Overview
A historical epic that explores the birth of a faith and the struggle for liberation in ancient Arabia.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Slow
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Moderate
- reverent
- solemn
- sweeping
- historical epic night
- religious study
What critics said
Critics broadly regarded the film as a reverent and visually impressive religious epic, praising its battle spectacle and performances while frequently criticizing its languid pace, length, and uneven second half.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The narrative follows Muhammad's call, the exile to Medina, the community's struggles, and the return to Mecca.
Muhammad is not directly depicted, with the story conveyed through the reactions and viewpoints of surrounding characters.
The film emphasizes expansive desert landscapes, historical pageantry, and major battle scenes within a devotional framework.
Produced across Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, and the United Kingdom, the film exists in English and Arabic-language versions.
Films like The Message, and why
The Ten Commandments
reverent biblical-scale religious epic with historical warfare and a foundational faith narrative
Kingdom of Heaven
large-scale medieval religious epic combining spiritual conviction, political conflict, and battle spectacle
Quo Vadis
historical religious drama centered on the formation and persecution of a major faith tradition
Ben-Hur
sweeping historical epic with devotional themes, charismatic performances, and staged battle sequences
Movie Details
- Director
- Moustapha Akkad
- Release Date
- 1976-03-09
- Runtime
- 178 min
- Rating
- 7.1 / 10 (420)
Cast
- Anthony Quinn
- Irene Papas
- Michael Ansara
- Johnny Sekka
- Michael Forest
- Garrick Hagon
- Nicholas Amer
- Damien Thomas
- André Morell
- Martin Benson
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Message about?
- A reverent historical epic follows the persecution, migration, and triumphant consolidation of Islam in seventh-century Arabia.
- What is The Message like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Message as slow, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is The Message violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in The Message as moderate.
- What did critics think of The Message?
- Critics broadly regarded the film as a reverent and visually impressive religious epic, praising its battle spectacle and performances while frequently criticizing its languid pace, length, and uneven second half.
- Which films are like The Message?
- Films with a similar feel include The Ten Commandments, Kingdom of Heaven, Quo Vadis, and Ben-Hur.
- How long is The Message?
- The Message runs 178 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Message?
- In United States, The Message is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
