Some movies need more time than others to tell their stories, and over the years, Hollywood has produced some epic productions that have surpassed the three-hour mark. In recent news, reports claim that Martin Scorsese’s upcoming movie, Killers of the Flower Moon, will have an estimated four-hour runtime, making it one of the longest movies in Hollywood history. But before we get to that, let’s take a look at the current top seven longest Hollywood movies ever made.
At number seven is Cleopatra (1963), directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz and starring Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, and Rex Harrison. This historical epic follows the legendary rule of the Egyptian queen, Cleopatra, and her romantic encounters with Julius Caesar and Mark Antony. With a runtime of three hours and 53 minutes, Cleopatra was once the most expensive movie ever made, thanks to its grand sets, spectacular costumes, and lavish production values.
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Gone with the Wind (1939) comes in at number six, with a runtime of three hours and 58 minutes. Directed by Victor Fleming and starring Vivien Leigh and Clark Gable, this sweeping romance is based on Margaret Mitchell’s novel of the same name. Set in the South during the American Civil War, it chronicles the life of Scarlett O’Hara, a manipulative and spoiled plantation owner’s daughter, as she navigates romantic entanglements and war-torn Georgia.
At number five is Hamlet (1996), directed by and starring Kenneth Branagh, who plays Prince Hamlet, a brooding young man seeking revenge for his father’s murder. This gripping adaptation of Shakespeare’s play has a runtime of four hours and two minutes and features an all-star cast that includes Kate Winslet, Derek Jacobi, and Julie Christie.
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Zack Snyder’s Justice League (2021) comes in at number four, with a runtime of four hours and two minutes. This superhero movie is a director’s cut of the 2017 Justice League film, and it centers on Batman and Wonder Woman’s efforts to unite the Justice League to fight Steppenwolf, a general from Apokolips who plans to take over Earth for Darkseid. Snyder’s vision for the DC Universe is evident in this film, which is more thoughtful and emotionally resonant than its predecessor.
At number three is Once Upon a Time in America (1984), directed by Sergio Leone and starring Robert De Niro and James Woods. This epic crime drama follows two childhood friends who become key figures in the Jewish criminal community in 1930s New York. Leone’s director’s cut chronicles an impressive 251 minutes of Prohibition-era violence and remains a milestone in the crime genre.
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Gettysburg (1993) takes second place, with a runtime of four hours and 31 minutes. Directed by Ronald F. Maxwell, this war drama dramatizes the pivotal Battle of Gettysburg and features an ensemble cast that includes Tom Berenger, Jeff Daniels, and Martin Sheen. Based on Michael Shaara’s historical novel The Killer Angels, Gettysburg is a brutal and honest depiction of the gangster world in American cinema.
And finally, the number one spot goes to Gods and Generals (2003), directed by Ronald F. Maxwell, with a runtime of four hours and 40 minutes. This American Civil War film is a prequel to Gettysburg and centers on the lives of Confederate General Stonewall Jackson and Union officer Joshua Chamberlain. The film is a meticulous recreation of the events leading up to the Battle of Gettysburg, featuring an ensemble cast that includes Jeff Daniels and Robert Duvall.
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No matter how you feel about these epic productions, it’s clear that they all required a significant commitment from their audiences. From historical dramas to superhero movies and Shakespeare adaptations, the top seven longest Hollywood movies ever made continue to captivate viewers with their grand storytelling, lavish production values, and all-star casts. And with Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon set to be another lengthy addition to this list, it seems that Hollywood’s penchant for sprawling stories is only growing stronger.
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