Everyone enjoys a great movie. No movie is better than a bad or poorly designed movie. Movies about God have a reputation for being poorly made. Faith-based movies are improving. Here are my favorite faith-based movies of all time.
The Passion Of The Christ, in my humble opinion, is the best faith-based movie of all time. Unsurprisingly, Rotten Tomatoes disagreed and scored it at a lowly 49%. The Passion Of The Christ is the highest-grossing R-rated movie of all time. Ticket sales exceeded $370 million dollars. This best faith-based movie defeated Deadpool, The Hangover, Joker, and It in ticket sales.
Here are 12 of the best faith-based movies of all time. What objective criteria are being used? I started with my twelve favorite faith-based movies. From there they are scored with a Rotten Tomato score, the Audience “Popcorn” Score, and total Box Office ticket sales.
#12 Best Faith-Based Movie — God’s Not Dead
God’s Not Dead is a good apologetics primer. The Case For Christ (#11) goes deeper but this one is a great starting point for I Peter 3:15.
Unsurprisingly, Rotten Tomatoes scorched this movie with a score of twelve. Viewers were much kinder and gave it a Popcorn score of seventy-five. The movie only had a budget of $2 million but grossed over $62 million in ticket sales.
The movie follows a college student who is intellectually accosted by a philosophy professor. Harper, the student, must logically defend his belief in God to the professor or deal with a failing grade in the class.
God’s Not Dead has a very good cast despite the diminutive budget.
#11 Best Faith-Based Movie — The Case For Christ
This is one of the rare instances where the movie is as good as the book. I highly recommend the book as well.
The Case For Christ follows the life of Lee Strobel. Lee is an award-winning journalist at the Chicago Tribune. He is a no-nonsense, rational, prima donna. He is also an ardent atheist.
Lee’s wife becomes a Christian and a wedge is inserted into their marriage. As such, he sets out to disprove the existence of God so his life can return to what he considers rational and normal.
He interviews leading scholars, scientists, and doctors in an effort to poke holes in his wife’s faith.
The Case For Christ is quickly paced, informative, and entertaining.
I believe that every new Christian should watch this movie within the first few weeks of their new life.
#10 Best Faith-Based Movie — Silence
Silence is nearly perfect. If I were to give it a score it would be 99.99999% — it’s a movie that everyone needs to watch at least one time.
Two priests go to Japan to determine whether one of their own (Liam Neeson) has apostatized. Andrew Garfield (Hacksaw Ridge) and Adam Driver (Star Wars) masterfully play two priests attempting to uncover the truth about their mentor.
The movie forced me to look at my own inadequacies. I was constantly reminded of the unearned grace of God that overwhelms me on a daily basis.
Silence is a terribly sad movie. There is no happy ending. It’s a brutal betrayal of human frailty. Martin Scorsese has created a film that reaches into the deepest crevices of our lives and shines the light of truth.
#9 Best Faith-Based Movie — The Book Of Eli
Denzel Washington stars as Eli. What else does one really need to know?
Eli has been given a mission. His mission, which he willingly accepted, is to get the last copy of the Holy Bible to a place of safety.
He must traverse a dystopian America populated with murderers, thieves, and cannibals, and he must outwit a notorious gang leader played by Gary Oldman (The Dark Knight, Harry Potter).
Eli reluctantly inherits a spunky sidekick played by Mila Kunis. The scenes between the two are hopeful and yet heart-wrenching. Her character, Solara, reminds me of a modern generation. A generation with zero understanding of God or His Son Jesus.
This is a fantastic movie but not recommended for children.
#8 Best Faith-Based Movie — The Lion, The Witch, And The Wardrobe
The classic novel by C.S. Lewis bursts from the written page and onto the silver screen!
Aslan is voiced by Liam Neeson (Silence, Taken), Tilda Swinton (Doctor Strange, Benjamin Button) masterfully plays the White Witch, and James Macavoy (X-Men, Split) brilliantly brings Mr. Tumnus to life.
This was the first faith-based movie from The Chronicles of Narnia series.
Four children stumble upon a magical world of witches, talking animals, a very funny beaver, and Saint Nick.
Redemption is the central theme. Here’s an article about redemption through the blood of Christ.
This is a must-watch faith-based movie for young children as well as adults. We love re-watching it during the Christmas holiday but it can be enjoyed at any time.
The Chronicles of Narnia books, seven in all, are easy to read and full of faith-based symbolism and truth. If you have young children, please read the entire series to or with them.
You’re welcome.
#7 Best Faith-Based Movie — Amazing Grace
Amazing Grace is a movie that chronicles William Wilberforce’s persistent battle against the slave trade in the British empire. Wilberforce faces roadblocks and impediments but refuses to give up.
It’s a fantastic representation of perseverance, teamwork, faith, and redemption.
Wilberforce is played by Ioan Gruffudd (Fantastic Four). Benedict Cumberbatch (Dr. Strange) plays the role of William Pitt. Harry Potter fans will love the role played by a beardless Dumbledore. John Newton, the author of the classic hymn Amazing Grace, plays a prominent role in the life of Wilberforce.
The subject matter is brutal. Yet, the movie can be enjoyed by the entire family.
I highly encourage you to read the book, Amazing Grace by Eric Metaxas as well.
Wilberforce was a practicing Methodist. Methodists, at this time, were the radical fringe! So much has changed in such a short period of time. Regrettably the Methodist denomination, in many ways, is following other progressives into the abyss of spiritual apathy.
#6 Best Faith-Based Movie — The Passion Of The Christ
This is one of the finest movies ever made. Mel Gibson pulled out all of the stops to create this epic. It is flawless.
The dialogue is in Aramaic with subtitles. Often movies are made in English with out-of-sync accents. Not in this movie. Gibson wanted to ensure the movie was authentic.
The Passion of the Christ is one of the most violent movies ever.
Yes, other Gibson movies like The Patriot and Braveheart have gratuitous beheadings and more. However, the violence in The Passion of the Christ is centered on one person — an innocent person.
It’s tough to witness.
The prophet Isaiah states that Christ was beaten beyond recognition. Not as Jesus but as a person (Isaiah 52:14). The torture in the movie inadequately depicted what Jesus actually endured and yet some scenes were impossible to watch.
Rotten Tomatoes dismissed The Passion Of The Christ. The viewing public did not, however. It grossed nearly $700 billion worldwide.
#5 Best Faith-Based Movie — I Can Only Imagine
I Can Only Imagine is the fourth highest-grossing Christian film of all time. Its global box office take was $86 million. The movie is based on a hit song of the same name. That song is one of the biggest Christian hit songs of all time. It was certified quadruple platinum in 2019!
The movie is a biographical drama about the lead vocalist of the band Mercy Me. It chronicles the rocky relationship that he was with his father.
The film stars Dennis Quaid, Cloris Leachman, and Trace Adkins.
#4 Best Faith-Based Movie — Hacksaw Ridge
Hacksaw Ridge is one of the most gut-wrenching war movies ever made. I imagine there were many creative liberties taken by Mel Gibson (director). However, even if our hero did only 10% of what was shown that would have been more than enough.
Desmond Doss is the main character of the film. He enlists in the military to serve in the second world war. There is one teensy problem: Doss is a pacifist.
He endures constant harassment and abuse from his superiors and fellow soldiers. Through it all, his convictions remain intact.
Andrew Garfield (The Amazing Spider-Man & Silence) was cast perfectly to play Desmond Doss.
Mel Gibson fell out of favor with the Hollywood snobbery a few years prior to this film. When it debuted even his biggest haters had to reluctantly admit that he is a great moviemaker.
Watch this movie ASAP!
#3 Best Faith-Based Movie — The Ten Commandments
This classic film debuted in 1956 and starred Charlton Heston as Moses and Yul Brenner as Rameses. It’s the story of the Exodus from Egypt to The Promised Land.
Adjusted for inflation this epic film grossed over $1 billion!
#2 Best Faith-Based Movie — Ben Hur
Charlton Heston was quite the star in the fifties! He was the titular character Judah Ben Hur in this 1959 classic.
This film grossed nearly $2 billion when adjust for inflation!
If you enjoy takes of revenge and chariot races this is the film for you. Jesus, Himself makes a memorable cameo in this awesome movie.
#1 Best Faith-Based Movie — The Lord Of The Rings
Peter Jackson took J.R.R. Tolkien’s classic trilogy and created three fantastic films. There are some differences between the book and movie (as always) but both are entertaining and faith-filled.
Yes, the books are better but the movies are excellent.
Spiritual themes and biblical references are less obvious in these movies than say The Chronicles of Narnia. Viewers must mine the spiritual truths in this movie.
The cast of this series is world-class. The scenes and music are breathtaking.
This series is a must-see with eyes open towards faith.
Sin is real. Sauron and Saruman infect and inflict society still.
The fight for faith must continue!
Full Disclaimer
There are some better-known “faith-based” movies that didn’t make the final twelve. Movies such as Heaven Is Real and The Shack were intentionally excluded. The content of these two movies is questionable at best.
Yes, I went there.