Summary
With the common norm for a Hollywood movie being around the two-hour mark, three-hour-long films are already rare, and anything exceeding that is even more uncommon—often positioned as uncut, extended, ordirector’s cut editions. However, some directors take things even further, releasing full-length films that approach oreven surpass the four-hour mark.
While such lengthy films are almost never given a traditional theatrical run, they have their dedicated fans. Theseextended editionscan be enjoyed at home, either in one sitting for a fully immersive experience or split up at the viewer’s discretion, much like a four- to six-episode miniseries. Below, we’ll explore some of the best feature films that run longer than four hours, ranking them by runtime, with honorable mentions for rare extended editions and films that come close to the four-hour mark, but not quite cross it.
A modern movie with one of the most fascinating release stories,Zack Snyder’s Justice Leagueis an exceptional example of a film getting released against all odds to fulfill the wishes of DCEU fans. Following the troubled production ofJustice League, with Zack Snyder departing and Joss Whedon stepping in for extensive reshoots, the theatrical cut received extremely mixed reviews, as it was clear that the film strayed far from Snyder’s original vision.
The unprecedented#ReleaseTheSnyderCutcampaign that followed eventually pressured Warner Bros. intoallowing Snyder to complete and release his superhero epicon HBO Max, resulting in a version twice as long as the theatrical cut. Reportedly, an additional $70 million was invested in new shooting, editing, soundtrack, and visual effects. The result more than lived up to the hype.Zack Snyder’s Justice Leaguestands as the definitive chapter of the DCEU—almost its swan song—delivering an uncompromised director’s vision. The film is remarkable not just for its difficult path to release but also as a singular superhero epic, showcasing everything that made Snyder’s style so distinct and influential.
Kenneth Branagh wrote, directed, and starredin this version ofHamlet, which is not only the first full-length film adaptation of William Shakespeare’sThe Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarkbut also one of the longest movies ever made, with its original four-hour runtime. The British epic historical drama uses the Second Quarto text of 1604 with additions from the First Folio of 1623 to create an idealized “complete"Hamletin its most accurate form, albeit set in the 19th century.
With stellar performances from Branagh himself, as well as Kate Winslet as Ophelia, Derek Jacobi as King Claudius, Judi Dench as Hecuba, and Julie Christie as Gertrude, the 1996Hamletis often regarded as one of the best Shakespeare film adaptations ever made. While a shorter edit of the film, running approximately two and a half hours, exists, it is widely considered an inferior way to experience this acclaimed, sprawling classic.
One of the most well-known historical epics of all time,Cleopatra, directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz and Rouben Mamoulian, is a colossal and lavish costume drama, standing as one of the most expensive films ever made, nearly bankrupting Twentieth Century Fox. The movie’s original budget of $44 million is equivalent to over $450 million today, with much of the cost going toward gigantic sets, eye-popping decorations, and the extravagant costumes worn by Elizabeth Taylor in the titular role of Queen Cleopatra VII.
Despite Mankiewicz himself not being proud of his work and even attempting to distance himself from the movie,Cleopatra, adapted from the 1957 bookThe Life and Times of Cleopatraby Carlo Maria Franzero, secured its place in cinema history, winning four Academy Awards out of nine nominations. The director initially hoped to release it as two separate films—Caesar and Cleopatra and Antony and Cleopatra, each running around three hours—but the studio insisted on a single film. Several versions ofCleopatraexist, ranging from 194 minutes to a rumored six-hour cut. The current official version, released as the 1995 Restored Cut, runs slightly over four hours.
Quentin Tarantino is no stranger to sprawling, lengthy movies, including his own rare cut of bothKill Billfilms as a single feature, which he occasionally screens for close friends. In fact, almost every major Tarantino movie runs over 2.5 hours, butThe Hateful Eightpushed the boundary between film and mini-series. Originally released as a three-hour-long, dialogue-heavy Western in 2015, a re-edited version was later released in 2019 on Netflix as a four-episode miniseries with the subtitleExtended Version, bringing the total runtime to 4 hours and 12 minutes.
As expected from Tarantino’s acclaimed craftsmanship, the film is a feast for the eyes and ears,featuring captivating dialogue, stellar performancesfrom heavy hitters like Samuel L. Jackson, Kurt Russell, Walton Goggins, and Tim Roth, as well as rich set designs packed with layered visual details, surprising cameos, and occasional bursts of bloody violence. While not always ranked among Tarantino’s absolute best,The Hateful Eightstands tall within its genre.
Requiring no introduction,The Return of the Kingis just one of Peter Jackson’sLord of the Ringsextended editions that surpass the four-hour mark. Of course, the original trilogy is often watched back-to-back, demanding over 12 hours from dedicated fans, but that has never been an obstacle. When embarking on a visual journey to Middle-earth, time flies by, and these timeless masterpieces are not only among the best in the fantasy genre but are also widely regarded as some of the greatest films ever made.
The Return of the King’s immense scope is truly astounding. Packed with epic-scale battles, city sieges, heroic duels, gigantic creatures, dramatic plot resolutions, and an extended epilogue that ties up every loose end of this grand journey, the film is a breathtaking conclusion to the series,making full use of its enormous runtime. While it may not feature asmany diverse locations, events, or character interactionsasThe Fellowship of the Ring, the grand finale more than delivers in sheer spectacle and unforgettable action.
Sergio Leone’s final film, the epic crime sagaOnce Upon a Time in America, based on Harry Grey’s novelThe Hoods, is acornerstone of the gangster genre, influencing it almost as strongly asThe Godfathertrilogy, and frequently appearing in the lists of the greatest films of all times. As is typical for the genre, the story follows a group of ghetto youths who rise to prominence in New York City’s world of organized crime. Robert De Niro, James Woods, and Joe Pesci deliver stellar performances, while the film’s timeless themes of friendship, love, greed, and loss make for an engrossing viewing experience.
Originally envisioned as two three-hour films, theExtended Director’s Cutruns nearly four and a half hours and is widely considered the definitive way to experience the movie. Other shortened versions exist, including a 229-minute cut and an infamously restructured 139-minute version, the latter of which was created without Leone’s involvement and is largely dismissed by the director’s fans.
John Woo’s epic war film, based on the Battle of Red Cliffs (208–209 AD) and the historical novelRomance of the Three Kingdomsby Luo Guanzhong, stands as one of the most lavish Chinese costume action dramas. With impressively grand battlefield scenes, exquisite choreography, and a strong lead duo featuring well-known outside of Asia actors Tony Leung Chiu-wai and Takeshi Kaneshiro, the film isbest suited for fans of historical or wuxia movieslikeHero,House of Flying Daggers,Fearless, orCrouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon—albeit on a much grander scale.
Red Cliff (Chi Bi)was originally released as two separate chapters in Asia, but multiple versions of the film exist. The significantly shortened and restructured version, released internationally asBattle of Red Cliff, runs just 148 minutes. However,Red Cliffwas later combined into one epic war film. Given how seamlessly the two-part film flows in its International Full Version, this is arguably the best way to experience the historical epic, though it requires a dedicated and patient audience willing to appreciate its immense scope and engrossing narrative.
