Overview
During the Italian Renaissance, Pope Julius II contracts the influential artist Michelangelo to sculpt 40 statues for his tomb. When the pope changes his mind and asks the sculptor to paint a mural in the Sistine Chapel, Michelangelo doubts his painting skills and abandons the project. Divine inspiration returns Michelangelo to the mural, but his artistic vision clashes with the pope's demanding personality and threatens the success of the historic painting.
Trailer
Crew
DirectorCarol Reed
WriterPhilip Dunne
Cast
Charlton Heston
Michelangelo
Rex Harrison
Papa Giulio II
Diane Cilento
Contessina de'Medici
Harry Andrews
Bramante
Alberto Lupo
Duca di Urbino
Adolfo Celi
Giovanni de' Medici
Venantino Venantini
Paride de Grassis
Tomas Milian
Raffaello Sanzio
John Stacy
Giuliano da Sangallo
Fausto Tozzi
uomo
Maxine Audley
Woman
Andrea Giordana
aiutante di Michelangelo
Furio Meniconi
contadino
Adolfo Pezzini
uomo alla cava
Paolo Magalotti
guardia svizzera
Alec McCowen
Cardinal
Richard Pearson
Cardinal
Rosalba Neri
Seductive Woman (uncredited)
Marvin Miller
Narrator (uncredited)
Tomas Milian
Raphael
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Keywords
based on novel or bookvatican (holy see)popeartistpainterbiographymichelangelo16th centuryitalian renaissancesistine chapel
Details
Budget
$10M
Revenue
$4M
TMDb Votes
152
Added May 14, 2026Updated Jun 4, 2026