The annual television broadcast of Cecil B. DeMille’s 1956 epic The Ten Commandments is a cornerstone of spring programming. For over half a century, viewers have gathered to watch Moses lead the Israelites across the parted Red Sea, making it one of the most enduring traditions in American broadcast history. In 2025, the schedule followed its long-standing pattern, aligning with the observance of Easter and Passover.

The 2025 ABC Broadcast Schedule

ABC maintained its decades-old tradition by airing The Ten Commandments on the Saturday before Easter Sunday. In 2025, this fell on Saturday, April 12. The broadcast commenced at 7:00 PM Eastern Time (ET).

Given the film's significant runtime—clocking in at 3 hours and 39 minutes without commercials—the ABC telecast typically spans nearly five hours to accommodate limited advertising and network breaks. In 2025, the movie concluded just before midnight, dominating the evening's prime-time slot. This specific airing is known for its high-definition restoration, which highlights the vibrant Technicolor cinematography that earned the film universal acclaim upon its original release.

Local Station Adjustments and Streaming Shifts

While the national ABC schedule remained consistent, local affiliates occasionally adjusted their regular programming to make room for this four-hour-plus event. For instance, in markets like Seattle, local news broadcasts that typically air at 10:00 PM or 11:00 PM were shifted to digital-only streams or delayed until the film's conclusion.

Viewers using live TV streaming services such as Fubo, YouTube TV, or Hulu + Live TV were able to access the ABC broadcast as long as their subscription included local network access. These platforms provided the added benefit of cloud DVR features, allowing fans to record the nearly five-hour event for later viewing.

Global Airings: The 2025 International Schedule

The cultural impact of The Ten Commandments extends beyond the United States. In the Philippines, the GMA Network included the film as a centerpiece of its Holy Week 2025 programming. The network aired the classic Hollywood epic on Maundy Thursday, April 17, 2025, starting at 7:30 PM.

This international broadcast was part of a larger religious programming block that included modern series like The Chosen and other biblical classics such as Ben-Hur. The consistent global scheduling of the film during the same week in April underscores its status as a universal cinematic milestone.

Viewing Options Beyond Broadcast TV

If you missed the primary ABC broadcast on April 12, 2025, the film was not readily available for free on major subscription-based streaming platforms like Netflix, Disney+, or Max. Instead, the distribution focused on "Video on Demand" (VOD) models.

Throughout 2025, the 1956 version of The Ten Commandments was available for digital rent or purchase on the following platforms:

  • Amazon Prime Video: Available in 4K UHD for rental or digital ownership.
  • Apple TV / iTunes: Featured the restored version with additional digital extras.
  • Google Play & YouTube: Offered standard and high-definition rental options.
  • Vudu (Fandango at Home): Provided the film as part of various "Epic Movie" bundles.

For those who prefer physical media, the 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray remains the gold standard for viewing, offering the highest bitrate and preserving the original theatrical aspect ratio without the interruptions of broadcast television.

Why the 2025 Ratings Remained Strong

Despite the rise of on-demand streaming, the 2025 television airing of The Ten Commandments performed exceptionally well in Nielsen ratings. On the night of April 12, ABC led the total viewer count in prime time, drawing an average of over 2.6 million viewers. The film's peak viewership often occurs during the iconic Red Sea sequence, which remains a marvel of practical special effects even by modern standards.

The enduring popularity of the broadcast can be attributed to the "appointment viewing" nature of the event. For many families, watching the film on a traditional TV network with scheduled breaks is a nostalgic experience that digital streaming cannot fully replicate.

Behind the Production: A Cinematic Marvel

Understanding the scale of The Ten Commandments explains why it remains a television staple. When Cecil B. DeMille set out to remake his own 1923 silent film, he aimed for a level of grandeur previously unseen in Hollywood.

The Numbers Behind the Epic

  • Budget: It was the most expensive film ever made at the time of its release in 1956.
  • Cast: The production utilized over 14,000 extras and 15,000 animals.
  • Script: The final screenplay was 308 pages long, nearly triple the length of a standard feature film.
  • Storyboards: Over 1,200 detailed storyboards were created to plan the complex visual sequences.

The Parting of the Red Sea

The film’s most famous sequence—the parting of the Red Sea—took months to film and years to plan. Contrary to modern CGI, this effect was achieved using massive water tanks, wind machines, and a technique known as "reverse filming." The illusion of the water rising was created by releasing 360,000 gallons of water into a tank and then playing the footage backward. This scene earned the film an Academy Award for Best Special Effects and remains a teaching point in film schools today.

Cast and Character Legacy

While we avoid individual biographies, the performances in The Ten Commandments are essential to its longevity. Charlton Heston’s portrayal of Moses is often cited as the definitive screen version of the prophet. Legend has it that DeMille chose Heston because of his striking resemblance to Michelangelo’s statue of Moses in Rome.

Yul Brynner’s performance as Rameses II provides the perfect foil to Heston’s Moses. Their chemistry drives the first half of the film, focusing on the rivalry between the two princes of Egypt. The supporting cast, including Anne Baxter as Nefretiri and Edward G. Robinson as Dathan, adds layers of political intrigue and human drama to the biblical narrative.

Technical Facts and Versions

When looking for the film on TV in 2025, some viewers were surprised to find multiple versions or related content. It is helpful to distinguish between them:

  1. The 1956 Masterpiece: This is the 3-hour, 39-minute version starring Charlton Heston that airs annually on ABC. It is the version most audiences are looking for.
  2. The 1923 Silent Version: Also directed by DeMille, this version features both an ancient and a modern-day story. It is occasionally shown on Turner Classic Movies (TCM).
  3. The Animated Stories: In early 2025, various short animated versions of the story aired on educational and religious channels. While these are great for children, they are not the 1956 cinematic epic.

Practical Viewing Tips for the Future

If you are planning to watch this classic in future years, consider the following suggestions for the best experience:

  • Check the Calendar: ABC almost always airs the film on the Saturday before Easter. If Easter is late in April, the movie will be too.
  • Start Early: Because of the 7:00 PM start time and the nearly five-hour duration, it is a long commitment.
  • Check Local Listings: As seen in 2025, local news or sports might cause slight variations in start times depending on your time zone.
  • Audio Setup: The film features a legendary score by Elmer Bernstein. If you have a home theater system, this is a film that benefits greatly from a robust audio setup.

The Ten Commandments is more than just a movie; it is a historical document of Hollywood’s Golden Age. Whether you watched it on ABC in April 2025 or caught it on a digital platform later in the year, the film’s themes of liberation and law continue to resonate with audiences of all backgrounds.