Overview
A powerful tale of faith and perseverance unfolds in the heart of ancient Arabia.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Slow
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Moderate
- reverent
- solemn
- majestic
- historical epic marathon
- religious reflection
What critics said
Critics broadly recognized the film's reverence, impressive photography, battle spectacle, and committed performances, while finding its long, languid pacing and uneven second half limiting.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The narrative centers on the delivery of Allah's message and the emergence of Islam through early Muslim figures and communities.
Muhammad is not directly depicted, making his message and influence present through the reactions and actions of other characters.
The story presents the spread of belief in one God and the resistance faced by early Muslims.
The film uses expansive period sets, historical costumes, mounted action, and large battle scenes characteristic of the form.
Films like The Message, and why
The Ten Commandments
shared reverent religious storytelling, historical epic scale, and spectacular battle scenes
King of Kings
shared biblical-era setting, faith-centered drama, and sword-and-sandal spectacle
The Greatest Story Ever Told
shared sacred-history subject matter, solemn tone, and large-scale period reconstruction
Ben-Hur
shared historical religious epic form, spiritual themes, and restrained depiction of revered figures
Movie Details
- Director
- Moustapha Akkad
- Release Date
- 1976-07-30
- Runtime
- 206 min
- Rating
- 8.5 / 10 (50)
Cast
- Abdallah Ghaith
- Ali Ahmed Salem
- Mohamed El Arabi
- Mounir Moasery
- Ahmed Marei
- Habib Ageli
- Hamdy Ghaith
- Mona Wassef
- Hassan Al-Jundi
- Abd Arabi
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 portrays the emergence of Islam through the faith, persecution, and resistance of its early Muslim community.
- 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 recognized the film's reverence, impressive photography, battle spectacle, and committed performances, while finding its long, languid pacing and uneven second half limiting.
- Which films are like The Message?
- Films with a similar feel include The Ten Commandments, King of Kings, The Greatest Story Ever Told, and Ben-Hur.
- How long is The Message?
- The Message runs 206 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.
