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An Easter weekend tradition continues this year on ABC. 

Nearly every year since 1973, the network has broadcast The Ten Commandments on the Saturday before Easter Sunday. The 1956 Biblical epic – which stars Charlton Heston – has become appointment viewing for many. But this year, another network is getting in on the action. For the first time, UPtv will also air the four-hour Cecil B. DeMille film, giving you another chance to experience this awe-inspiring story of the Israelites’ exodus from Egypt, led by Moses (Heston). 

Why do people keep returning to The Ten Commandments 70 years after the film first hit theaters? The story hits on themes that still resonate today, no matter a person’s faith, argues Vox’s Alissa Wilkinson. 

“Freedom, courage, and a hope for liberation — that’s what people have been taking away from the story of the Exodus for millennia,” she wrote. “So an annual rewatch of the story’s most epic retelling feels like the right activity on this weekend. It’s a story most people can’t afford to forget.”

When to watch ‘The Ten Commandments’ on ABC and UPtv in 2026

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Why ‘Ben-Hur’ Is a Better Easter Movie Than ‘The Ten Commandments’

In 2026, The Ten Commandments will air Saturday, April 4 at 7 p.m. ET on ABC.

This year, you can also watch The Ten Commandments on Friday, April 3 at 4 p.m. ET on UPtv. The faith-and-family focused cable network will also air The Greatest Story Ever Told at 8 p.m. ET on April 3, followed by Mary, Mother of Jesus at 12 a.m. ET on April 4. 

The Ten Commandments is not available on Netflix or other subscription streaming services. However, it is available to rent on various platforms, including Prime Video, AppleTV, and Google Play.

Where to stream other Easter movies

Looking for other movies to watch this Easter? From religious dramas to kid-friendly flicks, here’s where to stream some other seasonal favorites. 

  • The Passion of the Christ: Streaming on The Wonder Project on Prime Video  
  • It’s the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown!: Streaming on Apple TV
  • Peter Rabbit: Streaming on Netflix 
  • Hop: Streaming on HBO Max 
  • Easter Sunday: Streaming on Peacock
  • Here Comes Peter Cottontail: Streaming on Tubi
  • The King of Kings: Streaming on Peacock
  • Monty Python’s Life of Brian: Streaming on Peacock, Pluto TV, and The Roku Channel
  • The Greatest Story Ever Told: Streaming on YouTube, Pluto TV, and Tubi
  • The Gospel According to St. Matthew: Streaming on Tubi and Prime Video  

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