A good movie makes you feel something. It could make you laugh, make you cry, provoke you to thought, or make your nerves stand on end. When it comes to movies that are centered around Christian themes, the cinema has a wide and diversified field of masterpieces to choose from. The tonality, viewpoints, and depictions therein are as vast and varied as any other genre.
There are fantastic family films, TV series, and comedies that weave great storytelling with Christian-centered story arcs. However, this list will focus on those with more dramatic presentations and intentional gravitas. These films find a way to not only initially move the viewer, but leave impressions that linger in the hearts and minds of audiences who watch them. These are 10 of the most powerful movies about Christianity, ranked.
Joan of Arc is a historical figure who rose from being a normal peasant girl to the leader of France’s armies. She successfully led French troops in a battle against the English in the Hundred Years’ War. Joan’s inspiration was divine as she had visions of Saint Michael and angels. Burned at the stake by the English in 1431, she was officially canonized as a saint in 1920.
Tragically, like martyrs before her and after her, Joan of Arc was killed for her faith. Because she could see and hear visions others could not, she was deemed dangerous, insane, and a heretic. Director Carl Theodor Dreyer set out to tell the story of Joan of Arc in 1928 with a bold use of camera angles, quick cuts, and atmospheric lighting that was far more modern than any other film at that time. The silent film evokes a profoundly dramatic and unsettling feeling. Maria Falconetti’s performance is riveting, displaying a wide array of emotions and thoughts without dialogue. The Passion of Joan of Arc was unlike anything the cinema had ever seen and remains as moving as ever. Acclaimed director Werner Herzog is so gripped when viewing it that he faints during a pivotal scene. The Passion of Joan of Arc was avant-garde in its time and even still today. It is one of the best silent films of all time, and it is almost impossible to watch it without feeling its effect.
A great, sweeping epic made during the Golden Era of Hollywood, The Robe follows a Roman official and a Roman slave who were present at the crucifixion of Jesus. Guilt, doubt, fear, and faith start to shape each one of their lives as they interact with an article of clothing that Jesus wore. The Robe is akin to other great biblically themed classics like The Ten Commandments or Ben-Hur. It features grand sets and dramatic moments.
The Robe was the first movie ever produced using CinemaScope. This technology used an anamorphic lens to shoot pictures in a widescreen format, which could then be shown in theaters using standard equipment. Richard Burton is brilliant as Marcellus Gallio, and watching him go on a pivotal character arc is striking. Victor Mature is just as captivating as Demetrius and has great on-screen chemistry with Burton. The Robe was nominated for five Academy Awards and won for Art Direction and Costume Design.
Perhaps the most important film about modern Christianity, Luther depicts the events of Martin Luther’s (Joseph Fiennes) life and the start of the Protestant Reformation. Martin Luther was a brilliant pastor, theologian, and professor. A reverend for the Catholic Church, he became compelled by the hypocrisies he saw within the organization and the theological discrepancies enacted by them when compared to the scriptures in the Bible. Nailing his 95 Theses to the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany, what began as an intellectual debate grew into one of the greatest religious movements of all time.
Fiennes and director Eric Till chose to show the more intellectual side of Luther. Though he did have deep conviction, it was often more of a bedrock of determination than a flurry of passion. The film is a fascinating glimpse into the history of the organized church. If you want to see Luther’s original Theses, you can head over to the Library of Congress. And if you want to see a great movie about how they came to be, check out Till and Fiennes’ work in Luther.
William Wilberforce was a force to be reckoned with. He was a social reformer and member of the British parliament who campaigned for the abolition of slavery for 18 years until it was finally won. In Amazing Grace, Wilberforce (Ioan Gruffudd) is in great company as he interacts with another important religious figure, John Newton (Albert Finney), the author of the classic hymn “Amazing Grace.”
Both Newton and Wilberforce were devoted Christians, and their faith led them to take action against the injustices of their time. Gruffudd and Finney are proficient actors who are superb in their roles. Amazing Grace does an excellent job of showing glimpses into each character’s journey, their remorse, and motivations. It is a great movie inspired by tragic and true events and brings a message of hope and grace within its runtime.
A post-apocalyptic movie starring Denzel Washington, The Book of Eli has been dominating streaming charts recently. In the film, Washington stars as the titular protagonist who is braving hostile terrain to see that a pivotal item reaches a refuge. Another devious, criminal, and deceitful character named Carnegie (Gary Oldman) seeks the item for his own ill purposes, understanding full well the power it can wield over humankind.
The Book of Eli is a fantastic drama highlighting the importance of faith, miracles, and the corruptible influences that would seek to manipulate them.
Washington is joined by Mila Kunis, who plays the role of Solara, his traveling companion. There are some fantastic plot twists and surprises in The Book of Eli. The storyline is full of ethos and communicates several profound themes to its viewers. The soundtrack is amazing, blending futuristic sounds with poignant tones. The Book of Eli is an underrated triumph, and it is exciting that this film is finally getting the attention it deserves.
A movie that was a success with critics and audiences alike was the war film, Hacksaw Ridge. Andrew Garfield portrays the real-life hero Desmond Doss. Doss, who was a Seventh-day Adventist, served as a medic in the US Army during World War II. Doss’ faith was so strong that he committed himself to being a conscientious objector. He became the first man in history to receive the Medal of Honor without ever firing a shot.
Garfield is an actor with great depth of emotion and nuance, and he plays the role of Doss exceedingly well. Hacksaw Ridge does not shy away from portraying the gruesomeness of war and carries an R rating. Although only released in 2016, it is already considered a classic and is one of the most financially lucrative war films ever made. Hacksaw Ridge earned Garfield his first Oscar nomination and is one of the best performances of his career.
Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ remains as powerful as it is polarizing. Its opposing ratings on Rotten Tomatoes are just one indicator of how this movie can set audiences at odds. Critics gave the film an underwhelming 49%, while audiences gave it an 81%. This is definitely not the only movie to see such a severe difference in critics versus viewer votes, but it is par for the course for The Passion of the Christ.
In The Passion of the Christ, Gibson didn’t want to pull any punches. He wanted to accurately and realistically portray the suffering Jesus (Jim Caviezel) endured at the hands of the officials who tortured and then crucified Him. It was the first rated R film ever made about Jesus, and for good reason. Its gruesome and bloody scenes are difficult to stomach. The Passion of the Christ was the highest-grossing R-rated film for two decades, and one of the most controversial. Though there is currently debate and controversy over the long-awaited sequel, The Resurrection of Christ, set to release in two parts in 2027, there is no denying the impact this single film has.
One of the greatest questions movies centered around Christianity can tackle is “why do bad things happen to good people?” Another, conversely, is the question Mass attempts to explore: “do good people do bad things?” Mass is one of the most raw, realistic, and important films of the 21st Century. Director and writer Fran Kranz uses a painfully and distressingly all-too-relevant circumstance to delve into themes of forgiveness and redemption.
Mass involves two sets of parents coming together after a horrific tragedy to work on healing and understanding. The absence of distractions like a dominating soundtrack, lavish sets, or erroneous camera shots keeps the attention and the focus where it needs to be, on the four individuals involved. Mass is a masterclass in acting that is uncompromising in both its hope and its pain. It asks real questions about what forgiveness is like in actuality. When it is not just an idea or an ideal, but something you must choose, wrestle with, and struggle with every day.
Bonhoeffer: Pastor. Spy. Assassin follows the historical events of Dietrich Bonhoeffer (Jonas Dassler), a German Lutheran pastor and theologian who was involved in a plot to assassinate Adolf Hitler. Bonhoeffer was a Christian, and a spy. He ultimately gave his life trying to stop an evil regime that was slaughtering thousands of innocents. Bonhoeffer explores powerful paradoxes for those who hold tightly to their faith, such as the limits of action and lethal force. It also addresses how believers could allow human rights violations to be legal.
Bonhoeffer: Pastor. Spy. Assassin is deeply moving. It has gripping dramatic moments and phenomenal special effects and a dramatic mise en scène. The subject matter alone makes it an important film to watch, but it is also carried out superbly well. Dassler is tremendous in the lead role, as are the rest of the cast. Bonhoeffer: Pastor. Spy. Assassin has a 92% audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes, testifying to its significance. It is an exceptional film and is both historically and religiously relevant.
Certified Fresh with a 90% critics’ score and Verified Hot with a 98% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, there is no doubt that Cabrini is one of the best films ever made about Christianity. Cabrini is based on the real life of Frances Xavier Cabrini (also known as Mother Cabrini), an Italian nun who changed the world. Cristiana Dell’Anna is remarkable as Cabrini and completely inhabits the role. It is a fantastically done and gripping tale that should not be missed.
Arriving in New York City in 1889, Cabrini is appalled by the deplorable conditions immigrant children are forced to endure. Disease, poverty, and a political system that turned a blind eye were just some of the giants she faced. Undaunted, Cabrini and her fellow nuns established schools for immigrant children, founded orphanages, and established hospitals around the globe, all run by women. She founded the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, which is still in operation today and continues to serve her vision. She became the first American citizen to be canonized and is known as the patron saint of immigrants. Cabrini is a truly powerful movie that does justice to the vital and lasting legacy of Cabrini’s life’s work and her abiding faith in God and love for others.
Your comment has not been saved
We want to hear from you! Share your opinions in the thread below and remember to keep it respectful.
Your comment has not been saved
This thread is open for discussion.
Be the first to post your thoughts.
