Lawrence of Arabia

Play trailer

4:44

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.

Watch on Fandango

Stream Now

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.

Read Critics Reviews

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

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

06/17/2025

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

Read More

Read Less

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

POST RATING

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

Lawrence of Arabia: Official Clip - No Prisoners

2:10

Lawrence of Arabia: Official Clip - Nothing is Written

2:13

Lawrence of Arabia: Official Clip - A Prophet's Shadow

2:12

Lawrence of Arabia: Official Clip - The Nefud Desert

2:08

Lawrence of Arabia: Official Clip - Attack on Aqaba

2:13

Lawrence of Arabia: Official Clip - A Funny Sense of Fun

2:13

Lawrence of Arabia: Official Clip - Ali's Well

2:12

Lawrence of Arabia: Official Clip - Come On Men!

2:10

View more videos

Lion of the Desert

75%

93%

Lion of the Desert

Watchlist

The Other Side of Heaven

29%

73%

The Other Side of Heaven

Watchlist

Gandhi

89%

92%

Gandhi

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Gandhi

The Leopard

98%

88%

The Leopard

Watchlist

TRAILER

for The Leopard

War and Peace

50%

63%

War and Peace

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Know Your Critic: Ian Thomas Malone – Writer, Podcaster, and Comedian

Know Your Critic: Roxana Hadadi, Pop Culture Critic

Temuera Morrison’s Five Favorite Films

David Oyelowo's Five Favorite Films

1:06

Lawrence of Arabia: Trailer 1

4:44

View more videos

View more photos

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