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Lawrence of Arabia

Play trailer 4:44 Poster for Lawrence of Arabia PG 1962 3h 42m Biography History Drama Adventure Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
93% Tomatometer 133 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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Lawrence of Arabia

Lawrence of Arabia

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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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Critics Reviews

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Marjory Adams Boston Globe 04/20/2021
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. Go to Full Review Mae Tinée Chicago Tribune 04/20/2021
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, Go to Full Review Josephine O'Neill Sydney Morning Herald 04/20/2021
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. Go to Full Review Chance Solem-Pfeifer Willamette Week Apr 27
Lawrence of Arabia’s gargantuan scope both burnishes and questions the myth of history as told through the lens of one heroic man. Go to Full Review Sean Axmaker Stream on Demand 11/16/2024
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 ... Go to Full Review James Baldwin The Devil Finds Work 05/01/2024
It may be said that the weary melancholy underlying Lawrence of Arabia stems from the stupefying apprehension that, whereas England may have been doomed to civilize the world, no power under heaven can civilize England. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Devin R Jan 12 As close to perfect as a film can be. They don't make them like this anymore. See more Jack Sep 29 Should have watched this earlier See more S Sep 28 Spectacular to see such cinematography and storytelling on the big screen! See more Trevor Jun 17 loved seeing this film on a big screen and the intermission was fantastic See more Teresa 05/05/2025 Mom told me this wasn’t chariots of fire. I did not regret the epic mistake. See more John S 03/10/2025 Brilliant classic. Grateful to have the opportunity to see it on a big screen. See more Read all reviews
Lawrence of Arabia

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Cast & Crew

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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

Movie Clips

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Lawrence of Arabia

Lawrence of Arabia: Official Clip - No Prisoners Lawrence of Arabia: Official Clip - No Prisoners 2:10 Lawrence of Arabia: Official Clip - Nothing is Written Lawrence of Arabia: Official Clip - Nothing is Written 2:13 Lawrence of Arabia: Official Clip - A Prophet's Shadow Lawrence of Arabia: Official Clip - A Prophet's Shadow 2:12 Lawrence of Arabia: Official Clip - The Nefud Desert Lawrence of Arabia: Official Clip - The Nefud Desert 2:08 Lawrence of Arabia: Official Clip - Attack on Aqaba Lawrence of Arabia: Official Clip - Attack on Aqaba 2:13 Lawrence of Arabia: Official Clip - A Funny Sense of Fun Lawrence of Arabia: Official Clip - A Funny Sense of Fun 2:13 Lawrence of Arabia: Official Clip - Ali's Well Lawrence of Arabia: Official Clip - Ali's Well 2:12 Lawrence of Arabia: Official Clip - Come On Men! Lawrence of Arabia: Official Clip - Come On Men! 2:10 View more videos

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Lawrence of Arabia

David Oyelowo's Five Favorite Films David Oyelowo's Five Favorite Films 1:06 Lawrence of Arabia: Trailer 1 Lawrence of Arabia: Trailer 1 4:44 View more videos
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Lawrence of Arabia

A scene from Columbia Pictures' "Lawrence of Arabia." A scene from Columbia Pictures' "Lawrence of Arabia." A scene from Columbia Pictures' "Lawrence of Arabia." A scene from Columbia Pictures' "Lawrence of Arabia." A scene from Columbia Pictures' "Lawrence of Arabia." A scene from Columbia Pictures' "Lawrence of Arabia." A scene from Columbia Pictures' "Lawrence of Arabia." A scene from Columbia Pictures' "Lawrence of Arabia." A scene from Columbia Pictures' "Lawrence of Arabia." A scene from Columbia Pictures' "Lawrence of Arabia." View more photos

Movie Info

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