Today, an image of a large gathering can be created using various methods, but before there were great advancements in technology, filmmakers needed to hire as many extras as the script demanded. In the current era, a combination of unique camera angles can make a small crowd appear larger than it is. Another simple way involves using CGI to create the illusion of large groups when there are only a few people on set.
Well, filmmakers of the past didn’t have such options, so a few notable movies featured an unusually high number of extras. This was especially necessary for war movies set in previous centuries, since armies normally moved in large units. A few modern filmmakers have also made a habit of casting a high number of people, believing that scenes would look more realistic this way, and, so far, the following films hold the record for putting the most faces on the screen.
Ben-Hur
- Release Date
- November 18, 1959
- Director
- William Wyler
- Cast
- Charlton Heston , Jack Hawkins , Haya Harareet , Stephen Boyd , Hugh Griffith , Martha Scott
- Rating
- G
- Runtime
- 212
Ben-Hur is not only known for its epic chariot racing scene, but also for being one of the most touching movies about religion. The plot follows a Jew residing in Judea, who finds himself working as a slave after angering a Roman tribune. He keeps fantasizing about vengeance until things eventually spiral out of control. So good is the William Wyler project that it won a whopping 11 Oscars.
The chariot scene has thousands of cheering spectators, and so does a scene where Jesus preaches to the crowd. All these moments called for many heads, so,10,000 extras were used, as revealed in a report by Time Magazine. The cameo crew ranged from wealthy Italians, who were thrilled to portray ancient influential Romans, to disabled people who were used in the battle scenes where limbs had been cut off. Animal numbers were also high, with over 2500 horses being used. Rent on Apple TV
One of the essential movies about the Napoleonic Wars, Waterloo chronicles Napoleon Bonaparte’s last shot at glory. After a defeat during the War of the Sixth Coalition, he strategized while in exile in Italy, and gathered his troops one final time. This time, his enemies vowed to put an end to the nuisance at the Battle of Waterloo, an event that would mark the iconic French ruler’s downfall.
Napoleon was very short on numbers during the real Battle of Waterloo. The war pitted the Duke of Wellington’s 68,000 soldiers, plus 45,000 Prussian troops provided by Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher, against the 72,000 French soldiers, but the film settles for a smaller number to avoid overcrowding and to make the contest appear even. 15,000 extras were hired as Soviet soldiers for the battle scenes, which is still the highest number of costumed extras ever used in a motion picture, according to War History Online. Rent on Prime Video
China’s last emperor, Pu Yi, ascended to the throne when he was only three years old. As expected, he had a very chaotic reign, and his story is covered in detail in The Last Emperor. The film uses a flashback format, with the leader recalling his rise to power and his glory days while inside a prison cell after being captured by the Red Army.
The making of the film was seen as an important national event in China, so Italian filmmaker Bernardo Bertolucci had no problem getting people to sign up. The number of people who offered to appear in the movie was double what was needed to play the bannermen, eunuchs, and courtiers during the coronation scenes. Still, Bertolucci figured that expert hands would be needed in the battle sequences, so he requested members of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) to also be cast. According to the New York Times, 1000 soldiers were made available to him, totaling 19,000 extras. Stream on Max
The Lord of the Rings trilogy is set in the fictional Middle-earth, where the hobbit Frodo Baggins and his Fellowship are hoping to destroy the One Ring, which the Dark Lord Sauron hopes to use to gain dominion over the people. At some point, the Fellowship eventually disintegrates, but Frodo continues his mission with the help of a few trusted companions.
According to CNET, the MASSIVE software was specifically created to digitally generate crowds for the film. Such a groundbreaking piece of technology had never been used before, but director Peter Jackson felt that this would only be useful for the non-human characters. Thousands of extras were therefore hired throughout the film series to make the battle sequences appear more authentic. The result was there for everyone to see, and today, the Lord of the Rings battle sequences are considered some of the best in cinema history. Stream on Max
6 The Ten Commandments (1956) — 25,000 Extras
The story of Moses from the Bible is well-known, but it’s also the kind that people like to hear again and again, so director Cecil B. DeMille decided to create a movie back in the ‘50s. The Ten Commandments traces Moses and the Israelites' journey as they flee from captivity in Egypt and head to the promised land.
The real Israelites numbered in the thousands (possibly millions), and so did the Egyptian troops that chased after them. Variety reveals that these large numbers were captured with the use of 25,000 extras. Because the events were filmed in actual biblical locations, like Mount Sinai and the Red Sea, the extras were mostly the residents of those areas. Around 15,000 animals were also used, since the Israelites moved together with their livestock after leaving Egypt. Stream on Paramount+
Metropolis
- Release Date
- February 6, 1927
- Director
- Fritz Lang
- Cast
- Alfred Abel , Gustav Fröhlich , Rudolf Klein-Rogge , Fritz Rasp , Theodor Loos , Erwin Biswanger
- Rating
- NONE
- Runtime
- 114
One of the pioneering films in the sci-fi genre, Metropolis is set in a futuristic city where the rich live in beautiful skyscrapers while the poor bear inhumane conditions on the ground below. Classism thus emerges as a major theme, especially after the son of the city’s master teams up with a worker to end the divide that has caused hatred between the two groups.
A large crowd can be seen when the workers finally gather to take on their masters. Many of Metropolis’ scenes are unimpressive by today’s science fiction standards, but the revolt sequence remains breathtaking, thanks to the numbers involved. According to a Washington State University report, some of the extras included malnourished children from destitute backgrounds. This move was both controversial and laudable, as it helped paint a clearer image of what poverty looks like. Stream on Tubi
Emperor Nero is remembered as a hedonistic and reckless ruler who persecuted Christians for no good reason. Part of his story is told in Quo Vadis, with the movie focusing on his decision to burn Rome before blaming Christians for his actions. He then has them arrested and issues orders for them to be massacred at the Circus. While he is at it, several characters try to save themselves.
A few of the events required thousands of people to be present, and this was made possible because the movie was filmed in post-war Italy, where there was cheap labor, stemming from Mussolini’s efforts to make the country a powerhouse in cinema. The final scene where Nero watches thousands of citizens storming his palace is especially memorable. Other scenes with a high number of people include the burning of Christians at the Circus and Marcus Vinicius’ procession into Rome. Rent on Prime Video
Spartacus
- Release Date
- October 13, 1960
- Cast
- Kirk Douglas , Laurence Olivier , Jean Simmons , Charles Laughton , Peter Ustinov , John Gavin
- Rating
- PG-13
- Runtime
- 184
Starz production Spartacus is considered one of the best shows about the Roman Empire, and an accurate account of the life of the Thracian gladiator and rebel leader, but Stanley Kubrick also told the same story decades priod. The 1960 movie focuses on Spartacus and his army of former slaves, as they take on thousands of Roman troops while on their way to southern Italy.
There are varying accounts about the number of extras used in the movie, but Mental Floss puts an estimate at around 50,000, which is about half the number that the revolt leader had in real life. About 8,000 of the extras were Spanish Infantry soldiers. Their presence was considered necessary because many of them had been trained in handling ancient weapons. Interestingly, Kubrick had an easy time instructing them all from high temporary towers. Rent on Prime Video
Based in Jules Verne’s 1873 novel of the same name. Around the World in Eighty Days follows the exploits of English adventurer Phileas Fogg after he claims he can circumnavigate the globe in a mere 80 days. He even makes a bet to prove how serious he is. His journey becomes complicated when he is suspected of stealing £55,000 from a bank in England, forcing a police inspector to trail him.
In the book, there are several scenes in which the protagonist finds himself in large crowds. For the movie to be a perfect adaptation, it needed to capture this well, hence the need for many extras. For example, a bullfighting event in Spain needed 10,000 spectators, according to The Wrap. And the large crowds weren’t the only fascinating thing about the casting choice. Around the World in Eighty Days has tons of cameos from famous ‘40s and ‘50s movie stars, such as Cesar Romero, Charles Coburn, and Pette Lorre. Rent on Prime Video
1 Gandhi (1982) — 300,000 Extras
gandhi
- Release Date
- November 30, 1982
- Rating
- PG
- Runtime
- 188
Undoubtedly one of the best Ben Kingsley movies, Gandhi follows renowned Indian leader Mahatma Gandhi, who stood up against oppression by British colonial masters in his homeland. His revolt caught the attention of the world because he insisted on non-violent strategies that included dialogue and hunger strikes. The movie also details the formation of Pakistan, and Bangladesh, which were previously parts of India.
An official History Channel report states that over 2 million people attended Mahatma Gandhi’s funeral. Such a crowd would have been too large to fit into a set, but director Richard Attenborough tried. Over a quarter of a million people were thus used for the opening scene — the movie begins with Gandhi’s funeral before tracking back — to show just how influential the leader was. The Guinness World Records has also recognized this as the highest number of extras to ever appear in any movie. Rent on AppleTV
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