The top 10 longest-running Hollywood movies of all time
Two hours is a sweet spot for a movie running time, especially considering that's the limit for most of our attention spans.
But many filmmakers have pushed the boundaries to tell stories that go beyond the limits of time.
You'll need some energy drinks, a couple of cups of coffees and plenty of toilet breaks to get through these behemoth blockbusters.
While there are some international films that could have you in your recliner for days, for this list we've narrowed it down to mainstream Hollywood movies.
Scroll through for the top 10 longest-running films in Hollywood cinema history...
10. The Lord of The Rings: The Return of the King (2003) | 3 hours 21 minutes
We're starting this list out strong with the epic conclusion to Peter Jackson's The Lord of The Rings trilogy.
The story presents the final confrontation between the good and evil forces fighting for control of the future of Middle-earth and follows hobbits Frodo and Sam on their quest to destroy the One Ring.
The Lord of The Rings: The Return of the King is widely considered of Hollywood's best movies and featured stars like Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Liv Tyler, Cate Blanchett and Orlando Bloom.
If you needed any proof that all 3 hours and 21 minutes of the film were worth watching, then the fact it earned 11 Oscar awards and grossed over $1.1 billion worldwide is pretty hard evidence.
Despite the movie's lengthy duration in cinemas, many fans had an appetite to see more. Thankfully an extended edition, which ran for 4 hours and 23 minutes, was released on DVD and Blu-Ray at the time.
9. The Godfather Part II (1974) | 3 hour 22 minutes
The gangster masterpiece is a cinema classic and serves as both a prequel and a sequel to the original 1972 film The Godfather.
Part II revolves around Al Pacino as Michael Corleone and Robert DeNiro's Oscar-winnng portrayal of father Vito Corleone in two different time periods with the story spanning from 1901 to 1922 and 1958 to 1960.
The Godfather Part II continues to be respected in cinema today and is widely acknowledged for making movie sequels mainstream. At the time sequels weren't common practice but considering the success of this one others soon caught on to the idea.
Of course, The Godfather is a trilogy series so if you're up to the task you can sit back in the recliner and watch all three for a total of 9 hours and 43 minutes.
8. Malcolm X (1992) | 3 hours 22 minutes
Directed by Spike Lee, Malcolm X earns every tick of the clock with this powerful biopic.
Denzel Washington's Oscar-nomination worthy performance brings to life the most crucial moments in the history of African-American activism.
The film dramatises key events in Malcolm X's life: his criminal career, his incarceration, his conversion to Islam, his marriage to Betty X, his pilgrimage to Mecca and his 1965 assassination.
7. The Irishman (2019) | 3 hours 29 minutes
With a total running time of 3 hours and 29 minutes, The Irishman checks in as the longest film of director Martin Scorcese's career.
Many critics argue that it's a bit of a slow start as viewers are introduced to an anti-aged Robert DeNiro as his character Frank Sheeran transitions from meat-packing driver to working as mafia hitman.
But the latter three hours of the film is relentless with drama and plot twists as we're thrust into the 1960s world of organised crime in America when Frank Sheeran goes to work for powerful Teamster Jimmy Hoffa, played by Al Pacino.
There was a mixed reaction to the de-ageing technology that was used on the actors including DeNiro, Pacino and Joe Pesci to portray their characters at different phases of their life.
6. Ben-Hur (1959) | 3 hours 32 minutes
At a whopping 3 hours and 32 minutes it's no surprise this film gave rise to the phrase "bigger than Ben-Hur".
Not only is the film a long watch but it was also a massive undertaking, costing US$15 million making it the biggest-budget film ever made at the time.
The historical drama tells the story of Judah Ben-Hur, a nobleman sentenced to years of slavery after being accused of treason by his adopted brother Messala. But he returns to seek revege by competing with him in a race.
Hollywood legend Charlton Heston starred as the title character (pictured).
One of the most recognisable scenes of the film is the of course, the chariot race. Long before the time of computer generated imagery, Heston shot the scene in real time though thankfully he was a trained horse rider.
Sadly, according to film historians, it is estimated that over 100 horses died during the filming of the 1959 film due to the intense pace and lack of veterinary care.
4. Gone with the Wind (1939) | 3 hours 41 minutes
Rhett Butler (Clark Gable) embraces Scarlett O'Hara (Vivien Leigh) in a famous scene from the 1939 epic film Gone with the Wind.
When Gone with the Wind was first released in theatres, it screened with an overture, intermission, musical pause, and exit music, giving it a total running time of 3 hours and 58 minutes.
Its actual length is closer to 3 hours and 41 minutes, either way that's a long time to be sitting in the same seat.
Set during the American Civil War, the plot follows headstrong Southern belle Scarlett O'Hara (played by Vivien Leigh) through her romantic trials with Rhett Butler (played by Clark Gable).
3. Lawrence of Arabia (1962) | 3 hours 42 minutes
Keeping audiences captivated for 3 hours and 42 minutes is the Oscar-winning Lawrence of Arabia.
Bristish Lieutenant T.E. Lawrence, portrayed by Peter O'Toole, is sent to Arabia to find Prince Faisal and serve as a liason between the Arabs and the British in their fight against the Turks.
There are technically four versions of the film: the original 3 hour 42 minute print, then cut to 3 hours 22 minutes after its 1962 premiere, the 3 hour 7 minute 1970 theatrical re-cut and the 3 hour 48 minute version including the overture, entr'acte music and play-out music in the 1988 restoration.
2. Hamlet (1996) | 4 hours 2 minutes
Breaking through the four-hour threshold is the unabridged version of the Shakespearan play Hamlet.
The story goes that Prince Hamlet, played by Kenneth Branagh, is traumatised by the revelation that his father was murdered by the present King Claudius with the help of his own mother Gertrude. Hamlet plots revenge but mistakenly kills Polonius who is the father of his love Ophelia, played by Kate Winslet.
Hamlet's grave error causes a chain reaction that leads to a tragic ending.
A complete 4 hour and 2 minute director's cut was shown in theatres but only in selected venues in larger cities, while a shorter version that ran for about two-and-a-half hours was released more widely.
After some critical backlash, Castle Rock decided to release the complete 4 hours everywhere and use the shorter version for some overseas territories.
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