Exodus, a United Artists film, was shot on location in Cyprus and Israel.

Dalton Trumbo wrote the screenplay; Otto Preminger was director and producer. Ari Ben Canaan is played by Paul Newman, and Kitty Fremont by Eva Marie Saint; the cast also includes Lee J. Cobb, Peter Lawford, Sal Mineo, and Ralph Richardson. Exodus is well over three hours long. The film was seen as attempting to reflect the inclusivity of the novel, and having a strong emotional impact. The New York Times rated the film version of Exodus as one of the top-ten English language films of 1960: Exodus received praise for effective acting, was described as being a "massive drama of the fight to liberate Israel," and was summed up as being, if not flawless, "the best 'blockbuster' of the year."