Filmmaker Guillermo del Toro will participate in a special screening of the restored 1965 epic 'The Greatest Story Ever Told' at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures. The event marks the film's 60th anniversary and highlights its recent 4K restoration.
The George Stevens Lecture on Directing will feature a premiere screening of the newly restored 'The Greatest Story Ever Told' on January 17, 2026, at the Academy Museum's David Geffen Theater in Los Angeles. Special guest Guillermo del Toro, a three-time Oscar winner and board member of The Film Foundation, will discuss director George Stevens, the restoration process, and the film's enduring influence before the screening.
Directed by George Stevens, the biblical epic underwent a comprehensive 4K restoration led by Amazon MGM Studios to commemorate its 60th anniversary. The project involved collaboration with George Stevens Jr. and The Film Foundation, chaired by Martin Scorsese. Senior colorist Kostas Theodosiou at FotoKem worked from the original 65mm Ultra Panavision Technicolor negative to create 8K scans. The audio was remastered in Dolby Atmos to maintain the original 70mm format's channel setup. Supervision came from Schawn Belston, Scott Grossman, and Darren Gross.
The film's cast boasts stars including Max von Sydow as Jesus, Charlton Heston, Claude Rains, Jose Ferrer, Sidney Poitier, David McCallum, Martin Landau, Donald Pleasence, Carroll Baker, Telly Savalas, Shelley Winters, Ed Wynn, and Van Heflin. Upon release, it earned five Academy Award nominations.
Tickets for the Academy Museum event are available only through advance online reservations via the museum's website and mobile app. This screening underscores ongoing efforts to preserve cinematic history through high-quality restorations.
