I certainly believe there are films that changed my life. Or, in view of my Christian beliefs, films that God used to change my life. Either way, I have huge affection for them, and my life was changed afterwards. Generally I don't talk about specifics, as I steer away from such personal details here, but I do talk a fair bit about the impact E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial had in that respect (see link below). Other films I'd say changed my life in some way include The General, Scrooge, Great Expectations (the 1946 David Lean version), 2001: A Space Odyssey, Witness, Ivan's Childhood, The Magic Box, Cinema Paradiso, The Remains of the Day, The Exorcist, Vertigo, The Lives of Others, and The Tree of Life.

I've bookmarked your Ben Hur article to read later, by the way. :)

https://medium.com/fan-fare/retro-rewind-how-e-t-the-extra-terrestrial-changed-my-life-8b981348f485