The Rise of Faith-Based Films Celebrates Family Values – and Hope

I’m a fan of Christian films. Not all of them, mind you, but I do love a good story – and what could be better than one that points to true hope? 

Of course, haters gonna hate, and creative Christian expression, along with a good deal of simply wholesome entertainment, has suffered the ire of movie critics through the years who can’t stomach faith-forward storytelling. Edginess, angst, graphic sexuality – and woke politics often win the favor of these “experts.” However, their taste in entertainment frequently bears no resemblance to that of actual paying moviegoers.

It hasn’t always been that way, though.

When a somewhat disheveled young man climbed 60 feet of scaffolding to lie on his back and paint, unleashing the story of Genesis and the creation of man on the ceiling of the Vatican’s famed Sistine Chapel, nobody threw shade at Michelangelo (except maybe his rival Leonardo Da Vinci). He was cutting-edge, current, and his innovative religious art has been celebrated for hundreds of years.

Christians have long been drawn to share the biblical narrative and its virtues through visual art. It was paintings, mosaics, and sculpture back then. Now it’s music, motion pictures, and more. Back in the Italian Renaissance, nobody accused “Christian” art of being less than, but times have changed.

I began my career at a Christian music company. It was back in the late eighties, and some pretty cool things were happening. Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith, Phil Keaggy, Stephen Curtis Chapman, Stryper, and lots of others ran the gamut of musical styles from rock to country to rap, united by a common faith theme. The industry and its creatives faced harsh criticism back then as those who hated that genre claimed Christian artists fell short of lofty secular music standards. Or was the subject matter what made it unpalatable?

Good or Bad? Consider the Source

Next time you’re trying to decide on a faith-based, family-friendly movie, can I give you a tip?

When you look at a site like Rotten Tomatoes to gauge whether a new flick is a good way to spend your time and money, you’ll see the critics trash the faith-friendly options, but, with a closer look, you’ll know the truth. The “Tomatometer” number represents the movie critic’s reviews, while the “Popcornmeter” represents actual moviegoers – the ones who count.

Here’s just one example: Jesus Revolution, which grossed more than $54 million worldwide in 2023, was panned with a Tomatometer score of just 54%, but those who flocked to theatres gave it a Popcornmeter rating of 99%. Who do you believe?

Another place to get the skinny on faith-based films and mainstream offerings is Focus on the Family’s PluggedIn.com.

Faith-Based Films Are a Rich Part of Cinematic History

Ever since movies became mainstream in the 1920s, faith-based films have been among Hollywood’s offerings. Early versions of The Ten Commandments and Ben Hur were made in the 20s. The versions you probably know better came a few decades after. In the 30s, Frank Capra’s The Miracle Woman and Cecil B. DeMille’s epic The Sign of the Cross kicked off the decade. The Bishop’s Wife, The Bells of St. Mary’s, and Sergeant York were popular in the 40s.

The 50s and 60s saw a number of notable faith-forward flicks: The Ten Commandments, Ben-Hur, A Man Called Peter, and The Greatest Story Ever Told. Then, Corrie Ten Boom’s story, The Hiding Place, The Cross and The Switchblade, and A Thief in the Night were in theatres in the 70s. In the 80s, Chariots of Fire earned four Academy Awards, including Best Picture, and The Mission, starring Robert De Niro and Jeremy Irons, shared a moving (and violent) story of a Jesuit missionary and a slave trader who finds redemption. The animated feature The Prince of Egypt was a notable offering from the 90s and has been a favorite in our household.

Family and Faith-Friendly Films Making a Mark in Hollywood

In the early 2000s, some good-hearted, though extremely low-budget, Christian movies were well received by some, while facing harsh responses from mainstream Hollywood and a fair amount of friendly fire from some Christians. Personally, I have a problem with those who are quick to criticize projects that offer a well-told story – even with a small budget.

Here’s a little perspective: between 2000 and 2005, moviemakers in Hollywood were spending an average of $60 million on a film’s production – and another $30 million on marketing. Contrast that with Left Behind (the one with Kirk Cameron), which cost $17 million to produce. Then $20 million went into the movie One Night with the King about Queen Esther. Each of those came in at a third of what mainstream Hollywood spends, though they grossed only $4.2 and $13.7 million, respectively.

In 2004, the blockbuster produced by Mel Gibson, The Passion of the Christ, earned more than $660 million worldwide.

No Shame in Humble Beginnings

The Kendrick brothers, Alex, Stephen, and Shannon, started making films through their church, Sherwood Baptist in Albany, Georgia. They shot their first full-length film, Flywheel (2002), with a meager 20K, to be used as a church outreach. Church members crewed the production and acted in it. The humblest of starts when it comes to moviemaking – yet there was something about the heart and story behind that movie that captured the community’s attention and began to spread. Ultimately, they sold over a million DVDs of that simple film about a salesman’s integrity.

From there, the brothers made Facing the Giants, Fireproof, Courageous, and War Room, all with small budgets but still earning them an even more far-reaching impact and a growing reputation in the film world. Their most recent films, Overcomer and The Forge, were their widest theatrically released films, each budgeted at $5 million – their largest production budgets to date. Worth noting, too, is that Kendrick Brothers films have earned roughly $150 million, possibly more, with production costs representing only a minuscule percentage of that figure.

More Brothers, Why Not?

The Erwin Brothers got their start working with and being encouraged by the Kendricks. They started Kingdom Story Company, attaining significant success with films such as I Can Only Imagine, Jesus Revolution, Mom’s Night Out (one of my all-time favorite flicks), I Still Believe, October Baby, and American Underdog.

Christian Horror?

Possibly the first Christian film in the Horror/Mystery & Thriller category was Nefarious (2023), the story of a demon-possessed convict on death row and the mind games he inflicted on a non-believing counselor sent to confirm his sanity, clearing the way for his execution. Not for the kids, but I have to say – as much as I stay away from that genre, it was excellent. It reminded me of the concepts C.S. Lewis explored in The Screwtape Letters. Incidentally, the critics on Rotten Tomatoes gave Nefarious a sad 35%, as moviegoers disagreed, giving it a nearly perfect, nail-biting 96%.

Hollywood is On Notice

Hollywood eagerly embraced wokeness in the 2020s, creating box-office bombs like The Marvels, Wonder Woman 1984, Mulan, and Lightyear (seriously, was it necessary to ruin our beloved Toy Story memories?)

Turns out, it’s not what audiences wanted. Instead, moviegoers have been shelling out their hard-earned dollars for movies that explore positive, hopeful – and even blatantly Christian concepts. Hollywood sees.

The Chosen Changed Things

 When Dallas Jenkins began crowdfunding the first season of The Chosen series, with 16,000 donors ponying up the 10 million needed for that inaugural season, I doubt even he knew where it would go. Now, with five seasons under his belt and more than 200 million viewers worldwide eagerly awaiting each new season, it’s clear the world has a hunger for stories with biblical context and truth.

Seasons 3-5 debuted in theatres, which is why we’ll include them in this discussion of movies. Box office for The Chosen “TV” show in theatres has been a whopping $140 million. Impressive, considering those of us who caught those theatrical debuts knew that we’d be able to view it for free later. Still, it’s The Chosen. No doubt others are looking to replicate this unconventional success. Can it be done? Your guess is as good as mine.

Faith-Based Movies – There’s PLENTY to Choose From

Please don’t tell me you can’t figure out what to watch. If you’re looking for faith- and family-friendly fare, there is so much available to you. Too many movies to even mention in one blog. Still, I’ll leave you with a partial list of others that just might be worth your streaming time:

The Unbreakable Boy (2025)
Sound of Freedom (2023)
Sound of Hope: The Story of Possum Trot (2024)
Risen (2016)
Unsung Hero (2024)
Mom’s Night Out (2013)
Count of Monte Cristo (2002)
Paul Apostle of Christ (2018)
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe (2005)
The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (2008)
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (2010)
What If… (2010)
Unbroken: Path to Redemption (2018)
The Jesus Music (2021)
Unplanned (2019)
Heaven is For Real (2014)
Amazing Grace (2006)
The Ultimate Gift (2007)
Soul Surfer (2011)
Love Comes Softly (2003)
The Blind (2023)
The Case for Christ (2017)
Light of the World (2025)
Miracles From Heaven (2016)
King of Kings (2025)
Son of God (2013)
Letters to God  (2010)
End of the Spear (2005)
Soul on Fire (2025)
Sarah’s Oil (2025)

A Few Christmas Treats:
The Nativity Story (2005)
I Heard the Bells (2022)
Journey to Bethlehem (2023)
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever (2024)
The Christmas Candle (2013)
Saving Christmas (2014)
David (not a Christmas movie but coming December 19)

Coming in 2026:
The Passion of the Christ: The Resurrection
I Can Only Imagine 2
The Way of the Wind
A Great Awakening
The Last Firefighter
The Chosen, Season 6
Adventures in Odyssey: The Journey Into the Impossible (Fall 2026)

Podcast Note: Shae Robins joins us to share about a new movie this holiday season that she’s starring in, A Christmas Prayer. It’s a wonderful mix of faith, family, and romance. We’ll be talking about the importance of making uplifting, family-friendly films and what’s ahead for her.

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