Looking for inspiration and entertainment? These Christian films promise to deliver—some with adventure, suspense and special effects; others in lessons of love, hope and the beauty of forgiveness. Christian film companies have produced 100’s of films, but here are a handful of Christian-based movies that stand apart. Read our review of 25 Christian-Based Movies to Watch:
Top 25 Christian-Based Movies to Watch
1. The Hiding Place
Director: James F. Collier
Main Actors: Julie Harris, Jeannette Clift, Arthur O’Connell
Released: 1977
IMDB Rating: 7.5
The story begins as the uneventful lives of clock makers are exchanged with the call to adventure, danger, and a testing of faith that would reveal loyalty and tighten resolve. Risking all to hide Jews during the terror of Nazi Germany, the ten Boom family ended up in a concentration camp where all the members would die except Corrie ten Boom. Be strengthened by this extraordinary story of courage and the journey to forgiveness.
2. Love Comes Softly
Director: Michael Landon Jr.
Main Actors: Katherine Heigl, Dale Midkiff, Corbin Bernsen
Released: 2003
IMDB Rating: 7.5
The script for this film is based on a series of books by Janette Oke and originally aired on the Hallmark Channel in 2003. It is the story about a widow and widower who were forced together in order to survive. Through the ordeal their relationship blossoms into a deep love and affection for one another.
3. The Passion of The Christ
Director: Mel Gibson
Main Actors: Jim Caviezel, Monica Bellucci, Maia Morgenstern
Released: 2004
IMDB Rating: 7.1
This film covers the final hours of Jesus’ life, ending with his resurrection. There are times the movie flashes back to times of Jesus’ childhood, teaching scenes, and the Last Supper. Director Mel Gibson says, “This is a movie about love, hope, faith and forgiveness, He died for all mankind, suffered for all of us. It’s time to get back to that basic message.”
4. End of the Spear
Director: Jim Hanon
Main Actors: Jim Hanon
Released: 2006
IMDB Rating: 6.9
The film is based on actual events, and chronicles the experiences of five missionaries martyred by the spears of Eastern Ecuadorian tribesmen. The son of one of the men speared down, Nate Saint, tells the story that continues through to his own forgiveness and reconciliation and his friendship one of the tribesmen who took part in the massacre. The two of them form a friendship and bond that continues to this day.
5. The Second Chance
Director: Steve Taylor
Main Actors: Michael W. Smith, Jeff Obafemi Carr, J. Don Ferguson
Released: 2006
IMDB Rating: 6.7
Michael W. Smith plays a suburban music minister at a booming mega church. Urged by his father, he takes a ministry assignment with the pastor of Second Chance Church in the toughest part of town, surrounded by poverty, drugs, and crime. The two pastors have totally different personalities and backgrounds, and conflict ensues. As they begin to work together they overcome the hard-wired prejudices that divide them.
6. Facing the Giants
Director: Alex Kendrick
Main Actors: Alex Kendrick, Shannen Fields, Jason McLeod
Released: 2006
IMDB Rating: 6.6
The head coach of Shiloh Christian Academy is facing colossal challenges on and off the field. Will he be defeated by these giants or turn them into opportunities to praise and worship God and grow in the process?
7. One Night with the King
Director: Michael O. Sajbel
Main Actors: Tiffany Dupont, Luke Goss, John Noble
Released: 2006
IMDB Rating: 6.3
This film is based on the powerful biblical story of a young Jewish woman named Esther who is brought to the forefront of history by her acts of courage, obedience and love, and how she saves an entire nation from annihilation.
8. Faith Like Potatoes
Director: Regardt van den Bergh
Main Actors: Frank Rautenbach, Jeanne Neilson, Hamilton Dlamini
Released: 2006
IMDB Rating: 7
A Zambian farmer of Scottish decent leaves his farm in the midst of political and racial strife, to begin a new life with his family in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa. This true story written by Angus Buchan, is characterized by disappointment, struggle, and even tragedy, but through it all, God is about to do an amazing work.
9. The Nativity Story
Director: Catherine Hardwicke
Main Actors: Keisha Castle-Hughes, Shohreh Aghdashloo, Oscar Isaac
Released: 2006
IMDB Rating: 6.7
Celebrate Christmas with this dramatic presentation of the true reason behind the holiday season. The film is focused on the period in Mary and Joseph’s life where they journeyed to Bethlehem for the birth of Jesus.
10. Midnight Clear
Director: Dallas Jenkins
Main Actors: Stephen Baldwin, K Callan, Kirk B.R. Woller
Released: 2006
IMDB Rating: 6.3
Driven to utter despair, a group of random people are lost in hopelessness and ready to put the final pin on their desperation by taking extreme actions. They’ve lost everything, but their lives are about to change forever.
11. Fireproof
Director: Alex Kendrick
Main Actors: Kirk Cameron, Erin Bethea, Ken Bevel
Released: 2008
IMDB Rating: 6.5
Caleb saves complete strangers, but he is unwilling to save his own marriage. On the fiery path to divorce, Caleb’s father urges him to try what he calls the Love Dare—a 40-day challenge of showing unconditional love to his wife.
12. The Secrets of Jonathan Sperry
Director: Rich Christiano
Main Actors: Gavin MacLeod, Jansen Panettiere, Robert Guillaume
Released: 2009
IMDB Rating: 6.8
Dustin, Albert, and Mark are 12-year-old friends out for summer break. The boys meet a wise old man who takes the time with the boys to impart biblical truths of forgiveness and unconditional love and show them how to apply these principles in their lives.
13. To save a Life
Director: Brian Baugh
Main Actors: Randy Wayne, Deja Kreutzberg, Joshua Weigel
Released: 2010
IMDB Rating: 7.2
Jake and Roger were childhood buddies, but everything changes once Jake becomes popular and replaces his best friend with another circle of friends. Rejection and heartache force Roger into a tail spin that ends in tragedy. Will Jake be able to overcome the devastation?
14. Letters to God
Director: David Nixon, Patrick Doherty
Main Actors: Tanner Maguire, Jeffrey Johnson, Robyn Lively
Released: 2010
IMDB Rating: 6.1
This story was written by Patrick Doherty about his 8-year-old son Tyler, who has cancer and maintains his faith by writing letters to God. The letters ultimately reach to affect a neighborhood and community to inspire hope and purpose.
15. What If
Director: Dallas Jenkins
Main Actors: Kevin Sorbo, Kristy Swanson, John Ratzenberger
Released: 2010
IMDB Rating: 6.6
Ben Walker left a future in ministry and a supportive girlfriend in exchange for a high-paying career and a trophy wife. He is visited by an angel who shows him what his life would have been like if he had followed his calling.
16. The Grace Card
Director: David G. Evans
Main Actors: Michael Joiner, Michael Higgenbottom, Louis Gossett Jr.
Released: 2011
IMDB Rating: 6.4
After Mac McDonald loses his son in an accident, his life careens out of control. It’s not until the challenges of an unlikely pairing in the police department that he takes a long hard look at things and learns about the grace of God.
17. Seven Days in Utopia
Director: Matt Russell
Main Actors: Lucas Black, Robert Duvall, Melissa Leo
Released: 2011
IMDB Rating: 6.1
A young golfer with a promising career ahead of him is about to turn pro, but has a disastrous debut. Angry, embarrassed and disappointed, he finds himself unexpectedly stranded in Utopia, Texas and meets an eccentric rancher with an unusual challenge for him.
18. Courageous
Director: Alex Kendrick
Main Actors: Alex Kendrick, Ken Bevel, Kevin Downes
Released: 2011
IMDB Rating: 7
Four law enforcement officers Adam Mitchel, Nathan Hayes, David Thompson, and Shane Fuller, take on high-pressure situations almost every day, but when they get home being a father is the one responsibility and demand that suffers. Tragedy urge the men to make changes in their lives, but will they look to the God who is the only one that can truly transform.
19. Hell and Mr. Fudge
Director: Jeff Wood
Main Actors: Mackenzie Astin, Keri Lynn Pratt, Wes Robertson
Released: 2012
IMDB Rating: 6.3
After being challenged by a complete stranger to prove the existence of hell, Mr. Fudge dedicates a year of his life to the systematic study of Hell. His study will change his life forever.
20. God’s Not Dead
Director: Harold Cronk
Main Actors: Shane Harper, Kevin Sorbo, David A.R. White
Released: 2014
IMDB Rating: 5
Josh is challenged by his atheist philosophy professor to prove God exists. Josh is belittled and abused, but continues the debate until it comes to a head. “Why do you hate God?” he questioned his teacher in the middle of debate. His teacher responds in rage, confirming he hates God because he took his mother from him when he was young. The debate turns. How can the professor hate someone who does not exist?
21. Heaven is for Real
Director: Randall Wallace
Main Actors: Greg Kinnear, Kelly Reilly, Thomas Haden Church
Released: 2014
IMDB Rating: 5.8
This film tells the story of a 3-year old boy who claims to have entered heaven during an emergency appendectomy. He tells of meeting long departed family members, angels and God—a place where “nobody is old and nobody wears glasses”.
22. 23 Blast
Director: Dylan Baker
Main Actors: Mark Hapka, Bram Hoover, Stephen Lang
Released: 2014
IMDB Rating: 6.1
This is a film about overcoming against tremendous odds. Travis Freeman gets sick with bacterial meningitis which results in blindness. His new life forces some big decisions and the courage to take the first steps toward his future.
23. Do you Believe?
Director: Jon Gunn
Main Actors: Mira Sorvino, Sean Astin, Alexa PenaVega
Released: 2015
IMDB Rating: 5.5
Lives affected by loss, disappointment, pain, and peer pressure all converge in this movie and are impacted by one pastor, stirred to action.
24. Beyond the Mask
Director: Chad Burns
Main Actors: Andrew Cheney, John Rhys-Davies, Kara Killmer
Released: 2015
IMDB Rating: 6.8
During the American Revolutionary War, an assassin is forced to live a completely different life, redeeming the one he’s lost. He becomes part of an effort to overthrow the British in the American colonies.
25. Little Boy
Director: Alejandro Monteverde
Main Actors: Jakob Salvati, Emily Watson, David Henrie
Released: 2015
IMDB Rating: 7.3
This is the story of the love of a father for his son, and the love of a son for his father. The little boy believes if he can just have enough faith he can bring an end to World War 2 and bring his dad home. Will his faith, love and hope be enough?
26. Where Hope Grows
Director: Chris Dowling
Main Actors: Kristoffer Polaha, David DeSanctis, Danica McKellar
Released: 2015
IMDB Rating: 6.5
A personal problem forces a professional ball player to quit baseball, but new-found purpose is ignited by a young man with Down Syndrome who works at his local grocery store.
27. War Room
Director: Alex Kendrick
Main Actors: Priscilla Evans Shirer, T.C. Stallings, Karen Abercrombie
Released: 2015
IMDB Rating: 6.1
From the creators of Facing the Giants, Fireproof and Courageous comes the new movie, War Room which is out in theatres now. Failing marriage, temptation, and life struggles are met with the challenge of war-room prayer.
28. Uncommon
Director: Bill Rahn
Main Actors: Erik Estrada, Ben Davies, Irma P. Hall
Released: 2015
IMDB Rating: TBD
In this Liberty Counsel film, students fight against political correctness and overwhelming struggle to defend their right and privilege to worship and perform according to their talents.
29. Risen
Director: Kevin Reynolds
Main Actors: Tom Felton, Cliff Curtis, Joseph Fiennes
Release date: 2016
IMDB Rating: TBD
This new film set to be released January 22, 2016, covers the events following the crucifixion of Jesus and is told from the perspective of a fictional top military official who oversees Jesus’ death on the cross.
30. Mary, Mother of Christ
Director: TBD
Main Actors: Ben Kingsley, Julia Ormond, Jay Willick
Release date: 2016
IMDB Rating: TBD
The is the story of Mary and the many struggles she may have experienced as the mother of Jesus during a very difficult time in history.
Hopefully, a few of these films pique your interest and you are able to enjoy a family-friendly movie night, saturated with inspiration and goodwill. And please let us know other films you would include in your own list of Christian-based movies to watch.
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