olympics. Eric Liddell, a devout Christian born to Scottish missionaries in China, sees running as part of his worship of God's glory and refuses to train or compete on the Sabbath.

Harold Abrahams overcomes anti-Semitism and class bias, but neglects his beloved sweetheart in his single-minded quest. The film has been rated by 1,016 audiences on ThumbScore, reflecting its reach and engagement with viewers. As a drama film, Chariots of Fire delivers on the expectations of its genre while bringing its own distinctive perspective to the storytelling.

The production showcases the creative vision of its filmmaking team, bringing together performances, cinematography, and narrative elements that have resonated with audiences. Chariots of Fire (1981) continues to find viewers through theatrical releases, streaming platforms, and home media, maintaining its place in the contemporary entertainment landscape. The film represents the kind of cinematic experience that has attracted a dedicated audience, with viewers appreciating its approach to the story and characters it presents.

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What Reddit Thinks

r/movies
⬆ 1,145💬 38 comments
Terry Rawlings, Film Editor on 'Alien,' 'Blade Runner' and 'Chariots of Fire,' Dies
Top comment: "I miss movies at this pace. You felt you had lived an experience in Alien and Blade Runner. Not..."
r/movies
⬆ 501💬 40 comments
Star Trek and Chariots of Fire actor Ben Cross dies, aged 72
Top comment: "He had a really unique sort of presence, always memorable in his roles. Chariots of Fire is a..."
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