King of Kings
"King of Kings" most commonly refers to the 1961 American epic religious film directed by Nicholas Ray and produced by Samuel Bronston for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.
"King of Kings" most commonly refers to the 1961 American epic religious film directed by Nicholas Ray, produced by Samuel Bronston for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, and starring Jeffrey Hunter as Jesus of Nazareth. The film portrays the life of Jesus from birth through crucifixion and resurrection. The title has also been used for a 1927 silent film and a 2025 animated Christian film.
1961 film
The best-known work titled "King of Kings" is the 1961 MGM film directed by Nicholas Ray. It dramatizes the New Testament story of Jesus, from his birth and ministry to his crucifixion and resurrection.
Cast and production
The cast includes Jeffrey Hunter as Jesus, with Siobhán McKenna, Robert Ryan, Viveca Lindfors, Ron Randell, Hurd Hatfield, Carmen Sevilla, and Rip Torn in supporting roles. The film was produced by Samuel Bronston for MGM and narrated by Orson Welles.
Release and reception
The film premiered at Loew's State Theatre in New York City on October 11, 1961, then premiered in Los Angeles on October 12 and opened there on October 13. Contemporary reviews were mixed, but the film performed well at the box office.
Other works with the same title
"The King of Kings" was also the title of a 1927 silent biblical epic directed by Cecil B. DeMille and a 2025 animated Christian film inspired by Charles Dickens' "The Life of Our Lord." These are distinct works with different production years and creative teams.
Key facts
- "King of Kings" is a 1961 American epic religious film about the life of Jesus.
- The film was directed by Nicholas Ray and produced by Samuel Bronston for MGM.
- Jeffrey Hunter stars as Jesus, and Orson Welles serves as narrator.
- It premiered in New York City on October 11, 1961, and opened in Los Angeles on October 13, 1961.
- The title also applies to a 1927 silent film and a 2025 animated film with different premises.
The 2025 film "The King of Kings" grossed a significant share of its worldwide box office in the United States and Canada, making it relevant to Canadian film audiences as a recent release in the same title family.[8][16]
Frequently asked questions
What is "King of Kings"?
Who directed the 1961 "King of Kings"?
Who plays Jesus in the 1961 film?
When was the 1961 film released?
Is "King of Kings" a remake?
Are there other films called "King of Kings"?
References
- Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_of_Kings_(1961_film)Supports: 1961 film details, director, cast, release dates, reception, narration
- IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0055047/Supports: 1961 film runtime, director, writers, cast, color, aspect ratio
- Wikipedia — https://sh.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_of_Kings_(1961_film)Supports: 1961 film described as a remake of the 1927 film
- Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_King_of_Kings_(1927_film)Supports: 1927 film existence and identity
- Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_King_of_Kings_(2025_film)Supports: 2025 animated film existence, release, cast, box office
- Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_king_of_kingsSupports: 2025 film synopsis, director, distributor, genre, release date