Chariots of Fire poster

Chariots of Fire

This is the story of two men who run, not to run, but to prove something to the world. They will sacrifice anything to achieve their goals... except their honor.

6.8(1,086)19812h 3m6

In the class-obsessed and religiously divided UK of the early 1920s, two determined young runners train for the 1924 Paris Olympics. Eric Liddell, a devout Christian born to Scottish missionaries in China, sees running as part of his worship of God's glory and refuses to train or compete on the Sabbath. Harold Abrahams overcomes anti-Semitism and class bias, but neglects his beloved sweetheart in his single-minded quest.

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Status
Released
Budget
$5.5M
Box office
$59M
Language
English
  • underdog
  • sports
  • scotland
  • missionary
  • olympic games
  • jewry
  • patriotism
  • mayor
  • praline
  • olympian sports team
  • ambition
  • based on true story

Top billed cast

Behind the camera

Director

Hugh Hudson

Produced in

United Kingdom, United States of America

Gallery

Still from Chariots of FireStill from Chariots of FireStill from Chariots of FireStill from Chariots of FireStill from Chariots of FireStill from Chariots of FireStill from Chariots of FireStill from Chariots of FireStill from Chariots of FireStill from Chariots of FireStill from Chariots of FireStill from Chariots of Fire

Videos

Release dates

  • United StatesUS

    • Theatrical (limited)PGLos Angeles25 Sept 1981
    • TheatricalPG2 Apr 1982
  • United KingdomGB

    • PremierePGRoyal Command Film Performance30 Mar 1981
    • TheatricalPG15 May 1981
  • AustraliaAU

    • TheatricalPG24 Sept 1981
    • PhysicalMBluRay Release11 Apr 2012
  • CanadaCA

    • PremiereToronto International Film Festival17 Sept 1981
  • BrazilBR

    • TheatricalLEstréia16 Oct 1981
    • PhysicalLDVD2 Dec 2003
  • DenmarkDK

    • Theatrical1515 May 1981
  • FinlandFI

    • TheatricalK-1615 May 1981
  • FranceFR

    • PremiereCannes Film Festival20 May 1981
    • TheatricalTP22 May 1981
    • PhysicalDVD20 Sept 2000
    • PhysicalBlu-Ray2 Nov 2012
    • Digital / OTTVOD19 May 2015
    • Digital / OTTDisney+21 May 2021
  • GermanyDE

    • Theatrical127 May 1982
  • GreeceGR

    • PhysicalDVD2 Mar 2001
    • PhysicalBlu-Ray18 May 2012
  • HungaryHU

    • Theatrical1210 Jun 1982
  • IrelandIE

    • TheatricalPG24 Jul 1981

Frequently asked questions

Chariots of Fire was released on 15 May 1981.

Audience reviews

1
  • C

    CinemaSerf

    7/2/2022

    6/10

    The opening bars of the Oscar-winning Vangelis score coupled with the shot of the athletes running along the beach, barefoot, at St. Andrews is amongst the most iconic opening scenes from any film, but somehow the rest of this strays all too often into mediocrity thereafter. It tells the story of two British athletes who strove to thrive at the Olympiad in Paris in 1924. Harold Abrahams (Ben Cross) comes from a Lithu…

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