The Last Temptation of Christ

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1:44

The Last Temptation of Christ

R

1988

2h 43m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

82%

Tomatometer

106 Reviews

84%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

Jesus (Willem Dafoe), a humble Judean carpenter beginning to see that he is the son of God, is drawn into revolutionary action against the Roman occupiers by Judas (Harvey Keitel) -- despite his protestations that love, not violence, is the path to salvation. The burden of being the savior of mankind torments Jesus throughout his life, leading him to doubt. As he is put to death on the cross, Jesus is tempted by visions of an ordinary life married to Mary Magdalene (Barbara Hershey).

Critics Consensus

Contrary to accusations of irreverence, The Last Temptation of Christ's biggest sins are actually languid pacing and some tinny dialogue -- but Martin Scorsese's passion for the subject shines through in an oft-transcendent rumination on faith.

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Kathleen Sachs

Chicago Reader

12/27/2022

...shockingly potent, leaving me in tears...

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Jay Scott

Globe and Mail

12/07/2022

Scorsese and Schrader have made a courageous film that people of all religions or no religion should be able to watch with identical fascination.

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Jay Carr

Boston Globe

05/06/2022

It's a challenging film in the best sense, a gritty, deeply felt effort to renew the significance of Christ in terms of contemporary experience, and one that reminds us of how radical Christ was.

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Nov 21

4/4

The most faith-inspiring religious epic ever made.

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Christopher Lloyd

The Film Yap

09/30/2024

3.5/5

Attacked relentlessly as heretical at its release, Martin Scorsese's fictional rumination on Jesus' inner life is actually a fairly staid interpretation -- and barely less bloody than Mel Gibson's.

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Joshua Polanski

Boston Hassle

07/19/2024

The Last Temptation of Christ ... is a movie that matters.

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Zane T

@ZaneThind 3d

While good direction from Martin Scorsese and good acting from Willem Dafoe and Harvey Keitel. This film is way too long and for the most it feels boring. Scorsese goes against type with this film for sure but his usual gangster flicks are better.

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Nick S

@RT73225263 Apr 1

The last 45 minutes makes up for the first 2 hrs that are slow and patchy.

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James B.

@JamesBass Jan 25

I won’t belabor this with a review — Kazantzakis and Scorsese are a winning combination.

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Michael C

@Michael71 Dec 15

Now being able to see the movie well removed from the controversy it stirred up in its initial release, "The Last Temptation of Christ" is an outstanding movie. One of the best of Academy Award winning director Martin Scorsese's enduring career. With a well written and thought-provoking storyline, the movie works on multiple levels. Willem Dafoe is terrific in his performance as Jesus Christ. Seeing him go through life and questioning his responsibilities as the Son of God is never boring or contrived. The only criticisms I have of the movie are instances of dialogue by the supporting characters that could have been better. The late David Bowie's cameo as Pontius Pilate is the best example of this. His dialogue was a little odd and even a little on the cornball side. Some of Harvey Keitel's dialogue could have been better as well. Despite these minor flaws, I believe "The Last Temptation of Christ" has stood the test of time and is worth seeing.

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Armin R

@RT45554200 Aug 30

Martin Scorsese’s The Last Temptation of Christ is not just a film—it’s an experience. The acting is powerful and deeply human, grounding every moment in raw emotion. The dialogue is profound, carrying weight that lingers long after the credits roll. Its plot is layered, thoughtful, and unafraid to wrestle with the deepest spiritual questions. The music elevates the narrative beautifully, adding both tension and transcendence. This is, without a doubt, the most profound Jesus movie ever made. It challenges, inspires, and moves in ways few films dare.

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Luke P

@RT14733470 Aug 25

Disgusting film. Should never have been made.

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Martin Scorsese

Director

Willem Dafoe

Jesus of Nazareth

Harvey Keitel

Judas Iscariot

Barbara Hershey

Mary Magdalene

Paul Greco

Zealot

Verna Bloom

Mary

The Last Temptation of Christ: Official Clip - The Last Supper

3:25

The Last Temptation of Christ: Official Clip - Guardian Angel at Golgotha

2:56

The Last Temptation of Christ: Official Clip - I Want To Be The Messiah!

2:31

The Last Temptation of Christ: Official Clip - Pontius Pilate

3:33

The Last Temptation of Christ: Official Clip - Tempted by Satan

3:33

The Last Temptation of Christ: Official Clip - Crown of Thorns

3:22

The Last Temptation of Christ: Official Clip - Paul's False Testimony

4:24

The Last Temptation of Christ: Official Clip - The Crucifixion

2:25

The Last Temptation of Christ: Official Clip - Jesus' Heart

3:05

The Last Temptation of Christ: Official Clip - The Cleansing of the Temple

3:43

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The Last Temptation of Christ: Trailer 1

1:44

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Synopsis

Jesus (Willem Dafoe), a humble Judean carpenter beginning to see that he is the son of God, is drawn into revolutionary action against the Roman occupiers by Judas (Harvey Keitel) -- despite his protestations that love, not violence, is the path to salvation. The burden of being the savior of mankind torments Jesus throughout his life, leading him to doubt. As he is put to death on the cross, Jesus is tempted by visions of an ordinary life married to Mary Magdalene (Barbara Hershey).

Director: Martin Scorsese
Producer: Barbara De Fina
Screenwriter: Paul Schrader, Nikos Kazantzakis
Distributor: Universal Pictures, Criterion Collection
Production Co: Universal Pictures
Rating: R
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 12, 1988, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 18, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $8.2M
Runtime: 2h 43m
Sound Mix: Surround

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