Nick Cangemi
Religious movies with Christian themes have, over time, become some of the most beloved movies ever made, from all-time film titans like Ben-Hur and The Ten Commandments to less well-known, yet critically-acclaimed classics like 2004’s The Conscientious Objector.
With all of the violent and vulgar films being produced in Hollywood today, it’s nice to know that there are still some films out there which promote pious teachings and wholesome values.
Compiled below, you will find the 8 top Christian films of all-time, with movies ranging from 1956 to the modern day (2004). Round up your family this evening and pop any one of these classics onto your TV for an incredible cinematic experience for the whole family!
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#1 Chariots of Fire (1981)
Description: Chariots of Fire is the emotional true account of two British runners competing against each other in the Paris Summer Olympics of 1924. The movie follows the stories of Harold Abrahams, a British Jew who has to endure constant streams of class prejudice and antisemitism to make it to the Olympics, to square off against The “Flying Scotsman” Eric Liddell, who races for the glory of God.
Length: 125 minutes
Director: Hugh Hudson
Starring: Ben Cross, Ian Charleson, Nicholas Farrell
#2 Ben-Hur (1959)
Description: Ben-Hur tells the story of an upper-class Jew living in Judaea who feels the wrath of a friend from his past, who is now a Roman tribune. Forced into slavery by the Romans and forced to witness the heinous persecution of his family, Ben-Hur endures, harboring dreams of vengeance. The film won 11 Oscars, which was a record at the time.
Length: 212 minutes
Director: William Wyler
Starring: Charlton Heston, Jack Hawkins, Stephen Boyd
#3 The Passion of the Christ (2004)
Description: In this rendition of the crucifixion of Jesus, based on New Testament scripture, Judas hands Jesus over to the Roman Empire's handpicked officials. To the horror of his mother, Mary, Mary Magdalen, and his disciples, Jesus is sentenced to death. He is brutally tortured as he drags a crucifix outside the city walls of Jerusalem, where he is nailed to the cross. He dies on the cross, but not before one last act of grace.
Length: 127 minutes
Director: Mel Gibson
Starring: Jim Caviezel, Monica Bellucci, Maia Morgenstern
#4 A Man for All Seasons (1966)
Description: When the well known and well liked British statesman Sir Thomas More decides not to pressure the Pope into annulling the marriage of King Henry VIII and his Spanish wife, More's confrontations with the monarch increase in severity. Being a devout Catholic, More stands by his religious views and moves to leave the royal court. Sadly, the King and his men aren't satisfied by this, and press forward with charges of treason, further testing More's will.
Length: 120 minutes
Director: Fred Zinnemann
Starring: Paul Scofield, Wendy Hiller, Robert Shaw
#5 Babette's Feast (1987)
Description: Beautiful and devout sisters Martine and Philippa grow to unmarried adulthood under the evil eye of their overbearing pastor father on the isolated coast of Jutland, until one day, Philippa's former suitor gifts them a Parisian refugee named Babette to work as the family chef. Babette's opulent celebratory banquet tempts the family's declining congregation, who renounce such earthly pleasures as exquisite foods and wines.
Length: 103 minutes
Director: Gabriel Axel
Starring: Stéphane Audran, Bodil Kjer, Birgitte Federspiel
#6 The Ten Commandments (1956)
Description: Enjoying a leisurely life in the court of Egypt's pharaoh, Moses finds out about his Hebrew heritage and, later, what God expects of him. He goes on to dedicate himself to freeing his people from captivity, and, with the help of plagues and divine intervention, manages to successfully guide them out of Egypt and across the Red Sea. A greater threat comes in the form of the golden calf idol, and it takes a memorable visitation by God on Mount Sinai for Moses' mission to truly succeed.
Length: 220 minutes
Director: Cecil B. DeMille
Starring: Charlton Heston, Yul Brynner, Anne Baxter
#7 Lilies of the Field (1963)
Description: When a traveling handyman named Homer stops by a farm in rural Arizona, he is greeted by a congregation of Roman Catholic nuns who have come from Germany. Realizing that the farm is in disrepair and the nuns can’t do all of the labor, Homer takes on a number of projects around the farm for the nuns, who are led by the obstinate Mother Maria. Pleased by Homer's kindness and strong work ethic, the women come to believe that he has been sent by God to help build them a chapel.
Length: 94 minutes
Director: Ralph Nelson
Starring: Sidney Poitier, Lilia Skala, Lisa Mann
#8 The Conscientious Objector (2004)
Description: The Conscientious Objector takes place in Okinawa during World War II, as devout Christian Medic Pfc. Desmond T. Doss, rescues 75 wounded soldiers, who now owe their lives to the man they used to ridicule for his refusal to carry or use a weapon during battle. Over time, he wins the respect of his fellow soldiers, and they eventually recommend him for The Medal of Honor.
Length: 101 minutes
Director: Terry Benedict
Starring: Ralph Baker, Carl Bentley, Alessandro Bianchi
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