Films Over Three Hours Long Worth Watching

I know that I’m not the only person who hasn’t noticed that the average runtime of a movie has been slowly increasing over the years. What happened to the 90-minute movie?

In reality, long movies aren’t a new thing; Gone With the Wind, for example, is a nearly four-hour movie that was released almost 100 years ago!

It’s frustrating because it feels like everyone’s attention span is shorter and shorter today. Not everyone has the patience to sit down and, say, sit through over four hours of the Snyder Cut just to see what all the hype was about.

Having said that, there are movies that eclipse the three-hour mark that are worth your time. So grab some popcorn and your favorite snack, pour an ice-cold drink, sit back, and relax. These are movies that are over three hours long and still worth watching.

Lawrence of Arabia

Runtime: 3 hours, 42 minutes

First and foremost, yes, it’s still a travesty that Peter O’Toole didn’t win Best Actor at the Oscars.

Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, Lawrence of Arabia remains a breathtaking cinematic masterpiece.

There’s a reason why this movie has inspired so many filmmakers over the years; it’s an inspiring work of art that’s a true sight to behold. Come for the story, stay for the cinematography.

The Ten Commandments

Runtime: 3 hours, 40 minutes

Charlton Heston is no stranger to epic movies; his filmography is one of the most impressive you’ll ever see: Planet of the Apes, Touch of Evil, Ben-Hur, The Greatest Story Ever Told, and countless others.

One of his most iconic roles is that of Moses in the religious film The Ten Commandments. Even if you’re not overly religious, you still have to give the film credit, especially since it’s one of the most successful films of all time, even when adjusting for inflation.

Ben-Hur

Runtime: 3 hours, 32 minutes

Speaking of Ben-Hur, it’d be a crime to omit it from our list of great movies over three hours long.

The film was nominated for 12 Academy Awards, winning 11 of them, a record it still holds today alongside Titanic and The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King.

Follow us on MSN for more content you love.

Lord of the Rings Extended Cuts

The Lord of the Rings — Image Credit New Line Cinema

Combined runtime: 11 hours, 36 minutes

Let’s be honest, there’s no way you can sit down and watch just one of them. The trilogy is a complete package intended to be viewed from beginning to end.

Sure, it may take you a day or two, but it’s well worth it. We’re never going to see a cinematic experience like this ever again, unless Denis Villeneuve can pull off Dune: Part Three, that is.

Seven Samurai

Runtime: 3 hours, 27 minutes

Honestly, you could have added another 3 hours and 27 minutes to Seven Samurai‘s runtime and I’d still be seated.

Not only is it an epic masterpiece that succeeds on all levels of visuals and storytelling, but it’s also one of the most influential movies ever made.

The Wolf of Wall Street

Runtime: 3 hours

I’d wager that Martin Scorsese’s biggest talent throughout his career is his ability to deliver a captivating film from start to finish.

I had to double-check what The Wolf of Wall Street‘s runtime is, and sure enough, it’s a full three hours, but a brisk one at that.

The film is so engaging, so entertaining, and perfectly edited and paced that the time flies by.

The Right Stuff

Runtime: 3 hours, 12 minutes

Despite being a box office bomb, the public perception of 1983’s The Right Stuff has slowly but surely been coming around.

Critics loved it from the moment it was released; the film was nominated for eight Academy Awards, winning four.

What makes The Right Stuff such a great movie is just how much is packed in that three-hour runtime that, like with The Wolf of Wall Street, absolutely flies by.

It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World

Runtime: Varies by cut, but its 2014 Criterion Collection release in 2014 is 3 hours, 17 minutes

Even before both of those movies, you can argue that 1963’s It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World wrote the blueprint for a fast-paced, well-edited three-hour-plus film.

Its original runtime premiered at 192 minutes, though United Artists would trim that runtime down. Either way, it’s great entertainment.

Avengers: Endgame

Runtime: 3 hours, 1 minute

I’m surprised that Avengers: Endgame wasn’t longer, given that it’s the culmination of over 20 movies spanning the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

By now, I’m sure you know all the records the film broke, grossing nearly $2.8 billion at the box office.

Grindhouse

Runtime: 3 hours, 11 minutes

Technically, this is a double feature with two films in one theatrical release: Robert Rodriguez’s Planet Terror and Quentin Tarantino’s Death Proof.

However, the movies are best viewed together in theaters, complete with fake trailers between them, adding to the charm of old-school cinema and serving as a tribute to exploitation cinema.

Schindler’s List

Runtime: 3 hours, 15 minutes

Schindler’s List is a movie that everyone should watch at least once. It’s one of Spielberg’s finest and one of the most emotional movies ever made.

Watching it twice, though, can be a little difficult, though that has nothing to do with its extended runtime.