Lawrence of Arabia

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Lawrence of Arabia

PG

1962

3h 42m

Biography

History

Drama

Adventure

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

93%

Tomatometer

134 Reviews

93%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

Due to his knowledge of the native Bedouin tribes, British Lieutenant T.E. Lawrence (Peter O'Toole) is sent to Arabia to find Prince Faisal (Alec Guinness) and serve as a liaison between the Arabs and the British in their fight against the Turks. With the aid of native Sharif Ali (Omar Sharif), Lawrence rebels against the orders of his superior officer and strikes out on a daring camel journey across the harsh desert to attack a well-guarded Turkish port.

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Critics Consensus

The epic of all epics, Lawrence of Arabia cements director David Lean's status in the filmmaking pantheon with nearly four hours of grand scope, brilliant performances, and beautiful cinematography.

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Marjory Adams

Boston Globe

Apr 20, 2021

From the early shots laid on the sun-hot sands there is grandeur and awe-inspiring, stark splendor, against which men fight and die, battle for their ambitions and then see their dearest ideals crushed by uncaring, mercenary politicians.

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Mae Tinée

Chicago Tribune

Apr 20, 2021

The script is taut and expressive and the musical score deftly attuned to the tale. Director David Lean has molded his massive material with skill, but personally I felt the film was too long,

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Josephine O'Neill

Sydney Morning Herald

Apr 20, 2021

A supremely engrossing film, Lawrence of Arabia makes one forget that it runs nearly three and three-quarter hours: and sends one out haunted and shaken.

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Keith Garlington

Keith & the Movies

Aug 12, 2026

5/5

“Lawrence of Arabia” is an astonishing accomplishment…It’s a movie born out of ambition and imagination that dared to defy the conventional Hollywood formulas of its time.

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Chance Solem-Pfeifer

Willamette Week

Apr 27, 2026

Lawrence of Arabia’s gargantuan scope both burnishes and questions the myth of history as told through the lens of one heroic man.

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Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

Nov 16, 2024

As much larger-than-life character study as war drama, the film made a star of Peter O’Toole, whose intense performance brings T.E. Lawrence alive as the blue-eyed desert warrior and obsessive dreamer ...

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Rue

Sep 12, 2026

They just don’t make movies like these anymore

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Devin R

Jan 12, 2026

As close to perfect as a film can be. They don't make them like this anymore.

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Jack

Sep 29, 2025

Should have watched this earlier

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S

Sep 28, 2025

Spectacular to see such cinematography and storytelling on the big screen!

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Trevor

Jun 17, 2025

loved seeing this film on a big screen and the intermission was fantastic

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Teresa

May 5, 2025

Mom told me this wasn’t chariots of fire. I did not regret the epic mistake.

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David Lean

Director

Peter O'Toole

T.E. Lawrence

Alec Guinness

Prince Feisal

Anthony Quinn

Auda abu Tayi

Omar Sharif

Sherif Ali ibn el Kharish

Jack Hawkins

Gen. Lord Edmund Allenby

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Synopsis

Due to his knowledge of the native Bedouin tribes, British Lieutenant T.E. Lawrence (Peter O'Toole) is sent to Arabia to find Prince Faisal (Alec Guinness) and serve as a liaison between the Arabs and the British in their fight against the Turks. With the aid of native Sharif Ali (Omar Sharif), Lawrence rebels against the orders of his superior officer and strikes out on a daring camel journey across the harsh desert to attack a well-guarded Turkish port.

Director: David Lean
Producer: Robert A. Harris, Sam Spiegel
Screenwriter: Robert Bolt, Michael Wilson
Distributor: Columbia Pictures
Production Co: Horizon Films
Rating: PG
Genre: Biography, History, Drama, Adventure
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 16, 1962, Original
Rerelease Date (Theaters): Aug 11, 2024
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 2, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA): $6.0M
Runtime: 3h 42m
Sound Mix: Surround

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