A Marathon of Movies – The Longest Films Ever Made
1/21/2025
Think watching The Irishman felt like an endurance test? Buckle up, because some filmmakers took the idea of “long form” to a whole new level. These cinematic marathons stretch beyond your typical two-hour runtime and keep going…and going…and going. So grab your snacks (enough for a week or two) and take a look at the longest films ever made. Just don’t say we didn’t warn you.
1. Logistics (2012)
- Runtime: 857 hours (yes, that’s over 35 days!)
- Directors: Erika Magnusson and Daniel Andersson
The award for longest film goes to Logistics, a Swedish art project that decided normal runtime limits were for amateurs. Clocking in at 857 hours, the film follows the journey of a pedometer being manufactured, from start to finish. It’s essentially a “day in the life” of logistics—except that “day” is actually five weeks long. Viewers can watch the entire manufacturing process in real time, making it the cinematic equivalent of watching paint dry…but, you know, art.
2. Modern Times Forever (2011)
- Runtime: 240 hours (10 days)
- Directors: Superflex
Modern Times Forever is a Danish film that takes the concept of “epic” to absurd new heights. Its central premise? A single building in Helsinki deteriorates over 240 hours. That’s it. No plot twists, no character arcs—just 10 days of decay. While most films capture moments in time, this one captures…time itself. Ten days worth, to be exact. Perfect for anyone who thinks Lawrence of Arabia just doesn’t have enough scenes of things falling apart.
3. Beijing 2003 (2004)
- Runtime: 150 hours
- Director: Ai Weiwei
Legendary Chinese artist Ai Weiwei made this 150-hour film to capture Beijing’s chaotic, real-time changes. Beijing 2003 is raw footage of city life—a stream-of-consciousness tour of daily happenings, with no real beginning, middle, or end. You could start watching at hour 72, and still be…well, exactly as lost as if you started at the beginning. But hey, it’s a historical document of urban life. And at 150 hours, it really lets you soak up that history.
4. Cinématon (1978–2013)
- Runtime: 201 hours (nearly 8.5 days)
- Director: Gérard Courant
French director Gérard Courant took “watching people” to the next level with Cinématon, a 201-hour marathon of silent, 3-minute portraits featuring over 3,000 people. Each “episode” focuses on a different person doing whatever they want on camera. It’s like binge-watching human expressions on mute for over a week. Cinématon is basically the art film version of a super long Instagram Story that you can’t skip.
5. The Cure for Insomnia (1987)
- Runtime: 87 hours
- Director: John Henry Timmis IV
If you think you’ve found a movie that cured your insomnia, think again—The Cure for Insomnia is the original snooze button. Clocking in at 87 hours, this experimental film features poet L.D. Groban reading his 4,080-page poem interspersed with clips of heavy metal and, for reasons only known to the director, adult films. It’s a literal test of endurance, and ironically, most viewers can only make it a few hours in before it lives up to its name.
6. Out 1 (1971)
- Runtime: 13 hours
- Director: Jacques Rivette
For a classic cinema experience that’s still absurdly long, we have Out 1, Jacques Rivette’s 13-hour magnum opus. This French New Wave film follows interconnected storylines of Parisian actors, political conspiracies, and uncomfortably long silences. Some call it a masterpiece; others call it a sleep aid. Either way, Rivette’s work is something of a rite of passage for hardcore cinephiles (or anyone with a spare 13 hours and a high tolerance for existential dread).
7. Shoah (1985)
- Runtime: 9 hours
- Director: Claude Lanzmann
In contrast to some of the more, let’s say, "experimental" films on this list, Shoah is a profoundly serious work. This 9-hour documentary on the Holocaust took over a decade to make and features no archival footage, only interviews and on-site footage. Shoah is a powerful, grueling experience that is often considered one of the greatest documentaries ever made. In this case, the runtime is necessary to cover the immensity of the subject.
8. Resan (The Journey) (1987)
- Runtime: 14 hours
- Director: Peter Watkins
British filmmaker Peter Watkins took on a 14-hour “journey” through 10 countries to explore global issues like poverty, nuclear arms, and environmental degradation. It’s like watching a very, very long TED Talk on global problems—only way more intense and without the breaks. For those who make it through all 14 hours, Resan is a powerful, if heavy, cinematic experience.
9. La Flor (2018)
- Runtime: 14 hours
- Director: Mariano Llinás
La Flor is an Argentinian film in six episodes, each a different genre (musical, thriller, horror—you name it). It’s like a whole film festival in one sitting, with some storylines that literally never end. Director Mariano Llinás keeps the audience guessing—and possibly wondering when it will all be over. But for anyone who dreams of binge-watching a movie with no particular reason to stop, La Flor is a wild ride.
10. Evolution of a Filipino Family (2004)
- Runtime: 11 hours
- Director: Lav Diaz
Filipino director Lav Diaz doesn’t believe in “short films”—or even films of a reasonable length. Evolution of a Filipino Family spans 11 hours and chronicles the struggles of a rural family over 16 years. For Diaz, the runtime is essential to capture the weight of each moment, even if it means audiences might need an intermission or ten. His work is long, but for the committed viewer, it’s rewarding.
Honorable Mentions: For When 10 Hours Just Isn’t Enough
While these films may be the longest, many more hover just under double digits and still demand significant stamina. For the brave, there’s Sátántangó (1994) by Béla Tarr, which clocks in at a “casual” 7.5 hours, and War and Peace (1966) by Sergei Bondarchuk, a four-part Russian epic totaling 8 hours.
Final Thoughts
So, if you’ve ever complained about a film being “too long,” consider the cinephiles who’ve braved Logistics or The Cure for Insomnia. These epic runtimes make your average three-hour movie seem like a quick watch. Next time you want a true movie marathon, remember: there’s a whole world of endurance cinema out there, just waiting to test your patience and your popcorn supply.