List of longest films by running time

Like determining the list of longest novels, figuring the list of longest films yields different results depending on what criteria are used.

While most cinematic films have a broad theatrical release in multiple locations through normal distribution channels, some of the world's longest films are experimental or art films that were never simultaneously released to multiple screens or intended for mainstream audiences. They may have been shown in art galleries where audiences were intended to walk in and out. By the end of 2011, the longest film screened was the Danish experimental film Modern Times Forever (Stora Enso Building, Helsinki)[1] made by Superflex. It has a runtime of 240 hours and a one-off screening began on March 23, 2011 at the IHME Contemporary Art Festival in Helsinki.[2][3]

This is a list of films whose running time exceeds 300 minutes (five hours).

Experimental films

Experimental films
Title Running time Year released Notes
Modern Times Forever (Stora Enso Building, Helsinki) 14400 min (240 hr / 10 days) 2011 [1]
Cinématon 10920 min (182 hr / 7 days, 14 hours). 1978–2013
Beijing 2003 09000 min (150 hr / 6 days, 6 hours). 2004 [4]
Untitled #125 (Hickory) 07200 min (120 hr / 5 days). 2011 [5]
Matrjoschka 05700 min (95 hr / 3 days, 23 hours). 2006 [6]
Cure for Insomnia, TheThe Cure for Insomnia 05220 min (87 hr / 3 days, 15 hours). 1987 [7]
Longest Most Meaningless Movie in the World, TheThe Longest Most Meaningless Movie in the World 02880 min (48 hr) 1968 [8]
**** (Four Stars) 01500 min (25 hr / 1 day, 1 hour). 1967 [9]
24 Hour Psycho 01440 min (24 hr / 1 day). 1993 [10]
Clock, TheThe Clock 01440 min (24 hr / 1 day). 2010 [11]
Crude Oil 00840 min (14 hr). 2008 [12]
White House, TheThe White House 00690 min (11 hr, 30 min). 2006 [13]
Empire 00485 min (8 hr, 5 min). 1964 [14]
The Wake 00462 min (7 hr, 42 min) (35mm) 2000 [15]
Lamentations: A Monument to the Dead World 00435 min (7 hr, 7 min). 1985 [16]
Movie Orgy, TheThe Movie Orgy 00420 min (7 hr). 1968 [17]
Star Spangled to Death 00402 min (6 hr, 42 min). 2004 [18]
Sleep 00321 min (5 hr, 21 min.). 1963 [14]
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Cinematic films

Note: Some releases are extended cuts or director's cuts, and are ranked according to the longest verified running time.

Cinematic films
Title Running time Year released Notes
Berlin Alexanderplatz 00896 min (14 hr, 56 min). 1980 [19]
Resan (The Journey) 00873 min (14 hr, 33 min.). 1987 [20]
Out 1 (Noli me tangere) 00729 min (12 hr, 9 min). 1971 [a]
How Yukong Moved the Mountains 00763 min (12 hr, 43 min). 1977 [b]
Human Condition, TheThe Human Condition 00574 min (9 hr, 34 min). 1959–1961 [21]
Tie Xi Qu: West of the Tracks 00551 min (9 hr, 11 min). 2003 [c]
Shoah 00544 min (9 hr, 4 min). 1985 [d]
Death in the Land of the Encantos 00540 min (9 hr). 2007 [e]
Heremias 00540 min (9 hr). 2006
Evolution of a Filipino Family 00540 min (9 hr). 2004 [f]
Taiga 00501 min (8 hr, 21 min). 1992 [g]
Photo-Drama of Creation, TheThe Photo-Drama of Creation 00480 min (8 hr). 1914 [h]
Imitation of Christ 00480 min (8 hr). 1967 [22]
Protegido de Satán, ElEl Protegido de Satán 480 min (8 hr). 1917 [i]
Mefisto 460 min (7 hr, 40 min). 1917 [j]
Satantango 450 min (7 hr, 30 min). 1994 [k]
Melancholia 450 min (7 hr, 30 min). 2008 [23]
Hitler: A Film from Germany 442 min (7 hr, 22 min). 1978 [l]
War and Peace 431 min (7 hr, 11 min). 1966-67 [24]
Arshin Mal-Alan 420 min (7 hr). 1916 [m]
Satin Slipper, TheThe Satin Slipper 410 min (6 hr, 50 min). 1985 [n]
Best of Youth, TheThe Best of Youth 400 min (6 hr, 40 min). 2003 [o]
Bábolna 400 min (6 hr, 40 min). 1985 [p]
Vampires, LesLes Vampires 399 min (6 hr, 39 min). 1915 [q]
I, Paisan 392 min (6 hr, 32 min). 1967
Parisette 380 min (6 hr, 20 min). 1921
Babel - A Letter to My Friends Left Behind in Belgium 380 min (6 hr, 20 min). 1991
Révolution française, LaLa Révolution française 360 min (6 hr). 1989
Little Dorrit 360 min (6 hr). 1988
Bevezetés a filmkészítés rejtelmeibe 360 min (6 hr). 1996
Misérables, LesLes Misérables 359 min (5 hr, 59 min). 1925
Fight for Moscow, TheThe Fight for Moscow 358 min (5 hr, 58 min). 1985
Near Death 358 min (5 hr, 58 min). 1989
Fragments: Jerusalem 358 min (5 hr, 58 min). 1997
Best of Youth, TheThe Best of Youth 354 min (5 hr, 54 min). 2003
Perón, sinfonía del sentimiento 346 min (5 hr, 46 min). 1999
Commune (Paris, 1871), LaLa Commune (Paris, 1871) 345 min (5 hr, 45 min). 2000
And Quiet Flows the Don 340 min (5 hr, 40 min). 1957–1958
Perón, sinfonía del sentimiento 340 min (5 hr, 40 min). 1999
idole des jeunes, L'L'idole des jeunes 338 min (5 hr, 38 min). 1976
Carlos 338 min (5 hr, 38 min). 2010 [25]
Vkus khleba 336 min (5 hr, 36 min). 1979
Napoléon 330 min (5 hr, 30 min). 1927
Yoman 330 min (5 hr, 30 min). 1983
Mahatma: Life of Gandhi, 1869–1948 330 min (5 hr, 30 min). 1968
Spiritual Voices 328 min (5 hr, 28 min). 1995
Vindicta 320 min (5 hr, 20 min). 1923
Cleopatra 320 min (5 hr, 20 min). 1963
As I Was Moving Ahead Occasionally I Saw Brief Glimpses of Beauty 320 min (5 hr, 20 min). 2000
1900 318 min (5 hr, 18 min). 1976
Tsahal 316 min (5 hr, 16 min). 1994
Deluge, TheThe Deluge 316 min (5 hr, 16 min). 1974
Batang West Side 315 min (5 hr, 15 min). 2002
Tamas 312 min (5 hr, 12 min). 1987
Fanny and Alexander 312 min (5 hr, 12 min). 1983
Nightmare 312 min (5 hr, 12 min). 1972
Legend About Thiel 311 min (5 hr, 11 min). 1976
Misérables, LesLes Misérables 305 min (5 hr, 5 min). 1934
Confessions of Winifred Wagner, TheThe Confessions of Winifred Wagner 302 min (5 hr, 2 min). 1975

The original version of Erich von Stroheim's Greed reportedly ran at about 10 hours. However, it was only ever shown once at this length, and no such copy currently exists. The length of the final release (edited against von Stroheim's wishes) was approximately 2 hours 20 minutes. Subsequently rediscovered footage has let researchers reconstruct something closer to four hours. Similarly, Sion Sono's Love Exposure ran approximately 6 hours before being edited down to four at the behest of the producers. A 2-hour version was attempted but ultimately deemed "impossible", according to Sono. Sono currently has no plans to publicly release the 6-hour cut.[26]

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Films released in separate parts

This section lists films conceived as an artistic unity and produced simultaneously, or consecutively with no significant interruption or change of production team, even though they were released with separate premières.

Films released in separate parts
Title Running time Year released Notes
Burning of the Red Lotus Temple, TheThe Burning of the Red Lotus Temple 1620 min (27 hr). 1928–1931 [27]
The Lord of the Rings 557 min (9 hr, 17 min) theatrical, 683 min (11 hr, 23 min) extended cut. 2001–2003 [citation needed]
Gangs of Wasseypur 320 min (5 hr, 20 min) 2012 [28]
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See also

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References

  1. ^ a b "Helsinki to screen 'longest film' at arts festival". BBC News. March 23, 2011. Retrieved March 25, 2011. 
  2. ^ "The Longest Film Ever Made". IHME Project 2011. superflex.net. Retrieved March 25, 2011. 
  3. ^ "The IHME Project starts". ihmeproductions. Retrieved March 25, 2011. 
  4. ^ "Beijing 2003 (2004)". Internet Movie Database. 
  5. ^ "Pulse Contemporary Art Fair". Pulse-art.com. Retrieved June 10, 2012. 
  6. ^ "LED-Wand". Karin-hoerler.net. Retrieved June 10, 2012. 
  7. ^ "The Cure For Insomnia Movie". Cure To Insomnia. January 26, 2011. Retrieved June 10, 2012. 
  8. ^ "The Longest Most Meaningless Movie in the World DivxJaime". Orynmq.altervista.org. Retrieved June 10, 2012. 
  9. ^ American Film Institute (1997). The American Film Institute Catalog of Motion Pictures Produced in the United States: Feature Films, 1961–1970. University of California Press. p. 370. ISBN 978-0-520-20970-1. Retrieved October 15, 2010. 
  10. ^ Lee, Nathan (June 11, 2006). "Film". The Week Ahead (The New York Times). 
  11. ^ Bradshaw, Peter (April 7, 2011). "Christian Marclay's The Clock: a masterpiece of our times". The Guardian (London). 
  12. ^ Jones, Doug (February 3, 2008). "Adventures at the IFFR ...". Dispatch from Rotterdam. Indiewire. Archived from the original on February 7, 2008. 
  13. ^ "The White House". International Film Festival Rotterdam. 
  14. ^ a b Angell, Callie (1994). The Films of Andy Warhol Part II. p. 16. ASIN B0006P70ZM. 
  15. ^ "The Wake". Michaelkvium.com. Retrieved June 10, 2012. 
  16. ^ "Lamentations: A Monument to the Dead World". cfmdc.org. Retrieved June 10, 2012. 
  17. ^ Quinlan, David. Quinlan's Film Directors. Sterling Publishing, 1999, ISBN 0-7134-8698-8
  18. ^ KEN JACOBS (2004) [2004] (DVD). Star spangled to death (Liner notes).
  19. ^ "Rainer Werner Fassbinder Foundation". Fassbinderfoundation.de. Retrieved June 10, 2012.  Originally a 14 part TV miniseries, it was later shown in cinemas in several installments.
  20. ^ Ash, Russell (September 23, 2003). The Top 10 of Film. Dorling Kindersley. p. 21. ISBN 9780789496409. Retrieved October 15, 2010. 
  21. ^ "The Human Condition (1959)". The Criterion Collection. Retrieved June 10, 2012. 
  22. ^ "Imitation of Christ (Andy Warhol)". Smironne.free.fr. September 7, 2000. Retrieved June 10, 2012. 
  23. ^ Scheib, Ronnie (September 29, 2008). "Melancholia". Variety. 
  24. ^ Voyna i Mir. km.ru.
  25. ^ L. A. Times, October 23, 2010: Who, if anyone, is seeing 'Carlos' in theaters? Well, Keanu Reeves, for one...
  26. ^ "Sion Sono NYAFF Q&A". 
  27. ^ "The Burning of the Red Lotus Temple (1928)". Kaleidoscope.cultural-china.com. Retrieved June 10, 2012. 
  28. ^ "Directors' Fortnight 2012 Selection". quinzaine-realisateurs.com. 
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External links

Film details from the Internet Movie Database:

  1. ^ Out 1 (Noli me tangere).
  2. ^ How Yukong Moved the Mountains.
  3. ^ Tie Xi Qu: West of the Tracks.
  4. ^ Shoah.
  5. ^ Death in the Land of the Encantos.
  6. ^ Evolution of a Filipino Family.
  7. ^ Taiga.
  8. ^ The Photo-Drama of Creation.
  9. ^ El Protegido de Satán.
  10. ^ Mefisto.
  11. ^ Satantango.
  12. ^ Hitler: A Film from Germany.
  13. ^ Arshin Mal-Alan.
  14. ^ The Satin Slipper.
  15. ^ The Best of Youth.
  16. ^ Bábolna.
  17. ^ Les Vampires.
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Last modified on 16 May 2013, at 15:24