This paper aims to study the effect of rise rate (dV/dt) on the cumulative breakdown characteristics of biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP) film under nanosecond pulse voltage. The lifetime (NL) of BOPP film under nanosecond pulse voltage with different rise times (15~115ns) was carried out. It is found that the NL increases with the increase of the rise time, and decreases with the increase of the dV/dt. Meanwhile, the quantitative mathematical relationship between NL and dV/dt, and pulse voltage amplitude are established, respectively, and it is concluded that both the rise rate and pulse voltage amplitude on the lifetime of BOPP film by the inverse power model. The results of the study are expected to provide the experimental basis and mechanistic explanation for the evaluation of film capacitor lifetime under extreme conditions.