What Is the Longest Movie Ever Made?
Are you curious about which movie is the longest ever made? This article will give you the answer.
In this article, you will learn:
- What Is the Longest Movie Ever Made
- 12 Longest Films in the World Across Various Categories
- Final Thoughts About Longest Movie Ever Made
What Is the Longest Movie Ever Made
In 2012, a film called Logistics was completed. It runs for 51,420 minutes — about 857 hours, or 35 days and 17 hours. This record length makes it the longest movie ever made.
The film was created and directed by two Swedish artists, Erika Magnusson and Daniel Andersson. It is part of a project by the Swedish Film Institute and the Swedish Arts Council to explore new ways of making films.
1. Creation and Length: A Unique Filmmaking Process
The way Logistics was made is very unusual. The film is like a slow-motion documentary that follows a pedometer (a device that counts steps) on its journey from a factory in China to its final destination in Sweden.
They filmed the entire trip in real time. That is why the movie is so long. The filmmakers recorded every step of production and distribution — from the assembly line to the container, and finally to the retail store.
2. The Purpose Behind the Film: Raising Awareness and Encouraging Reflection
The film Logistics was made to show how complex the global supply chain and consumer culture really are.
By following one product's journey, the filmmakers want you to think about how your buying choices affect the world and reveal the global process behind everyday items.
3. Reception and Reviews of the World's Longest Movie
Logistics is a very controversial film. Its split between artistic value and viewing experience shows what experimental movies are really about — they challenge our usual ideas of what a movie should be.
You have to watch it non-stop for 35 days to see it "fully." Some critics call this extreme format a jab at our fast-paced lives. They say that by making time itself the content, the film forces you to face repetition and waiting, which makes you think about consumerism and industrialization.
Even with all the debate, many in the experimental film world recognize its innovative spirit. Some viewers even call it a "masterpiece" because it uses a boring format to deliver a deep message — that life, like Logistics, is full of pointless cycles and waste.
However, most regular viewers find the film "extremely boring." Some even question its artistic worth, saying that the director's extreme approach seems more like performance art than a movie.
If you are into avant-garde art or topics about globalization, you might want to try the 72-minute cut on YouTube.
12 Longest Films in the World Across Various Categories
Logistics holds the distinction of being the longest film in the world as an experimental movie. However, other films throughout the history of cinema have been recognized for their extended runtimes.
Here are some of the longest films in various categories:
1. The Longest Movie Certified by Guinness World Records
The longest film ever made, according to Guinness World Records, is The Cure for Insomnia (1987), directed by John Henry Timmis IV.
It lasts 85 hours. However, as previously said, most moviegoers and IMDB classify Logistics as the longest film in the world.
The Cure for Insomnia is a one-of-a-kind film in which L.D. Groban, a screenwriter and poet, reads a single scene from his poem "A Cure for Insomnia" throughout three and a half days.
The movie had some parts where they included short clips from heavy metal music videos and pornographic videos. The film is more of a performance art piece than a typical film, and it has only been shown in its entirety a few times.
2. The Longest Film Series in the World
The Cinématon film series by French director Gérard Courant is considered to be the longest film series in the world. It consists of over 4,500 short films, each lasting three minutes and featuring a single shot of a person looking directly into the camera.
The director gathered fellow artists, friends, and others, allowing them to do whatever they pleased in this relatively short time.
What happens when faced with just one camera? The subjects might gaze directly into the lens, look away, smoke, drink, make faces, or do a combination of these actions.
3. The Longest Disney Animated Movie in the World
Fantasia (1940) is the longest Disney animated movie in the world with a runtime of 2 hours and 5 minutes. It features a collection of animated segments set to classical music.
Note: Disney animated films are usually about the same length, most run around 90 to 110 minutes.
4. The Longest Marvel Movie in the World
Avengers: Endgame (2019) is the longest Marvel movie ever, running for 3 hours and 2 minutes. It wraps up the story that started with Iron Man in 2008 and features a huge cast of superheroes.
Not only is it the longest Marvel film, it's also considered the best Marvel movie ever by fans.
5. The Longest Black and White Movie in the World
Filipino director Lav Diaz made the film Evolution of a Filipino Family. It runs for 643 minutes (10 hours and 43 minutes), making it the longest black-and-white film to date.
The film shows the collapse of a poor farming family in the Philippines from 1971 to 1987 and their hopeful revival. It stands as a witness and symbol of that history.
6. The Longest Hollywood Movie in the World
Cleopatra (1963), directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz, is often considered to be the longest Hollywood movie in the world with a runtime of 4 hours and 8 minutes.
The film is an epic historical drama featuring Elizabeth Taylor as the titular queen of Egypt and Richard Burton as Mark Antony.
7. The Longest Movie on Netflix
The longest movie on Netflix was The Irishman, directed by Martin Scorsese. The film has a runtime of 3 hours and 29 minutes and features an all-star cast, including Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, and Joe Pesci.
The Irishman is a crime epic that spans several decades and tells the story of a hitman's involvement with organized crime in post-World War II America.
8. The Longest Harry Potter Movie
The longest Harry Potter movie ever made is Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. It has a runtime of 161 minutes (2 hours and 41 minutes).
The film was released in 2002 and is the second film in the Harry Potter film series. It is based on the second book in the Harry Potter book series by J.K. Rowling.
9. The Longest Lord of the Rings Movie
In the theater releases, the longest Lord of the Rings movie is the third one, The Return of the King, which runs for 201 minutes (the first is 178 minutes and the second is 179 minutes).
Some versions did not play in theaters. Their run times are:
- The Fellowship of the Ring: 208 minutes (extended version) or 228 minutes (Blu-ray extended)
- The Two Towers: 223 minutes (extended version) or 235 minutes (Blu-ray extended)
- The Return of the King: 254 minutes (extended version) or 263 minutes (Blu-ray extended)
10. The Longest James Cameron Movie
James Cameron's longest movie is Titanic, which has a runtime of 194 minutes (3 hours and 14 minutes). It was released in 1997 and is a historical romance film.
The film stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet as Jack Dawson and Rose DeWitt Bukater, two passengers aboard the RMS Titanic on its ill-fated maiden voyage.
Additionally, two other commercially successful films directed by James Cameron are also notably lengthy. Avatar boasts a runtime of 162 minutes (2 hours and 42 minutes), while its sequel, Avatar: The Way of Water, has a runtime of 192 minutes (3 hours and 12 minutes).
11. The Longest First-Run of a Film in One Cinema
In 1980, the Shanghai Film Studio made a movie called Romance on Lushan Mountain. After its release, a small theater in Lushan, China, was set up to show the film nonstop from morning until night.
Over the years, watching this movie in Lushan has become a popular local tourist activity. Today, the film has played in the same theater for over 40 years and is recognized by Guinness World Records as having the longest continuous run in one cinema.
12. The Longest Star Wars Movie
Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi is the eighth installment in the Star Wars film franchise and was released in 2017.
At 2 hours and 32 minutes, The Last Jedi is the longest Star Wars movie to date, surpassing the previous record holder, Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones, which had a runtime of 2 hours and 22 minutes.
Despite its length, The Last Jedi was a commercial and critical success, grossing over $1.3 billion at the box office and receiving generally positive reviews from critics and audiences alike.
Final Thoughts About Longest Movie Ever Made
While experimental films like Logistics showcase the power of unedited footage, most movies heavily rely on post-production editing.
If you're a video editor, YouTuber, or content creator, you know that editing tools are crucial for creating stunning videos. However, the repetitive nature of editing tasks can be exhausting and time-consuming.
So why not try TourBox? TourBox is a controller designed for creatives, artists, and professionals, seamlessly integrating with various software like photo editing, video editing, digital painting, and office applications.
Picture yourself operating within these digital programs using a game controller rather than a keyboard. TourBox offers a comparable operational feel.
If you're interested in TourBox and often use your iPad for work or creative projects, you might want to check out our TourBox Elite Plus. It works perfectly with the iPad, making tasks like photo editing, video editing, digital art, or even everyday work smoother and more efficient than ever before.
And with that, we conclude our article on the longest movie ever made. Thank you for reading, and we hope it has been helpful to you.
